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): October 5, 2017

 

 

Switch, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

 

 

Nevada   001-38231   82-1883953

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

7135 S. Decatur Boulevard

Las Vegas, NV

  89118
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

(702) 444-4111

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

 

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)).

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

Emerging growth company  ☒

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

 

 

 


Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On October 11, 2017, Switch, Inc. (the “ Company ”) closed its initial public offering (“ IPO ”) of 35,937,500 shares of its Class A common stock, $0.001 par value per share (the “ Class A Common Stock ”), at an offering price of $17.00 per share, pursuant to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-220405), as amended (the “ Registration Statement ”). In connection with the IPO, the Company entered into the following agreements, forms of which were previously filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement:

 

    a Tax Receivable Agreement, dated October 5, 2017, by and among the Company, Switch, Ltd., a Nevada limited-liability company and subsidiary of the Company (the “ LLC ”), and each of the Members (as defined in the Tax Receivable Agreement) from time to time party thereto, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference;

 

    an Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated October 5, 2017, by and among the Company and each of the persons from time to time party thereto, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference; and

 

    a Fifth Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of the LLC, dated October 5, 2017, by and among the LLC and its Members (as defined therein), a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference (the “ Operating Agreement ”).

The terms of these agreements are substantially the same as the terms set forth in the forms of such agreements filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement and as described in the Registration Statement.

Item 3.02. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

Simultaneously with the consummation of the IPO, the Company issued (i) to the holders of common membership interests of the LLC (other than Rob Roy, the Company’s Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and an affiliated entity of Mr. Roy), 173,624,316 shares of Class B common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share (the “ Class B Common Stock ”), and (ii) to Mr. Roy and the affiliated entity of Mr. Roy (collectively, the “ Founder Members ”), 42,944,647 shares of Class C common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “ Class C Common Stock ”). The aggregate consideration received by the Company for the Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock was $2,166.

No underwriters were involved in the issuance and sale of the shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock.

The description in Item 5.03 below of the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation is incorporated herein by reference.

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

Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation

On October 5, 2017, the Company amended and restated its articles of incorporation (as amended and restated, the “ Articles of Incorporation ”). The Articles of Incorporation amend and restate in their entirety the Company’s original articles of incorporation, which were filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada on June 13, 2017.

The Articles of Incorporation, among other things:

 

    increase the authorized number of shares of common stock to 1,125,000,000 shares (750,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, 300,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock and 75,000,000 shares of Class C Common Stock, respectively);

 

    authorize 10,000,000 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;


    establish the 10 vote per share feature of the Class C Common Stock, which will remain in effect until such time as the Founder Members or their permitted transferees no longer beneficially own an aggregate of at least 50% of the shares of Class C Common Stock owned by the Founder Members as of the completion of the IPO;

 

    provide that directors of the Company may be removed only by the vote of stockholders with not less than two-thirds of the Company’s voting power;

 

    prohibit stockholders from calling special meetings;

 

    after the Founder Members no longer beneficially own at least 50% of the Class C Common Stock beneficially owned by the Founder Members as of the completion of the IPO, require all stockholder actions to be taken at a meeting of the Company’s stockholders; and

 

    require exclusive forum in the Eighth Judicial District Court of Clark County Nevada for certain actions, including, but not limited to, derivative actions or proceedings brought on behalf of the Company or actions asserting claims of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of the Company’s directors, officers or other employees of the Company or the Company’s stockholders.

The foregoing description of the Articles of Incorporation and the description contained in the Registration Statement are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Articles of Incorporation, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Amended and Restated Bylaws

On October 11, 2017, immediately prior to the closing of the IPO, the Company amended and restated its Bylaws (as amended and restated, the “ Bylaws ”). The Bylaws amend and restate the Company’s initial bylaws in their entirety to, among other things: (i) establish procedures relating to the presentation of stockholder proposals at stockholder meetings; (ii) establish procedures relating to the nomination of directors; and (iii) conform to the amended provisions of the Articles of Incorporation.

The foregoing description of the Bylaws and the description contained in the Registration Statement are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Bylaws, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)  Exhibits .

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

  3.1*    Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Switch, Inc.
  3.2*    Amended and Restated Bylaws of Switch, Inc.
10.1*    Tax Receivable Agreement, dated October 5, 2017, by and among Switch, Inc., Switch, Ltd. and each of the Members from time to time party thereto
10.2*    Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated October 5, 2017, by and among Switch, Inc., Switch, Ltd. and each other person from time to time party thereto
10.3*    Fifth Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Switch, Ltd., dated October 5, 2017, by and among Switch, Ltd. and its Members

 

* Filed herewith.


INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

  3.1*    Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Switch, Inc.
  3.2*    Amended and Restated Bylaws of Switch, Inc.
10.1*    Tax Receivable Agreement, dated October 5, 2017, by and among Switch, Inc., Switch, Ltd. and each of the Members from time to time party thereto
10.2*    Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated October 5, 2017, by and among Switch, Inc., Switch, Ltd. and each other person from time to time party thereto
10.3*    Fifth Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Switch, Ltd., dated October 5, 2017, by and among Switch, Ltd. and its Members

 

* Filed herewith.


SIGNATURE

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.

 

SWITCH, INC.
By:   /s/ Thomas Morton
Name:   Thomas Morton
Title:   President, General Counsel and Secretary

Date: October 11, 2017

Exhibit 3.1

AMENDED AND RESTATED

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

OF

SWITCH, INC.

Switch, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Nevada (the “ Corporation ”) hereby certifies as follows:

1. The name of the Corporation is Switch, Inc. The original Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation were filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada on June 13, 2017.

2. These Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation were duly adopted in accordance with Sections 78.390, 78.385 and 78.403 of the Nevada Revised Statutes, and restate, integrate and further amend the provisions of the Corporation’s existing Articles of Incorporation.

3. These Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation were duly approved by a vote of the stockholder of the Corporation in accordance with the provisions of Section 78.390 of the Nevada Revised Statutes.

4. Immediately prior to the effective time of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, the Corporation has authorized one million (1,000,000) shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “ Original Common Stock ”), and has issued one (1) share of Original Common Stock.

5. The text of the Articles of Incorporation is hereby restated and amended to read in its entirety as follows:

ARTICLE 1.

The name of the corporation is Switch, Inc. (the “ Corporation ”).

ARTICLE 2.

The nature of the business of the Corporation and the objects or purposes to be transacted, promoted or carried on by it are as follows: To engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under Chapter 78 of the Nevada Revised Statutes (the “ NRS ”).

ARTICLE 3.

A. The total number of shares of all classes of stock that the Corporation is authorized to issue is one billion one hundred thirty-five million (1,135,000,000), consisting of (i) seven hundred fifty million (750,000,000) shares of Class A common stock, with a par value of $0.001 per share (the “ Class A Common Stock ”); (ii) three hundred million (300,000,000)

 

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shares of Class B common stock, with a par value of $0.001 per share (the “ Class B Common Stock ”); (iii) seventy-five million (75,000,000) shares of Class C common stock, with a par value of $0.001 per share (the “ Class C Common Stock ”, and together with the Class A Common Stock and the Class B Common Stock, the “ Common Stock ”); and (iv) ten million (10,000,000) shares of preferred stock, with a par value of $0.001 per share as of the effective time of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and thereafter as may be established by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Board of Directors ”) with respect to any class or series thereof in the applicable Preferred Stock Designation (the “ Preferred Stock ”). At the effective time, the one (1) share of Original Common Stock of the Corporation issued and outstanding prior to the effective time shall be cancelled without further action by, or consideration to, the holder thereof.

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

C. The number of authorized shares of any of the Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock, Class C Common Stock or Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, without a separate vote of any holders of the Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock, Class C Common Stock or Preferred Stock, or of any class or series thereof, unless a separate vote of any such holders is required pursuant to the terms of any Preferred Stock Designation, irrespective of the provisions of Section 78.2055 and 78.207 of the NRS.

 

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D. Except as otherwise required by applicable law:

 

  1. Each share of Class A Common Stock shall entitle the record holder thereof to one (1) vote on all matters on which stockholders generally are entitled to vote.

 

  2. Each share of Class B Common Stock shall entitle the record holder thereof to one (1) vote on all matters on which stockholders generally are entitled to vote.

 

  3. Until the date (the “ Trigger Date ”) on which the Permitted Class C Owners (as defined below) beneficially own, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate less than fifty percent (50%) of the number of shares of Class C Common Stock held by the Founder Continuing Members immediately following closing of the Corporation’s initial public offering of Class A Common Stock, each share of Class C Common Stock shall entitle the record holder thereof to ten (10) votes on all matters on which stockholders generally are entitled to vote. Upon and after the date certified by the Board of Directors that it determines, in its reasonable discretion, is the Trigger Date, each share of Class C Common Stock shall entitle the record holder thereof to one (1) vote on all matters on which stockholders generally are entitled to vote. In making such determination, the Board of Directors shall be entitled to conclusively rely on reports or schedules disclosing ownership of Common Stock filed by or on behalf of the Permitted Class C Owners, or any of them, pursuant to Section 13 or Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

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

 

  5. The holders of Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation or to a Preferred Stock Designation that alters or changes the powers, preferences, rights or other terms of one or more outstanding class or series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected class or series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other class or series of Preferred Stock, to vote thereon as a separate class pursuant to these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation or a Preferred Stock Designation or pursuant to the NRS as currently in effect or as the same may hereafter be amended.

 

  6.

Except as expressly provided in this Article 3 , the Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock shall have the same rights and privileges and rank equally, share ratably and be identical in all respects as to all matters. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) in the event of a

 

3


  merger, consolidation, conversion, exchange or other business combination requiring the approval of the holders of the Corporation’s capital stock entitled to vote thereon (whether or not the Corporation is the surviving entity), the holders of the Class B Common Stock shall have the right to receive, or the right to elect to receive, the same form of consideration (if any) as the holders of the Class C Common Stock and the holders of the Class B Common Stock shall have the right to receive, or the right to elect to receive, at least the same amount of consideration (if any) on a per share basis as the holders of the Class C Common Stock and (b) in the event of (i) any tender or exchange offer to acquire any shares of Common Stock by any third party pursuant to an agreement to which the Corporation is a party or (ii) any tender or exchange offer by the Corporation to acquire any shares of Common Stock, pursuant to the terms of the applicable tender or exchange offer, the holders of the Class B Common Stock shall have the right to receive, or the right to elect to receive, the same form of consideration (if any) as the holders of the Class C Common Stock and the holders of the Class B Common Stock shall have the right to receive, or the right to elect to receive, at least the same amount of consideration (if any) on a per share basis as the holders of the Class C Common Stock; provided that , for the purposes of the foregoing clauses (a) and (b) and notwithstanding the first sentence of this Article 3.D.6 , (1) in the event any such consideration includes securities, the consideration payable to holders of Class B Common Stock shall be deemed the same form of consideration and at least the same amount of consideration on a per share basis as the holders of Class C Common Stock on a per share basis if the only difference in the per share distribution to the holders of Class C Common Stock is that the securities distributed to such holders have not more than ten times the voting power, on a per share basis, of any securities distributed to the holder of a share of Class B Common Stock (in each case, so long as such securities issued to the holders of Class C Common Stock remain subject to automatic conversion on terms no more favorable to such holders than those set forth in Article 3.F.2 , Article 3.F.3 and Article 3.J.2.b ) and (2) payments under or in respect of the tax receivable or similar agreement entered by the Corporation from time to time with any holders of Common Stock and/or securities of the LLC shall not be considered part of the consideration payable in respect of any share of Common Stock.

 

  7. No stockholder has any right or will be permitted to cumulate votes in any election of directors.

 

  8. Shares of one class or series of stock may be issued as a share dividend in respect of another class or series, Section 78.215(4) of the NRS notwithstanding.

 

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E. Class B Common Stock . From and after the effective time of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, additional shares of Class B Common Stock may be issued only to, and registered in the name of, (i) the Non-Founder Continuing Members (as defined below), their respective successors and assigns as well as their respective transferees permitted in accordance with Article 3.J (including all subsequent successors, assigns and permitted transferees) and (ii) any Permitted Class C Owner (as defined below) that acquires Class B Common Stock pursuant to Article 3.F.2 , Article 3.F.3 or Article 3.J (collectively, “ Permitted Class B Owners ”), in accordance with Article 5 and the aggregate number of shares of Class B Common Stock following any such issuance registered in the name of each such Permitted Class B Owner (excluding any Permitted Class C Owner) must be equal to the aggregate number of Common Units (as defined below) held of record by such Permitted Class B Owner under the Operating Agreement (as defined below).

F. Class C Common Stock .

 

  1. Issuance of Additional Shares . From and after the effective time of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, additional shares of Class C Common Stock may be issued only to, and registered in the name of, (a) Rob Roy, his spouse or any of his lineal descendants (including by step-, adoptive or similar relationships), (c) any entities wholly owned by Rob Roy, his spouse or any of his lineal descendants (including by step-, adoptive or similar relationships), (d) any trust or other estate planning vehicle for the benefit of Rob Roy, his spouse or any of his lineal descendants (including by step-, adoptive or similar relationships), and any of their respective successors and assigns as well as their respective transferees permitted in accordance with Article 3.J.2.b (including all subsequent successors, assigns and permitted transferees) (collectively, “ Permitted Class C Owners ”) or in accordance with Article 5 , and the aggregate number of shares of Class C Common Stock and Class B Common Stock following any such issuance registered in the name of each such Permitted Class C Owner must be equal to the aggregate number of Common Units held of record by such Permitted Class C Owner under the Operating Agreement.

 

  2. Voluntary Conversion. Each share of Class C Common Stock shall be automatically converted into one share of Class B Common Stock if the holders of a majority of the shares of Class C Common Stock then outstanding, acting as a single class, approve or consent to such conversion.

 

  3. Mandatory Conversion . If, at any time after the effective time of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, any share of Class C Common Stock shall not be owned, beneficially or of record, by a Permitted Class C Owner, such share of Class C Common Stock shall be automatically converted into one share of Class B Common Stock.

 

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  4. Mechanics of Conversion . Upon any conversion of shares of Class C Common Stock into shares of Class B Common Stock pursuant to Article 3.F.2 or Article 3.F.3 , the holder shall surrender any certificate or certificates representing the shares of Class C Common Stock being converted, duly endorsed, at the office of the Corporation or of any transfer agent for such stock, and shall give written notice to the Corporation at its principal corporate office stating the name or names in which the certificate or certificates representing the shares of Class B Common Stock issued upon conversion of such holder’s shares of Class C Common Stock are to be issued. The Corporation shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, issue and deliver at such office to such holder, or to the nominee or nominees of such holder, a certificate or certificates representing the number of shares of Class B Common Stock to which such holder shall be entitled as aforesaid. Such conversion shall be deemed to have been made immediately upon the occurrence of any event described in Article 3.F.2 or Article 3.F.3 , and the person or persons entitled to receive the shares of Class B Common Stock issuable upon such conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such shares of Class B Common Stock as of such date.

 

  5. Reservation of Shares upon Conversion . The Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued shares of Class B Common Stock, the number of shares of Class B Common Stock as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect a conversion of all outstanding shares of Class C Common Stock and all additional shares of Class C Common Stock (if any) issuable upon the exercise of any outstanding options, warrants or other rights to acquire shares of Class C Common Stock. The Corporation covenants that all shares of Class B Common Stock issued upon any such conversion will, upon issuance, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

  6. Status of Converted Stock . In the event any shares of Class C Common Stock shall be converted into shares of Class B Common Stock pursuant to this Article 3.F , the shares of Class C Common Stock so converted shall be retired and shall not be reissued by the Corporation.

G. As used in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation:

 

  1. Common Unit ” means a unit of membership interest in the LLC, authorized and issued under the Operating Agreement, and constituting a “Common Unit” as defined in the Operating Agreement as in effect as of the effective time of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation.

 

  2. Founder Continuing Members ” means each of the Permitted Class C Owners immediately prior to the closing of the Corporation’s initial public offering of Class A Common Stock.

 

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  3. LLC ” means Switch, Ltd., a Nevada limited-liability company, or any successor entities thereto.

 

  4. Non-Founder Continuing Members ” means each of the holders of Common Units immediately prior to the closing of the Corporation’s initial public offering of Class A Common Stock, other than the Founder Continuing Members or the Corporation (or any subsidiaries of the Corporation).

 

  5. Operating Agreement ” means that certain Fifth Amended and Restated Operating Agreement, to be dated the date of the pricing of the Corporation’s initial public offering of Class A Common Stock, of the LLC as such agreement may be further amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

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

I. Subject to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation and of the preferential and other amounts, if any, to which the holders of Preferred Stock shall be entitled, the holders of all outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock shall be entitled to receive the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution ratably in proportion to the number of shares held by each such stockholder. Without limiting the rights of the holders of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock to have their Common Units redeemed in exchange for shares of Class A Common Stock, or at the Corporation’s option, cash, in accordance with the Operating Agreement (or for the consideration payable in respect of shares of Class A Common Stock in such voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up), the holders of shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to receive any assets of the Corporation in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation. A merger, consolidation, reorganization or other business combination of the Corporation with any other person or persons, or a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation, shall not be considered to be a dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation within the meaning of this Article 3.I .

J. Transfer of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock .

 

  1.

In connection with the redemption of Common Units pursuant to the Operating Agreement, a holder of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock may surrender shares of Class B Common Stock or Class

 

7


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

 

  2. The following transfer restrictions described in this Article 3.J.2 are referred to as the “ Restrictions ”.

 

  a. A holder of Class B Common Stock may transfer shares of Class B Common Stock to any transferee (other than the Corporation) only if such holder also simultaneously transfers an equal number of such holder’s Common Units (as such numbers may be adjusted to reflect equitably any stock split, subdivision, combination or similar change with respect to the Class B Common Stock or Common Units) to such transferee in compliance with the Operating Agreement. In the event a holder of Class B Common Stock transfers shares of Class B Common Stock to a Permitted Class C Owner in accordance with this provision, such transferred shares will remain shares of Class B Common Stock.

 

  b. A holder of Class C Common Stock may transfer shares of Class C Common Stock to any Permitted Class C Owner (which does not include the Corporation) only if such holder also simultaneously transfers an equal number of such holder’s Common Units (as such numbers may be adjusted to reflect equitably any stock split, subdivision, combination or similar change with respect to the Class C Common Stock or Common Units) to such transferee in compliance with the Operating Agreement. In the event a holder of Class C Common Stock transfers shares of Class C Common Stock to any transferee other than a Permitted Class C Owner in accordance with this Article 3.J.2.b , such transferred shares shall be automatically converted into shares of Class B Common Stock in accordance with Article 3.F.3 .

 

  3. Any purported transfer of shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock in violation of the Restrictions shall be null and void. If, notwithstanding the Restrictions, a person shall, voluntarily or involuntarily, purportedly become or attempt to become, the purported owner (“ Purported Owner ”) of shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock in violation of the Restrictions, then the Purported Owner shall not obtain any rights in and to such shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock, as applicable (the “ Restricted Shares ”), and the purported transfer of the Restricted Shares to the Purported Owner shall not be recognized by the Corporation’s transfer agent (the “ Transfer Agent ”).

 

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  4. Upon a determination by the Board of Directors that a person has attempted or is attempting to transfer or to acquire Restricted Shares, or has purportedly transferred or acquired Restricted Shares, in violation of the Restrictions, the Board of Directors may take such action as it deems advisable to refuse to give effect to such attempted or purported transfer or acquisition on the books and records of the Corporation, including without limitation to cause the Transfer Agent to record the Purported Owner’s transferor as the record owner of the Restricted Shares, and to institute proceedings to enjoin any such attempted or purported transfer or acquisition, or reverse any entries or records reflecting such attempted or purported transfer or acquisition.

 

  5. The Board of Directors may, to the extent permitted by law, from time to time establish, modify, amend or rescind, by bylaw or otherwise, regulations and procedures that are consistent with the provisions of this Article 3.J for determining whether any transfer or acquisition of shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock would violate the Restrictions and for the orderly application, administration and implementation of the provisions of this Article 3.J . Any such procedures and regulations shall be kept on file with the Secretary of the Corporation and with its Transfer Agent and shall be made available for inspection by any prospective transferee and, upon written request, shall be mailed to holders of shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock, as applicable.

 

  6. The Board of Directors shall have all powers necessary to implement the Restrictions, including without limitation the power to prohibit the transfer of any shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock in violation thereof.

K. To the extent that any Permitted Class B Owner or Permitted Class C Owner exercises its right pursuant to the Operating Agreement to have its Common Units redeemed by the LLC in accordance with the Operating Agreement, then simultaneous with the payment of, at the Corporation’s election, cash or Class A Common Stock consideration to such Permitted Class B Owner or Permitted Class C Owner by the LLC (in the case of a redemption) or the Corporation (in the case of an election by the Corporation pursuant to the Operating Agreement to effect a direct exchange with such Permitted Class B Owner or Permitted Class C Owner), the Corporation shall cancel for no consideration a number of shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock, as applicable, registered in the name of the redeeming or exchanging Permitted Class B Owner or Permitted Class C Owner equal to the number of Common Units held by such Permitted Class B Owner or Permitted Class C Owner that are redeemed or exchanged in such redemption or exchange transaction. Notwithstanding the Restrictions, (i) in the event that any outstanding share of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock shall

 

9


cease to be held by a registered holder of Common Units, such share of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock shall automatically and without further action on the part of the Corporation or any holder of Class B Common Stock or holder of Class C Common Stock be cancelled for no consideration, and the Corporation will take all actions necessary to retire such share and such share shall not be re-issued by the Corporation, (ii) in the event that any registered holder of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock no longer holds an interest in an equal number of Common Units, the shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock registered in the name of such holder that exceed the number of Common Units held by such holder shall automatically and without further action on the part of the Corporation or any holder of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock be cancelled for no consideration, and the Corporation will take all actions necessary to retire such shares and such shares shall not be re-issued by the Corporation, (iii) in the event that no Permitted Class B Owner owns any Common Units that are redeemable pursuant to the Operating Agreement, then all shares of Class B Common Stock will be cancelled for no consideration, and the Corporation will take all actions necessary to retire such shares and such shares shall not be re-issued by the Corporation, and (iv) in the event that no Permitted Class C Owner owns any Common Units that are redeemable pursuant to the Operating Agreement, then all shares of Class C Common Stock will be cancelled for no consideration, and the Corporation will take all actions necessary to retire such shares and such shares shall not be re-issued by the Corporation.

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

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

M. The Class B Common Stock may be issued and transferred in fractions of a share which shall entitle the holder to exercise voting rights and to have the benefit of all other rights of holders of Class B Common Stock. The Class C Common Stock may be issued and transferred in fractions of a share which shall entitle the holder to exercise voting rights and to have the benefit of all other rights of holders of Class C Common Stock. Subject to the Restrictions, holders of shares of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock shall be entitled to transfer fractions thereof and the Corporation shall, and shall cause the Transfer Agent to, facilitate any such transfers, including by issuing certificates or making book entries representing any such fractional shares. For all purposes of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (including, without limitation, Article 3.D , Article 3.I , Article 3.J , Article 3.K , this Article 3.M , Article 5.D and Article 5.E hereof), all references to the Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock or any share thereof (whether in the singular or plural) shall be deemed to include references to any fraction of a share of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock, respectively.

 

10


ARTICLE 4.

The Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued shares or other securities of each class or series, the number of shares or securities of such class or series required to be available for issuance pursuant to the Operating Agreement; provided that nothing contained herein shall be construed to preclude the Corporation from satisfying its obligations in respect of any such issuance by delivery of shares of Class A Common Stock which are held in the treasury of the Corporation. The Corporation covenants that all shares of Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to the Operating Agreement will, upon issuance, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

ARTICLE 5.

A. The Corporation shall undertake all actions, including, without limitation, a reclassification, dividend, division or recapitalization, with respect to the shares of Class A Common Stock necessary to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by the Corporation and the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, disregarding, for purposes of maintaining the one-to-one ratio, (i) shares of Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to awards made under the Switch, Inc. 2017 Incentive Award Plan, and any other stock incentive plan adopted by the Corporation from time to time, that have not yet vested thereunder, (ii) treasury stock, or (iii) Preferred Stock or other debt or equity securities (including without limitation warrants, options and rights) issued by the Corporation that are convertible or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock (except to the extent the net proceeds from such other securities, including without limitation any exercise or purchase price payable upon conversion, exercise or exchange thereof, has been contributed by the Corporation to the equity capital of the LLC).

B. The Corporation shall undertake all actions, including, without limitation, a reclassification, dividend, division or recapitalization, with respect to the shares of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock necessary to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by all Permitted Class B Owners and Permitted Class C Owners and the number of outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock owned by all Permitted Class B Owners and Permitted Class C Owners.

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

 

11


Stock, unless, in the case of clause (i)  or (ii)  of this Article 5.C , such action is necessary to maintain at all times both a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by the Corporation and the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by the Permitted Class B Owners and Permitted Class C Owners and the number of outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock.

D. The Corporation shall not issue, transfer or deliver from treasury stock or repurchase shares of Class A Common Stock unless in connection with any such issuance, transfer, delivery or repurchase the Corporation takes or authorizes all requisite action such that, after giving effect to all such issuances, transfers, deliveries or repurchases, the number of Common Units owned by the Corporation will equal on a one-for-one basis the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, disregarding, for purposes of maintaining the one-to-one ratio, (i) shares of Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to awards made under the Switch, Inc. 2017 Incentive Award Plan, and any other stock incentive plan adopted by the Corporation from time to time, that have not yet vested thereunder, (ii) treasury stock or (iii) Preferred Stock or other debt or equity securities (including without limitation warrants, options and rights) issued by the Corporation that are convertible or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock (except to the extent the net proceeds from such other securities, including without limitation any exercise or purchase price payable upon conversion, exercise or exchange thereof, has been contributed by the Corporation to the equity capital of the LLC). The Corporation shall not issue, transfer or deliver from treasury stock or repurchase or redeem shares of Preferred Stock unless in connection with any such issuance, transfer, delivery, repurchase or redemption, the Corporation takes all requisite action such that, after giving effect to all such issuances, transfers, repurchases or redemptions, the Corporation holds (in the case of any issuance, transfer or delivery) or ceases to hold (in the case of any repurchase or redemption) equity interests in the LLC which (in the good faith determination by the Board of Directors) are in the aggregate substantially equivalent in all respects to the outstanding Preferred Stock so issued, transferred, delivered, repurchased or redeemed.

E. The Corporation shall not consolidate, merge, combine or consummate any other transaction (other than an action or transaction for which an adjustment is provided in one of the preceding paragraphs of this Article 5 or in Article 3 ) in which shares of Class A Common Stock are exchanged for or converted into other stock or securities, or the right to receive cash and/or any other property, unless in connection with any such consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction each Common Unit shall be entitled to be exchanged for or converted into (without duplication of any corresponding share of Class A Common Stock which the Corporation may elect to issue upon a redemption of such Common Unit by the holder thereof) the same kind and amount of stock or securities, cash and/or any other property, as the case may be, into which or for which each share of Class A Common Stock is exchanged or converted, in each case to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between (x) the stock or securities, or rights to receive cash and/or any other property issuable in such transaction in exchange for or conversion of one share of Class A common stock and (y) the stock or securities, or rights to receive cash and/or any other property issuable in such transaction in exchange for or conversion of one Common Unit. The foregoing provisions of this Article 5.E shall not apply to any action or transaction (including any consolidation, merger or combination) approved by the holders of a majority of the voting power of the Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock, each voting as a separate class.

 

12


ARTICLE 6.

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

ARTICLE 7.

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

B. Subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, the number of directors which shall constitute the Board of Directors shall be fixed exclusively by resolutions adopted by a majority of the Whole Board. For purposes of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, the term “ Whole Board ” shall mean the total number of authorized directors for the Board of Directors whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships.

C. Except as otherwise required by law and subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, unless the Board of Directors otherwise determines, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from the death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause shall be filled only by a majority vote of the Directors then in office and entitled to vote thereon, though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining Director entitled to vote thereon, and not by the stockholders. Any Director so chosen shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such Director shall have been chosen and until his successor shall be elected and qualified.

D. Subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, any Director, or the entire Board of Directors, may be removed from office by a vote of stockholders representing not less than two-thirds of the voting power of the issued and outstanding stock entitled to vote at an annual or special meeting duly noticed and called in accordance with these Amended and Restated Articles.

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

ARTICLE 8.

Any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders may be taken upon the vote of stockholders at an annual or special meeting duly noticed and called in accordance with the NRS, as amended from time to time, and may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, are signed by the holders of outstanding shares of the relevant

 

13


class(es) or series of stock of the Corporation representing not less than the minimum amount of voting power that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares of stock of the Corporation then issued and outstanding (other than treasury stock) entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in Nevada, its principal place of business, or to an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded; provided, however , that, subject to the rights of any class or series of Preferred Stock, no action by stockholders may be taken by written consent in lieu of a meeting of stockholders unless such written consent and the taking of the action specified therein have been previously approved by the affirmative vote of Directors constituting a majority of the Whole Board, and that after the Trigger Date, any action required or permitted to be taken by stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of the stockholders and may not be effected by written consent in lieu of a meeting. Notwithstanding anything in this Article 8 to the contrary, special meetings of the stockholders may be called only by a resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of Directors constituting a majority of the Whole Board.

ARTICLE 9.

A. The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, in the manner, and subject to approval by stockholders as, now or hereafter prescribed by statute, and all rights conferred upon stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation; provided that any amendment to Article 8 or Article 11 shall be effective only upon the affirmative vote of the holders of Common Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding representing two-thirds or more of the votes eligible to be cast in an election of Directors.

B. If any provision or provisions of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

ARTICLE 10.

The Corporation is authorized to indemnify and to advance expenses to each current, former or prospective Director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by Sections 78.7502 and 78.751 of the NRS, or any successor provision of Nevada law allowing greater indemnification or advancement of expenses. To the fullest extent permitted by Section 78.138 of the NRS or any successor provision of Nevada law, no Director or officer shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders or creditors for any damages as a result of any act or failure to act in his or her capacity as a Director or officer. No amendment to, or modification or repeal of, this Article 10 shall adversely affect any right or protection of a Director or of any officer, employee or agent of the Corporation existing hereunder with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to such amendment, modification or repeal.

 

14


ARTICLE 11.

A. To the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of Nevada, (a) the Corporation hereby renounces all interest and expectancy that it otherwise would be entitled to have in, and all rights to be offered an opportunity to participate in, any business opportunity that from time to time may be presented to (i) the Board of Directors or any Director, (ii) any stockholder, officer or agent of the Corporation, or (iii) any affiliate of any person or entity identified in the preceding clause (i) or (ii), but in each case excluding any such person in his or her capacity as an employee of the Corporation or its subsidiaries; (b) no holder of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock and no Director that is not an employee of the Corporation or its subsidiaries will have any duty to refrain from (i) engaging in a corporate opportunity in the same or similar lines of business in which the Corporation or its subsidiaries from time to time is engaged or proposes to engage or (ii) otherwise competing, directly or indirectly, with the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries; and (c) if any holder of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock or any Director that is not an employee of the Corporation or its subsidiaries acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or other business opportunity which may be a corporate opportunity both for such holder of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock or such Director or any of their respective affiliates, on the one hand, and for the Corporation or its subsidiaries, on the other hand, such holder of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock or Director shall have no duty to communicate or offer such transaction or business opportunity to the Corporation or its subsidiaries and such holder of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock or Director may take any and all such transactions or opportunities for itself or offer such transactions or opportunities to any other person or entity. The preceding sentence of this Article 11.A shall not apply to any potential transaction or business opportunity that is expressly offered to a Director, who is not an employee of the Corporation or its subsidiaries, solely in his or her capacity as a Director.

B. To the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of Nevada, no potential transaction or business opportunity may be deemed to be a potential corporate opportunity of the Corporation or its subsidiaries unless (a) the Corporation and its subsidiaries would be permitted to undertake such transaction or opportunity in accordance with these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, (b) the Corporation and its subsidiaries at such time have sufficient financial resources to undertake such transaction or opportunity and (c) such transaction or opportunity would be in the same or similar line of business in which the Corporation and its subsidiaries are then engaged or a line of business that is reasonably related to, or a reasonable extension of, such line of business.

C. No holder of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock and no Director will be liable to the Corporation or its subsidiaries or stockholders for breach of any duty (contractual or otherwise) by reason of any activities or omissions of the types referred to in this Article 11 .

 

15


ARTICLE 12.

Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Eighth Judicial District Court of Clark County of the State of Nevada (the “ Court ”) shall be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial owner) to bring (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any Director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, any Director or the Corporation’s officers or employees arising pursuant to any provision of the NRS, Section 92A of the Nevada Revised Statutes or these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, any Director or the Corporation’s officers or employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine, except, as to each of clauses (i) through (iv) above, for any claim as to which the Court determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court within ten (10) days following such determination), which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court, or for which the Court does not have subject matter jurisdiction.

ARTICLE 13.

The Corporation expressly elects to be governed by Sections 78.411 through 78.444 (Combinations with Interested Stockholders) and 78.378 through 78.3793 (Acquisition of Controlling Interest), inclusive, of the NRS.

ARTICLE 14.

The effective time of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation shall be the date and time that these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation are filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada, or, if later, the effective date and time specified in the certificate accompanying such filing.

 

16


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to be signed by Thomas Morton, its President, on this 5th day of October, 2017.

 

SWITCH, INC.
By:   /s/ Thomas Morton
Name:   Thomas Morton
Title:   President

 

17

Exhibit 3.2

SWITCH, INC.

a Nevada corporation

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

Effective as of October 11, 2017


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

ARTICLE I OFFICES

     1  

S ECTION  1.1 P RINCIPAL O FFICE

     1  

S ECTION  1.2 O THER O FFICES

     1  

ARTICLE II STOCKHOLDERS

     1  

S ECTION  2.1 A NNUAL M EETINGS

     1  

S ECTION  2.2 S PECIAL M EETINGS

     2  

S ECTION  2.3 P LACE OF M EETINGS

     2  

S ECTION  2.4 N OTICE OF M EETINGS ; W AIVER OF N OTICE

     2  

S ECTION  2.5 D ETERMINATION OF S TOCKHOLDERS OF R ECORD

     3  

S ECTION  2.6 Q UORUM ; A DJOURNED M EETINGS

     3  

S ECTION  2.7 V OTING

     4  

S ECTION  2.8 P ROXIES

     5  

S ECTION  2.9 N O A CTION W ITHOUT A M EETING

     5  

S ECTION  2.10 O RGANIZATION

     5  

S ECTION  2.11 A BSENTEES ’ C ONSENT TO M EETINGS

     6  

S ECTION  2.12 D IRECTOR N OMINATIONS

     6  

S ECTION  2.13 A DVANCE N OTICE OF S TOCKHOLDER P ROPOSALS AND D IRECTOR N OMINATIONS BY S TOCKHOLDERS

     6  

S ECTION  2.14 S UBMISSION OF Q UESTIONNAIRE , R EPRESENTATION AND A GREEMENT

     12  

ARTICLE III DIRECTORS

     12  

S ECTION  3.1 G ENERAL P OWERS ; P ERFORMANCE OF D UTIES

     12  

S ECTION  3.2 N UMBER , T ENURE , AND Q UALIFICATIONS

     12  

S ECTION  3.3 C HAIRMAN OF THE B OARD

     13  

S ECTION  3.4 L EAD I NDEPENDENT D IRECTOR

     13  

S ECTION  3.5 R EMOVAL AND R ESIGNATION OF D IRECTORS

     13  

S ECTION  3.6 V ACANCIES ; N EWLY C REATED D IRECTORSHIPS

     13  

S ECTION  3.7 R EGULAR M EETINGS

     13  

S ECTION  3.8 S PECIAL M EETINGS

     13  

S ECTION  3.9 P LACE OF M EETINGS

     14  

S ECTION  3.10 N OTICE OF M EETINGS

     14  

S ECTION  3.11 Q UORUM ; A DJOURNED M EETINGS

     14  

S ECTION  3.12 M ANNER OF A CTING ; P RESUMPTION OF A SSENT

     15  

S ECTION  3.13 T ELEPHONIC AND E LECTRONIC M EETINGS

     15  

S ECTION  3.14 A CTION W ITHOUT M EETING

     15  

S ECTION  3.15 P OWERS AND D UTIES

     15  

S ECTION  3.16 C OMMITTEES

     16  

S ECTION  3.17 C OMPENSATION

     17  

S ECTION  3.18 O RGANIZATION

     17  

 

i


ARTICLE IV OFFICERS

     18  

S ECTION  4.1 E LECTION

     18  

S ECTION  4.2 R EMOVAL ; R ESIGNATION

     18  

S ECTION  4.3 V ACANCIES

     18  

S ECTION  4.4 C HIEF E XECUTIVE O FFICER

     18  

S ECTION  4.5 P RESIDENT

     18  

S ECTION  4.6 C HIEF F INANCIAL O FFICER

     19  

S ECTION  4.7 V ICE P RESIDENTS

     19  

S ECTION  4.8 S ECRETARY

     19  

S ECTION  4.9 A SSISTANT S ECRETARIES

     19  

S ECTION  4.10 T REASURER

     19  

S ECTION  4.11 A SSISTANT T REASURERS

     20  

S ECTION  4.12 E XECUTION OF N EGOTIABLE I NSTRUMENTS , D EEDS AND C ONTRACTS

     20  

ARTICLE V CAPITAL STOCK

     21  

S ECTION  5.1 I SSUANCE

     21  

S ECTION  5.2 S TOCK C ERTIFICATES AND U NCERTIFICATED S HARES

     21  

S ECTION  5.3 S URRENDERED ; L OST OR D ESTROYED C ERTIFICATES

     22  

S ECTION  5.4 R EPLACEMENT C ERTIFICATE

     22  

S ECTION  5.5 T RANSFER OF S HARES

     22  

S ECTION  5.6 T RANSFER A GENT ; R EGISTRARS

     23  

S ECTION  5.7 M ISCELLANEOUS

     23  

ARTICLE VI DISTRIBUTIONS

     23  

ARTICLE VII RECORDS; REPORTS; SEAL; AND FINANCIAL MATTERS

     24  

S ECTION  7.1 R ECORDS

     24  

S ECTION  7.2 C ORPORATE S EAL

     24  

S ECTION  7.3 F ISCAL Y EAR -E ND

     24  

ARTICLE VIII INDEMNIFICATION

     24  

S ECTION  8.1 I NDEMNIFICATION AND I NSURANCE

     24  

S ECTION  8.2 A MENDMENT

     26  

ARTICLE IX CHANGES IN NEVADA LAW

     26  

ARTICLE X AMENDMENT OR REPEAL

     27  

S ECTION  10.1 A MENDMENT OF B YLAWS

     27  

 

ii


AMENDED AND RESTATED

BYLAWS

of

SWITCH, INC.

a Nevada corporation

ARTICLE I

OFFICES

 

Section 1.1 P RINCIPAL O FFICE

The principal office of Switch, Inc. (the “ Corporation ”) shall be at such location within or without the State of Nevada as may be determined from time to time by resolution of the board of directors of the Corporation (the “ Board of Directors ”).

 

Section 1.2 O THER O FFICES

Other offices and places of business either within or without the State of Nevada may be established from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors or as the business of the Corporation may require. The Corporation’s resident agent and the street address of the Corporation’s resident agent in Nevada shall be as determined by the Board of Directors from time to time.

ARTICLE II

STOCKHOLDERS

 

Section 2.1 A NNUAL M EETINGS

Annual meetings of the Stockholders of the Corporation (the “ Stockholders ”) shall be held on such date and at such time as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors. At the annual meeting, directors shall be elected and such other business, if any, may be transacted as may be brought before the meeting pursuant to this Section 2.1 . No business may be transacted at an annual meeting of Stockholders, other than business that is either (i) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof), (ii) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof) or (iii) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting by any Stockholder of the Corporation (A) who is a Stockholder of record on the date of the giving of the notice provided for in Section 2.13 and on the record date for the determination of Stockholders entitled to vote at such annual meeting and (B) who complies with the notice procedures set forth in Section 2.13 .


Section 2.2 S PECIAL M EETINGS

(a) Special meetings of Stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called only in the manner provided in Article 8 of the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation dated as of October 5, 2017 (as the same may be further amended, restated, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Articles of Incorporation ”). Special meetings validly called in accordance with Article 8 of the Articles of Incorporation may be held at such date and time as specified in the applicable notice. The Corporation may postpone, reschedule or cancel any special meeting of Stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors.

(b) No business shall be acted upon at a special meeting of Stockholders except as set forth in the notice of the meeting or matters incident to the conduct of the meeting as the presiding officer of the meeting shall determine to be appropriate.

 

Section 2.3 P LACE OF M EETINGS

Any meeting of the Stockholders may be held at any location in or out of the State of Nevada as may be designated in the notice of meeting. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that a meeting of Stockholders shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of electronic communications, videoconferencing, teleconferencing or other available technology authorized by and in accordance with Chapter 78 of the Nevada Revised Statutes (“ NRS ”).

 

Section 2.4 N OTICE OF M EETINGS ; W AIVER OF N OTICE

(a) The chief executive officer, if any, the president, a vice president, the secretary, an assistant secretary or any other individual designated by the Board of Directors shall sign and deliver or cause to be delivered to the Stockholders written notice of any Stockholders’ meeting not less than ten (10) days, but not more than sixty (60) days, before the date of such meeting. The notice shall state the place, date and time of the meeting, the means of electronic communications, videoconferencing, teleconferencing or other available technology, if any, by which Stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, the record date for determining the Stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different from the record date for Stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting) and, except in the case of the annual meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called.

(b) In the case of an annual meeting, subject to Section 2.13 hereof, any proper business may be presented for action, except that (i) if a proposed plan of merger, conversion or exchange is submitted to a vote, the notice of the meeting must state that the purpose, or one of the purposes, of the meeting is to consider the plan of merger, conversion or exchange and must contain or be accompanied by a copy or summary of the plan; and (ii) if a proposed action creating dissenters’ rights is to be submitted to a vote, the notice of the meeting must state that the Stockholders are or may be entitled to assert dissenters’ rights under NRS 92A.300 to 92A.500, inclusive, and be accompanied by a copy of those sections.

(c) A copy of the notice shall be personally delivered, mailed postage prepaid or sent by electronic communication as provided in NRS 75.150 to each Stockholder of record entitled

 

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to vote at the meeting at the address appearing on the records of the Corporation. If personally delivered or delivered by electronic communication (with confirmation of successful transmission), service of the notice is complete, and the time of the notice begins to run from the date upon which the notice is delivered or sent by electronic transmission. If mailed, service of the notice is complete, and the time of the notice begins to run from the date upon which the notice is deposited in the mail. Personal delivery of any such notice to any officer of a corporation or association, to any member of a limited-liability company managed by its members, to any manager of a limited-liability company managed by managers, to any general partner of a partnership or to any trustee of a trust constitutes delivery of the notice to the corporation, association, limited-liability company, partnership or trust.

(d) The written certificate of the individual signing a notice of meeting, setting forth the substance of the notice or having a copy thereof attached, the date the notice was mailed or personally delivered to the Stockholders and the addresses to which the notice was mailed, shall be prima facie evidence of the manner and fact of giving such notice.

(e) Any Stockholder may waive notice of any meeting by a signed writing, either before or after the meeting. Such waiver of notice shall be deemed the equivalent of the giving of such notice.

 

Section 2.5 D ETERMINATION OF S TOCKHOLDERS OF R ECORD

(a) For the purpose of determining the Stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting of Stockholders or any adjournment or postponement thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any distribution or the 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 directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not be more than sixty (60) days nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting, if applicable.

(b) If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining Stockholders: (i) entitled to notice of and to vote at a meeting of Stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held; and (ii) for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto. A determination of Stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of Stockholders shall apply to any adjournment or postponement of the meeting; provided , however , that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned or postponed meeting and must fix a new record date if the meeting is adjourned or postponed to a date more than sixty (60) days later than the meeting date set for the original meeting.

 

Section 2.6 Q UORUM ; A DJOURNED M EETINGS

(a) Unless the Articles of Incorporation provide for a different proportion, Stockholders holding at least a majority of the voting power of the Corporation’s outstanding shares of capital stock, represented in person or by proxy (regardless of whether the proxy has authority to vote, or express consent or dissent, on all matters), are necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting. If, on any issue, voting by classes or

 

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series is required by Chapter 78 or 92A of the NRS, the Articles of Incorporation or these Amended and Restated Bylaws adopted by the Board of Directors effective as of October 11, 2017 (as the same may be further amended, restated, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time, these “ Bylaws ”), at least a majority of the voting power, represented in person or by proxy (regardless of whether the proxy has authority to vote, or express consent or dissent, on all matters), within each such class or series is necessary to constitute a quorum of each such class or series.

(b) If a quorum is not represented, a majority of the voting power represented or the person presiding at the meeting may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum shall be represented. At any such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted as originally called. When a Stockholders’ meeting is adjourned to another time or place hereunder, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. However, if a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, notice of the adjourned meeting must be given to each Stockholder of record as of the new record date. The Stockholders present at a duly convened meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the departure of enough Stockholders to leave less than a quorum of the voting power.

 

Section 2.7 V OTING

(a) Unless otherwise provided in Chapter 78 of the NRS, the Articles of Incorporation, or the resolution providing for the issuance of preferred stock or series of common stock adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant to authority expressly vested in it by the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation (if any such authority is so vested), each Stockholder of record, or such Stockholder’s duly authorized proxy, shall be entitled to one (1) vote for each share of voting stock standing registered in such Stockholder’s name at the close of business on the record date.

(b) If a quorum is present, unless the Articles of Incorporation, these Bylaws, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, Chapter 78 of the NRS or other applicable law provide for a different proportion, action by the Stockholders entitled to vote on a matter, other than the election of directors, is approved by and is the act of the Stockholders if the number of votes cast in favor of the action exceeds the number of votes cast in opposition to the action, unless voting by classes or series is required for any action of the Stockholders by Chapter 78 or 92A of the NRS, the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws, in which case the number of votes cast in favor of the action by the voting power of each such class or series must exceed the number of votes cast in opposition to the action by the voting power of each such class or series.

(c) If a quorum is present, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast.

(d) In determining the right to vote shares of the Corporation pursuant to this Section 2.7 or otherwise, the Corporation may rely on any instruments or statements presented to it, provided that the Corporation has the right, but not the obligation, to require and review such proof of ownership and voting rights as it determines in good faith. The Corporation is entitled to

 

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reject a vote, consent, waiver, or proxy appointment if the secretary or other officer or agent authorized to tabulate votes, acting in good faith, has reasonable basis for doubt about the validity of the signature on it or about the signatory’s authority to sign for the Stockholder. All decisions of the Corporation shall be valid and binding unless and until a court of competent jurisdiction determines otherwise.

 

Section 2.8 P ROXIES

Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of Stockholders or to express dissent to a corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize, in a manner permitted by Chapter 78 of the NRS, another person or persons to act for such Stockholder by proxy. Every proxy shall continue in full force and effect until its expiration or revocation in a manner permitted by Chapter 78 of the NRS. At any meeting of Stockholders, any holder of shares entitled to vote may designate, in a manner permitted by Chapter 78 of the NRS, another person or persons to act as a proxy or proxies. Every proxy shall continue in full force and effect until its expiration or revocation in a manner permitted by Chapter 78 of the NRS.

 

Section 2.9 N O A CTION W ITHOUT A M EETING

Except as expressly provided by, and in accordance with, the Articles of Incorporation, no action shall be taken by the Stockholders except at an annual or special meeting of Stockholders called and noticed in the manner required by these Bylaws, nor may the Stockholders under any circumstance take action by written consent in lieu of a meeting of Stockholders.

 

Section 2.10 O RGANIZATION

(a) Meetings of Stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board, or, in the absence of the Chairman, by the Lead Independent Director, or in the absence of the Lead Independent Director, the chief executive officer, if any, or, in the absence of the chief executive officer, by the president, if any, or, in the absence of the foregoing persons, by a chairman designated by the Board of Directors, or, in the absence of such designation by the Board of Directors, by a chairman chosen at the meeting by the Stockholders entitled to cast a majority of the votes which all Stockholders present in person or by proxy are entitled to cast. The secretary, or in the absence of the secretary an assistant secretary, shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in the absence of the secretary and any assistant secretary the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting. The order of business at each such meeting shall be as determined by the chairman of the meeting. The chairman of the meeting shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts and things as are necessary or desirable for the proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, the establishment of procedures for the maintenance of order and safety, limitation on the time allotted to questions or comments on the affairs of the Corporation, restrictions on entry to such meeting after the time prescribed for the commencement thereof and the opening and closing of the voting polls.

(b) The chairman of the meeting may appoint one or more inspectors of elections. The inspector or inspectors may (i) ascertain the number of shares outstanding and the voting

 

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power of each; (ii) determine the number of shares represented at a meeting and the validity of proxies or ballots; (iii) count all votes and ballots; (iv) determine any challenges made to any determination made by the inspector(s); and (v) certify the determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting and the count of all votes and ballots.

 

Section 2.11 A BSENTEES ’ C ONSENT TO M EETINGS

Transactions of any meeting of the Stockholders are as valid as though had at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice if a quorum is represented, either in person or by proxy, and if, either before or after the meeting, each of the persons entitled to vote, not represented in person or by proxy (and those who, although present, either object at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting has not been lawfully called or convened or expressly object at the meeting to the consideration of matters not included in the notice which are legally or by the terms of these Bylaws required to be included therein), signs a written waiver of notice and/or consent to the holding of the meeting or an approval of the minutes thereof. All such waivers, consents, and approvals shall be filed with the corporate records and made a part of the minutes of the meeting. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person objects at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called, noticed or convened and except that attendance at a meeting is not a waiver of any right to object to the consideration of matters not properly included in the notice if such objection is expressly made at the time any such matters are presented at the meeting. Neither the business to be transacted at nor the purpose of any regular or special meeting of Stockholders need be specified in any written waiver of notice or consent, except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws.

 

Section 2.12 D IRECTOR N OMINATIONS

Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of preferred stock to nominate and elect directors, nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation may be made by the Board of Directors, by a committee appointed by the Board of Directors, or by any Stockholder of record entitled to vote in the election of directors who complies with the notice procedures set forth in Section 2.13 .

 

Section 2.13 A DVANCE N OTICE OF S TOCKHOLDER P ROPOSALS AND D IRECTOR N OMINATIONS BY S TOCKHOLDERS

(a) Annual Meetings of Stockholders .

(i) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of other business to be considered by the Stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of Stockholders only (A) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto), (B) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or a committee appointed by the Board of Directors or (C) by any Stockholder who (1) was a Stockholder of record at the time the notice provided for in this Section 2.13 is delivered to the Secretary, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.13 or (2) properly made such proposal in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (as so amended and inclusive of such rules and regulations, the “ Exchange Act ”), which proposal has been included in the proxy statement for the annual meeting.

 

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(ii) For any nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a Stockholder pursuant to Section 2.13(a)(ii)(C) of these Bylaws, the Stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary and must provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 2.13 , and any such proposed business (other than the nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors) must constitute a proper matter for Stockholder action. To be timely, a Stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day, nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day, prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting ( provided, however , that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than seventy (70) days after such anniversary date, notice by the Stockholder must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation). In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a Stockholder’s notice as described above. To be in proper form, such Stockholder’s notice must:

 

  (A) as to each person whom the Stockholder proposes to nominate for election as a director of the Corporation, set forth (I) all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (II) such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director of the Corporation if elected and (III) such other information regarding such person as may reasonably be requested by the Board of Directors in writing prior to the meeting of Stockholders at which such candidate’s nomination is to be acted upon in order for the Board of Directors to determine the eligibility of such candidate for nomination to be an independent director of the Corporation in accordance with the Corporation’s Corporate Governance Guidelines adopted by the Board of Directors and as amended from time to time;

 

  (B) with respect to each nominee for election or reelection to the Board of Directors, include the completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by Section 2.14 of these Bylaws;

 

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  (C) as to any other business that the Stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, set forth (I) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, (II) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend these Bylaws, the language of the proposed amendment), (III) the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such Stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, and (IV) any other information relating to such item of business that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting pursuant to Section 14A of the Exchange Act; and

 

  (D)

as to the Stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made, set forth (I) the name and address of such Stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner, (II) the class or series and number of shares of stock which are owned beneficially and of record by such Stockholder and such beneficial owner, except that such Stockholder shall in all events be deemed to beneficially own any shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation as to which such Stockholder has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future, (III) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to the nomination or proposal between or among such Stockholder and/or such beneficial owner, any of their respective affiliates or associates, and any others acting in concert with any of the foregoing, including, in the case of a nomination, the nominee, (IV) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation or similar rights, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of the date of the Stockholder’s notice by, or on behalf of, such Stockholder and such beneficial owners, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in underlying shares of Stock, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such Stockholder or such beneficial owner, with respect to securities of the Corporation, (V) a representation that the Stockholder is a holder of record of stock entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the

 

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  meeting to propose such business or nomination, (VI) a representation whether the Stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, intends or is part of a group which intends (x) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of outstanding stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or elect the nominee and/or (y) otherwise to solicit proxies or votes from Stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination, (VII) any material pending or threatened legal proceeding in which such Stockholder is a party or material participant involving the Corporation or any of its officers or directors, or any affiliate of the Corporation, (VIII) any other material relationship between such Stockholder, on the one hand, and the Corporation or any affiliate of the Corporation, on the other hand, and (IX) any other information relating to such Stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in an election contest pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14A of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

The foregoing notice requirements of this Section 2.13(a) shall be deemed satisfied by a Stockholder with respect to business other than a nomination for election as a director of the Corporation if the Stockholder has notified the Corporation of his, her or its intention to present a proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act and such Stockholder’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting. The Corporation may require any proposed nominee for election as a director of the Corporation to furnish such other information as the Corporation may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation.

(iii) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of Section 2.13(a)(ii) of these Bylaws to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors at the annual meeting is increased effective after the time period for which nominations would otherwise be due under Section 2.13(a)(ii) of these Bylaws and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming the nominees for the additional directorships at least one hundred (100) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a Stockholder’s notice required by this Section 2.13 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for the additional directorships, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

(b) Special Meetings of Stockholders . Except to the extent required by law, special meetings of Stockholders may be called only in accordance with Article 8 of the Articles of Incorporation. The only business to be conducted at a special meeting of Stockholders is that

 

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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 a committee appointed by the Board of Directors or (2) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any Stockholder who is a Stockholder of record at the time the notice provided for in this Section 2.13 is delivered to the Secretary, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and upon such election and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.13 . 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 Section 2.13(a)(ii) of these Bylaws (including the completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by Section 2.14 of these Bylaws and any other information, documents, affidavits, or certifications required by the Corporation) shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a Stockholder’s notice as described above.

(c) General .

(i) Except as otherwise expressly provided in any applicable rule or regulation promulgated under the Exchange Act, only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.13 shall be eligible to be elected at an annual or special meeting of Stockholders to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of Stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.13 . Except as otherwise provided by law, the chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty (A) to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.13 (including whether the Stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made or solicited (or is part of a group which solicited) or did not so solicit, as the case may be, proxies or votes in support of such Stockholder’s nominee or proposal in compliance with such Stockholder’s representation as required by Section 2.13(a)(ii)(D)(VI) of these Bylaws) and (B) if any proposed nomination or business was not made or proposed in compliance with this Section 2.13 , to declare that such nomination shall be disregarded or that such proposed business shall not be transacted. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.13 , unless otherwise required by law, if the Stockholder (or a qualified representative of the Stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of Stockholders to present a nomination or proposed business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that

 

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proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this Section 2.13 , 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.

(ii) For purposes of this Section 2.13 , “ public announcement ” shall include disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or other national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.13 , a Stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 2.13 ; provided, however , that any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit any requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to this Section 2.13 (including clause (a)(ii)(C) ) hereof and clause (b)  hereof), and compliance with clauses (a)(ii)(C) and (b)  of this Section 2.13 shall be the exclusive means for a Stockholder to make nominations or submit other business (other than, as provided in the penultimate sentence of clause (a)(i) hereof, business other than nominations brought properly under and in compliance with Rule 14a-8 promulgated under the Exchange Act, as may be amended from time to time). Nothing in this Section 2.13 shall be deemed to affect any rights (x) of Stockholders to request inclusion of proposals or nominations in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act or (y) of the holders of any series of preferred stock of the Corporation to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of the Articles of Incorporation.

(iv) A Stockholder providing notice of its intent to propose business or to nominate a person for election to the Board of Directors shall update and supplement its notice to the Corporation, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 2.13 shall be true and correct as of the record date for notice of the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for notice of the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of such record date), and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any adjournment or postponement thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been adjourned or postponed) (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof).

 

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Section 2.14 S UBMISSION OF Q UESTIONNAIRE , R EPRESENTATION AND A GREEMENT

To be eligible to be a nominee for election or reelection as a director of the Corporation, the candidate for nomination must have previously delivered (in accordance with the time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under Section 2.13 of these Bylaws), to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, (a) a completed written questionnaire (in a form provided by the Corporation) with respect to the background, qualifications, stock ownership and independence of such proposed nominee and (b) a written representation and agreement (in form provided by the Corporation) that such candidate for nomination (i) is not and, if elected as a director during his or her term of office, will not become a party to (A) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given and will not give any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such proposed nominee, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “ Voting Commitment ”) or (B) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such proposed nominee’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such proposed nominee’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (ii) is not, and will not become a party to, any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation or reimbursement for service as a director and (iii) if elected as a director of the Corporation, will comply with all applicable corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality, stock ownership and trading and other policies and guidelines of the Corporation applicable to directors and in effect during such person’s term in office as a director of the Corporation (and, if requested by any candidate for nomination, the Secretary shall provide to such candidate for nomination all such policies and guidelines then in effect).

ARTICLE III

DIRECTORS

 

Section 3.1 G ENERAL P OWERS ; P ERFORMANCE OF D UTIES

The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors, except as otherwise provided in Chapter 78 of the NRS or the Articles of Incorporation.

 

Section 3.2 N UMBER , T ENURE , AND Q UALIFICATIONS

The total number of directors constituting the entire Board of Directors shall be fixed in the manner provided in the Articles of Incorporation. The number of directors shall be no less than one (1) director and no more than fifteen (15) directors. Directors need not be Stockholders. Each director shall hold office until his or her successor shall be elected or appointed and qualified or until his or her earlier death, retirement, disqualification, resignation or removal. No reduction of the number of directors shall have the effect of removing any director prior to the expiration of his or her term of office. No provision of this Section 3.2 shall be restrictive upon the right of the Board of Directors to fill vacancies or upon the right of the Stockholders to remove directors as is hereinafter provided.

 

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Section 3.3 C HAIRMAN OF THE B OARD

The Board of Directors shall elect a Chairman of the Board from the members of the Board of Directors who shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and Stockholders at which he or she shall be present and shall have and may exercise such powers as may, from time to time, be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors, these Bylaws or as may be provided by applicable law.

 

Section 3.4 L EAD I NDEPENDENT D IRECTOR

In the event that the Board of Directors elects a Chairman of the Board who is an employee of the Corporation, the Board may also elect a Lead Independent Director who shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and Stockholders at which he or she shall be present and the Chairman of the Board is not present and shall have and may exercise such powers as may, from time to time, be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors, these Bylaws or as may be provided by law.

 

Section 3.5 R EMOVAL AND R ESIGNATION OF D IRECTORS

A director may be removed from the Board of Directors by the Stockholders only as provided in the Articles of Incorporation. Any director may resign effective upon giving written notice, unless the notice specifies a later time for effectiveness of such resignation, to the Chairman of the Board, if any, the president or the secretary, or in the absence of all of them, any other officer.

 

Section 3.6 V ACANCIES ; N EWLY C REATED D IRECTORSHIPS

Vacancies on the Board of Directors shall be filled in the manner provided by the Articles of Incorporation. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent directors.

 

Section 3.7 R EGULAR M EETINGS

Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at such places, if any, within or without the State of Nevada and at such times as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.

 

Section 3.8 S PECIAL M EETINGS

Except as otherwise required by law, and subject to any rights of the holders of preferred stock, special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called only by the Chairman of the Board, if any, or if there be no Chairman of the Board, by any of the chief executive officer, if any, the president or the secretary, and shall be called by the Chairman of the Board, if any, the chief executive officer, if any, the president or the secretary upon the request of at least a majority of the authorized number of directors. If the Chairman of the Board, or if there be no Chairman of the Board, each of the chief executive officer, if any, president and secretary, refuses or neglects to call such special meeting, a special meeting may be called by a written request signed by the Lead Independent Director or at least a majority of the directors in office.

 

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Section 3.9 P LACE OF M EETINGS

Any regular or special meeting of the directors of the Corporation may be held at such place as the Board of Directors, or in the absence of such designation, as the notice calling such meeting, may designate. A waiver of notice signed by the directors may designate any place for the holding of such meeting.

 

Section 3.10 N OTICE OF M EETINGS

Except as otherwise provided in Section 3.7 of these Bylaws, there shall be delivered to each director at the address appearing for him or her on the records of the Corporation, at least twenty-four (24) hours before the time of such meeting, a copy of a written notice of any meeting (a) by delivery of such notice personally, (b) by mailing such notice postage prepaid, (c) by facsimile, (d) by overnight courier, or (e) by electronic transmission or electronic writing, including, but not limited to, email. If mailed to an address inside the United States, the notice shall be deemed delivered two (2) business days following the date the same is deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid. If mailed to an address outside the United States, the notice shall be deemed delivered four (4) business days following the date the same is deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid. If sent via facsimile, by electronic transmission or electronic writing, including, but not limited to, email, the notice shall be deemed delivered upon sender’s receipt of confirmation of the successful transmission. If sent via overnight courier, the notice shall be deemed delivered the business day following the delivery of such notice to the courier. If the address of any director is incomplete or does not appear upon the records of the Corporation it will be sufficient to address any notice to such director at the registered office of the Corporation. Any director may waive notice of any meeting, and the attendance of a director at a meeting and oral consent entered on the minutes of such meeting shall constitute waiver of notice of the meeting unless such director objects, prior to the transaction of any business, that the meeting was not lawfully called, noticed or convened. Attendance for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of business thereat because the meeting was not properly called or convened shall not constitute presence or a waiver of notice for purposes hereof. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.

 

Section 3.11 Q UORUM ; A DJOURNED M EETINGS

(a) A majority of the directors constituting the Whole Board (as such term is defined in the Articles of Incorporation), at a meeting duly assembled, is necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; provided that , solely for the purposes of filling vacancies pursuant to Section 3.6 of these Bylaws, a meeting of the Board of Directors may be held if a majority of the directors then in office participate in such meeting.

(b) At any meeting of the Board of Directors where a quorum is not present, a majority of those present may adjourn, from time to time, until a quorum is present, and no notice of such adjournment shall be required. At any adjourned meeting where a quorum is present, any business may be transacted which could have been transacted at the meeting originally called.

 

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Section 3.12 M ANNER OF A CTING ; P RESUMPTION OF A SSENT

Except in cases in which the Articles of Incorporation, these Bylaws or applicable law otherwise provides, a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors. A director of the Corporation who is present at a meeting of the Board of Directors at which action on any corporate matter is taken shall be presumed to have assented to the action unless his dissent shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless he shall file his written dissent to such action with the person acting as secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall forward any dissent by certified or registered mail to the Secretary of the Corporation immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent shall not apply to a director who voted in favor of such action.

 

Section 3.13 T ELEPHONIC AND E LECTRONIC M EETINGS

Members of the Board of Directors or of any committee designated by the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee through electronic communications, videoconferencing, teleconferencing or other available technology for which the Corporation shall have implemented reasonable measures to: verify the identity of each person participating through such means as a director or committee, as the case may be; and provide the directors or members a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the directors or members, as the case may be, including an opportunity to communicate and to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting in a substantially concurrent manner with such proceedings. Participation in a meeting pursuant to this Section 3.13 constitutes presence in person at the meeting.

 

Section 3.14 A CTION W ITHOUT M EETING

Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if, before or after the action, a written consent thereto is signed by all of the members of the Board of Directors. The written consent may be signed in counterparts, including, without limitation, facsimile counterparts, and shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 3.15 P OWERS AND D UTIES

(a) Except as otherwise restricted by the laws of the State of Nevada or the Articles of Incorporation, the Board of Directors has full control over the business and affairs of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may delegate any of its authority to manage, control or conduct the business of the Corporation to any standing or special committee in accordance with Section 3.16 , or to any officer or agent, and to appoint any persons to be agents of the Corporation with such powers, including the power to sub-delegate, and upon such terms as may be deemed fit.

(b) The Board of Directors, in its discretion, or the officer of the Corporation presiding at a meeting of Stockholders, in his or her discretion, may (i) require that any votes cast at such meeting shall be cast by written ballot, and/or (ii) submit any contract or act for approval or ratification at any annual meeting of the Stockholders or any special meeting properly called and noticed for the purpose of considering any such contract or act, provided a quorum is present.

 

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Section 3.16 C OMMITTEES

Committees designated and appointed by the Board of Directors shall function subject to and in accordance with the following regulations and procedures:

(a) Designation and Appointment . The Board of Directors may designate and appoint one or more committees under such name or names and for such purpose or function as may be deemed appropriate or under no name.

(b) Members; Alternate Members; Terms . Each committee thus designated and appointed shall consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more of its members as alternate members of any committee, who may, subject to any limitations imposed by the entire Board of Directors, replace absent or disqualified members at any meeting of that committee. If the Board of Directors has not designated alternate members to a committee, then in the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee from a meeting, the member or members thereof present at such meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he, she or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at such meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member (“ substitute member ”). The members or alternate members of any such committee shall serve at the pleasure of and subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors.

(c) Authority . Each committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors creating same, shall have and may exercise such of the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation as the Board of Directors may direct and delegate, except, however, those matters which are required by statute to be reserved unto or acted upon by the entire Board of Directors.

(d) Records . Each such committee shall keep and maintain regular records or minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board of Directors when required.

(e) Change in Number . The number of members or alternate members of any committee appointed by the Board of Directors, as herein provided, may be increased or decreased from time to time by appropriate resolution adopted by of the Board of Directors.

(f) Vacancies . Vacancies in the membership of any committee designated and appointed hereunder shall be filled by the Board of Directors, at a regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors, in a manner consistent with the provisions of this Section 3.16 .

(g) Removal . Any member or alternate member of any committee appointed hereunder may be removed by the Board of Directors by the Board of Directors, whenever in its judgment the best interests of the Corporation will be served thereby.

(h) Meetings . The time, place and notice (if any) of committee meetings shall be determined by the members of such committee.

 

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(i) Quorum; Requisite Vote . At meetings of any committee appointed hereunder, a majority of the number of members designated by the Board of Directors to such committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. For purposes of determining the presence of a quorum, alternate members or substitute members acting in the place of members at a meeting shall be counted to the same extent as the members of the committee they are replacing; provided , however , that for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum, alternate members and substitute members (whether or not acting in the place of members at a meeting) shall not be included in the number of members designated by the Board of Directors to such committee. The act of a majority of the members (and to if acting in the place of members, alternate members or substitute members) of the committee present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of such committee, except as otherwise specifically provided by statute. If a quorum is not present at a meeting of such committee, the members of such committee present may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than an announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present.

(j) Compensation . Unless otherwise restricted by the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws, compensation for members and alternate members of any committee appointed pursuant to the authority hereof may be authorized by the Board of Directors pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.17 hereof or by a committee specifically authorized by the Board of Directors to authorize compensation.

(k) Action Without Meeting . Unless otherwise restricted by the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of any committee may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is signed by all members of such committee. Such consent shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote at a meeting. The signed consent, or a signed copy, shall become a part of the record of such committee.

 

Section 3.17 C OMPENSATION

The Board of Directors, without regard to personal interest, may establish the compensation of directors for services in any capacity. If the Board of Directors establishes the compensation of directors pursuant to this subsection, such compensation is presumed to be fair to the Corporation unless proven unfair by a preponderance of the evidence. The directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors or a stated salary or other compensation as a director. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Any director of the Corporation may decline any or all such compensation payable to such director in his or her discretion.

 

Section 3.18 O RGANIZATION

Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board, or in the absence of the Chairman of the Board by the Lead Independent Director, or in his or her absence by a chairman chosen at the meeting. The secretary, or in the absence of the secretary an assistant secretary, shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in the absence of the secretary and any assistant secretary the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting. The order of business at each such meeting shall be as determined by the chairman of the meeting.

 

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ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS

 

Section 4.1 E LECTION

The Board of Directors shall elect and appoint a president, a secretary and a treasurer. Said officers shall serve until their respective successors are elected and appointed and shall qualify or until their earlier resignation or removal. The Board of Directors may from time to time, by resolution, elect or appoint such other officers and agents as it may deem advisable, who shall hold office at the pleasure of the Board of Directors, and shall have such powers and duties and be paid such compensation as may be directed by the Board of Directors. Any individual may hold two or more offices.

 

Section 4.2 R EMOVAL ; R ESIGNATION

Any officer or agent elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed by the Board of Directors with or without cause. Any officer may resign at any time upon written notice to the Corporation. Any such removal or resignation shall be subject to the rights, if any, of the respective parties under any contract between the Corporation and such officer or agent.

 

Section 4.3 V ACANCIES

If any vacancy occurs in any office of the Corporation, the Board of Directors may appoint a successor to fill such vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term and until a successor shall have been duly chosen and qualified.

 

Section 4.4 C HIEF E XECUTIVE O FFICER

The Board of Directors may elect a chief executive officer who, subject to the supervision and control of the Board of Directors, shall have the ultimate responsibility for the management and control of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers which are delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors, these Bylaws or as may be provided by law.

 

Section 4.5 P RESIDENT

The president, subject to the supervision and control of the Board of Directors, shall in general actively supervise and control the business and affairs of the Corporation. The president shall keep the Board of Directors fully informed as the Board of Directors may request and shall consult the Board of Directors concerning the business of the Corporation. The president shall perform such other duties and have such other powers which are delegated and assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors if any, these Bylaws or as may be provided by law.

 

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Section 4.6 C HIEF F INANCIAL O FFICER

The Board of Directors may elect a Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall in general have overall supervision of the financial operations of the Corporation. The president shall perform such other duties and have such other powers which are delegated and assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors if any, these Bylaws or as may be provided by law.

 

Section 4.7 V ICE P RESIDENTS

The Board of Directors may elect one or more vice presidents. In the absence or disability of the president, or at the president’s request, the vice president or vice presidents, in order of their rank as fixed by the Board of Directors, and if not ranked, the vice presidents in the order designated by the Board of Directors, or in the absence of such designation, in the order designated by the president, shall perform all of the duties of the president, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of, and be subject to all the restrictions on the president. Each vice president shall perform such other duties and have such other powers which are delegated and assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors, the president, these Bylaws or as may be provided by law.

 

Section 4.8 S ECRETARY

The secretary shall attend all meetings of the Stockholders, the Board of Directors and any committees, and shall keep, or cause to be kept, the minutes of proceeds thereof in books provided for that purpose. He or she shall keep, or cause to be kept, a register of the Stockholders and shall be responsible for the giving of notice of meetings of the Stockholders, the Board of Directors and any committees, and shall see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or as required by law. The secretary shall be custodian of the corporate seal, the records of the Corporation, the stock certificate books, transfer books and stock ledgers, and such other books and papers as the Board of Directors or appropriate committee may direct. The secretary shall perform all other duties commonly incident to his or her office and shall perform such other duties which are assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, if any, the president, these Bylaws or as may be provided by law.

 

Section 4.9 A SSISTANT S ECRETARIES

An assistant secretary shall, at the request of the secretary, or in the absence or disability of the secretary, perform all the duties of the secretary. He or she shall perform such other duties as are assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, if any, the president, these Bylaws or as may be provided by law.

 

Section 4.10 T REASURER

The treasurer, subject to the order of the Board of Directors, shall have the care and custody of, and be responsible for, all of the money, funds, securities, receipts and valuable papers, documents and instruments of the Corporation, and all books and records relating thereto. The treasurer shall keep, or cause to be kept, full and accurate books of accounts of the

 

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Corporation’s transactions, which shall be the property of the Corporation, and shall render financial reports and statements of condition of the Corporation when so requested by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, if any, the chief executive officer, if any, or the president. The treasurer shall perform all other duties commonly incident to his or her office and such other duties as may, from time to time, be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, if any, the president, these Bylaws or as may be provided by law. The treasurer shall, if required by the Board of Directors, give bond to the Corporation in such sum and with such security as shall be approved by the Board of Directors for the faithful performance of all the duties of the treasurer and for restoration to the Corporation, in the event of the treasurer’s death, resignation, retirement or removal from office, of all books, records, papers, vouchers, money and other property in the treasurer’s custody or control and belonging to the Corporation. The expense of such bond shall be borne by the Corporation. If a chief financial officer of the Corporation has not been appointed, the treasurer may be deemed the chief financial officer of the Corporation.

 

Section 4.11 A SSISTANT T REASURERS

An assistant treasurer shall, at the request of the treasurer, or in the absence or disability of the treasurer, perform all the duties of the treasurer. He or she shall perform such other duties which are assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, the president, the treasurer, these Bylaws or as may be provided by law. The Board of Directors may require an assistant treasurer to give a bond to the Corporation in such sum and with such security as it may approve, for the faithful performance of the duties of the assistant treasurer, and for restoration to the Corporation, in the event of the assistant treasurer’s death, resignation, retirement or removal from office, of all books, records, papers, vouchers, money and other property in the assistant treasurer’s custody or control and belonging to the Corporation. The expense of such bond shall be borne by the Corporation.

 

Section 4.12 E XECUTION OF N EGOTIABLE I NSTRUMENTS , D EEDS AND C ONTRACTS

All checks, drafts, notes, bonds, bills of exchange, and orders for the payment of money of the Corporation; all deeds, mortgages, proxies, powers of attorney and other written contracts, documents, instruments and agreements to which the Corporation shall be a party; and all assignments or endorsements of stock certificates, registered bonds or other securities owned by the Corporation shall be signed in the name of the Corporation by such officers or other persons as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate. The Board of Directors may authorize the use of the facsimile signatures of any such persons. Any officer of the Corporation shall be authorized to attend, act and vote, or designate another officer or an agent of the Corporation to attend, act and vote, at any meeting of the owners of any entity in which the Corporation may own an interest or to take action by written consent in lieu thereof. Such officer or agent, at any such meeting or by such written action, shall possess and may exercise on behalf of the Corporation any and all rights and powers incident to the ownership of such interest.

 

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ARTICLE V

CAPITAL STOCK

 

Section 5.1 I SSUANCE

Shares of the Corporation’s authorized stock shall, subject to any provisions or limitations of the laws of the State of Nevada, the Articles of Incorporation or any contracts or agreements to which the Corporation may be a party, be issued in such manner, at such times, upon such conditions and for such consideration as shall be prescribed by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 5.2 S TOCK C ERTIFICATES AND U NCERTIFICATED S HARES

(a) Every holder of stock in the Corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by or in the name of the Corporation by the chief executive officer, if any, the president or a vice president, and by the secretary or an assistant secretary, of the Corporation (or any other two officers or agents so authorized by the Board of Directors), certifying the number of shares of stock owned by him, her or it in the Corporation; provided , however , that the Board of Directors may authorize the issuance of uncertificated shares of some or all of any or all classes or series of the Corporation’s stock. Any such issuance of uncertificated shares shall have no effect on existing certificates for shares until such certificates are surrendered to the Corporation, or on the respective rights and obligations of the Stockholders. Whenever such certificate is countersigned or otherwise authenticated by a transfer agent or a transfer clerk and by a registrar (other than the Corporation), then a facsimile of the signatures of any corporate officers or agents, the transfer agent, transfer clerk or the registrar of the Corporation may be printed or lithographed upon the certificate in lieu of the actual signatures. In the event that any officer or officers who have signed, or whose facsimile signatures have been used on any certificate or certificates for stock cease to be an officer or officers because of death, resignation or other reason, before the certificate or certificates for stock have been delivered by the Corporation, the certificate or certificates may nevertheless be adopted by the Corporation and be issued and delivered as though the person or persons who signed the certificate or certificates, or whose facsimile signature or signatures have been used thereon, had not ceased to be an officer or officers of the Corporation.

(b) Within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of uncertificated shares, the Corporation shall send to the registered owner thereof a written statement certifying the number of shares owned by him, her or it in the Corporation and, at least annually thereafter, the Corporation shall provide to such Stockholders of record holding uncertificated shares, a written statement confirming the information contained in such written statement previously sent. Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, the rights and obligations of the Stockholders shall be identical whether or not their shares of stock are represented by certificates.

(c) Each certificate representing shares shall state the following upon the face thereof: the name of the state of the Corporation’s organization; the name of the person to whom issued; the number and class of shares and the designation of the series, if any, which such certificate represents; the par value of each share, if any, represented by such certificate or a statement that the shares are without par value. Certificates of stock shall be in such form consistent with law as shall be prescribed by the Board of Directors. No certificate shall be

 

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issued until the shares represented thereby are fully paid. In addition to the foregoing, all certificates evidencing shares of the Corporation’s stock or other securities issued by the Corporation shall contain such legend or legends as may from time to time be required by the Chapter 78 of the NRS and/or such other federal, state or local laws or regulations then in effect.

 

Section 5.3 S URRENDERED ; L OST OR D ESTROYED C ERTIFICATES

All certificates surrendered to the Corporation, except those representing shares of treasury stock, shall be canceled and no new certificate shall be issued until the former certificate for a like number of shares shall have been canceled, except that in case of a lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated certificate, a new one may be issued therefor. However, any Stockholder applying for the issuance of a stock certificate in lieu of one alleged to have been lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated shall, prior to the issuance of a replacement, provide the Corporation with his, her or its affidavit of the facts surrounding the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation and, if required by the Board of Directors, an indemnity bond in an amount satisfactory to the Board of Directors or an authorized officer which amount may be in excess of the current market value of the stock, and upon such terms as the treasurer, other officer who is so authorized, or the Board of Directors shall require which shall indemnify the Corporation against any loss, damage, cost or inconvenience arising as a consequence of the issuance of a replacement certificate.

 

Section 5.4 R EPLACEMENT C ERTIFICATE

When the Articles of Incorporation are amended in any way affecting the statements contained in the certificates for outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation or it becomes desirable for any reason, in the discretion of the Board of Directors, including, without limitation, the merger of the Corporation with another Corporation or the conversion or reorganization of the Corporation, to cancel any outstanding certificate for shares and issue a new certificate therefor conforming to the rights of the holder, the Board of Directors may order any holders of outstanding certificates for shares to surrender and exchange the same for new certificates within a reasonable time to be fixed by the Board of Directors. The order may provide that a holder of any certificate(s) ordered to be surrendered shall not be entitled to vote, receive distributions or exercise any other rights of Stockholders of record until the holder has complied with the order, but the order operates to suspend such rights only after notice and until compliance.

 

Section 5.5 T RANSFER OF S HARES

No transfer of stock shall be valid as against the Corporation except on surrender and cancellation of the certificates therefor accompanied by an assignment or transfer by the registered owner made either in person or under assignment. Whenever any transfer shall be expressly made for collateral security and not absolutely, the collateral nature of the transfer shall be reflected in the entry of transfer in the records of the Corporation. Subject to the provisions hereof, the Corporation shall register the transfer of a certificate evidencing shares of its capital stock presented to it for transfer if:

(a) Endorsement . Upon surrender of the certificate to the Corporation (or its transfer agent, as the case may be) for transfer, the certificate (or an appended stock power) is properly endorsed by the registered owner, or by his duly authorized legal representative or attorney-in-fact, with proper written evidence of the authority and appointment of such representative, if any, accompanying the certificate;

 

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(b) Guaranty and Effectiveness of Signature . The signature of such registered owner or his legal representative or attorney-in-fact, as the case may be, has been guaranteed by a national banking association or member of the New York Stock Exchange, and reasonable assurance in a form satisfactory to the Corporation is given that such endorsements are genuine and effective;

(c) Adverse Claims . The Corporation has no notice of an adverse claim or has otherwise discharged any duty to inquire into such a claim;

(d) Collection of Taxes . Any applicable law (local, state or federal) relating to the collection of taxes relative to the transaction has been complied with; and

(e) Additional Requirements Satisfied . Such additional conditions and documentation as the Corporation (or its transfer agent, as the case may be) shall reasonably require, including without limitation thereto, the delivery with the surrender of such stock certificate or certificates of proper evidence of succession, assignment or other authority to obtain transfer thereof, as the circumstances may require, and such legal opinions with reference to the requested transfer as shall be required by the Corporation (or its transfer agent) pursuant to the provisions of these Bylaws and applicable law, shall have been satisfied.

 

Section 5.6 T RANSFER A GENT ; R EGISTRARS

The Board of Directors may appoint one or more transfer agents, transfer clerks and registrars of transfer and may require all certificates for shares of stock to bear the signature of such transfer agents, transfer clerks and/or registrars of transfer.

 

Section 5.7 M ISCELLANEOUS

The Board of Directors shall have the power and authority to make such rules and regulations not inconsistent herewith as it may deem expedient concerning the issue, transfer, and registration of certificates for shares of the Corporation’s stock.

ARTICLE VI

DISTRIBUTIONS

Distributions may be declared, subject to the provisions of the laws of the State of Nevada and the Articles of Incorporation, by the Board of Directors and may be paid in cash, property, shares of corporate stock, or any other medium. The Board of Directors may fix in advance a record date, as provided in Section 2.5 hereof, prior to the distribution for the purpose of determining Stockholders entitled to receive any distribution.

 

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ARTICLE VII

RECORDS; REPORTS; SEAL; AND FINANCIAL MATTERS

 

Section 7.1 R ECORDS

All original records of the Corporation shall be kept at the principal office of the Corporation by or under the direction of the secretary or at such other place or by such other person as may be prescribed by these Bylaws or the Board of Directors.

 

Section 7.2 C ORPORATE S EAL

The Board of Directors may, by resolution, authorize a seal, and the seal may be used by causing it, or a facsimile, to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise. Except when otherwise specifically provided herein, any officer of the Corporation shall have the authority to affix the seal to any document requiring it.

 

Section 7.3 F ISCAL Y EAR -E ND

The fiscal year-end of the Corporation shall be such date as may be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VIII

INDEMNIFICATION

 

Section 8.1 I NDEMNIFICATION AND I NSURANCE

(a) Indemnification of Directors and Officers .

(i) For purposes of this Article, (A) “ Indemnitee ” shall mean each director or officer who was or is a party to, or is threatened to be made a party to, or is otherwise involved in, any Proceeding (as hereinafter defined), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or member, manager or managing member of a predecessor limited liability company or affiliate of such limited liability company or is or was serving in any capacity at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, agent, partner, member, manager or fiduciary of, or in any other capacity for, another corporation or any partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust, or other enterprise; and (B) “ Proceeding ” shall mean any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit or proceeding (including, without limitation, an action, suit or proceeding by or in the right of the Corporation), whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative.

(ii) Each Indemnitee shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by Nevada law, against all expense, liability and loss (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, taxes, penalties, and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by the Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding; provided that such Indemnitee either is not liable pursuant to NRS 78.138 or acted in good faith and in a manner such Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation and,

 

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with respect to any Proceeding that is criminal in nature, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful. The termination of any Proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, does not, of itself, create a presumption that the Indemnitee is liable pursuant to NRS 78.138 or did not act in good faith and in a manner in which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, or that, with respect to any criminal proceeding he or she had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful. The Corporation shall not indemnify an Indemnitee for any claim, issue or matter as to which the Indemnitee has been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction, after exhaustion of all appeals therefrom, to be liable to the Corporation or for any amounts paid in settlement to the Corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the Proceeding was brought or other court of competent jurisdiction determines upon application that in view of all the circumstances of the case, the Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such amounts as the court deems proper. Except as so ordered by a court and for advancement of expenses pursuant to this Section 8.1 , indemnification may not be made to or on behalf of an Indemnitee if a final adjudication establishes that his or her acts or omissions involved intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of law and was material to the cause of action. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in these Bylaws, no director or officer may be indemnified for expenses incurred in defending any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit or proceeding (including without limitation, an action, suit or proceeding by or in the right of the Corporation), whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, that such director or officer incurred in his or her capacity as a Stockholder.

(iii) Indemnification pursuant to this Section 8.1 shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director or officer of the Corporation or member, manager or managing member of a predecessor limited liability company or affiliate of such limited liability company or a director, officer, employee, agent, partner, member, manager or fiduciary of, or to serve in any other capacity for, another corporation or any partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust, or other enterprise and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators.

(iv) The expenses of Indemnitees must be paid by the Corporation or through insurance purchased and maintained by the Corporation or through other financial arrangements made by the Corporation, as they are incurred and in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director or officer to repay the amount if it is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation. To the extent that a director or officer of the Corporation is successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any Proceeding, or in the defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, the Corporation shall indemnify him or her against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and reasonably incurred in by him or her in connection with the defense.

(b) Indemnification of Employees and Other Persons . The Corporation may, by action of its Board of Directors and to the extent provided in such action, indemnify employees and other persons as though they were Indemnitees.

 

25


(c) Non-Exclusivity of Rights . The rights to indemnification provided in this Article VIII shall not be exclusive of any other rights that any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws, agreement, vote of Stockholders or directors, or otherwise.

(d) Insurance . The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance or make other financial arrangements on behalf of any Indemnitee for any liability asserted against him or her and liability and expenses incurred by him or her in his or her capacity as a director, officer, employee, member, managing member or agent, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Corporation has the authority to indemnify him or her against such liability and expenses.

(e) Other Financial Arrangements . The other financial arrangements which may be made by the Corporation may include the following: (i) the creation of a trust fund; (ii) the establishment of a program of self-insurance; (iii) the securing of its obligation of indemnification by granting a security interest or other lien on any assets of the Corporation; (iv) the establishment of a letter of credit, guarantee or surety. No financial arrangement made pursuant to this subsection may provide protection for a person adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction, after exhaustion of all appeals therefrom, to be liable for intentional misconduct, fraud, or a knowing violation of law, except with respect to advancement of expenses or indemnification ordered by a court.

(f) Other Matters Relating to Insurance or Financial Arrangements . Any insurance or other financial arrangement made on behalf of a person pursuant to this Section 8.1 may be provided by the Corporation or any other person approved by the Board of Directors, even if all or part of the other person’s stock or other securities is owned by the Corporation. In the absence of fraud (i) the decision of the Board of Directors as to the propriety of the terms and conditions of any insurance or other financial arrangement made pursuant to this Section 8.1 and the choice of the person to provide the insurance or other financial arrangement is conclusive; and (ii) the insurance or other financial arrangement is not void or voidable and does not subject any director approving it to personal liability for his action; even if a director approving the insurance or other financial arrangement is a beneficiary of the insurance or other financial arrangement.

 

Section 8.2 A MENDMENT

Notwithstanding any other provision of these Bylaws relating to their amendment generally, any repeal or amendment of this Article VIII which is adverse to any director or officer shall apply to such director or officer only on a prospective basis, and shall not limit the rights of an Indemnitee to indemnification with respect to any action or failure to act occurring prior to the time of such repeal or amendment.

ARTICLE IX

CHANGES IN NEVADA LAW

References in these Bylaws to Nevada law or the NRS or to any provision thereof shall be to such law as it existed on the date these Bylaws were adopted or as such law thereafter may be changed; provided that (a) in the case of any change which expands the liability of directors

 

26


or officers or limits the indemnification rights or the rights to advancement of expenses which the Corporation may provide in Article VIII hereof, the rights to limited liability, to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses provided in the Articles of Incorporation and/or these Bylaws shall continue as theretofore to the extent permitted by law; and (b) if such change permits the Corporation, without the requirement of any further action by Stockholders or directors, to limit further the liability of directors or limit the liability of officers or to provide broader indemnification rights or rights to the advancement of expenses than the Corporation was permitted to provide prior to such change, then liability thereupon shall be so limited and the rights to indemnification and the advancement of expenses shall be so broadened to the extent permitted by law.

ARTICLE X

AMENDMENT OR REPEAL

 

Section 10.1 A MENDMENT OF B YLAWS

These Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed, and new bylaws made, only by the affirmative vote of (a) a majority of the Board of Directors or (b) Stockholders representing at least two-thirds or more of the votes eligible to be cast in an election of Directors.

 

27

Exhibit 10.1

 

 

 

TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

by and among

SWITCH, INC.

SWITCH, LTD. and

THE MEMBERS OF SWITCH, LTD.

FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO

Dated as of October 5, 2017

 

 

 


CONTENTS

 

         Page  

Article I. DEFINITIONS

     2  

Section 1.1

 

Definitions

     2  

Section 1.2

 

Rules of Construction

     9  

Article II. DETERMINATION OF REALIZED TAX BENEFIT

     10  

Section 2.1

 

Basis Adjustments; Switch, Ltd. 754 Election

     10  

Section 2.2

 

Basis Schedules

     11  

Section 2.3

 

Tax Benefit Schedules.

     11  

Section 2.4

 

Procedures; Amendments

     12  

Article III. TAX BENEFIT PAYMENTS

     13  

Section 3.1

 

Timing and Amount of Tax Benefit Payments

     13  

Section 3.2

 

No Duplicative Payments

     16  

Section 3.3

 

Pro-Ration of Payments as Between the Members

     16  

Article IV. TERMINATION

     17  

Section 4.1

 

Early Termination of Agreement; Breach of Agreement

     17  

Section 4.2

 

Early Termination Notice

     18  

Section 4.3

 

Payment upon Early Termination

     19  

Article V. SUBORDINATION AND LATE PAYMENTS

     20  

Section 5.1

 

Subordination

     20  

Section 5.2

 

Late Payments by the Corporation

     20  

Article VI. TAX MATTERS; CONSISTENCY; COOPERATION

     20  

Section 6.1

 

Participation in the Corporation’s and Switch, Ltd.’s Tax Matters

     20  

Section 6.2

 

Consistency

     20  

Section 6.3

 

Cooperation

     21  

Article VII. MISCELLANEOUS

     21  

Section 7.1

 

Notices

     21  

Section 7.2

 

Counterparts

     22  

Section 7.3

 

Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries

     22  

Section 7.4

 

Governing Law

     22  

Section 7.5

 

Severability

     22  

Section 7.6

 

Assignments; Amendments; Successors; No Waiver

     23  

Section 7.7

 

Titles and Subtitles

     24  

 

i


Section 7.8

 

Resolution of Disputes

     24  

Section 7.9

 

Reconciliation

     25  

Section 7.10

 

Withholding

     26  

Section 7.11

 

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

     26  

Section 7.12

 

Confidentiality

     26  

Section 7.13

 

Change in Law

     27  

Section 7.14

 

Interest Rate Limitation

     27  

Section 7.15

 

Independent Nature of Rights and Obligations

     28  

Section 7.16

 

Effectiveness

     28  

Exhibits

Exhibit A         -        Form of Joinder Agreement

 

ii


TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

This TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of October 5, 2017, is hereby entered into by and among Switch, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “ Corporation ”), Switch, Ltd., a Nevada limited liability company (“ Switch, Ltd. ”) and each of the Members from time to time party hereto. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the respective meanings set forth in Section 1.1 .

RECITALS

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

WHEREAS, each of the members of Switch, Ltd. as of the date hereof other than the Corporation (such members, together with each other Person who becomes party hereto by satisfying the Joinder Requirement, the “ Members ”) owns common limited liability company interests in Switch, Ltd. (the “ Units ”);

WHEREAS, the Corporation is the managing member of Switch, Ltd., and will be the registered owner of Units;

WHEREAS, on the date hereof, the Corporation agreed to issue shares of its Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “ Class A Common Stock ”) to certain purchasers in an initial public offering of its Class A Common Stock (the “ IPO ”);

WHEREAS, the Corporation will acquire newly issued Units directly from Switch, Ltd. using proceeds from the IPO;

WHEREAS, on and after the date hereof, pursuant to Article XI of the Operating Agreement, each Member has the right, in its sole discretion, from time to time to have all or a portion its Units redeemed by Switch, Ltd. for, at the Corporation’s election, cash or Class A Common Stock (a “ Redemption ”); provided that, at the election of the Corporation in its sole discretion, the Corporation may effect a direct exchange of such cash or shares of Class A Common Stock for such Units (a “ Direct Exchange ”);

WHEREAS, Switch, Ltd. will have in effect an election under Section 754 of the Code as provided under Section 2.1(b) for the Taxable Year in which any Exchange occurs, which election will result in an adjustment to the Corporation’s share of the tax basis of the assets owned by Switch, Ltd. and its relevant subsidiaries (including any subsidiaries that are classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes and have made an election under Section 754 of the Code) (Switch, Ltd. and its relevant subsidiaries, the “ Switch, Ltd. Group ”), as of the date of the Exchange, with a consequent result on the taxable income subsequently derived therefrom; and

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


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

ARTICLE I.

DEFINITIONS

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

10% Member ” is defined in Section 6.1 of this Agreement.

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

Actual Tax Liability ” means, with respect to any Taxable Year, the liability for Covered Taxes of the Corporation (a) appearing on Tax Returns of the Corporation for such Taxable Year and (b) if applicable, determined in accordance with a Determination (including interest imposed in respect thereof under applicable law).

Advisory Firm ” means an accounting firm that is nationally recognized as being expert in Covered Tax matters, selected by the Corporation.

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

Agreed Rate ” means LIBOR plus 100 basis points.

Agreement ” is defined in the preamble.

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

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

Audit Committee ” means the audit committee of the Board.

Basis Adjustment ” means the increase or decrease to, or the Corporation’s share of, the tax basis of the Reference Assets (i) under Section 734(b), 743(b), 754 and 755 of the Code and, in each case, the comparable sections of U.S. state and local tax law (in situations where, following an Exchange, Switch, Ltd. remains in existence as an entity for tax purposes) and (ii) under Sections 732 and 1012 of the Code and, in each case, the comparable sections of U.S. state and local tax law (in situations where, as a result of one or more Exchanges, Switch, Ltd. becomes an entity that is disregarded as separate from its owner for tax purposes), in each case, as a result of any Exchange and any payments made under this Agreement. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the amount of any Basis Adjustment resulting from an Exchange of one or more Units shall be determined without regard to any Pre-Exchange Transfer of such Units and as if any such Pre-Exchange Transfer had not occurred.

 

2


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

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

Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

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

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

(1) any “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act (excluding any “person” or “group” who, on the date of the consummation of the IPO, is the Beneficial Owner of securities of the Corporation representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Corporation’s then outstanding voting securities)) becomes the Beneficial Owner of securities of the Corporation representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Corporation’s then outstanding voting securities;

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

(3) there is consummated a merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Corporation (including Switch, Ltd.) with any other corporation or other entity, and, immediately after the consummation of such merger or consolidation, either (x) the board of directors of the Corporation immediately prior to the merger or consolidation does not constitute at least a majority of the board of directors of the company surviving the merger or, if the surviving company is a subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof, or (y) all of the Persons who were the respective Beneficial Owners of the voting securities of the Corporation immediately prior to such merger or consolidation do not Beneficially Own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Person resulting from such merger or consolidation;

(4) the following individuals cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the number of directors of the Corporation then serving: individuals who were directors of

 

3


the Corporation on the date of the consummation of the IPO and any new director (other than a director whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest, including but not limited to a consent solicitation, relating to the election of directors of the Corporation) whose appointment or election by the board of directors of the Corporation or nomination for election by the Corporation’s shareholders was approved or recommended by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors of the Corporation on the date of the consummation of the IPO or whose appointment, election or nomination for election was previously so approved or recommended by the directors referred to in this clause 4; or

(5) a “change of control” or similar defined term in any agreement governing indebtedness of Switch, Ltd. or any of its Subsidiaries with aggregate principal amount or aggregate commitments outstanding in excess of $25,000,000.

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

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

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

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

Corporation ” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

Covered Taxes ” means any and all U.S. federal, state, local and foreign taxes, assessments or similar charges that are based on or measured with respect to net income or profits, whether as an exclusive or an alternative basis (including for the avoidance of doubt, franchise taxes), and any interest imposed in respect thereof under applicable law.

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

 

4


Default Rate ” means LIBOR plus 500 basis points.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Early Termination Rate ” means the Agreed Rate.

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

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

Exchange ” means any (i) Direct Exchange, (ii) Redemption or (iii) any transaction using proceeds of the IPO or any distribution by Switch, Ltd. that in either case results in an adjustment under Section 743(b) of the Code with respect to the Switch, Ltd. Group.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor provisions thereto.

Exchange Date ” means the date of any Exchange.

Expert ” is defined in Section 7.9 of this Agreement.

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

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

Hypothetical Tax Liability ” means, with respect to any Taxable Year, the hypothetical liability of the Corporation that would arise in respect of Covered Taxes, using the same methods, elections, conventions and similar practices used on the actual relevant Tax Returns of the Corporation but (i) calculating depreciation, amortization, or other similar deductions, or otherwise calculating any items of income, gain, or loss, using the Corporation’s share of the Non-Adjusted Tax Basis as reflected on the Basis Schedule, including amendments thereto for

 

5


such Taxable Year and (ii) excluding any deduction attributable to Imputed Interest for such Taxable Year. For the avoidance of doubt, the Hypothetical Tax Liability shall be determined without taking into account the carryover or carryback of any tax item (or portions thereof) that is attributable to any of the items described in clauses (i) and (ii) of the previous sentence.

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

Independent Directors ” means the members of the Board who are “independent” under the standards set forth in Rule 10A-3 promulgated under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1933, as amended, and the corresponding rules of the applicable exchange on which the Class A Common Stock is traded or quoted.

IPO ” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

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

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

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

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

Market Value ” shall mean the Common Unit Redemption Price, as defined in the Operating Agreement.

Member Advisory Firm ” means an accounting firm that is nationally recognized as being expert in Covered Tax matters, selected by the applicable Member; provided that such accounting firm shall be different from the accounting firm serving as the Advisory Firm.

Members ” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

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

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

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

Operating Agreement ” means that certain Fifth Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Switch, Ltd., dated as of the date hereof, as such agreement may be further amended, restated, supplemented and/or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

6


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reference Asset ” means any asset of Switch, Ltd. or any of its successors or assigns, and whether held directly by Switch, Ltd. or indirectly by Switch, Ltd. through a member of the Switch, Ltd. Group, at the time of an Exchange. A Reference Asset also includes any asset the tax basis of which is determined, in whole or in part, by reference to the tax basis of an asset that is described in the preceding sentence, including “substituted basis property” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(42) of the Code.

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

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

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

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

Supermajority Member Approval ” means written approval by Members whose rights under this Agreement are attributable to at least seventy percent (70%) of the Units outstanding (and not held by the Corporation) immediately after the IPO (as appropriately adjusted for any subsequent changes to the number of outstanding Units). For purposes of this definition, a Member’s rights under this Agreement shall be attributed to Units as of the time of a

 

7


determination of Supermajority Member Approval. For the avoidance of doubt, (i) an Exchanged Unit shall be attributed only to the Member entitled to receive Tax Benefit Payments with respect to such Exchanged Unit (i.e., the Exchangor or the assignee of its rights hereunder) and (ii) an outstanding Unit that has not yet been Exchanged shall be attributed only to the Member entitled to receive Tax Benefit Payments upon the Exchange of such Unit (i.e., the member of Switch, Ltd. or the assignee of its rights hereunder).

Switch, Ltd. ” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

Switch, Ltd. Group ” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Units ” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

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

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

 

8


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

(3) all taxable income of the Corporation will be subject to the maximum applicable tax rates for each Covered Tax throughout the relevant period;

(4) any loss carryovers or carrybacks generated by any Basis Adjustment or Imputed Interest (including such Basis Adjustment and Imputed Interest generated as a result of payments under this Agreement) and available as of the date of the Early Termination Schedule will be used by the Corporation ratably in each Taxable Year from the date of the Early Termination Schedule through the scheduled expiration date of such loss carryovers or carrybacks; by way of example, if on the date of the Early Termination Schedule the Corporation had $100 of net operating losses with a carryforward period of ten (10) years, $10 of such net operating losses would be used in each of the ten (10) consecutive Taxable Years beginning in the Taxable Year of such Early Termination Schedule;

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

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

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

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

Section 1.2 Rules of Construction . Unless otherwise specified herein:

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

 

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(b) For purposes of interpretation of this Agreement:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ARTICLE II.

DETERMINATION OF REALIZED TAX BENEFIT

Section 2.1 Basis Adjustments; Switch, Ltd. 754 Election .

(a) Basis Adjustments . The Parties acknowledge and agree that (A) each Redemption shall be treated as a direct purchase of Units by the Corporation from the applicable Member pursuant to Section 707(a)(2)(B) of the Code and (B) each Exchange will give rise to Basis Adjustments. In connection with any Exchange, the Parties acknowledge and agree that pursuant to applicable law the Corporation’s share of the basis in the Reference Assets shall be increased (or decreased) by the excess (or deficiency), if any, of (A) the sum of (x) the Market Value of Class A Common Stock or the cash transferred to a Member pursuant to an Exchange as payment for the Units, (y) the amount of payments made pursuant to this Agreement with respect to such Exchange and (z) the amount of liabilities allocated to the Units acquired pursuant to the Exchange, over (B) the Corporation’s proportionate share of the basis of the Reference Assets

 

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immediately after the Exchange attributable to the Units exchanged, determined as if each relevant member of the Switch, Ltd. Group (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Switch, Ltd.) remains in existence as an entity for tax purposes and no member of the Switch, Ltd. Group (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Switch, Ltd.) made the election provided by Section 754 of the Code. For the avoidance of doubt, payments made under this Agreement shall not be treated as resulting in a Basis Adjustment to the extent such payments are treated as Imputed Interest or Default Rate Interest. Further, the Parties intend that Basis Adjustments be calculated in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.743-1.

(b) Switch, Ltd. Section 754 Election . In its capacity as the sole managing member of Switch, Ltd., the Corporation will ensure that, on and after the date hereof and continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, Switch, Ltd. (including any successors to Switch, Ltd. as a result of terminations occurring pursuant to Section 708(b)(1)(B) of the Code) will have in effect an election under Section 754 of the Code (and under any similar provisions of applicable U.S. state or local law) for each Taxable Year.

Section 2.2 Basis Schedules . Within one hundred fifty (150) calendar days after the filing of the U.S. federal income Tax Return of the Corporation for each relevant Taxable Year, the Corporation shall deliver to the Members a schedule (the “ Basis Schedule ”) that shows, in reasonable detail as necessary in order to understand the calculations performed under this Agreement: (a) the Non-Adjusted Tax Basis of the Reference Assets as of each applicable Exchange Date; (b) the Basis Adjustments with respect to the Reference Assets as a result of the relevant Exchanges effected in such Taxable Year, calculated (I) in the aggregate (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Exchanges by all Members) and (II) solely with respect to Exchanges by the applicable Member; (c) the period (or periods) over which the Reference Assets are amortizable and/or depreciable; and (d) the period (or periods) over which each Basis Adjustment is amortizable and/or depreciable. The Basis Schedule will become final and binding on the Parties pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 2.4(a) and may be amended by the Parties pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 2.4(b) .

Section 2.3 Tax Benefit Schedules.

(a) Tax Benefit Schedule . Within one hundred fifty (150) calendar days after the filing of the U.S. federal income Tax Return of the Corporation for any Taxable Year in which there is a Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment, the Corporation shall provide to the Members a schedule showing, in reasonable detail, the calculation of the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year (a “ Tax Benefit Schedule ”). The Tax Benefit Schedule will become final and binding on the Parties pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 2.4(a) , and may be amended by the Parties pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 2.4(b) .

(b) Applicable Principles . Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for each Taxable Year is intended to measure the decrease or increase in the Actual Tax Liability of the Corporation for such Taxable Year attributable to the Basis Adjustments and Imputed Interest, as determined using a “with and without” methodology described in Section 2.4(a) . Carryovers or carrybacks of any tax item attributable to any Basis Adjustment or Imputed Interest shall be considered to be subject to the

 

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rules of the Code and the Treasury Regulations or the appropriate provisions of U.S. state and local tax law, as applicable, governing the use, limitation and expiration of carryovers or carrybacks of the relevant type. If a carryover or carryback of any tax item includes a portion that is attributable to a Basis Adjustment or Imputed Interest (a “ TRA Portion ”) and another portion that is not (a “ Non-TRA Portion ”), such portions shall be considered to be used in accordance with the “with and without” methodology so that: (i) the amount of any Non-TRA Portion is deemed utilized first, followed by the amount of any TRA Portion (with the TRA Portion being applied on a proportionate basis consistent with the provisions of Section 3.3(a)) ; and (ii) in the case of a carryback of a Non-TRA Portion, such carryback shall not affect the original “with and without” calculation made in the prior Taxable Year. The Parties agree that, subject to the second to last sentence of Section 2.1(a) , all Tax Benefit Payments attributable to an Exchange will be treated as subsequent upward purchase price adjustments that give rise to further Basis Adjustments for the Corporation beginning in the Taxable Year of payment, and as a result, such additional Basis Adjustments will be incorporated into such Taxable Year continuing for future Taxable Years until any incremental Basis Adjustment benefits with respect to a Tax Benefit Payment equals an immaterial amount.

Section 2.4 Procedures; Amendments .

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

(i) a Member within thirty (30) calendar days after receiving the applicable Schedule or amendment thereto, provides the Corporation with (A) written notice of a material objection to such Schedule that is made in good faith and that sets forth in reasonable detail such Member’s material objection (an “ Objection Notice ”) and (B) a letter from a Member Advisory Firm in support of such Objection Notice; or

 

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(ii) each Member provides a written waiver of its right to deliver an Objection Notice within the time period described in clause (i) above, in which case such Schedule or amendment thereto becomes binding on the date the waiver from all Members is received by the Corporation.

In the event that a Member timely delivers an Objection Notice pursuant to clause (i) above, and if the Parties, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve the issues raised in the Objection Notice within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt by the Corporation of the Objection Notice, the Corporation and the Member shall employ the reconciliation procedures as described in Section 7.9 of this Agreement (the “ Reconciliation Procedures ”). For the avoidance of doubt, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the expense of preparing and obtaining the letter from a Member Advisory Firm referenced in clause (i) above shall be borne solely by the relevant Member and the Corporation shall have no liability with respect to such letter or any of the expenses associated with its preparation and delivery.

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

ARTICLE III.

TAX BENEFIT PAYMENTS

Section 3.1 Timing and Amount of Tax Benefit Payments .

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

 

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

(i) Attributable . A Net Tax Benefit is “ Attributable ” to a Member to the extent that it is derived from any Basis Adjustment or Imputed Interest that is attributable to an Exchange undertaken by or with respect to such Member.

(ii) Net Tax Benefit . The “ Net Tax Benefit ” for a Taxable Year equals the amount of the excess, if any, of (x) 85% of the Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit Attributable to such Member as of the end of such Taxable Year over (y) the aggregate amount of all Tax Benefit Payments previously made to such Member under this Section 3.1 . For the avoidance of doubt, if the Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit as of the end of any Taxable Year is less than the aggregate amount of all Tax Benefit Payments previously made to a Member, such Member shall not be required to return any portion of any Tax Benefit Payment previously made by the Corporation to such Member.

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

(iv) Realized Tax Benefit . The “ Realized Tax Benefit ” for a Taxable Year equals the excess, if any, of the Hypothetical Tax Liability over the Actual Tax Liability for such Taxable Year. If all or a portion of the Actual Tax Liability for such Taxable Year arises as a result of an audit or similar proceeding by a Taxing Authority of any Taxable Year, such liability shall not be included in determining the Realized Tax Benefit unless and until there has been a Determination.

(v) Realized Tax Detriment . The “ Realized Tax Detriment ” for a Taxable Year equals the excess, if any, of the Actual Tax Liability over the Hypothetical Tax Liability for such Taxable Year. If all or a portion of the Actual Tax Liability for such Taxable Year arises as a result of an audit or similar proceeding by a Taxing Authority of any Taxable Year, such liability shall not be included in determining the Realized Tax Detriment unless and until there has been a Determination.

(vi) Imputed Interest . The principles of Sections 1272, 1274, or 483 of the Code, as applicable, and the principles of any similar provision of U.S. state and local law, will apply to cause a portion of any Net Tax Benefit payable by the Corporation to a Member under this Agreement to be treated as imputed interest (“ Imputed Interest ”). For the avoidance of doubt, the deduction for the amount of Imputed Interest as determined with respect to any Net Tax Benefit payable by the Corporation to a Member shall be excluded in determining the Hypothetical Tax Liability of the Corporation for purposes of calculating Realized Tax Benefits and Realized Tax Detriments pursuant to this Agreement.

 

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(vii) Actual Interest Amount . The “ Actual Interest Amount ” calculated in respect of the Net Tax Benefit for a Taxable Year will equal the amount of any Extension Rate Interest.

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

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

(x) The Corporation and the Members hereby acknowledge and agree that, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the date of any future Exchange that may be subject to this Agreement, the aggregate value of the Tax Benefit Payments cannot be reasonably ascertained for U.S. federal income or other applicable tax purposes.

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

(i) first, at the applicable rate used to determine the amount of Imputed Interest under the Code (from the relevant Exchange Date until the due date (without extensions) for filing the U.S. federal income Tax Return of the Corporation for such Taxable Year);

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

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

 

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

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

(a) Insufficient Taxable Income . Notwithstanding anything in Section 3.1(b) to the contrary, if the aggregate potential Covered Tax benefit of the Corporation as calculated with respect to the Basis Adjustments and Imputed Interest (in each case, without regard to the Taxable Year of origination) is limited in a particular Taxable Year because the Corporation does not have sufficient actual taxable income, then the available Covered Tax benefit for the Corporation shall be allocated among the Members in proportion to the respective Tax Benefit Payment that would have been payable if the Corporation had in fact had sufficient taxable income so that there had been no such limitation. As an illustration of the intended operation of this Section 3.3(a) , if the Corporation had $200 of aggregate potential Covered Tax benefits with respect to the Basis Adjustments and Imputed Interest in a particular Taxable Year (with $50 of such Covered Tax benefits being attributable to Member 1 and $150 of such Covered Tax benefits being attributable to Member 2), such that Member 1 would have potentially been entitled to a Tax Benefit Payment of $42.50 and Member 2 would have been entitled to a Tax Benefit Payment of $127.50 if the Corporation had $200 of taxable income, and if at the same time the Corporation only had $100 of actual taxable income in such Taxable Year, then $25 of the aggregate $100 actual Covered Tax benefit for the Corporation for such Taxable Year would be allocated to Member 1 and $75 of the aggregate $100 actual Covered Tax benefit for the Corporation would be allocated to Member 2, such that Member 1 would receive a Tax Benefit Payment of $21.25 and Member 2 would receive a Tax Benefit Payment of $63.75.

(b) Late Payments . If for any reason the Corporation is not able to timely and fully satisfy its payment obligations under this Agreement in respect of a particular Taxable Year, then Default Rate Interest will begin to accrue pursuant to Section 5.2 and the Corporation and other Parties agree that (i) the Corporation shall pay the Tax Benefit Payments due in respect of such Taxable Year to each Member pro rata in accordance with the principles of Section 3.3(a) and (ii) no Tax Benefit Payment shall be made in respect of any Taxable Year until all Tax Benefit Payments to all Members in respect of all prior Taxable Years have been made in full.

 

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ARTICLE IV.

TERMINATION

Section 4.1 Early Termination of Agreement; Breach of Agreement .

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

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

(c) Acceleration upon Breach of Agreement . In the event that the Corporation materially breaches any of its material obligations under this Agreement, whether as a result of failure to make any payment when due, failure to honor any other material obligation required hereunder, or by operation of law as a result of the rejection of this Agreement in a case commenced under the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise, then all obligations hereunder shall be accelerated and become immediately due and payable upon notice of acceleration from such Member (provided that in the case of any proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code or other insolvency statute, such acceleration shall be automatic without any such notice), and such obligations shall be calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the date of such notice of acceleration (or, in the case of any proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code or

 

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other insolvency statute, on the date of such breach) and shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the Early Termination Payment calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the date of such acceleration; (ii) any prior Tax Benefit Payments that are due and payable under this Agreement but that still remain unpaid as of the date of such acceleration; and (iii) any current Tax Benefit Payment due for the Taxable Year ending with or including the date of such acceleration. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Corporation breaches this Agreement and such breach is not a material breach of a material obligation, a Member shall still be entitled to enforce all of its rights otherwise available under this Agreement, including potentially seeking an acceleration of amounts payable under this Agreement. For purposes of this Section 4.1(c) , and subject to the following sentence, the Parties agree that the failure to make any payment due pursuant to this Agreement within thirty (30) days of the relevant Final Payment Date shall be deemed to be a material breach of a material obligation under this Agreement for all purposes of this Agreement, and that it will not be considered to be a material breach of a material obligation under this Agreement to make a payment due pursuant to this Agreement within thirty (30) days of the relevant Final Payment Date. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, it shall not be a material breach of a material obligation of this Agreement if the Corporation fails to make any Tax Benefit Payment within thirty (30) days of the relevant Final Payment Date to the extent that the Corporation has insufficient funds, or cannot take commercially reasonable actions to obtain sufficient funds, to make such payment; provided that the interest provisions of Section 5.2 shall apply to such late payment (unless the Corporation does not have sufficient funds to make such payment as a result of limitations imposed by any Senior Obligations, in which case Section 5.2 shall apply, but the Default Rate shall be replaced by the Agreed Rate).

Section 4.2 Early Termination Notice . If the Corporation chooses to exercise its right of early termination under Section 4.1 above, the Corporation shall deliver to the Members a notice of the Corporation’s decision to exercise such right (an “ Early Termination Notice ”) and a schedule (the “ Early Termination Schedule ”) showing in reasonable detail the calculation of the Early Termination Payment. The Corporation shall also (x) deliver supporting schedules and work papers, as determined by the Corporation or as reasonably requested by a Member, that provide a reasonable level of detail regarding the data and calculations that were relevant for purposes of preparing the Early Termination Schedule; (y) deliver a Corporation Letter supporting such Early Termination Schedule; and (z) allow the Members and their advisors to have reasonable access to the appropriate representatives, as determined by the Corporation or as reasonably requested by the Members, at the Corporation and the Advisory Firm in connection with a review of such Early Termination Schedule. The Early Termination Schedule shall become final and binding on each Party thirty (30) calendar days from the first date on which the Members received such Early Termination Schedule unless:

(i) a Member within thirty (30) calendar days after receiving the Early Termination Schedule, provides the Corporation with (A) notice of a material objection to such Early Termination Schedule made in good faith and setting forth in reasonable detail such Member’s material objection (a “ Termination Objection Notice ”) and (B) a letter from a Member Advisory Firm in support of such Termination Objection Notice; or

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

 

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

Section 4.3 Payment upon Early Termination .

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

(b) Amount of Payment . The “ Early Termination Payment ” payable to a Member pursuant to Section 4.3(a) shall equal the present value, discounted at the Early Termination Rate as determined as of the Early Termination Reference Date, of all Tax Benefit Payments that would be required to be paid by the Corporation to such Member, whether payable with respect to Units that were Exchanged prior to the Early Termination Effective Date or on or after the Early Termination Effective Date, beginning from the Early Termination Effective Date and using the Valuation Assumptions. For the avoidance of doubt, an Early Termination Payment shall be made to each Member, regardless of whether such Member has Exchanged all of its Units as of the Early Termination Effective Date.

 

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ARTICLE V.

SUBORDINATION AND LATE PAYMENTS

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

Section 5.2 Late Payments by the Corporation . The amount of all or any portion of any Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment not made to the Members when due under the terms of this Agreement, whether as a result of Section 5.1 and the terms of the Senior Obligations or otherwise, shall be payable together with Default Rate Interest, which shall accrue beginning on the Final Payment Date and be computed as provided in Section 3.1(b)(ix) .

ARTICLE VI.

TAX MATTERS; CONSISTENCY; COOPERATION

Section 6.1 Participation in the Corporation’s and Switch, Ltd.’s Tax Matters . Except as otherwise provided herein, and except as provided in Article IX of the Operating Agreement, the Corporation shall have full responsibility for, and sole discretion over, all tax matters concerning the Corporation and Switch, Ltd., including without limitation the preparation, filing or amending of any Tax Return and defending, contesting or settling any issue pertaining to taxes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall notify the Members of, and keep them reasonably informed with respect to, the portion of any tax audit of the Corporation or Switch, Ltd., or any of Switch, Ltd.’s Subsidiaries, the outcome of which is reasonably expected to materially affect the Tax Benefit Payments payable to such Members under this Agreement, and any Member holding directly and/or indirectly at least ten percent (10%) of the outstanding Units, provided that Switch, Ltd. has knowledge that such Member holds directly and/or indirectly at least ten percent (10%) of the outstanding Units (a “ 10% Member ”), shall have the right to participate in and to monitor at their own expense (but, for the avoidance of doubt, not to control) any such portion of any such Tax audit; provided that the Corporation shall not settle or fail to contest any issue pertaining to Covered Taxes that is reasonably expected to materially adversely affect the Members’ rights and obligations under this Agreement without the consent of each 10% Member, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

Section 6.2 Consistency . All calculations and determinations made hereunder, including, without limitation, any Basis Adjustments, the Schedules, and the determination of any Realized Tax Benefits or Realized Tax Detriments, shall be made in accordance with the elections, methodologies or positions taken by the Corporation and Switch, Ltd. on their

 

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

Section 6.3 Cooperation .

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

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

ARTICLE VII.

MISCELLANEOUS

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

If to the Corporation, to:

Switch, Inc.

7135 South Decatur Boulevard

Las Vegas, Nevada 89118

Attn: Gabriel Nacht, Chief Financial Officer

E-mail: gabe@switch.com

 

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

Switch, Inc.

7135 South Decatur Boulevard

Las Vegas, Nevada 89118

Attn: Corporate Secretary

E-mail: secretary@switch.com

Latham & Watkins LLP

650 Town Center Drive, 20 th Floor

Costa Mesa, California 92626

Attn: B. Shayne Kennedy

Facsimile: (714) 540-1235

E-mail: shayne.kennedy@lw.com

Latham & Watkins LLP

330 N. Wabash Avenue, Suite 2800

Chicago, Illinois 60611

Attn: Joseph Kronsnoble

Facsimile: (312) 993-9767

E-mail: joseph.kronsnoble@lw.com

If to a Member, the address, facsimile number and e-mail address specified on such Member’s signature page to this Agreement

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

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

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

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

Section 7.5 Severability . If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any law or public policy, all other terms and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or

 

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legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any Party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the Parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

Section 7.6 Assignments; Amendments; Successors; No Waiver .

(a) Assignment . No Member may assign, sell, pledge, or otherwise alienate or transfer any interest in this Agreement, including the right to receive any Tax Benefit Payments under this Agreement, to any Person without the prior written consent of the Corporation, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed, and without such Person executing and delivering a Joinder agreeing to succeed to the applicable portion of such Member’s interest in this Agreement and to become a Party for all purposes of this Agreement (the “ Joinder Requirement ”); provided, however , that to the extent any Member sells, exchanges, distributes, or otherwise transfers Units to any Person (other than the Corporation or Switch, Ltd.) in accordance with the terms of the Operating Agreement, the Members shall have the option to assign to the transferee of such Units its rights under this Agreement with respect to such transferred Units, provided that such transferee has satisfied the Joinder Requirement. For the avoidance of doubt, if a Member transfers Units in accordance with the terms of the Operating Agreement but does not assign to the transferee of such Units its rights under this Agreement with respect to such transferred Units, such Member shall continue to be entitled to receive the Tax Benefit Payments arising in respect of a subsequent Exchange of such Units. The Corporation may not assign any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement to any Person without Supermajority Member Approval (and any purported assignment without such consent shall be null and void).

(b) Amendments . No provision of this Agreement may be amended unless such amendment is approved in writing by the Corporation and made with Supermajority Member Approval; provided that amendment of the definition of Change of Control will also require the written approval of a majority of the Independent Directors. No provision of this Agreement may be waived unless such waiver is in writing and signed by the Party against whom the waiver is to be effective.

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

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

 

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

Section 7.8 Resolution of Disputes .

(a) Except for Reconciliation Disputes subject to Section 7.9 , any and all disputes which cannot be settled after substantial good-faith negotiation, including any ancillary claims of any Party, arising out of, relating to or in connection with the validity, negotiation, execution, interpretation, performance or non-performance of this Agreement (including the validity, scope and enforceability of this arbitration provision) (each a “ Dispute ”) shall be finally resolved by arbitration in accordance with the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution Rules for Non-Administered Arbitration by a panel of three arbitrators, of which the Corporation shall designate one arbitrator and the Members party to such Dispute shall designate one arbitrator in accordance with the “screened” appointment procedure provided in Resolution Rule 5.4. The arbitration shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. §§ 1 et seq. , and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrators may be entered by any court having jurisdiction thereof. The place of the arbitration shall be Las Vegas, Nevada.

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

(c) This Agreement shall be governed in all respects, including as to validity, interpretation and effect, by the internal laws of the State of Nevada, without giving effect to the conflict of laws rules thereof. The Parties agree that any suit or proceeding in connection with, arising out of, or relating to this Agreement shall be instituted only in a court (whether federal or Nevada) located in Clark County, Nevada, and the Parties, for the purpose of any such suit or proceeding, irrevocably consent and submit to the personal and subject matter jurisdiction and venue of any such court in any such suit or proceeding. Each Party agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.

(d) Each Party irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any court referred to in Section 7.8(c) . Each Party irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any such suit, action or proceeding in any such court.

 

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

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

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

Section 7.9 Reconciliation . In the event that the Corporation and any Member are unable to resolve a disagreement with respect to a Schedule (other than an Early Termination Schedule) prepared in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.4 , or with respect to an Early Termination Schedule prepared in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 4.2 , within the relevant time period designated in this Agreement (a “ Reconciliation Dispute ”), the Reconciliation Dispute shall be submitted for determination to a nationally recognized expert (the “ Expert ”) in the particular area of disagreement mutually acceptable to both Parties. The Expert shall be a partner or principal in a nationally recognized accounting firm, and unless the Corporation and such Member agree otherwise, the Expert shall not, and the firm that employs the Expert shall not, have any material relationship with the Corporation or such Member or other actual or potential conflict of interest. If the Parties are unable to agree on an Expert within fifteen (15) calendar days of receipt by the respondent(s) of written notice of a Reconciliation Dispute, the selection of an Expert shall be treated as a Dispute subject to Section 7.8 and an arbitration panel shall pick an Expert from a nationally recognized accounting firm that does not have any material relationship with the Corporation or such Member or other actual or potential conflict of interest. The Expert shall resolve any matter relating to the Basis Schedule or an amendment thereto, or the Early Termination Schedule or an amendment thereto within thirty (30) calendar days and shall resolve any matter relating to a Tax Benefit Schedule or an amendment thereto within fifteen (15) calendar days or as soon thereafter as is reasonably practicable, in each case after the matter has been submitted to the Expert for resolution. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if the matter is not resolved before any payment that is the subject of a disagreement would be due (in the absence of such disagreement) or any Tax Return reflecting the subject of a disagreement is due, the undisputed amount shall be paid on the date prescribed by this Agreement and such Tax Return may be filed as prepared by the Corporation, subject to adjustment or amendment upon resolution. The costs and expenses relating to the engagement of such Expert or amending any Tax Return shall be borne by the Corporation except as provided in the next sentence. The Corporation and the Members shall bear their own costs and expenses of such proceeding, unless (i) the Expert adopts the Member’s position, in which case the Corporation shall reimburse the Member for any reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses in such proceeding, or (ii) the Expert adopts the Corporation’s position, in which case the Member shall reimburse the Corporation for any reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses in such proceeding. The Expert shall finally determine any Reconciliation Dispute and the determinations of the Expert pursuant to this Section 7.9 shall be binding on the Corporation and the Members and may be entered and enforced in any court having competent jurisdiction.

 

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

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

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

(b) If any entity that is obligated to make a Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment hereunder transfers one or more assets to a corporation (or a Person classified as a corporation for U.S. income tax purposes) with which such entity does not file a consolidated Tax Return pursuant to Section 1501 of the Code, such entity, for purposes of calculating the amount of any Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment due hereunder, shall be treated as having disposed of such asset in a fully taxable transaction on the date of such contribution. The consideration deemed to be received by such entity shall be equal to the fair market value of the contributed asset. For purposes of this Section 7.11 , a transfer of a partnership interest shall be treated as a transfer of the transferring partner’s share of each of the assets and liabilities of that partnership.

Section 7.12 Confidentiality . Each Member and its assignees acknowledges and agrees that the information of the Corporation is confidential and, except in the course of performing any duties as necessary for the Corporation and its Affiliates, as required by law or legal process or to enforce the terms of this Agreement, such Person shall keep and retain in the strictest confidence and not disclose to any Person any confidential matters, acquired pursuant to this Agreement, of the Corporation and its Affiliates and successors, learned by any Member heretofore or hereafter. This Section 7.12 shall not apply to (i) any information that has been made publicly available by the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, becomes public knowledge (except as a result of an act of any Member in violation of this Agreement) or is generally known to the business community, (ii) the disclosure of information to the extent necessary for a

 

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Member to prosecute or defend claims arising under or relating to this Agreement, and (iii) the disclosure of information to the extent necessary for a Member to prepare and file its Tax Returns, to respond to any inquiries regarding the same from any Taxing Authority or to prosecute or defend any action, proceeding or audit by any Taxing Authority with respect to such Tax Returns. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Members and each of their assignees (and each employee, representative or other agent of the Members or their assignees, as applicable) may disclose at their discretion to any and all Persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the Corporation, the Members and any of their transactions, and all materials of any kind (including tax opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to the Members relating to such tax treatment and tax structure. If a Member or an assignee commits a breach, or threatens to commit a breach, of any of the provisions of this Section 7.12 , the Corporation shall have the right and remedy to have the provisions of this Section 7.12 specifically enforced by injunctive relief or otherwise by any court of competent jurisdiction without the need to post any bond or other security, it being acknowledged and agreed that any such breach or threatened breach shall cause irreparable injury to the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries and that money damages alone shall not provide an adequate remedy to such Persons. Such rights and remedies shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights and remedies available at law or in equity.

Section 7.13 Change in Law . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if, in connection with an actual or proposed change in law, a Member reasonably believes that the existence of this Agreement could cause income (other than income arising from receipt of a payment under this Agreement) recognized by such Member (or direct or indirect equity holders in such Member) in connection with any Exchange to be treated as ordinary income rather than capital gain (or otherwise taxed at ordinary income rates) for U.S. federal income tax purposes or would have other material adverse tax consequences to such Member or any direct or indirect owner of such Member, then at the written election of such Member in its sole discretion (in an instrument signed by such Member and delivered to the Corporation) and to the extent specified therein by such Member, this Agreement shall cease to have further effect and shall not apply to an Exchange occurring after a date specified by such Member, or may be amended by in a manner reasonably determined by such Member, provided that such amendment shall not result in an increase in any payments owed by the Corporation under this Agreement at any time as compared to the amounts and times of payments that would have been due in the absence of such amendment.

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

 

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

Section 7.16 Effectiveness . This Agreement shall be effective upon the date hereof; provided , however , that in the event the Corporation fails to acquire any Units within four (4) business days following the date hereof (or such later date as may be agreed to by Switch, Ltd.) then this Agreement shall immediately be deemed null and void ab initio and this Agreement shall be of no further force and effect.

[ Signature Page Follows This Page ]

 

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

 

SWITCH, INC.
By:   /s/ Gabe Nacht
Name: Gabe Nacht
Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

SWITCH, LTD.
By:   /s/ Gabe Nacht
Name: Gabe Nacht
Title: Chief Financial Officer

S IGNATURE P AGE

TO

T AX R ECEIVABLE A GREEMENT


Exhibit A

FORM OF JOINDER AGREEMENT

This JOINDER AGREEMENT, dated as of                      , 20      (this “ Joinder ”), is delivered pursuant to that certain Tax Receivable Agreement, dated as of October 5, 2017 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Tax Receivable Agreement ”) by and among Switch, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “ Corporation ”), Switch, Ltd., a Nevada limited-liability company (“ Switch, Ltd. ”), and each of the Members from time to time party thereto. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the respective meanings set forth in the Tax Receivable Agreement.

 

  1. Joinder to the Tax Receivable Agreement . The undersigned hereby represents and warrants to the Corporation that, as of the date hereof, the undersigned has been assigned an interest in the Tax Receivable Agreement from a Member and [●] 1 .

 

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

 

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

 

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

[Name]

[Address]

[City, State, Zip Code]

Attn:

Facsimile:

E-mail:

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

 

[NAME OF NEW PARTY]
By:    
Name:  
Title:  

 

1   NTD: Language to be added as applicable.


Acknowledged and agreed

as of the date first set forth above:

 

SWITCH, INC.

By:    
Name:  
Title:  

Exhibit 10.2

AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is made as of October 5, 2017 by and among Switch, Ltd., a Nevada limited-liability company (the “ Company ”), Switch, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “ Corporation ”), and each Person that holds Common Units (defined below) that has signed this Agreement (such Persons, collectively, the “ Members ”).

R ECITALS

WHEREAS, the Company and certain of the Members are parties to that certain Registration Rights Agreement dated as of August 2011 (the “ Existing Agreement ”);

WHEREAS, the Corporation is contemplating an offer and sale of its shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “ Class A Common Stock ” and such shares, the “ Shares ”), to the public in an underwritten initial public offering (the “ IPO ”);

WHEREAS, the Corporation desires to use a portion of the net proceeds from the IPO to purchase Common Units, and the Company desires to issue its Common Units to the Corporation in exchange for such portion of the net proceeds from the IPO;

WHEREAS, immediately prior to the consummation of the issuance of Common Units by the Company to the Corporation, the Members are the sole members of the Company;

WHEREAS, concurrent with the execution hereof, the Corporation, the Company and the Members are entering into that certain Fifth Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of the Company (such agreement, as it may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified form time to time, the “ Operating Agreement ”);

WHEREAS, in connection with the effectiveness of the Operating Agreement, (i) the Corporation will become the sole manager of the Company, (ii) each Member will become a non-managing member of the Company but otherwise retain their Common Units in the Company, and (iii) in consideration of the Corporation acquiring the Common Units and becoming the manager of the Company, among other things, the Company has provided the Members with a redemption right pursuant to which the Members may be able to require redemption of their Common Units and the Corporation may, at the Corporation’s option, redeem or exchange their Common Units for Class A Common Stock or in cash on the terms set forth in the Operating Agreement;

WHEREAS, in connection with the transactions described above, the parties desire to amend and restate the Existing Agreement in its entirety by entering into this Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the undersigned Members represent a Supermajority (as defined in the Existing Agreement) necessary to amend and restate the Existing Agreement.


NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby agree as follows:

Section 1. Definitions . For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings specified in this Section 1 :

Acquired Common ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8 .

Additional Investor ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8 , and shall be deemed to include each such Person’s Affiliates, immediate family members, heirs, successors and assigns who may succeed to such Person as a Holder hereunder.

Affiliate ” of any Person means any other Person controlled by, controlling or under common control with such Person; provided that the Corporation and its Subsidiaries shall not be deemed to be Affiliates of any Holder. As used in this definition, “control” (including, with its correlative meanings, “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”) shall mean possession, directly or indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities, by contract or otherwise).

Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Automatic Shelf Registration Statement ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) .

Business Day ” means any day of the year on which national banking institutions in New York are open to the public for conducting business and are not required or authorized to close.

Capital Stock ” means (i) with respect to any Person that is a corporation, any and all shares, interests or equivalents in capital stock of such corporation (whether voting or nonvoting and whether common or preferred), (ii) with respect to any Person that is not a corporation, individual or governmental entity, any and all partnership, membership, limited liability company or other equity interests of such Person that confer on the holder thereof the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or the distribution of assets of the issuing Person, and (iii) any and all warrants, rights (including conversion and exchange rights) and options to purchase any security described in the clause (i)  or (ii) above.

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

Class B Common Stock ” means the Corporation’s Class B common stock, par value $0.001 per share.

Class C Common Stock ” means the Corporation’s Class C common stock, par value $0.001 per share.

Common Units ” means the “Common Units” of the Company as defined in the Operating Agreement.

Company ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Controlling Holder ” means each Roy Holder, each Troesh Holder and each T&M Holder, in each case so long as such Holder continues to hold Registrable Securities.

 

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Corporation ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Demand Registrations ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) .

End of Suspension Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(f)(ii) .

Exchange Act ” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor federal law then in force, together with all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

FINRA ” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

Free Writing Prospectus ” means a free-writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 405.

Holder ” means any Person who is the registered holder of Registrable Securities.

Holder Indemnified Parties ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(a) .

IPO ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Joinder ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8 .

Long-Form Registrations ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) .

Members ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble, and shall be deemed to include their respective Affiliates, immediate family members, heirs, successors and assigns who may succeed to such Person as a Holder hereunder.

MNPI ” means material non-public information within the meaning of Regulation FD promulgated under the Exchange Act.

Operating Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

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

Piggyback Registrations ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) .

Public Offering ” means any sale or distribution to the public of Capital Stock of the Corporation pursuant to an offering registered under the Securities Act, whether by the Corporation, by Holders and/or by any other holders of the Corporation’s Capital Stock.

Registrable Securities ” means (i) any Class A Common Stock issued by the Corporation in a Share Settlement in connection with (x) the redemption by the Company of Common Units owned by any Member or (y) at the election of the Corporation, in a direct exchange for Common Units owned by any Member, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Operating Agreement, (ii) any common Capital Stock of the Corporation or of any Subsidiary of the Corporation issued or issuable with respect to the securities referred to in clause (i)  above by

 

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way of dividend, distribution, split or combination of securities, or any recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization, and (iii) any other Shares owned by Persons that are the registered holders of securities described in clauses (i)  or (ii)  above. As to any particular Registrable Securities owned by any Person, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities on the date such securities have been (a) sold or distributed pursuant to a Public Offering, (b) sold in compliance with Rule 144 following the consummation of the IPO or (c) repurchased by the Corporation or a Subsidiary of the Corporation or otherwise have ceased to be outstanding. For purposes of this Agreement, a Person shall be deemed to be a Holder, and the Registrable Securities shall be deemed to be in existence, whenever such Person has the right to acquire, directly or indirectly, such Registrable Securities (upon conversion or exercise in connection with a transfer of securities or otherwise, but disregarding any restrictions or limitations upon the exercise of such right), whether or not such acquisition has actually been effected, and such Person shall be entitled to exercise the rights of a holder of Registrable Securities hereunder; provided a holder of Registrable Securities may only request that Registrable Securities in the form of Capital Stock of the Corporation that is registered or to be registered as a class under Section 12 of the Exchange Act be registered pursuant to this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, while Common Units may constitute Registrable Securities, under no circumstances shall the Corporation be obligated to register Common Units and only Shares issuable upon redemption or exchange of such Common Units will be registered. Notwithstanding the foregoing any Registrable Securities held by any Person that may be sold under Rule 144(b)(1)(i) without limitation under any other of the requirements of Rule 144 shall not be deemed to be Registrable Securities upon notice from the Corporation to such Person and the Corporation shall, at such Person’s request, remove the legend provided for in Section 11 .

Registration Expenses ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) .

Roy Holder ” means any Holder identified as a Roy Holder on the signature page to this Agreement.

Rule 144 ,” “ Rule 158 ,” “ Rule 405 ” and “ Rule 415 ” mean, in each case, such rule promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor provision) by the Securities and Exchange Commission, as the same shall be amended from time to time, or any successor rule then in force.

Schedule of Investors ” means the schedule maintained by the Corporation, which shall reflect each Holder from time to time party to this Agreement.

Securities Act ” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, or any successor federal law then in force, together with all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Share Settlement ” means “Share Settlement” as defined in the Operating Agreement.

Shares ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Shelf Offering ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(ii) .

 

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Shelf Offering Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(ii) .

Shelf Offering Request ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(ii) .

Shelf Registrable Securities ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(ii) .

Shelf Registration ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) .

Shelf Registration Statement ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(i) .

Short-Form Registrations ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) .

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to the Corporation, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity of which (i) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of Capital Stock of such Person entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation, or (ii) if a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity, either (x) a majority of the Capital Stock of such Person entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of managers, general partners or other oversight board vested with the authority to direct management of such Person is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation or (y) the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries is the sole manager or general partner of such Person.

Suspension Event ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(f)(ii) .

Suspension Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(f)(ii) .

Suspension Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(f)(i) .

Troesh Holder ” means any Holder identified as a Troesh Holder on the signature page to this Agreement.

T&M Holder ” means any Holder identified as a T&M Holder on the signature page to this Agreement.

Underwritten Takedown ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(ii) .

Violation ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(a) .

WKSI ” means a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined under Rule 405.

Section 2. Demand Registrations .

(a) Requests for Registration . Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at any time from and after 180 days following the IPO, Controlling Holders holding at least a majority of the Registrable Securities held by all Controlling Holders may request registration under the Securities Act of all or any portion of their Registrable Securities on Form S-1 or any similar long-form registration (“ Long-Form Registrations ”), and Controlling Holders holding at

 

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least a majority of the Registrable Securities held by all Controlling Holders may request registration under the Securities Act of all or any portion of their Registrable Securities on Form S-3 or any similar short-form registration (“ Short-Form Registrations ”) if available; provided that the Corporation shall not be obligated to file any registration statement related to any Long Form Registration or Short Form Registration under this Section 2(a) unless the Long Form Registration or Short Form Registration is reasonably expected to register at least $10.0 million in Registrable Securities held by the Controlling Holders making the request. All registrations requested pursuant to this Section 2(a) are referred to herein as “ Demand Registrations .” The Controlling Holders making a Demand Registration may request that the registration be made pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (a “ Shelf Registration ”) and, if the Corporation is a WKSI at the time any request for a Demand Registration is submitted to the Corporation, that such Shelf Registration be an automatic shelf registration statement (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) (an “ Automatic Shelf Registration Statement ”). Following the request for the Demand Registration, the Corporation shall give written notice of the Demand Registration to all other Holders and, subject to the terms of Section 2(e) , shall include in such Demand Registration (and in all related registrations and qualifications under state blue sky laws and in any related underwriting) all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Corporation has received written requests for inclusion therein within fifteen (15) days after the receipt of the Corporation’s notice; provided that the Corporation shall provide notice of the Demand Registration to all other Holders no later than five (5) days prior to the non-confidential filing of the registration statement with respect to the Demand Registration. Each Holder agrees that (1) such notice constitutes MNPI and that it will not engage in any transaction in any securities of the Corporation or until such notice and the information contained therein ceases to constitute MNPI and (2) such Holder shall treat as confidential the receipt of the notice of Demand Registration and shall not disclose or use the information contained in such notice of Demand Registration without the prior written consent of the Corporation until such time as the information contained therein is or becomes available to the public generally, other than as a result of disclosure by the Holder in breach of the terms of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall not be required to take any action that would otherwise be required under this Section 2 if such action would violate any lock-up or hold-back provision contained in the underwriting agreement entered into in connection with any underwritten Public Offering.

(b) Long-Form Registrations . The Controlling Holders shall be entitled to request up to three (3) Long-Form Registrations in which the Corporation shall pay all Registration Expenses, regardless of whether any registration statement is filed or any such Demand Registration is consummated. All Long-Form Registrations shall be underwritten registrations unless otherwise approved by Controlling Holders holding at least a majority of the Registrable Securities held by all Controlling Holders making the Demand Registration.

(c) Short-Form Registrations . In addition to the Long-Form Registrations described in Section 2(b) , the Controlling Holders shall be entitled to request an unlimited number of Short-Form Registrations in which the Corporation shall pay all Registration Expenses, regardless of whether any registration statement is filed or any such Demand Registration is consummated. Demand Registrations shall be Short-Form Registrations whenever the Corporation is permitted to use any applicable short form and if the managing underwriters (if any) agree to the use of a Short-Form Registration. After the Corporation has become subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, the Corporation shall use its reasonable efforts to make Short-Form Registrations available for the sale of Registrable Securities.

 

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(d) Shelf Registrations .

(i) Subject to the availability of required financial information, as promptly as practicable after the Corporation receives written notice of a request for a Shelf Registration, the Corporation shall file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement under the Securities Act for the Shelf Registration (a “ Shelf Registration Statement ”). The Corporation shall use its reasonable efforts to cause any Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as soon as practicable after the initial filing of such Shelf Registration Statement, and once effective, the Corporation shall cause such Shelf Registration Statement to remain continuously effective for such time period as is specified in the request by the Holders, but for no time period longer than the period ending on the earliest of (A) the third anniversary of the initial effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement, (B) the date on which all Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, and (C) the date as of which there are no longer any Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement in existence. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Corporation shall use its reasonable efforts to prepare a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to all of the Registrable Securities owned by or issuable to the Members in accordance with the terms of the Operating Agreement (or such other number of Registrable Securities specified in writing by the Holder with respect to the Registrable Securities owned by or issuable to such Holder) to enable and cause such Shelf Registration Statement to be filed and maintained with the Securities and Exchange Commission as soon as practicable after the Corporation becomes eligible to file a Shelf Registration Statement for a Short-Form Registration; provided that any of the Members may, with respect to itself, instruct the Corporation in writing not to include in such Shelf Registration Statement the Registrable Securities owned by or issuable to such Holder. In order for any of the Members to be named as a selling securityholder in such Shelf Registration Statement, the Corporation may require such Holder to deliver all information about such Holder that is required to be included in such Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with applicable law, including Item 507 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act, as amended from time to time, or any similar successor rule thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 2(d)(ii) , any Holder that is named as a selling securityholder in such Shelf Registration Statement may make a secondary resale under such Shelf Registration Statement without the consent of the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities or any other Holder if such resale does not require a supplement to the Shelf Registration Statement.

(ii) In the event that a Shelf Registration Statement is effective, Holders holding Registrable Securities with an aggregate market value of at least $50.0 million shall have the right at any time or from time to time to elect to sell pursuant to an offering (including an underwritten offering (an “ Underwritten Takedown ”)) Registrable Securities available for sale pursuant to such registration statement (“ Shelf Registrable Securities ”), so long as the Shelf Registration Statement remains in effect, and the

 

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Corporation shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection therewith; provided that Controlling Holders shall have the right at any time and from time to time to elect to sell pursuant to an offering (including an Underwritten Takedown) pursuant to a Shelf Offering Request (as defined below) made by such Controlling Holders so long as the amount of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Shelf Offering Request (including any Registrable Securities included pursuant to the third succeeding sentence) by such Controlling Holders is reasonably expected to result in aggregate gross proceeds to such Controlling Holders in excess of $25.0 million. The applicable Holders shall make such election by delivering to the Corporation a written request (a “ Shelf Offering Request ”) for such offering specifying the number of Shelf Registrable Securities that such Holders desire to sell pursuant to such offering (the “ Shelf Offering ”). As promptly as practicable, but no later than two Business Days after receipt of a Shelf Offering Request, the Corporation shall give written notice (the “ Shelf Offering Notice ”) of such Shelf Offering Request to all other holders of Shelf Registrable Securities. The Corporation, subject to Sections 2(e) and 7 hereof, shall include in such Shelf Offering the Shelf Registrable Securities of any other Holder that shall have made a written request to the Corporation for inclusion in such Shelf Offering (which request shall specify the maximum number of Shelf Registrable Securities intended to be sold by such Holder) within seven (7) days after the receipt of the Shelf Offering Notice. The Corporation shall, as expeditiously as possible (and in any event within twenty (20) days after the receipt of a Shelf Offering Request, unless a longer period is agreed to by the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities that made the Shelf Offering Request), use its reasonable efforts to facilitate such Shelf Offering. Each Holder agrees that (1) such notice constitutes MNPI and that it will not engage in any transaction in any securities of the Corporation until such notice and the information contained therein ceases to constitute MNPI and (2) such Holder shall treat as confidential the receipt of the Shelf Offering Notice and shall not disclose or use the information contained in such Shelf Offering Notice without the prior written consent of the Corporation until such time as the information contained therein is or becomes available to the public generally, other than as a result of disclosure by the Holder in breach of the terms of this Agreement.

(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Controlling Holders holding Registrable Securities with an aggregate market value of at least $25.0 million wish to engage in an underwritten block trade off of a Shelf Registration Statement (either through filing an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement or through a take-down from an existing Shelf Registration Statement), then notwithstanding the foregoing time periods, such Holders only need to notify the Corporation of the block trade Shelf Offering two (2) Business Days prior to the day such offering is to commence (unless a longer period is agreed to by Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities wishing to engage in the underwritten block trade) and the Corporation shall promptly notify other Holders and such other Holders must elect whether or not to participate by the next Business Day ( i.e. , one (1) Business Day prior to the day such offering is to commence) (unless a longer period is agreed to by Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities wishing to engage in the underwritten block trade) and the Corporation shall as expeditiously as possible use its reasonable efforts to facilitate such offering (which may close as early as three (3) Business Days after the date it commences); provided that Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities wishing to engage in the

 

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underwritten block trade shall use commercially reasonable efforts to work with the Corporation and the underwriters prior to making such request in order to facilitate preparation of the registration statement, prospectus and other offering documentation related to the underwritten block trade.

(iv) The Corporation shall, at the request of Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, file any prospectus supplement or, if the applicable Shelf Registration Statement is an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement, any post-effective amendments and otherwise take any action necessary to include therein all disclosure and language deemed necessary or advisable by such Holders to effect such Shelf Offering.

(e) Priority on Demand Registrations and Shelf Offerings . The Corporation shall not include in any Demand Registration or Shelf Offering any securities that are not Registrable Securities without the prior written consent of Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such registration or offering. If a Demand Registration or a Shelf Offering is an underwritten offering and the managing underwriters advise the Corporation in writing that in their opinion the number of Registrable Securities and, if permitted hereunder, other securities requested to be included in such offering exceeds the number of Registrable Securities and other securities, if any, that can be sold therein without adversely affecting the marketability, proposed offering price, timing or method of distribution of the offering, the Corporation shall include in such registration or offering, as applicable, prior to the inclusion of any securities which are not Registrable Securities the number of Registrable Securities requested by Holders to be included that, in the opinion of such underwriters, can be sold, without any such adverse effect, pro rata among the respective Holders thereof on the basis of the amount of Registrable Securities owned by each such Holder that such Holder of Registrable Securities shall have requested to be included therein. Alternatively, if the number of Registrable Securities which can be included on a Shelf Registration Statement is otherwise limited by Instruction I.B.6 to Form S-3 (or any successor provision thereto), the Corporation shall include in such registration or offering prior to the inclusion of any securities which are not Registrable Securities the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included which can be included on such Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the requirements of Form S-3, pro rata among the respective Holders thereof on the basis of the amount of Registrable Securities owned by each such Holder that such Holder of Registrable Securities shall have requested to be included therein.

(f) Restrictions on Demand Registration and Shelf Offerings .

(i) The Corporation shall not be obligated to effect any Demand Registration within 90 days after the effective date of a previous Demand Registration or a previous registration in which Registrable Securities were included pursuant to Section 3 . The Corporation may postpone, for up to 60 days from the date of the request, the filing or the effectiveness of a registration statement for a Demand Registration or suspend the use of a prospectus that is part of a Shelf Registration Statement for up to 60 days from the date of the Suspension Notice (as defined below) and therefore suspend sales of the Shelf Registrable Securities (such period, the “ Suspension Period ”) by providing written notice to the Holders if (A) the Corporation’s board of directors determines in its reasonable good faith judgment that the offer or sale of Registrable Securities would

 

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reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on any proposal or plan by the Corporation or any Subsidiary to engage in any material acquisition of assets or stock (other than in the ordinary course of business) or any material merger, consolidation, tender offer, recapitalization, reorganization or other transaction involving the Corporation or any Subsidiary, (B) upon advice of counsel, the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement would require disclosure of MNPI not otherwise required to be disclosed under applicable law, and (C) either (x) the Corporation has a bona fide business purpose for preserving the confidentiality of such transaction or (y) disclosure of such MNPI would have a material adverse effect on the Corporation or the Corporation’s ability to consummate such transaction; provided that in such event, the Holders shall be entitled to withdraw such request for a Demand Registration or underwritten Shelf Offering and the Corporation shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with such Demand Registration or Shelf Offering. The Corporation may delay a Demand Registration hereunder only once in any twelve-month period, except with the consent of the Controlling Holders holding at least a majority of the Registrable Securities held by all Controlling Holders. The Corporation also may extend the Suspension Period with the consent of the Controlling Holders holding at least a majority of the Registrable Securities held by all Controlling Holders, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

(ii) In the case of an event that causes the Corporation to suspend the use of a Shelf Registration Statement as set forth in paragraph (f)(i) above or pursuant to applicable subsections of Section 4(a)(vi) (a “ Suspension Event ”), the Corporation shall give a notice to the Holders of Registrable Securities registered pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement (a “ Suspension Notice ”) to suspend sales of the Registrable Securities and such notice shall state generally the basis for the notice and that such suspension shall continue only for so long as the Suspension Event or its effect is continuing. If the basis of such suspension is nondisclosure of MNPI, the Corporation shall not be required to disclose the subject matter of such MNPI to Holders. A Holder shall not effect any sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement (or such filings) at any time after it has received a Suspension Notice from the Corporation and prior to receipt of an End of Suspension Notice (as defined below). Each Holder agrees that (1) such notice constitutes MNPI and that it will not engage in any transaction in any securities of the Corporation until such notice and the information contained therein ceases to constitute MNPI and (2) such Holder shall treat as confidential the receipt of the Suspension Notice and shall not disclose or use the information contained in such Suspension Notice without the prior written consent of the Corporation until such time as the information contained therein is or becomes available to the public generally, other than as a result of disclosure by the Holder in breach of the terms of this Agreement. Holders may recommence effecting sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement (or such filings) following further written notice to such effect (an “ End of Suspension Notice ”) from the Corporation, which End of Suspension Notice shall be given by the Corporation to the Holders and their counsel, if any, promptly following the conclusion of any Suspension Event.

(iii) Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, if the Corporation gives a Suspension Notice with respect to any Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to

 

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this Section 2(f) , the Corporation agrees that it shall (A) extend the period of time during which such Shelf Registration Statement shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days during the period from the date of receipt by the Holders of the Suspension Notice to and including the date of receipt by the Holders of the End of Suspension Notice, and (B) provide copies of any supplemented or amended prospectus necessary to resume sales, with respect to each Suspension Event; provided that such period of time shall not be extended beyond the date that there are no longer Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement.

(g) Selection of Underwriters . Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities included in any Demand Registration shall have the right to select the investment banker(s) and manager(s) to administer the offering (including assignment of titles), subject to the Corporation’s approval, which is not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. If any Shelf Offering is an Underwritten Takedown, the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities participating in such Underwritten Takedown shall have the right to select the investment banker(s) and manager(s) to administer the offering relating to such Shelf Offering (including assignment of titles), subject to the Corporation’s approval not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

(h) Other Registration Rights . The Corporation represents and warrants that it is not a party to, or otherwise subject to, any other agreement granting registration rights to any other Person with respect to any securities of the Corporation. Except as provided in this Agreement, the Corporation shall not grant to any Persons the right to request the Corporation or any Subsidiary to register any Capital Stock of the Corporation or of any Subsidiary, or any securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for such securities, without the prior written consent of the Controlling Holders holding at least a majority of the Registrable Securities held by all Controlling Holders.

Section 3. Piggyback Registrations .

(a) Right to Piggyback . Following the IPO, whenever the Corporation proposes to register any of its securities under the Securities Act (other than (i) pursuant to a Demand Registration, (ii) in connection with registrations on Form S-4 or S-8 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor or similar forms or (iii) a registration on any form that does not include substantially the same information as would be required to be included in a registration statement covering the sale of Registrable Securities) and the registration form to be used may be used for the registration of Registrable Securities (a “ Piggyback Registration ”), the Corporation shall give prompt written notice to all Holders of its intention to effect such Piggyback Registration and, subject to the terms of Section 3(c) and Section 3(d) , shall include in such Piggyback Registration (and in all related registrations or qualifications under blue sky laws and in any related underwriting) all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Corporation has received written requests for inclusion therein within twenty (20) days after delivery of the Corporation’s notice.

(b) Piggyback Expenses . The Registration Expenses of the Holders shall be paid by the Corporation in all Piggyback Registrations, whether or not any such registration became effective.

 

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(c) Priority on Primary Registrations . If a Piggyback Registration is an underwritten primary registration on behalf of the Corporation, and the managing underwriters advise the Corporation in writing that in their opinion the number of securities requested to be included in such registration exceeds the number which can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting the marketability, proposed offering price, timing or method of distribution of the offering, the Corporation shall include in such registration (i) first, the securities the Corporation proposes to sell, (ii) second, the Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect, pro rata among the Holders on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities owned by each such Holder that such Holder of Registrable Securities shall have requested to be included therein, and (iii) third, other securities requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect.

(d) Priority on Secondary Registrations . If a Piggyback Registration is an underwritten secondary registration on behalf of holders of the Corporation’s securities (other than the Holders), and the managing underwriters advise the Corporation in writing that in their opinion the number of securities requested to be included in such registration exceeds the number which can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting the marketability, proposed offering price, timing or method of distribution of the offering, the Corporation shall include in such registration (i) first, the securities requested to be included therein by the initial holders requesting such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect, (ii) second, the Registrable Securities of Holders requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect, pro rata among the such Holders on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities owned by each such Holder that such Holder of Registrable Securities shall have requested to be included therein and (iii) third, other securities requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect.

(e) Selection of Underwriters . If any Piggyback Registration is an underwritten offering, the selection of investment banker(s) and manager(s) for the offering shall be at the election of the Corporation (in the case of a primary registration) or at the election of the holders of other Corporation securities requesting such registration (in the case of a secondary registration); provided that Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such Piggyback Registration may request that one or more investment banker(s) or manager(s) be included in such offering (such request not to be binding on the Corporation or such other initiating holders of Corporation securities).

(f) Right to Terminate Registration . The Corporation shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any registration initiated by it under this Section 3 whether or not any Holder has elected to include securities in such registration. The Registration Expenses of such withdrawn registration shall be borne by the Corporation in accordance with Section 5 .

Section 4. Registration Procedures .

(a) Whenever the Holders have requested that any Registrable Securities be registered pursuant to this Agreement or have initiated a Shelf Offering, (i) such Holders shall, if

 

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applicable, cause such Registrable Securities to be exchanged into shares of Class A Common Stock in accordance with the terms of the Operating Agreement prior to sale of such Registrable Securities, and (ii) the Corporation shall use its reasonable efforts to effect the registration and the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto the Corporation shall as expeditiously as possible:

(i) in accordance with the Securities Act and all applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, prepare and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement, and all amendments and supplements thereto and related prospectuses, with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective (provided that before filing a registration statement or prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, the Corporation shall furnish to the counsel selected by the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents shall be subject to the review and comment of such counsel);

(ii) notify each holder of Registrable Securities of (A) the issuance by the Securities and Exchange Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of any registration statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (B) the receipt by the Corporation or its counsel of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and (C) the effectiveness of each registration statement filed hereunder;

(iii) prepare and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration statement effective for a period ending when all of the securities covered by such registration statement have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of distribution by the sellers thereof set forth in such registration statement (but in any event not before the expiration of any longer period required under the Securities Act or, if such registration statement relates to an underwritten Public Offering, such longer period as in the opinion of counsel for the underwriters a prospectus is required by law to be delivered in connection with sale of Registrable Securities by an underwriter or dealer) and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement during such period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the sellers thereof set forth in such registration statement;

(iv) furnish to each seller of Registrable Securities thereunder such number of copies of such registration statement, each amendment and supplement thereto, the prospectus included in such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus), each Free Writing Prospectus and such other documents as such seller may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such seller;

 

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(v) use its reasonable efforts to register or qualify such Registrable Securities under such other securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any seller reasonably requests and do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such seller to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities owned by such seller (provided that the Corporation shall not be required to (A) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this subparagraph, (B) consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction or (C) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction);

(vi) notify each seller of such Registrable Securities (A) promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the date and time when such registration statement and each post-effective amendment thereto has become effective or a prospectus or supplement to any prospectus relating to a registration statement has been filed and when any registration or qualification has become effective under a state securities or blue sky law or any exemption thereunder has been obtained, (B) promptly after receipt thereof, of any request by the Securities and Exchange Commission for the amendment or supplementing of such registration statement or prospectus or for additional information and (C) at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus included in such registration statement contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits any fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and, subject to Section 2(f) , at the request of any such seller, the Corporation shall prepare a supplement or amendment to such prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such prospectus shall not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;

(vii) use reasonable efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Corporation are then listed and, if not so listed, to be listed on a securities exchange and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to arrange for at least two market markers to register as such with respect to such Registrable Securities with FINRA;

(viii) use reasonable efforts to provide a transfer agent and registrar for all such Registrable Securities not later than the effective date of such registration statement;

(ix) enter into and perform such customary agreements (including underwriting agreements in customary form) and take all such other actions as the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold or the underwriters, if any, reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities (including effecting a stock split, combination of shares, recapitalization or reorganization);

(x) make available for inspection by any seller of Registrable Securities, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such registration statement and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such seller or underwriter, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate and business documents and properties of

 

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the Corporation as shall be necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause the Corporation’s officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives and independent accountants to supply all information reasonably requested by any such seller, underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with such registration statement;

(xi) take all reasonable actions to ensure that any Free-Writing Prospectus utilized in connection with any Demand Registration or Piggyback Registration hereunder complies in all material respects with the Securities Act, is filed in accordance with the Securities Act to the extent required thereby, is retained in accordance with the Securities Act to the extent required thereby and, when taken together with the related prospectus, shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

(xii) otherwise use its reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve months beginning with the first day of the Corporation’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the registration statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158;

(xiii) to the extent that a Holder, in its sole and exclusive judgment, might be deemed to be an underwriter of any Registrable Securities or a controlling person of the Corporation, permit such Holder to participate in the preparation of such registration or comparable statement and allow such Holder to provide language for insertion therein, in form and substance satisfactory to the Corporation, which in the reasonable judgment of such Holder and its counsel should be included;

(xiv) in the event of the issuance of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a registration statement, or the issuance of any order suspending or preventing the use of any related prospectus or suspending the qualification of any Class A Common Stock included in such registration statement for sale in any jurisdiction use reasonable efforts promptly to obtain the withdrawal of such order;

(xv) use its reasonable efforts to cause such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the sellers thereof to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;

(xvi) cooperate with the Holders of Registrable Securities covered by the registration statement and the managing underwriter or agent, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any restrictive legends) representing securities to be sold under the registration statement and enable such securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the managing underwriter, or agent, if any, or such Holders may request;

 

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(xvii) cooperate with each Holder of Registrable Securities covered by the registration statement and each underwriter or agent participating in the disposition of such Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA;

(xviii) use its reasonable efforts to make available the executive officers of the Corporation to participate with the Holders of Registrable Securities covered by the registration statement and any underwriters in any “road shows” or other selling efforts that may be reasonably requested by the Holders in connection with the methods of distribution for the Registrable Securities;

(xix) in the case of any underwritten Public Offering, use its reasonable efforts to obtain one or more comfort letters from the Corporation’s independent public accountants in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by comfort letters as the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold reasonably request;

(xx) in the case of any underwritten Public Offering, use its reasonable efforts to provide a legal opinion of the Corporation’s outside counsel, dated the closing date of the Public Offering, in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by legal opinions of such nature, which opinion shall be addressed to the underwriters and the Holders of such Registrable Securities being sold;

(xxi) if the Corporation files an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement covering any Registrable Securities, use its reasonable efforts to remain a WKSI (and not become an ineligible issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act)) during the period during which such Automatic Shelf Registration Statement is required to remain effective;

(xxii) if the Corporation does not pay the filing fee covering the Registrable Securities at the time an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement is filed, pay such fee at such time or times as the Registrable Securities are to be sold; and

(xxiii) if the Automatic Shelf Registration Statement has been outstanding for at least three (3) years, at the end of the third year, file a new Automatic Shelf Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities, and, if at any time when the Corporation is required to re-evaluate its WKSI status the Corporation determines that it is not a WKSI, use its reasonable efforts to refile the Shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3 and, if such form is not available, Form S-1 and keep such registration statement effective during the period during which such registration statement is required to be kept effective.

(b) Any officer of the Corporation who is a Holder agrees that if and for so long as he or she is employed by the Corporation or any Subsidiary thereof, he or she shall participate fully in the sale process in a manner customary and reasonable for persons in like positions and consistent with his or her other duties with the Corporation and in accordance with applicable law, including the preparation of the registration statement and the preparation and presentation of any road shows.

 

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(c) The Corporation may require each Holder requesting, or electing to participate in, any registration to furnish the Corporation such information regarding such Holder and the distribution of such Registrable Securities as the Corporation may from time to time reasonably request in writing.

(d) If the Members or any of their respective Affiliates seek to effectuate an in-kind distribution of all or part of their respective Registrable Securities to their respective direct or indirect equityholders, the Corporation shall, subject to any applicable lock-ups, work with the foregoing persons to facilitate such in-kind distribution in the manner reasonably requested.

Section 5. Registration Expenses .

(a) The Corporation’s Obligation . All expenses incident to the Corporation’s performance of or compliance with this Agreement (including all registration, qualification and filing fees, fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws, printing expenses, messenger and delivery expenses, fees and disbursements of custodians, and fees and disbursements of counsel for the Corporation and all independent certified public accountants, underwriters (excluding underwriting discounts and commissions) and other Persons retained by the Corporation) (all such expenses being herein called “ Registration Expenses ”), shall be borne as provided in this Agreement, except that the Corporation shall, in any event, pay its internal expenses (including all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit or quarterly review, the expense of any liability insurance and the expenses and fees for listing the securities to be registered on each securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Corporation are then listed. Each Person that sells securities pursuant to a Demand Registration or Piggyback Registration hereunder shall bear and pay all underwriting discounts and commissions applicable to the securities sold for such Person’s account.

(b) Counsel Fees and Disbursements . In connection with each Demand Registration, each Piggyback Registration and each Shelf Offering that is an underwritten Public Offering, the Corporation shall reimburse the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such registration for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel chosen by the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such registration or participating in such Shelf Offering.

Section 6. Indemnification and Contribution .

(a) By the Corporation . The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the extent permitted by law, each Holder, such Holder’s officers, directors, managers, employees, agents and representatives, and each Person who controls such Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) (the “ Holder Indemnified Parties ”) against all losses, claims, actions, damages, liabilities and expenses (including with respect to actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, and including reasonable attorney fees and expenses) caused by, resulting from, arising out of, based upon or related to any of the following statements, omissions or violations

 

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(each a “ Violation ”) by the Corporation: (i) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in (A) any registration statement, prospectus, preliminary prospectus or Free-Writing Prospectus, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or (B) any application or other document or communication (in this Section 6 , collectively called an “ application ”) executed by or on behalf of the Corporation or based upon written information furnished by or on behalf of the Corporation filed in any jurisdiction in order to qualify any securities covered by such registration under the securities laws thereof, (ii) any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Corporation of the Securities Act or any other similar federal or state securities laws or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder applicable to the Corporation and relating to action or inaction required of the Corporation in connection with any such registration, qualification or compliance. In addition, the Corporation will reimburse such Holder Indemnified Party for any legal or any other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such losses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such losses result from, arise out of, are based upon, or relate to an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement, or omission or alleged omission, made in such registration statement, any such prospectus, preliminary prospectus or Free-Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any application, in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information prepared and furnished in writing to the Corporation by such Holder Indemnified Party expressly for use therein or by such Holder Indemnified Party’s failure to deliver a copy of the registration statement or prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto after the Corporation has furnished such Holder Indemnified Party with a sufficient number of copies of the same. In connection with an underwritten offering, the Corporation shall indemnify such underwriters, their officers and directors, and each Person who controls such underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holder Indemnified Parties.

(b) By Each Holder . In connection with any registration statement in which a Holder is participating, each such Holder shall furnish to the Corporation in writing such information and affidavits as the Corporation reasonably requests for use in connection with any such registration statement or prospectus and, to the extent permitted by law, shall indemnify the Corporation, its officers, directors, managers, employees, agents and representatives, and each Person who controls the Corporation (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses resulting from any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in the registration statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by such Holder; provided that the obligation to indemnify shall be individual, not joint and several, for each Holder and shall be limited to the net amount of proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration statement.

(c) Claim Procedure . Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall impair any Person’s right to

 

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indemnification hereunder only to the extent such failure has prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. In such instance, the conflicted indemnified parties shall have a right to retain one separate counsel, chosen by the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities included in the registration if such Holders are indemnified parties, at the expense of the indemnifying party.

(d) Contribution . If the indemnification provided for in this Section 6 is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to, or is insufficient to hold harmless, an indemnified party or is otherwise unenforceable with respect to any loss, claim, damage, liability or action referred to herein, then the indemnifying party shall contribute to the amounts paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage, liability or action in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and of the indemnified party on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as well as any other relevant equitable considerations; provided that the maximum amount of liability in respect of such contribution shall be limited, in the case of each seller of Registrable Securities, to an amount equal to the net proceeds actually received by such seller from the sale of Registrable Securities effected pursuant to such registration. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of the indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or by the indemnified party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just or equitable if the contribution pursuant to this Section 6(d) were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account such equitable considerations. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to herein shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending against any action or claim which is the subject hereof. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(t) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who is not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

(e) Release . No indemnifying party shall, except with the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement that does not include as an unconditional term thereof giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6 , an indemnifying party shall not be liable for any amounts paid in settlement of any loss, claim, damage, liability, or action if such settlement is effected without the consent of the indemnifying party, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

 

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(f) Non-exclusive Remedy; Survival . The indemnification and contribution provided for under this Agreement shall be in addition to any other rights to indemnification or contribution that any indemnified party may have pursuant to law or contract and shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling Person of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of Registrable Securities and the termination or expiration of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the provisions on indemnification and contribution contained in the underwriting agreement entered into in connection with the underwritten public offering are in conflict with the foregoing provisions, the provisions in the underwriting agreement shall control.

Section 7. Underwritten Registrations .

(a) Participation . No Person may participate in any Public Offering hereunder which is underwritten unless such Person (i) agrees to sell such Person’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Person or Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements (including pursuant to any over-allotment or “green shoe” option requested by the underwriters; provided that no Holder shall be required to sell more than the number of Registrable Securities such Holder has requested to include) and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements, lockup agreements and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements. Each Holder shall execute and deliver such other agreements as may be reasonably requested by the Corporation and the lead managing underwriter(s) that are consistent with such Holder’s obligations under Section 4 and this Section 7(a) or that are necessary to give further effect thereto. To the extent that any such agreement is entered into pursuant to, and consistent with, this Section 7(a) , the respective rights and obligations created under such agreement shall supersede the respective rights and obligations of the Holders, the Corporation and the underwriters created pursuant to this Section 7(a) .

(b) Price and Underwriting Discounts . In the case of an underwritten Demand Registration or Underwritten Takedown requested by Holders pursuant to this Agreement, the price, underwriting discount and other financial terms of the related underwriting agreement for the Registrable Securities shall be determined by the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such underwritten offering.

(c) Suspended Distributions . Each Person that is participating in any registration under this Agreement, upon receipt of any notice from the Corporation of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 4(a)(vi)(B) or (C) , shall immediately discontinue the disposition of its Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement until such Person’s receipt of the copies of a supplemented or amended prospectus as contemplated by Section 4(a)(vi) . In the event the Corporation has given any such notice, the applicable time period set forth in Section 4(a)(iii) during which a Registration Statement is to remain effective shall be extended by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of

 

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such notice pursuant to this Section 7(c) to and including the date when each seller of Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement shall have received the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 4(a)(vi) .

Section 8. Additional Parties; Joinder . Subject to the prior written consent of the Controlling Holders holding at least a majority of the Registrable Securities held by all Controlling Holders, the Corporation may make any Person who acquires Class A Common Stock or rights to acquire Class A Common Stock from the Corporation after the date hereof (including any Person who acquires Common Units) a party to this Agreement (each such Person, an “ Additional Investor ”) and to succeed to all of the rights and obligations of a Holder under this Agreement by obtaining an executed joinder to this Agreement from such Additional Investor in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (a “ Joinder ”). Upon the execution and delivery of a Joinder by such Additional Investor, the Class A Common Stock of the Corporation acquired by such Additional Investor or issuable upon redemption or exchange of Common Units acquired by such Additional Investor (the “ Acquired Common ”) shall be Registrable Securities to the extent provided herein, such Additional Investor shall be a Holder under this Agreement with respect to the Acquired Common, and the Corporation shall add such Additional Investor’s name and address to the Schedule of Investors.

Section 9. Current Public Information . At all times after the Corporation has filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the requirements of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, the Corporation shall file all reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and shall take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required to enable such Holders to sell Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 144. Upon request, the Corporation shall deliver to any Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements.

Section 10. Subsidiary Public Offering . If, after an initial Public Offering of the Capital Stock of one of its Subsidiaries (including the Company), the Corporation distributes securities of such Subsidiary to its equityholders, then the rights and obligations of the Corporation pursuant to this Agreement shall apply, mutatis mutandis , to such Subsidiary, and the Corporation shall cause such Subsidiary to comply with such Subsidiary’s obligations under this Agreement.

Section 11. Transfer of Registrable Securities .

(a) Restrictions on Transfers . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, except in the case of (i) a transfer to the Corporation, (ii) a transfer by any Member or any of its Affiliates to its respective equityholders, (iii) a Public Offering, (iv) a sale pursuant to Rule 144 after the completion of the IPO or (v) a transfer in connection with a sale of the Corporation, prior to transferring any Registrable Securities to any Person (including by operation of law), the transferring Holder shall cause the prospective transferee to execute and deliver to the Corporation a Joinder agreeing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement. Any transfer or attempted transfer of any Registrable Securities in violation of any provision of this Agreement shall be void, and the Corporation shall not record such transfer on its books or treat any purported transferee of such Registrable Securities as the owner thereof for any purpose.

 

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(b) Legend . Each certificate evidencing any Registrable Securities and each certificate issued in exchange for or upon the transfer of any Registrable Securities (unless such Registrable Securities would no longer be Registrable Securities after such transfer) shall be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form:

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AND OTHER PROVISIONS SET FORTH IN A REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED AS OF OCTOBER 5, 2017, BY AND AMONG THE ISSUER OF SUCH SECURITIES (THE “CORPORATION”) AND CERTAIN OF THE CORPORATION’S STOCKHOLDERS, AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME. A COPY OF SUCH REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT WILL BE FURNISHED WITHOUT CHARGE BY THE CORPORATION TO THE HOLDER HEREOF UPON WRITTEN REQUEST.”

The Corporation shall imprint such legend on certificates evidencing Registrable Securities outstanding prior to the date hereof, and shall cause the Company to imprint such legend on certificates, if any, evidencing Common Units exchangeable for Registrable Securities outstanding prior to the date hereof. The legend set forth above shall be removed from the certificates evidencing any securities that have ceased to be Registrable Securities.

Section 12. MNPI Provisions .

(a) Each Holder acknowledges that (i) the provisions of this Agreement that require communications by the Corporation or other Holders to such Holder may result in such Holder and its Representatives (as defined below) acquiring MNPI (which may include, solely by way of illustration, the fact that an offering of the Corporation’s securities is pending or the number of Corporation securities or the identity of the selling Holders), and (ii) there is no limitation on the duration of time that such Holder and its Representatives may be in possession of MNPI and no requirement that the Company or other Holders make any public disclosure to cause such information to cease to be MNPI; provided that the Corporation will use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly notify each Holder if any proposed registration or offering for which a notice has been delivered pursuant to this Agreement has been terminated or aborted.

(b) Each Holder agrees that it will maintain the confidentiality of such MNPI and, to the extent such Holder is not a natural person, such confidential treatment shall be in accordance with procedures adopted by it in good faith to protect confidential information of third parties delivered to such Holder (“ Policies ”); provided that a holder may deliver or disclose MNPI to (i) its directors, officers, employees, agents, attorneys, affiliates and financial and other advisors (collectively, the “ Representatives ”), but solely to the extent such disclosure reasonably relates to its evaluation of exercise of its rights under this Agreement and the sale of any Registrable Securities in connection with the subject of the notice, (ii) any federal or state regulatory authority having jurisdiction over such Holder, (iii) any Person if necessary to effect compliance with any law, rule, regulation or order applicable to such Holder, (iv) in response to any subpoena or other legal process, or (v) in connection with any litigation to which such Holder is a party; provided further , that in the case of clause (i) , the recipients of such MNPI are subject to the Policies or agree to hold confidential the MNPI in a manner substantially consistent with the terms of this Section 12 and that in the case of clauses (ii)  through (v) , such disclosure is required by law and you promptly notify the Corporation of such disclosure to the extent such Holder is legally permitted to give such notice.

 

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(c) Each Holder, by its execution of a counterpart to this agreement or of a Joinder, hereby (i) acknowledges that it is aware that the U.S. securities laws prohibit any person who has MNPI about a company from purchasing or selling, directly or indirectly, securities of such company (including entering into hedge transactions involving such securities), or from communicating such information to any other person under circumstances in which it is reasonably foreseeable that such person is likely to purchase or sell such securities, and (ii) agrees that it will not use, and that it will use its reasonable efforts to assure that none of its representatives will use or permit any third party to use, any MNPI the Corporation provides in contravention of the U.S. securities laws and that it will cease trading in the Corporation’s and the Company’s securities while in possession of material non-public information.

(d) Each Holder shall have the right, at any time and from time to time (including after receiving information regarding any potential Public Offering), to elect not to receive any notice that the Corporation or any other Holders otherwise are required to deliver pursuant to this Agreement by delivering to the Corporation a written statement signed by such Holder that it does not want to receive any notices hereunder (an “ Opt-Out Request ”); in which case and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, for so long as such Opt-Out Request is in effect, (i) the Corporation and other Holders shall not be required to, and shall not, deliver any notice or other information required to be provided to Holders hereunder to the extent that the Corporation or such other Holders reasonably expect would result in a Holder acquiring MNPI and (ii) such Holder waives any right to participate in any registration covered by this Agreement. An Opt-Out Request may state a date on which it expires or, if no such date is specified, shall remain in effect indefinitely. A Holder who previously has given the Corporation an Opt-Out Request may revoke such request at any time, and there shall be no limit on the ability of a Holder to issue and revoke subsequent Opt-Out Requests; provided that each Holder shall use commercially reasonable efforts to minimize the administrative burden on the Corporation arising in connection with any such Opt-Out Requests.

Section 13. General Provisions .

(a) Amendments and Waivers . Except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions of this Agreement may be amended, modified or waived only with the prior written consent of the Corporation and Holders holding a majority of the Registrable Securities; provided that no such amendment, modification or waiver that would materially and adversely affect a Holder in a manner materially different than any other Holder ( provided that the accession by Additional Investors to this Agreement pursuant to Section 8 shall not be deemed to adversely affect any Holder), shall be effective against such Holder without the consent of such Holder that is materially and adversely affected thereby and provided further that any amendment, modification or waiver that would materially and adversely affect the rights of the Controlling Holders shall also require the prior written consent of the Controlling Holders holding a majority of the Registrable Securities held by all Controlling Holders. The failure or delay of any Person to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall in no way be construed as a waiver of such provisions and shall not affect the right of such Person thereafter to enforce each and every provision of this Agreement in accordance with its terms. A waiver or consent to or of any

 

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breach or default by any Person in the performance by that Person of his, her or its obligations under this Agreement shall not be deemed to be a consent or waiver to or of any other breach or default in the performance by that Person of the same or any other obligations of that Person under this Agreement.

(b) Remedies . The parties to this Agreement shall be entitled to enforce their rights under this Agreement specifically (without posting a bond or other security), to recover damages caused by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights existing in their favor. The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that a breach of this Agreement would cause irreparable harm and money damages would not be an adequate remedy for any such breach and that, in addition to any other rights and remedies existing hereunder, any party shall be entitled to specific performance and/or other injunctive relief from any court of law or equity of competent jurisdiction (without posting any bond or other security) in order to enforce or prevent violation of the provisions of this Agreement.

(c) Effectiveness . This Agreement shall be effective upon the date hereof; provided, however , that in the event the Corporation fails to acquire any Common Units within four (4) Business Days following the date hereof (or such later date as may be agreed to by the Company) then this Agreement shall immediately be deemed null and void ab initio, this Agreement shall be of no further force and the Existing Agreement will govern the rights and obligations of the Company and the Members.

(d) Severability . Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited, invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or regulation in any jurisdiction, such prohibition, invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement in such jurisdiction or in any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such prohibited, invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

(e) Entire Agreement . Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement contains the complete agreement and understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and preempts any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way.

(f) Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit and be enforceable by the Corporation and its successors and assigns and the Holders and their respective successors and assigns (whether so expressed or not). In addition, whether or not any express assignment has been made, the provisions of this Agreement which are for the benefit Holders are also for the benefit of, and enforceable by, any subsequent or successor Holder.

(g) Notices . Any notice, demand or other communication to be given under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given (i) when delivered personally to the recipient, (ii) when sent by confirmed electronic mail or facsimile if sent during normal business hours of the recipient but; if not, then on the next

 

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Business Day, (iii) one (1) Business Day after it is sent to the recipient by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid) or (iv) three (3) Business Days after it is mailed to the recipient by first class mail, return receipt requested. Such notices, demands and other communications shall be sent to the Corporation at the address specified below and to any Member or to any other party subject to this Agreement at such address as indicated on the Schedule of Investors, or at such address or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party. Any party may change such party’s address for receipt of notice by providing prior written notice of the change to the sending party as provided herein. The Corporation’s address is:

Switch, Inc.

7135 S. Decatur Boulevard

Las Vegas, NV 89118

Attention: Corporate Secretary

Email: secretary@switch.com

With a copy to:

Latham & Watkins LLP

650 Town Center Drive, 20th Floor,

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Attention: Shayne Kennedy

Facsimile: (714) 755-8290

Email: shayne.kennedy@lw.com

or to such other address or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party.

(h) Business Days . If any time period for giving notice or taking action hereunder expires on a day that is not a Business Day, the time period shall automatically be extended to the immediately following Business Day.

(i) Governing Law . The corporate law of the State of Nevada shall govern all issues and questions concerning the relative rights of the Corporation and its stockholders. All other issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforcement of this Agreement and the exhibits and schedules hereto shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York.

(j) MUTUAL WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL . AS A SPECIFICALLY BARGAINED FOR INDUCEMENT FOR EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT (AFTER HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSULT WITH COUNSEL), EACH PARTY HERETO EXPRESSLY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LAWSUIT OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO OR ARISING IN ANY WAY FROM THIS AGREEMENT OR THE MATTERS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

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(k) CONSENT TO JURISDICTION AND SERVICE OF PROCESS . EACH OF THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA LOCATED IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, FOR THE PURPOSES OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR OTHER PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, ANY RELATED AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO FURTHER AGREES THAT SERVICE OF ANY PROCESS, SUMMONS, NOTICE OR DOCUMENT BY U.S. REGISTERED MAIL TO SUCH PARTY’S RESPECTIVE ADDRESS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL BE EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS FOR ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO ANY MATTERS TO WHICH IT HAS SUBMITTED TO JURISDICTION IN THIS PARAGRAPH. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, ANY RELATED DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY IN THE STATE OR FEDERAL COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, AND HEREBY AND THEREBY FURTHER IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES AND AGREES NOT TO PLEAD OR CLAIM IN ANY SUCH COURT THAT ANY SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.

(l) No Recourse . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Corporation and each Holder agrees and acknowledges that no recourse under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection with this Agreement, shall be had against any current or future director, officer, employee, general or limited partner or member of any Holder or of any Affiliate or assignee thereof, whether by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding, or by virtue of any statute, regulation or other applicable law, it being expressly agreed and acknowledged that no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, be imposed on or otherwise be incurred by any current or future officer, agent or employee of any Holder or any current or future member of any Holder or any current or future director, officer, employee, partner or member of any Holder or of any Affiliate or assignee thereof, as such for any obligation of any Holder under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection with this Agreement for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation.

(m) Descriptive Headings; Interpretation . The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement. The use of the word “including” in this Agreement shall be by way of example rather than by limitation.

(n) No Strict Construction . The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties hereto to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any party.

(o) Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, including pursuant to an omnibus signature page, any one of which need not contain the signature of more than one party, but all such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

26


(p) Electronic Delivery . This Agreement, the agreements referred to herein, and each other agreement or instrument entered into in connection herewith or therewith or contemplated hereby or thereby, and any amendments hereto or thereto, to the extent executed and delivered by means of a photographic, photostatic, facsimile or similar reproduction of such signed writing using a facsimile machine or electronic mail shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person. At the request of any party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument, each other party hereto or thereto shall re-execute original forms thereof and deliver them to all other parties. No party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument shall raise the use of a facsimile machine or electronic mail to deliver a signature or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through the use of a facsimile machine or electronic mail as a defense to the formation or enforceability of a contract and each such party forever waives any such defense.

(q) Further Assurances . In connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, each Holder shall execute and deliver any additional documents and instruments and perform any additional acts that may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate and perform the provisions of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

(r) No Inconsistent Agreements . The Corporation shall not hereafter enter into any agreement with respect to its securities which is inconsistent with or violates the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement.

* * * * *

 

27


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

 

SWITCH, INC.
By:   /s/ Gabe Nacht
Name: Gabe Nacht
Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

SWITCH, LTD.
By:   /s/ Gabe Nacht
Name: Gabe Nacht
Title: Chief Financial Officer

S IGNATURE P AGE

TO

R EGISTRATION R IGHTS A GREEMENT


EXHIBIT A

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT JOINDER

The undersigned is executing and delivering this Joinder pursuant to the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement dated as of October 5, 2017 (as the same may hereafter be amended, the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”), among Switch, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “ Corporation ”), Switch, Ltd., a Nevada limited-liability company, and the other persons party thereto.

By executing and delivering this Joinder to the Corporation, and upon acceptance hereof by the Corporation upon the execution of a counterpart hereof, the undersigned hereby agrees to become a party to, to be bound by, and to comply with the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement as a Holder of Registrable Securities in the same manner as if the undersigned were an original signatory to the Registration Rights Agreement, and the undersigned’s shares of Class A Common Stock shall be included as Registrable Securities under the Registration Rights Agreement to the extent provided therein. The Corporation is directed to add the address below the undersigned’s signature on this Joinder to the Schedule of Investors maintained by the Corporation.

Accordingly, the undersigned has executed and delivered this Joinder as of the          day of                      , 20      .

 

 

 

Signature of Stockholder

 

 

 

Print Name of Stockholder

Its:

 

Address:    
 
 

 

Agreed and Accepted as of

                     , 20     

 

Switch, Inc.

By:    
Name:
Its:

Exhibit 10.3

 

 

 

FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED

OPERATING AGREEMENT

OF

SWITCH, LTD.

a Nevada limited-liability company

Dated as of October 5, 2017

 

 

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

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

Article I. DEFINITIONS

     2  

Article II. ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS

     12  

Section 2.01

 

Formation of Company

     12  

Section 2.02

 

Fifth Amended and Restated Operating Agreement

     12  

Section 2.03

 

Name

     12  

Section 2.04

 

Purpose

     12  

Section 2.05

 

Principal Office; Registered Agent

     12  

Section 2.06

 

Term

     12  

Section 2.07

 

No State-Law Partnership

     12  

Article III. MEMBERS; UNITS; CAPITALIZATION

     13  

Section 3.01

 

Members

     13  

Section 3.02

 

Units

     13  

Section 3.03

 

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

     14  

Section 3.04

 

Authorization and Issuance of Additional Units

     14  

Section 3.05

 

Repurchase or Redemption of Shares of Class A Common Stock

     15  

Section 3.06

 

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

     16  

Section 3.07

 

Negative Capital Accounts

     16  

Section 3.08

 

No Withdrawal

     16  

Section 3.09

 

Loans From Members

     16  

Section 3.10

 

Corporation Stock Incentive Plans

     16  

Section 3.11

 

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

     17  

Article IV. DISTRIBUTIONS

     17  

Section 4.01

 

Distributions

     17  

Section 4.02

 

Restricted Distributions

     19  

Article V. CAPITAL ACCOUNTS; ALLOCATIONS; TAX MATTERS

     19  

Section 5.01

 

Capital Accounts

     19  

Section 5.02

 

Allocations

     20  

Section 5.03

 

Regulatory Allocations

     20  

Section 5.04

 

Final Allocations

     21  

Section 5.05

 

Tax Allocations

     21  

Section 5.06

 

Indemnification and Reimbursement for Payments on Behalf of a Member

     22  

 

ii


Article VI. MANAGEMENT

     23  

Section 6.01

 

Authority of Manager

     23  

Section 6.02

 

Actions of the Manager

     23  

Section 6.03

 

Resignation; No Removal

     23  

Section 6.04

 

Vacancies

     24  

Section 6.05

 

Transactions Between Company and Manager

     24  

Section 6.06

 

Reimbursement for Expenses

     24  

Section 6.07

 

Delegation of Authority

     24  

Section 6.08

 

Limitation of Liability of Manager

     25  

Section 6.09

 

Investment Company Act

     26  

Section 6.10

 

Outside Activities of the Manager

     26  

Article VII. RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS

     27  

Section 7.01

 

Limitation of Liability and Duties of Members

     27  

Section 7.02

 

Lack of Authority

     27  

Section 7.03

 

No Right of Partition

     27  

Section 7.04

 

Indemnification

     28  

Section 7.05

 

Members Right to Act

     29  

Section 7.06

 

Inspection Rights

     30  

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

     30  

Section 8.01

 

Records and Accounting

     30  

Section 8.02

 

Fiscal Year

     30  

Section 8.03

 

Reports

     30  

Article IX. TAX MATTERS

     31  

Section 9.01

 

Preparation of Tax Returns

     31  

Section 9.02

 

Tax Elections

     31  

Section 9.03

 

Tax Controversies

     31  

Article X. RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF UNITS; PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS

     32  

Section 10.01

 

Transfers by Members

     32  

Section 10.02

 

Permitted Transfers

     32  

Section 10.03

 

Restricted Units Legend

     33  

Section 10.04

 

Transfer

     33  

Section 10.05

 

Assignee’s Rights

     34  

Section 10.06

 

Assignor’s Rights and Obligations

     34  

Section 10.07

 

Overriding Provisions

     34  

Article XI. REDEMPTION AND EXCHANGE RIGHTS

     36  

Section 11.01

 

Redemption Right of a Member

     36  

 

iii


Section 11.02

 

Election and Contribution of the Corporation

     38  

Section 11.03

 

Exchange Right of the Corporation

     39  

Section 11.04

 

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

     39  

Section 11.05

 

Effect of Exercise of Redemption or Exchange Right

     40  

Section 11.06

 

Tax Treatment

     40  

Article XII. ADMISSION OF MEMBERS

     40  

Section 12.01

 

Substituted Members

     40  

Section 12.02

 

Additional Members

     40  

Article XIII. WITHDRAWAL AND RESIGNATION; TERMINATION OF RIGHTS

     40  

Section 13.01

 

Withdrawal and Resignation of Members

     40  

Article XIV. DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

     41  

Section 14.01

 

Dissolution

     41  

Section 14.02

 

Liquidation and Termination

     41  

Section 14.03

 

Deferment; Distribution in Kind

     42  

Section 14.04

 

Cancellation of Certificate

     42  

Section 14.05

 

Reasonable Time for Winding Up

     42  

Section 14.06

 

Return of Capital

     42  

Article XV. VALUATION

     43  

Section 15.01

 

Determination

     43  

Section 15.02

 

Dispute Resolution

     43  

Article XVI. GENERAL PROVISIONS

     43  

Section 16.01

 

Power of Attorney

     43  

Section 16.02

 

Confidentiality

     44  

Section 16.03

 

Amendments

     44  

Section 16.04

 

Title to Company Assets

     45  

Section 16.05

 

Addresses and Notices

     45  

Section 16.06

 

Binding Effect; Intended Beneficiaries

     46  

Section 16.07

 

Creditors

     46  

Section 16.08

 

Waiver

     46  

Section 16.09

 

Counterparts

     46  

Section 16.10

 

Applicable Law

     46  

Section 16.11

 

Severability

     46  

Section 16.12

 

Further Action

     46  

Section 16.13

 

Delivery by Electronic Transmission

     46  

Section 16.14

 

Right of Offset

     47  

Section 16.15

 

Effectiveness

     47  

Section 16.16

 

Entire Agreement

     47  

 

iv


Section 16.17

 

Remedies

     47  

Section 16.18

 

Descriptive Headings; Interpretation

     47  

Exhibits

Exhibit A        –         Form of Joinder Agreement

Exhibit B        –        Corporation Equity Plan Guidelines

 

v


FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED

OPERATING AGREEMENT

OF

SWITCH, LTD.

This FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED OPERATING AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of October 5, 2017, is entered into by and among Switch, Ltd., a Nevada limited-liability company (the “ Company ”), and its Members (as defined herein).

WHEREAS, the Company was formed by the filing of the Articles (as defined herein) with the Secretary of State of Nevada pursuant to the Act (as defined herein) on November 18, 2003;

WHEREAS, the Company entered into a Fourth Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of the Company, dated as of August 11, 2017 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time to but excluding the date hereof, together with all schedules, exhibits and annexes thereto, the “ Prior Operating Agreement ”), with the members of the Company party thereto (including pursuant to consent and joinders thereto) (collectively, the “ Original Members ”);

WHEREAS, the Original Members hold Common Units and Incentive Units (as defined in the Prior Operating Agreement, respectively, the “ Original Common Units ” and the “ Original Incentive Units ,” respectively, and collectively, the “ Original Units ”) of the Company;

WHEREAS, the Company desires to have Switch, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “ Corporation ”), effect an initial public offering (the “ IPO ”) of shares of its Class A common stock, par value $0.001 (the “ Class  A Common Stock ”), and in connection therewith, to amend and restate the Prior Operating Agreement as of the Effective Time (as defined herein) to reflect (a) a recapitalization of the Company (as set forth in Section 3.03 hereof) (the “ Recapitalization ”), (b) the addition of the Corporation as a Member of the Company and its designation as sole Manager (as defined herein) of the Company, and (c) the rights and obligations of the Members of the Company that are enumerated and agreed upon in the terms of this Agreement effective as of the Effective Time, at which time the Prior Operating Agreement shall be superseded entirely by this Agreement;

WHEREAS, in connection with the Recapitalization and as of the Effective Time, the Original Units of each Original Member will be canceled and Common Units (as defined herein) will be issued as contemplated by this Agreement;

WHEREAS, the Original Members are the members of the Company as of the Effective Time and after giving effect to the Recapitalization;

WHEREAS, exclusive of the Over-Allotment Option (as defined below), the Corporation will sell shares of its Class A Common Stock to public investors in the IPO and will use the net proceeds received from the IPO (the “ IPO Net Proceeds ”) to purchase newly issued Common Units from the Company pursuant to that certain IPO Common Unit Purchase Agreement (as defined herein), a substantially final draft of which has been provided to each of the holders of Units prior to the date hereof; and


WHEREAS, the Corporation will issue additional shares of Class A Common Stock in connection with the IPO as a result of the exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares (the “ Over-Allotment Option ”) and the resulting additional net proceeds (the “ Over-Allotment Option Net Proceeds ”) will be used by the Corporation to purchase newly issued Common Units from the Company pursuant to the IPO Common Unit Purchase Agreement.

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

ARTICLE I.

DEFINITIONS

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

10% Member ” means (i) a Member that holds Units representing a direct Percentage Interest of at least 10% or (ii) a Person that holds, directly and/or indirectly and together with such Person’s Affiliates, Units representing a Percentage Interest of at least 10% provided that the Company has knowledge that such Person (together with such Person’s Affiliates) holds, directly and/or indirectly, Units representing a Percentage Interest of at least 10%.

Act ” means Chapter 86 of the Nevada Revised Statutes, as amended from time to time, or any corresponding provision or provisions of any succeeding or successor law of the State of Nevada; provided , however , that any amendment to the Act, or any succeeding or successor law, is applicable to the Company only if the Company has elected to be governed by the Act as so amended or by such succeeding or successor law, as the case may be. The term “Act” shall refer to the Act as so amended or to such succeeding or successor law only after the appropriate election by the Company, if made, has become effective.

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

2


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

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

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

Appraisers ” has the meaning set forth in Section  15.02 .

Articles ” means the Articles of Organization of the Company filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada in accordance with the Act, as such Articles may be amended from time to time in accordance with the Act.

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

Assumed Tax Liability ” means, with respect to a Member, an amount equal to the Distribution Tax Rate multiplied by the estimated or actual taxable income of the Company, as determined for federal income tax purposes, allocated to such Member pursuant to Section  5.05 for the period to which the Assumed Tax Liability relates as determined for federal income tax purposes to the extent not previously taken into account in determining the Assumed Tax Liability of such Member, as reasonably determined by the Manager; provided that, in the case of the Corporation, such Assumed Tax Liability (i) shall be computed without regard to any increases to the tax basis of the Company’s property pursuant to Section 743(b) of the Code and (ii) shall in no event be less than an amount that will enable the Corporation to meet its tax obligations, including its obligations pursuant to the Tax Receivable Agreement, for the relevant taxable year.

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

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

 

3


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

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

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

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

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

Change of Control Transaction ” means (a) a sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets determined on a consolidated basis, (b) a sale of a majority of the Company’s outstanding Units (other than (i) to the Corporation or (ii) in connection with a Redemption or Exchange in accordance with Article XI ) or (c) a sale of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of any Material Subsidiary of the Company; in any such case, whether by merger, recapitalization, consolidation, reorganization, combination or otherwise; provided, however , that neither (w) a transaction solely between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the other hand, nor (x) a transaction solely for the purpose of changing the jurisdiction of domicile of the Company, nor (y) a transaction solely for the purpose of changing the form of entity of the Company, nor (z) a sale of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, whether by merger, recapitalization, consolidation, reorganization, combination or otherwise, shall in each case of clauses (w), (x), (y) and (z) constitute a Change of Control Transaction.

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

Class  B Common Stock ” means the Class B Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Corporation.

Class  C Common Stock ” means the Class C Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Corporation.

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

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

Common Unit Redemption Price ” means the arithmetic average of the volume weighted average prices for a share of Class A Common Stock on the principal U.S. securities

 

4


exchange on which the Class A Common Stock is traded or quoted, as reported by Bloomberg, L.P., or its successor, for each of the five (5) consecutive full Trading Days ending on and including the last full Trading Day immediately prior to the Redemption Date, subject to appropriate and equitable adjustment for any stock splits, reverse splits, stock dividends or similar events affecting the Class A Common Stock. If the Class A Common Stock no longer trades on a securities exchange or automated or electronic quotation system, then a majority of the Independent Directors shall determine the Common Unit Redemption Price in good faith.

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

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

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

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

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

Corporate Incentive Award Plan ” means the Switch, Inc. 2017 Incentive Award Plan, as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

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

Credit Agreement ” means that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 27, 2017, by and among the Company, as borrower, the several lenders from time to time party thereto, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent for the lenders, including all exhibits, schedules and attachments thereto as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time and including any one or more refinancings or replacements thereof, in whole or in part, with any other debt facility or debt obligation.

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

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

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

 

5


Distribution Tax Rate ” shall mean the tax rate determined in the sole discretion of the Manager.

Effective Time ” has the meaning set forth in Section  16.15 .

Equity Plan ” means any option, stock, unit, stock unit, appreciation right, phantom equity or other incentive equity or equity-based compensation plan or program, in each case, now or hereafter adopted by the Company or the Corporation, including the Corporate Incentive Award Plan.

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

Event of Withdrawal ” means the expulsion, bankruptcy or dissolution of a Member or the occurrence of any other event that terminates the continued membership of a Member in the Company. “Event of Withdrawal” shall not include an event that (a) terminates the existence of a Member for income tax purposes (including (i) a change in entity classification of a Member under Treasury Regulations Section 301.7701-3, (ii) termination of a partnership pursuant to Code Section 708(b)(1)(B), (iii) a sale of assets by, or liquidation of, a Member pursuant to an election under Code Sections 336 or 338, or (iv) merger, severance, or allocation within a trust or among sub-trusts of a trust that is a Member) but that (b) does not terminate the existence of such Member under applicable state law (or, in the case of a trust that is a Member, does not terminate the trusteeship of the fiduciaries under such trust with respect to all the Company Interests of such trust that is a Member).

Exchange Act ” has the meaning set forth in Section  6.10 .

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

Independent Directors ” means the members of the Corporate Board who are “independent” under the standards of the principal U.S. securities exchange on which the Class A Common Stock is traded or quoted.

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

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

IPO Closing Date ” means the closing date of the IPO, which for the avoidance of doubt means the date on which all IPO Net Proceeds required to be delivered pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement have been delivered to the Corporation in respect of its sale of Class A Common Stock excluding any proceeds from the Over-Allotment Option which may be delivered at a subsequent date following exercise of such option.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Majority Members ” means the Members (which may include the Manager) holding a majority of the Voting Units then outstanding; provided that, if as of any date of determination, a majority of the Voting Units are then held by the Manager or any Affiliates controlled by the Manager, then “Majority Members” shall mean the Manager together with Members (other than the Manager and its controlled Affiliates) holding a majority of the Voting Units (excluding Voting Units held by the Manager) then outstanding.

Manager ” has the meaning set forth in Section  6.01 .

 

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Material Subsidiary ” means any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company that, as of any date of determination, represents more than (a) 50% of the consolidated net tangible assets of the Company or (b) 50% of the consolidated net income of the Company before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (calculated in a manner substantially consistent with the definition of “Consolidated Net Income” and/or “Consolidated EBITDA” or similar definition(s) appearing therein in the Credit Agreement).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

Quarterly Redemption Date ” means, for each quarter beginning with the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the latest to occur of either: (a) the second Business Day after the date on which the Corporation makes a public news release of its quarterly earnings for the prior quarter, (b) the first day of each quarter on which directors and executive officers of the Corporation are permitted to trade under the applicable policies of the Corporation related to trading by directors and executive officers, or (c) such other date as the Corporation shall determine in its sole discretion. The Corporation will deliver notice of the Quarterly Redemption Date to each Member (other than the Corporation) at least seventy-five (75) days prior to each Quarterly Redemption Date.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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Restricted Taxable Year ” shall mean any (i) the Taxable Year of the Company ending December 31, 2018, unless the Manager determines otherwise and notifies the Members prior to December 31, 2017, and (ii) any Taxable Year during which the Manager determines the Company does not satisfy the private placement safe harbor of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h). Unless the Manager otherwise notifies the Members prior to the commencement of a Taxable Year, each Taxable Year of the Company shall be a Restricted Taxable Year.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

Trading Day ” means a day on which the principal U.S. securities exchange on which the Class A Common Stock is traded or quoted is open for the transaction of business (unless such trading shall have been suspended for the entire day).

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

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

Underwriting Agreement ” means the Underwriting Agreement, dated as of October 5, 2017, by and among the Corporation, the Company, Goldman, Sachs & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, BMO Capital Markets Corp. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC.

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

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

Unvested Corporate Shares ” means shares of Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to an Equity Plan that are not Vested Corporate Shares.

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

Voting Units ” means (a) the Common Units and (b) any other Units other than Units that by their express terms do not entitle the record holder thereof to vote on any matter presented to the Members generally under this Agreement for approval; provided that (i) no vote by Voting Units shall have the power to override any action taken by the Manager or to remove or replace the Manager, (ii) the Voting Units have no ability to take part in the conduct or control of the Company’s business and (iii) notwithstanding any vote by Voting Units hereunder, the Manager shall retain exclusive management power over the business and affairs of the Company in accordance with Section  6.01(a) .

 

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ARTICLE II.

ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS

Section  2.01 Formation of Company . The Company was formed on November 18, 2003 pursuant to the provisions of the Act.

Section  2.02 Fifth Amended and Restated Operating Agreement . The Members hereby execute this Agreement for the purpose of establishing the affairs of the Company and the conduct of its business in accordance with the provisions of the Act. The Members hereby agree that during the term of the Company set forth in Section  2.06 the rights and obligations of the Members with respect to the Company will be determined in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Act. On any matter upon which this Agreement is silent, the Act shall control. No provision of this Agreement shall be in violation of the Act and to the extent any provision of this Agreement is in violation of the Act, such provision shall be void and of no effect to the extent of such violation without affecting the validity of the other provisions of this Agreement; provided, however , that where the Act provides that a provision of the Act shall apply “unless otherwise provided in the operating agreement” or words of similar effect, the provisions of this Agreement shall in each instance control.

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

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

Section  2.05 Principal Office; Registered Agent . The principal office of the Company shall be at 7135 South Decatur Boulevard, Las Vegas, Nevada 89118, or such other place as the Manager may from time to time designate. The registered agent for service of process on the Company in the State of Nevada, and the address of such agent, shall be Rob Roy, 7135 South Decatur Boulevard, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89118. The Manager may from time to time change the Company’s registered agent in the State of Nevada.

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

Section  2.07 No State-Law Partnership . The Members intend that the Company not be a partnership (including a limited partnership) or joint venture, and that no Member be a partner or joint venturer of any other Member by virtue of this Agreement, for any purposes other than as set forth in the last sentence of this Section  2.07 , and neither this Agreement nor any other

 

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

ARTICLE III.

MEMBERS; UNITS; CAPITALIZATION

Section  3.01 Members .

(a) Each Original Member previously was admitted as a Member and shall remain a Member of the Company upon the Effective Time.

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

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

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

 

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solely to the extent) the Company actually receives cash in an aggregate amount, or other property with a Fair Market Value in an aggregate amount, equal to the pro rata share of Company Interests allocated to such new class or series of Units and the number thereof issued by the Company.

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

(a) Recapitalization . In connection with the Recapitalization, immediately prior to the Effective Time, the aggregate number of 194,626,591 Original Common Units (excluding Original Incentive Units) and the aggregate number of 27,531,452 Original Incentive Units (including 7,500,000 Original Incentive Units that were classified as LTIP Incentive Units) that in each case were issued and outstanding and held by the Original Members prior to the execution and effectiveness of this Agreement are hereby canceled and an aggregate of 215,568,963 Common Units are hereby issued and outstanding as of the Effective Time to the Members as set forth in the Schedule of Members as of the Effective Time. Each Member will be within one (1) Business Day following the Effective Time of the number of Common Units such Member holds as of the Effective Time as a result of the Recapitalization.

(b) The Corporation’s Common Unit Purchase . Following the Recapitalization, and concurrent with the closing of the IPO, the Corporation will contribute the IPO Net Proceeds in exchange for 31,250,000 Common Units pursuant to the IPO Common Unit Purchase Agreement (the “ IPO Common Unit Purchase ”). The IPO Common Unit Purchase shall be reflected on the Schedule of Members. In addition, to the extent the underwriters in the IPO exercise the Over-Allotment Option in whole or in part, upon the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option, the Corporation will contribute the Over-Allotment Option Net Proceeds to the Company in exchange for a number of newly issued Common Units equal to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issued by the Corporation in such exercise of the Over-Allotment Option pursuant to the IPO Common Unit Purchase Agreement, and such issuance of additional Common Units shall be reflected on the Schedule of Members. For the avoidance of doubt, the Corporation shall be admitted as a Member with respect to all Common Units it holds from time to time. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that the IPO Common Unit Purchase will result in a “reevaluation of partnership property” and corresponding adjustments to Capital Account balances as described in Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) of the Treasury Regulations.

Section  3.04 Authorization and Issuance of Additional Units .

(a) The Company shall undertake all actions requested by the Manager, including a reclassification, distribution, division or recapitalization, with respect to the Common Units, to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by the Corporation and the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, disregarding, for purposes of maintaining the one-to-one ratio, (i) Unvested Corporate Shares, (ii) treasury stock, or (iii) preferred stock or other debt or equity securities (including warrants, options or rights) issued by the Corporation that are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock (except to the extent the net proceeds from such other securities, including any exercise or purchase price payable upon conversion, exercise or exchange thereof, has been contributed by the Corporation to the equity capital of the Company). In the event the

 

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Corporation issues, transfers or delivers from treasury stock or repurchases Class A Common Stock in a transaction not contemplated in this Agreement, the Manager shall take all actions such that, after giving effect to all such issuances, transfers, deliveries or repurchases, the number of outstanding Common Units owned by the Corporation will equal on a one-for-one basis the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, subject to the immediately preceding sentence. In the event the Corporation issues, transfers or delivers from treasury stock or repurchases or redeems the Corporation’s preferred stock in a transaction not contemplated in this Agreement, the Manager shall have the authority to take all actions such that, after giving effect to all such issuances, transfers, deliveries, repurchases or redemptions, the Corporation holds (in the case of any issuance, transfer or delivery) or ceases to hold (in the case of any repurchase or redemption) equity interests in the Company which (in the good faith determination by the Manager) are in the aggregate substantially equivalent to the outstanding preferred stock of the Corporation so issued, transferred, delivered, repurchased or redeemed. The Company shall not undertake any subdivision (by any Common Unit split, Common Unit distribution, reclassification, recapitalization or similar event) or combination (by reverse Common Unit split, reclassification, recapitalization or similar event) of the Common Units that is not accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination of Class A Common Stock to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by the Corporation and the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, unless such action is necessary to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by the Corporation and the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, as contemplated by the first sentence of this Section  3.04(a) .

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

Section  3.05 Repurchase or Redemption of Shares of Class  A Common Stock . If, at any time, any shares of Class A Common Stock are repurchased or redeemed (whether by exercise of a put or call, automatically or by means of another arrangement) by the Corporation for cash, then the Manager shall cause the Company, immediately prior to such repurchase or redemption of Class A Common Stock, to redeem a corresponding number of Common Units held by the Corporation, at an aggregate redemption price equal to the aggregate purchase or redemption price of the shares of Class A Common Stock being repurchased or redeemed by the Corporation (plus any expenses related thereto) and upon such other terms as are the same for the shares of Class A Common Stock being repurchased or redeemed by the Corporation. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall not make any repurchase or redemption if such repurchase or redemption would violate any applicable Law.

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Section  3.10 Corporation Stock Incentive Plans . Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed or applied to preclude or restrain the Corporation from adopting, modifying or terminating an Equity Plan or from issuing shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to any

 

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such Equity Plans. The Corporation may implement such Equity Plans and any actions taken under such Equity Plans (such as the grant or exercise of options to acquire shares of Class A Common Stock, or the issuance of Unvested Corporate Shares), whether taken with respect to or by an employee or other service provider of the Corporation, the Company or its Subsidiaries, in a manner determined by the Corporation, in accordance with the initial implementation guidelines attached to this Agreement as Exhibit B, which may be amended by the Corporation from time to time. The Corporation may amend this Agreement (including Exhibit B) as necessary or advisable in its sole discretion in connection with the adoption, implementation, modification or termination of an Equity Plan. In the event of such an amendment by the Corporation, the Company will provide notice of such amendment to the Members. The Company is expressly authorized to issue Units (i) in accordance with the terms of any such Equity Plan, or (ii) in an amount equal to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to any such Equity Plan, without any further act, approval or vote of any Member or any other Persons.

Section  3.11 Dividend Reinvestment Plan, Cash Option Purchase Plan, Stock Incentive Plan or Other Plan . Except as may otherwise be provided in this Article III , including any guidelines adopted pursuant to Section  3.10 , all amounts received or deemed received by the Corporation in respect of any dividend reinvestment plan, cash option purchase plan, stock incentive or other stock or subscription plan or agreement, either (a) shall be utilized by the Corporation to effect open market purchases of shares of Class A Common Stock, or (b) if the Corporation elects instead to issue new shares of Class A Common Stock with respect to such amounts, shall be contributed by the Corporation to the Company in exchange for additional Common Units. Upon such contribution, the Company will issue to the Corporation a number of Common Units equal to the number of new shares of Class A Common Stock so issued.

ARTICLE IV.

DISTRIBUTIONS

Section  4.01 Distributions .

(a) Distributable Cash; Other Distributions . To the extent permitted by applicable Law and hereunder, Distributions to Members may be declared by the Manager out of Distributable Cash or other funds or property legally available therefor in such amounts and on such terms (including the payment dates of such Distributions) as the Manager shall determine using such record date as the Manager may designate; such Distributions shall be made to the Members as of the close of business on such record date on a pro rata basis in accordance with each Member’s Percentage Interest as of the close of business on such record date; provided, however , that the Manager shall have the obligation to make Distributions as set forth in Sections 4.01(b) and 14.02 ; and, provided further, that, notwithstanding any other provision herein to the contrary, no Distributions shall be made to any Member to the extent such Distribution would render the Company insolvent. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, insolvency means either (i) the inability of the Company to pay its debts as they come due in the usual course of business, or (ii) the total assets of the Company being less than the sum of its total liabilities. Promptly following the designation of a record date and the declaration of a Distribution pursuant to this Section  4.01(a) , the Manager shall give notice to each Member of the record date, the amount and the terms of the Distribution and the payment date thereof. In furtherance of the foregoing, it

 

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is intended that the Manager shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law and hereunder, have the right in its sole discretion to make Distributions to the Members pursuant to this Section  4.01(a) in such amounts as shall enable the Corporation to pay dividends or to meet its obligations, including its obligations pursuant to the Tax Receivable Agreement (to the extent such obligations are not otherwise able to be satisfied as a result of Tax Distributions required to be made pursuant to Section  4.01(b) ).

(b) Tax Distributions .

(i) On or about each date (a “ Tax Distribution Date ”) that is five (5) Business Days prior to each due date for the U.S. federal income tax return of an individual calendar year taxpayer (without regard to extensions) (or, if earlier, the due date for the U.S. federal income tax return of the Corporation, as determined without regard to extensions), the Company shall be required to make a Distribution to each Member of cash in an amount equal to the excess of such Member’s Assumed Tax Liability, if any, for such taxable period over the Distributions previously made to such Member pursuant to this Section  4.01(b) with respect to such taxable period (the “ Tax Distributions ”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Manager may, in its discretion, make such Tax Distributions on a quarterly basis, and any date on which such Tax Distributions are made will be considered a Tax Distribution Date for purposes hereof.

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

(iii) In the event of any audit by, or similar event with, a taxing authority that affects the calculation of any Member’s Assumed Tax Liability for any Taxable Year, or in the event the Company files an amended tax return, each Member’s Assumed Tax Liability with respect to such year shall be recalculated by giving effect to such event (for the avoidance of doubt, taking into account interest or penalties). Any shortfall in the amount of Tax Distributions the Members and former Members received for the relevant Taxable Years based on such recalculated Assumed Tax Liability promptly shall be distributed to such Members and the successors of such former Members, except, for the avoidance of doubt, to the extent Distributions were made to such Members and former Members pursuant to Section  4.01(a) and this Section  4.01(b) in the relevant Taxable Years sufficient to cover such shortfall.

(iv) Notwithstanding the foregoing, Distributions pursuant to this Section  4.01(b) , if any, shall be made to a Member (or its predecessor in interest) only to the

 

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extent all previous Distributions to such Member pursuant to Section  4.01(a) with respect to the Fiscal Year are less than the Distributions such Member (and its predecessor in interest) otherwise would have been entitled to receive with respect to such Fiscal Year pursuant to this Section  4.01(b) .

Section  4.02 Restricted Distributions . Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall not make any Distribution to any Member on account of any Company Interest if such Distribution would violate any applicable Law or the terms of the Credit Agreement.

ARTICLE V.

CAPITAL ACCOUNTS; ALLOCATIONS; TAX MATTERS

Section  5.01 Capital Accounts .

(a) The Company shall maintain a separate Capital Account for each Member according to the rules of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). For this purpose, the Company may (in the discretion of the Manager), upon the occurrence of the events specified in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), increase or decrease the Capital Accounts in accordance with the rules of such Treasury Regulation and Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g) to reflect a revaluation of Company property.

(b) For purposes of computing the amount of any item of Company income, gain, loss or deduction to be allocated pursuant to this Article V and to be reflected in the Capital Accounts of the Members, the determination, recognition and classification of any such item shall be the same as its determination, recognition and classification for U.S. federal income tax purposes (including any method of depreciation, cost recovery or amortization used for this purpose); provided, however , that:

(i) The computation of all items of income, gain, loss and deduction shall include those items described in Code Section 705(a)(l)(B) or Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) and Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i), without regard to the fact that such items are not includable in gross income or are not deductible for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

(ii) If the Book Value of any Company property is adjusted pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), the amount of such adjustment shall be taken into account as gain or loss from the disposition of such property.

(iii) Items of income, gain, loss or deduction attributable to the disposition of Company property having a Book Value that differs from its adjusted basis for tax purposes shall be computed by reference to the Book Value of such property.

(iv) Items of depreciation, amortization and other cost recovery deductions with respect to Company property having a Book Value that differs from its adjusted basis for tax purposes shall be computed by reference to the property’s Book Value in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g).

 

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(v) To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Company asset pursuant to Code Sections 732(d), 734(b) or 743(b) is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis).

Section  5.02 Allocations . Except as otherwise provided in Section  5.03 and Section  5.04 , Net Profits and Net Losses for any Fiscal Year or Fiscal Period shall be allocated among the Capital Accounts of the Members pro rata in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.

Section  5.03 Regulatory Allocations .

(a) Losses attributable to partner nonrecourse debt (as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b)(4)) shall be allocated in the manner required by Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i). If there is a net decrease during a Taxable Year in partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain (as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(3)), Profits for such Taxable Year (and, if necessary, for subsequent Taxable Years) shall be allocated to the Members in the amounts and of such character as determined according to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4).

(b) Nonrecourse deductions (as determined according to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b)(1)) for any Taxable Year shall be allocated pro rata among the Members in accordance with their Percentage Interests. Except as otherwise provided in Section  4.03(a) , if there is a net decrease in the Minimum Gain during any Taxable Year, each Member shall be allocated Profits for such Taxable Year (and, if necessary, for subsequent Taxable Years) in the amounts and of such character as determined according to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(f). This Section  5.03(b) is intended to be a minimum gain chargeback provision that complies with the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(f), and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent therewith.

(c) If any Member that unexpectedly receives an adjustment, allocation or Distribution described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) and (6) has an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit as of the end of any Taxable Year, computed after the application of Sections 5.03(a) and 5.03(b) but before the application of any other provision of this Article V , then Profits for such Taxable Year shall be allocated to such Member in proportion to, and to the extent of, such Adjusted Capital Account Deficit. This Section  5.03(c) is intended to be a qualified income offset provision as described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent therewith.

(d) If the allocation of Net Losses to a Member as provided in Section  5.02 would create or increase an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit, there shall be allocated to such Member only that amount of Losses as will not create or increase an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit. The Net Losses that would, absent the application of the preceding sentence, otherwise be allocated to such Member shall be allocated to the other Members in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests, subject to this Section  5.03(d) .

 

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(e) Profits and Losses described in Section  5.01(b)(v) shall be allocated in a manner consistent with the manner that the adjustments to the Capital Accounts are required to be made pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(j), (k) and (m).

(f) The allocations set forth in Section  5.03(a) through and including Section  5.03(e) (the “ Regulatory Allocations ”) are intended to comply with certain requirements of Sections 1.704-1(b) and 1.704-2 of the Treasury Regulations. The Regulatory Allocations may not be consistent with the manner in which the Members intend to allocate Profit and Loss of the Company or make Distributions. Accordingly, notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article V , but subject to the Regulatory Allocations, income, gain, deduction and loss shall be reallocated among the Members so as to eliminate the effect of the Regulatory Allocations and thereby cause the respective Capital Accounts of the Members to be in the amounts (or as close thereto as possible) they would have been if Profit and Loss (and such other items of income, gain, deduction and loss) had been allocated without reference to the Regulatory Allocations. In general, the Members anticipate that this will be accomplished by specially allocating other Profit and Loss (and such other items of income, gain, deduction and loss) among the Members so that the net amount of the Regulatory Allocations and such special allocations to each such Member is zero. In addition, if in any Fiscal Year or Fiscal Period there is a decrease in partnership minimum gain, or in partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain, and application of the minimum gain chargeback requirements set forth in Section  5.03(a) or Section  5.03(b) would cause a distortion in the economic arrangement among the Members, the Members may, if they do not expect that the Company will have sufficient other income to correct such distortion, request the Internal Revenue Service to waive either or both of such minimum gain chargeback requirements. If such request is granted, this Agreement shall be applied in such instance as if it did not contain such minimum gain chargeback requirement.

Section  5.04 Final Allocations . Notwithstanding any contrary provision in this Agreement except Section  5.03 , the Manager shall make appropriate adjustments to allocations of Profits and Losses to (or, if necessary, allocate items of gross income, gain, loss or deduction of the Company among) the Members upon the liquidation of the Company (within the meaning of Section 1.704 1(b)(2)(ii)(g) of the Treasury Regulations), the transfer of substantially all the Units (whether by sale or exchange or merger) or sale of all or substantially all the assets of the Company, such that, to the maximum extent possible, the Capital Accounts of the Members are proportionate to their Percentage Interests. In each case, such adjustments or allocations shall occur, to the maximum extent possible, in the Fiscal Year of the event requiring such adjustments or allocations.

Section  5.05 Tax Allocations .

(a) The income, gains, losses, deductions and credits of the Company will be allocated, for federal, state and local income tax purposes, among the Members in accordance with the allocation of such income, gains, losses, deductions and credits among the Members for computing their Capital Accounts; provided that if any such allocation is not permitted by the Code or other applicable Law, the Company’s subsequent income, gains, losses, deductions and credits will be allocated among the Members so as to reflect as nearly as possible the allocation set forth herein in computing their Capital Accounts.

 

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(b) Items of Company taxable income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to any property contributed to the capital of the Company shall be allocated among the Members in accordance with Code Section 704(c) so as to take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such property to the Company for federal income tax purposes and its Book Value using the traditional method, as described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3(b).

(c) If the Book Value of any Company asset is adjusted pursuant to Section  5.01(b) , subsequent allocations of items of taxable income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to such asset shall take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such asset for federal income tax purposes and its Book Value in the same manner as under Code Section 704(c) using the traditional method, as described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3(b).

(d) Allocations of tax credits, tax credit recapture, and any items related thereto shall be allocated to the Members pro rata as determined by the Manager taking into account the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(ii).

(e) For purposes of determining a Member’s pro rata share of the Company’s “excess nonrecourse liabilities” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-3(a)(3), each Member’s interest in income and gain shall be in proportion to the Units held by such Member.

(f) Allocations pursuant to this Section  5.05 are solely for purposes of federal, state and local taxes and shall not affect, or in any way be taken into account in computing, any Member’s Capital Account or share of Profits, Losses, Distributions or other Company items pursuant to any provision of this Agreement.

Section  5.06 Indemnification and Reimbursement for Payments on Behalf of a Member . If the Company is obligated to pay any amount to a Governmental Entity (or otherwise makes a payment to a Governmental Entity) that is specifically attributable to a Member or a Member’s status as such (including federal withholding or other taxes, state personal property taxes and state unincorporated business taxes, but excluding payments such as professional association fees and the like made voluntarily by the Company on behalf of any Member based upon such Member’s status as an employee of the Company), then such Person shall indemnify the Company in full for the entire amount paid (including interest, penalties and related expenses). The Manager may offset Distributions to which a Person is otherwise entitled under this Agreement against such Person’s obligation to indemnify the Company under this Section  5.06 . A Member’s obligation to make contributions to the Company under this Section  5.06 shall survive the termination, dissolution, liquidation and winding up of the Company, and for purposes of this Section  5.06 , the Company shall be treated as continuing in existence. The Company may pursue and enforce all rights and remedies it may have against each Member under this Section  5.06 , including instituting a lawsuit to collect such contribution with interest calculated at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the Base Rate plus 300 basis points (but not in excess of the highest rate per annum permitted by Law). Each Member hereby agrees to furnish to the Company such information and forms as required or reasonably requested in order to comply with any laws and regulations governing withholding of tax or in order to claim any reduced rate of, or exemption from, withholding to which the Member is legally entitled.

 

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ARTICLE VI.

MANAGEMENT

Section  6.01 Authority of Manager .

(a) Except for situations in which the approval of any Member(s) is specifically required by this Agreement, (i) all management powers over the business and affairs of the Company shall be exclusively vested in the Corporation, as the sole manager of the Company (the Corporation, in such capacity, the “ Manager ”) and (ii) the Manager shall conduct, direct and exercise full control over all activities of the Company. The Manager shall be the “manager” of the Company for the purposes of the Act. Except as otherwise expressly provided for herein and subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Members hereby consent to the exercise by the Manager of all such powers and rights conferred on the Members by the Act with respect to the management and control of the Company. Any vacancies in the position of Manager shall be filled in accordance with Section  6.04 .

(b) The day-to-day business and operations of the Company shall be overseen and implemented by officers of the Company (each, an “ Officer ” and collectively, the “ Officers ”), subject to the limitations imposed by the Manager. An Officer may, but need not, be a Member. Each Officer shall be appointed by the Manager and shall hold office until his or her successor shall be duly designated and shall qualify or until his or her death or until he shall resign or shall have been removed in the manner hereinafter provided. Any one Person may hold more than one office. Subject to the other provisions in this Agreement (including in Section  6.07 below), the salaries or other compensation, if any, of the Officers of the Company shall be fixed from time to time by the Manager. The authority and responsibility of the Officers shall include, but not be limited to, such duties as the Manager may, from time to time, delegate to them and the carrying out of the Company’s business and affairs on a day-to-day basis. The existing Officers of the Company as of the Effective Time shall remain in their respective positions and shall be deemed to have been appointed by the Manager. All Officers shall be, and shall be deemed to be, officers and employees of the Company. An Officer may also perform one or more roles as an officer of the Manager.

(c) The Manager shall have the power and authority to effectuate the sale, lease, transfer, exchange or other disposition of any, all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (including the exercise or grant of any conversion, option, privilege or subscription right or any other right available in connection with any assets at any time held by the Company) or the merger, consolidation, reorganization or other combination of the Company with or into another entity.

Section  6.02 Actions of the Manager . The Manager may act through any Officer or through any other Person or Persons to whom authority and duties have been delegated pursuant to Section  6.07 .

Section  6.03 Resignation; No Removal . The Manager may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Members. Unless otherwise specified in the notice, the resignation shall take effect upon receipt thereof by the Members, and the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. The Members have no right under this Agreement to remove or replace the Manager.

 

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Section  6.04 Vacancies . Vacancies in the position of Manager occurring for any reason shall be filled by the Corporation (or, if the Corporation has ceased to exist without any successor or assign, then by the holders of a majority in interest of the voting capital stock of the Corporation immediately prior to such cessation). The Members have no right under this Agreement to fill any vacancy in the position of Manager.

Section  6.05 Transactions Between Company and Manager . The Manager may cause the Company to contract and deal with the Manager, or any Affiliate of the Manager, provided such contracts and dealings are on terms comparable to and competitive with those available to the Company from others dealing with the Company at arm’s length or are approved by the Members and otherwise are permitted by the Credit Agreement. The Members hereby approve the IPO Common Unit Purchase Agreement in the form heretofore provided to each such Member, together with such modifications, revisions or amendments as the Manager may approve in its discretion.

Section  6.06 Reimbursement for Expenses . The Manager shall not be compensated for its services as Manager of the Company except as expressly provided in this Agreement. The Members acknowledge and agree that, upon consummation of the IPO, the Manager’s Class A Common Stock will be publicly traded and therefore the Manager will have access to the public capital markets and that such status and the services performed by the Manager will inure to the benefit of the Company and all Members; therefore, the Manager shall be reimbursed by the Company for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred on behalf of the Company, including all fees, expenses and costs associated with the IPO and all fees, expenses and costs of being a public company (including expenses incurred in connection with public reporting obligations, proxy statements, stockholder meetings, stock exchange fees, transfer agent fees, SEC and FINRA filing fees and offering expenses) and maintaining its corporate existence. In the event that shares of Class A Common Stock are sold to underwriters in the IPO (or in any subsequent public offering) at a price per share that is lower than the price per share for which such shares of Class A Common Stock are sold to the public in the IPO (or in such subsequent public offering, as applicable) after taking into account underwriters’ discounts or commissions and brokers’ fees or commissions (such difference, the “ Discount ”), (i) the Manager shall be deemed to have contributed to the Company in exchange for newly issued Common Units the full amount for which such shares of Class A Common Stock were sold to the public and (ii) the Company shall be deemed to have paid the Discount as an expense. To the extent practicable, expenses incurred by the Manager on behalf of or for the benefit of the Company shall be billed directly to and paid by the Company and, if and to the extent any reimbursements to the Manager or any of its Affiliates by the Company pursuant to this Section  6.06 constitute gross income to such Person (as opposed to the repayment of advances made by such Person on behalf of the Company), such amounts shall be treated as “guaranteed payments” within the meaning of Code Section 707(c) and shall not be treated as distributions for purposes of computing the Members’ Capital Accounts.

Section  6.07 Delegation of Authority . The Manager (a) may, from time to time, delegate to one or more Persons such authority and duties as the Manager may deem advisable,

 

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and (b) may assign titles (including chief executive officer, president, chief executive officer, chief financial officers, chief operating officer, vice president, secretary, assistant secretary, treasurer or assistant treasurer) and delegate certain authority and duties to such Persons as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time. Any number of titles may be held by the same individual. The salaries or other compensation, if any, of such agents of the Company shall be fixed from time to time by the Manager, subject to the other provisions in this Agreement.

Section  6.08 Limitation of Liability of Manager .

(a) Except as otherwise provided herein or in an agreement entered into by such Person and the Company, neither the Manager nor any of the Manager’s Affiliates shall be liable to the Company or to any Member that is not the Manager for any act or omission performed or omitted by the Manager in its capacity as the sole Manager of the Company pursuant to authority granted to the Manager by this Agreement; provided, however , that, except as otherwise provided herein, such limitation of liability shall not apply to the extent the act or omission was attributable to the Manager’s fraud, intentional misconduct or knowing violation of Law or for any present or future breaches of any representations, warranties or covenants by the Manager or its Affiliates contained herein or in the other agreements with the Company, in each case as determined by a final judgment, order or decree of an arbitrator or a court of competent jurisdiction which is not appealable or with respect to which the time for appeal therefrom has expired and no appeal has been perfected. The Manager may exercise any of the powers granted to it by this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder either directly or by or through its agents, and shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent (so long as such agent was selected in good faith and with reasonable care). The Manager shall be entitled to rely in good faith on the provisions of this Agreement and on information, opinions, reports or statements (including financial statements and information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value or amount of the assets, liabilities, profits or losses of the Company or any facts pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from which Distributions to Members might properly be paid) of the following other Persons or groups: one or more Officers or employees of the Company or the Manager; any attorney, independent accountant, appraiser or other expert or professional employed or engaged by or on behalf of the Company or the Manager; or any other Person who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Company, or the Manager, in each case as to matters which such Member, Manager or Officer reasonably believes to be within such other Person’s competence, and any act of or failure to act by the Manager in good faith reliance on such advice shall in no event subject the Manager to liability to the Company or any Member that is not the Manager.

(b) Whenever this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein provides that the Manager shall act in a manner which is, or provide terms which are, “fair and reasonable” to the Company or any Member that is not the Manager, the Manager shall determine such appropriate action or provide such terms considering, in each case, the relative interests of each party to such agreement, transaction or situation and the benefits and burdens relating to such interests, any customary or accepted industry practices, and any applicable United States generally accepted accounting practices or principles.

 

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(c) Whenever in this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein, the Manager is permitted or required to take any action or to make a decision in its “sole discretion” or “discretion,” with “complete discretion” or under a grant of similar authority or latitude, the Manager shall be entitled to consider such interests and factors as it desires, including its own interests, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, have no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Company or other Members.

(d) Whenever in this Agreement the Manager is permitted or required to take any action or to make a decision in its “good faith” or under another express standard, the Manager shall act under such express standard and, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, shall not be subject to any other or different standards imposed by this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein, and, notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, so long as the Manager acts in good faith, the resolution, action or terms so made, taken or provided by the Manager shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein or impose liability upon the Manager or any of the Manager’s Affiliates.

Section  6.09 Investment Company Act . The Manager shall use its best efforts to ensure that the Company shall not be subject to registration as an investment company pursuant to the Investment Company Act.

Section  6.10 Outside Activities of the Manager . The Manager shall not, directly or indirectly, enter into or conduct any business or operations, other than in connection with (a) the ownership, acquisition and disposition of Common Units, (b) the management of the business and affairs of the Company and its Subsidiaries, (c) the operation of the Manager as a reporting company with a class (or classes) of securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”) and listed on a securities exchange, (d) the offering, sale, syndication, private placement or public offering of stock, bonds, securities or other interests, (e) financing or refinancing of any type related to the Company, its Subsidiaries or their assets or activities, and (f) such activities as are incidental to the foregoing; provided, however , that, except as otherwise provided herein, the net proceeds of any financing raised by the Manager pursuant to the preceding clauses (d) and (e) shall be made available to the Company, whether as Capital Contributions, loans or otherwise, as appropriate, and, provided further , that the Manager may, in its sole and absolute discretion, from time to time hold or acquire assets in its own name or otherwise other than through the Company and its Subsidiaries so long as the Manager takes commercially reasonable measures to ensure that the economic benefits and burdens of such assets are otherwise vested in the Company or its Subsidiaries, through assignment, mortgage loan or otherwise or, if it is not commercially reasonable to vest such economic interests in the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Members shall negotiate in good faith to amend this Agreement to reflect such activities and the direct ownership of assets by the Manager. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to prohibit the Manager from executing any guarantee of indebtedness of the Company or its Subsidiaries.

 

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ARTICLE VII.

RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS

Section  7.01 Limitation of Liability and Duties of Members .

(a) Except as provided in this Agreement or in the Act, no Member (including the Manager) shall be obligated personally for any debt, obligation or liability solely by reason of being a Member. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the failure of the Company to observe any formalities or requirements relating to the exercise of its powers or management of its business and affairs under this Agreement or the Act shall not be grounds for imposing personal liability on the Members for liabilities of the Company.

(b) In accordance with the Act and the laws of the State of Nevada, a Member may, under certain circumstances, be required to return amounts previously distributed to such Member. It is the intent of the Members that no Distribution to any Member pursuant to Article IV shall be deemed a return of money or other property paid or distributed in violation of the Act. To the fullest extent permitted by Law, any Member receiving any such money or property shall not be required to return any such money or property to the Company or any other Person. However, if any court of competent jurisdiction holds that, notwithstanding the provisions of this Agreement, any Member is obligated to make any such payment, such obligation shall be the obligation of such Member and not of any other Member.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (subject to Section  6.08 with respect to the Manager), to the extent that, at law or in equity, any Member (or any Member’s Affiliate or any manager, managing member, general partner, director, officer, employee, agent, fiduciary or trustee of any Member or of any Affiliate of a Member) has duties (including fiduciary duties) to the Company, to the Manager, to another Member, to any Person who acquires an interest in a Company Interest or to any other Person bound by this Agreement, all such duties (including fiduciary duties) are hereby eliminated, to the fullest extent permitted by law, and replaced with the duties or standards expressly set forth herein, if any. The elimination of duties (including fiduciary duties) to the Company, the Manager, each of the Members, each other Person who acquires an interest in a Company Interest and each other Person bound by this Agreement and replacement thereof with the duties or standards expressly set forth herein, if any, are approved by the Company, the Manager, each of the Members, each other Person who acquires an interest in a Company Interest and each other Person bound by this Agreement.

Section  7.02 Lack of Authority . No Member, other than the Manager or a duly appointed Officer, in each case in its capacity as such, has the authority or power to act for or on behalf of the Company, to do any act that would be binding on the Company or to make any expenditure on behalf of the Company. The Members hereby consent to the exercise by the Manager of the powers conferred on them by Law and this Agreement.

Section  7.03 No Right of Partition . No Member, other than the Manager, shall have the right to seek or obtain partition by court decree or operation of Law of any Company property, or the right to own or use particular or individual assets of the Company.

 

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Section  7.04 Indemnification .

(a) Subject to Section  5.06 , the Company hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any Person (each an “ Indemnified Person ”) to the fullest extent permitted under the Act, as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended, substituted or replaced (but, in the case of any such amendment, substitution or replacement only to the extent that such amendment, substitution or replacement permits the Company to provide broader indemnification rights than the Company is providing immediately prior to such amendment), against all expenses, liabilities and losses (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, excise taxes or penalties) reasonably incurred or suffered by such Person (or one or more of such Person’s Affiliates) by reason of the fact that such Person is or was a Member or is or was serving at the request of the Company as the Manager, an Officer, an employee or another agent of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a manager, member, employee or agent of another limited-liability company, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise; provided, however , that no Indemnified Person shall be indemnified for actions not made in good faith and not or in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, or, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding other than by or in the right of the Company, had reasonable cause to believe the conduct was unlawful, or for any present or future breaches of any representations, warranties or covenants by such Indemnified Person or its Affiliates contained herein or in the other agreements with the Company. Expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred by any such Indemnified Person in defending a proceeding shall be paid by the Company as they are incurred and in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Indemnified Person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that such Indemnified Person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company.

(b) The right to indemnification and the advancement of expenses conferred in this Section  7.04 shall not be exclusive of any other right which any Person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, agreement, bylaw, action by the Manager or otherwise.

(c) The Company shall maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, or make other financial arrangements, at its expense, to protect any Indemnified Person (and the investment funds, if any, they represent) against any expense, liability or loss described in Section  7.04(a) whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such Indemnified Person against such expense, liability or loss under the provisions of this Section  7.04 . The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to purchase directors’ and officers’ liability insurance (including employment practices coverage) with a carrier and in an amount determined necessary or desirable as determined in good faith by the Manager.

(d) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary (including in this Section  7.04 ), the Company agrees that any indemnification and advancement of expenses available to any current or former Indemnified Person from any investment fund that is an Affiliate of the Company who served as a director of the Company or as a Member of the Company by virtue of such Person’s service as a member, director, partner or employee of any such fund prior to or following the Effective Time (any such Person, a “ Sponsor Person ”) shall be secondary to the indemnification and advancement of expenses to be provided by the

 

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Company pursuant to this Section  7.04 which shall be provided out of and to the extent of Company assets only and no Member (unless such Member otherwise agrees in writing or is found in a final decision by a court of competent jurisdiction to have personal liability on account thereof) shall have personal liability on account thereof or shall be required to make additional Capital Contributions to help satisfy such indemnity of the Company and the Company (i) shall be the primary indemnitor of first resort for such Sponsor Person pursuant to this Section  7.04 and (ii) shall be fully responsible for the advancement of all expenses and the payment of all damages or liabilities with respect to such Sponsor Person which are addressed by this Section  7.04 .

(e) If this Section  7.04 or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Company shall nevertheless indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified Person pursuant to this Section  7.04 to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Section  7.04 that shall not have been invalidated and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law.

Section  7.05 Members Right to Act . For matters that require the approval of the Members, the Members shall act through meetings and written consents as described in paragraphs (a) and (b) below:

(a) Except as otherwise expressly provided by this Agreement, acts by the Members holding a majority of the Units, voting together as a single class, shall be the acts of the Members. Any Member entitled to vote at a meeting of Members or to express consent or dissent to Company action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for it by proxy. An electronic mail or similar transmission by the Member, or a photographic, photostatic, facsimile or similar reproduction of a writing executed by the Member shall (if stated thereon) be treated as a proxy executed in writing for purposes of this Section  7.05(a) . No proxy shall be voted or acted upon after eleven months from the date thereof, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A proxy shall be revocable unless the proxy form conspicuously states that the proxy is irrevocable and that the proxy is coupled with an interest. Should a proxy designate two or more Persons to act as proxies, unless that instrument shall provide to the contrary, a majority of such Persons present at any meeting at which their powers thereunder are to be exercised shall have and may exercise all the powers of voting or giving consents thereby conferred, or, if only one be present, then such powers may be exercised by that one; or, if an even number attend and a majority do not agree on any particular issue, the Company shall not be required to recognize such proxy with respect to such issue if such proxy does not specify how the votes that are the subject of such proxy are to be voted with respect to such issue.

(b) The actions by the Members permitted hereunder may be taken at a meeting called by the Manager or by the Members holding a majority of the Units entitled to vote on such matter on at least 48 hours’ prior written notice to the other Members entitled to vote, which notice shall state the purpose or purposes for which such meeting is being called. The actions taken by the Members entitled to vote or consent at any meeting (as opposed to by written consent), however called and noticed, shall be as valid as though taken at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice if (but not until), either before, at or after the meeting, the Members entitled to vote or consent as to whom it was improperly held signs a written waiver of notice or a consent to the holding of such meeting or an approval of the minutes thereof. The actions by

 

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the Members entitled to vote or consent may be taken by vote of the Members entitled to vote or consent at a meeting or by written consent, so long as such consent is signed by Members having not less than the minimum number of Units that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all Members entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. Prompt notice of the action so taken, which shall state the purpose or purposes for which such consent is required and may be delivered via email, without a meeting shall be given to those Members entitled to vote or consent who have not consented in writing; provided, however , that the failure to give any such notice shall not affect the validity of the action taken by such written consent. Any action taken pursuant to such written consent of the Members shall have the same force and effect as if taken by the Members at a meeting thereof.

Section  7.06 Inspection Rights . The Company shall permit each Member and each of its designated representatives to (i) visit and inspect any of the properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries, all at reasonable times and upon reasonable notice, (ii) examine the corporate and financial records of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and make copies thereof or extracts therefrom, (iii) consult with the managers, officers, employees and independent accountants of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries concerning the affairs, finances and accounts of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. The presentation of an executed copy of this Agreement by any Member to the Company’s independent accountants shall constitute the Company’s permission to its independent accountants to participate in discussions with such Persons and their respective designated representatives.

ARTICLE VIII.

BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS, AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

Section  8.01 Records and Accounting . The Company shall keep, or cause to be kept, appropriate books and records with respect to the Company’s business, including all books and records necessary to provide any information, lists and copies of documents required to be provided pursuant to Section  8.03 or pursuant to applicable Law. All matters concerning (a) the determination of the relative amount of allocations and Distributions among the Members pursuant to Articles III and IV and (b) accounting procedures and determinations, and other determinations not specifically and expressly provided for by the terms of this Agreement, shall be determined by the Manager, whose determination shall be final and conclusive as to all of the Members absent manifest clerical error.

Section  8.02 Fiscal Year . The Fiscal Year of the Company shall begin on the first day of January and end on the last day of December each year or such other date as may be established by the Manager.

Section  8.03 Reports . The Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered, within ninety (90) days after the end of each Fiscal Year, to each Person who was a Member at any time during such Fiscal Year, all information reasonably necessary for the preparation of such Person’s United States federal and applicable state income tax returns.

 

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ARTICLE IX.

TAX MATTERS

Section  9.01 Preparation of Tax Returns . The Manager shall arrange for the preparation and timely filing of all tax returns required to be filed by the Company. On or before March 15, June 15, September 15, and December 15 of each Fiscal Year, the Company shall send to each Person who was a Member at any time during the prior quarter, an estimate of such Member’s state tax apportionment information and allocations to the Members of taxable income, gains, losses, deductions and credits for the prior quarter, which estimate shall have been reviewed by the Company’s outside tax accountants. In addition, no later than the later of (i) March 15 following the end of the prior Fiscal Year, and (ii) 30 Business Days after the issuance of the final financial statement report for a Fiscal Year by the Company’s auditors, the Company shall send to each Person who was a Member at any time during such Fiscal Year, a statement showing such Member’s final state tax apportionment information and allocations to the Members of taxable income, gains, losses, deductions and credits for such Fiscal Year and a completed IRS Schedule K-1. Each Member shall notify the other Members upon receipt of any notice of tax examination of the Company by federal, state or local authorities. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, in its capacity as Tax Matters Partner, the Corporation shall have the authority to prepare the tax returns of the Company using such permissible methods and elections as it determines in its reasonable discretion, including the use of any permissible method under Section 706 of the Code for purposes of determining the varying Company Interests of its Members.

Section  9.02 Tax Elections . The Taxable Year shall be the Fiscal Year set forth in Section  8.02 . The Company and any eligible Subsidiary shall make an election pursuant to Section 754 of the Code, shall not thereafter revoke such election and shall make a new election pursuant to Section 754 to the extent necessary following any “termination” of the Company or the Subsidiary under Section 708 of the Code. Each Member will upon request supply any information reasonably necessary to give proper effect to any such elections.

Section  9.03 Tax Controversies .

(a) With respect to Tax Years beginning on or before December 31, 2017, the Corporation is hereby designated the Tax Matters Partner of the Company within the meaning given to such term in Section 6231 of the Code (the Corporation, in such capacity, the “ Tax Matters Partner ”) and is authorized and required to represent the Company (at the Company’s expense) in connection with all examinations of the Company’s affairs by tax authorities, including resulting administrative and judicial proceedings, and to expend Company funds for professional services reasonably incurred in connection therewith. Each Member agrees to cooperate with the Company and to do or refrain from doing any or all things reasonably requested by the Company with respect to the conduct of such proceedings. The Tax Matters Partners shall keep all Members reasonably informed of the progress of any examinations, audits or other proceedings, and all Members shall have the right to observe and participate at their sole expense in any tax proceedings. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Tax Matters Partners shall not settle or otherwise compromise any issue in any such examination, audit or other proceeding without first obtaining approval of the Manager. Nothing set forth in this Agreement shall diminish, limit or restrict the rights of any Member under Subchapter C, Chapter 63, Subtitle F of the Code (Code Sections 6221 et seq.).

 

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(b) With respect to Tax Years beginning after December 31, 2017, pursuant to the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions, the Corporation shall be designated and may, on behalf of the Company, at any time, and without further notice to or consent from any Member, act as the “partnership representative” of the Company (within the meaning given to such term in Section 6223 of the Code) (the “ Partnership Representative ”) for purposes of the Code. The Partnership Representative shall have the right and obligation to take all actions authorized and required, respectively, by the Code for the Partnership Representative and is authorized and required to represent the Company (at the Company’s expense) in connection with all examinations of the Company’s affairs by tax authorities, including resulting administrative and judicial proceedings, and to expend Company funds for professional services reasonably incurred in connection therewith. Each Member agrees to cooperate with the Company and to do or refrain from doing any or all things reasonably requested by the Company with respect to the conduct of such proceedings. The Partnership Representative shall keep all Members fully advised on a current basis of any contacts by or discussions with the tax authorities, and the Members shall have the right to observe and participate through representatives of their own choosing (at their sole expense) in any tax proceedings. Nothing herein shall diminish, limit or restrict the rights of any Member under the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions.

ARTICLE X.

RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF UNITS; PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS

Section  10.01 Transfers by Members . No holder of Units may Transfer any interest in any Units, except Transfers (a) pursuant to and in accordance with Section  10.02 or (b) approved in writing by the Manager. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Transfer” shall not include an event that terminates the existence of a Member for income tax purposes (including a change in entity classification of a Member under Treasury Regulations Section 301.7701-3, termination of a partnership pursuant to Code Section 708(b)(1)(B), a sale of assets by, or liquidation of, a Member pursuant to an election under Code Sections 336 or 338, or merger, severance, or allocation within a trust or among sub-trusts of a trust that is a Member), but that does not terminate the existence of such Member under applicable state law (or, in the case of a trust that is a Member, does not terminate the trusteeship of the fiduciaries under such trust with respect to all the Company Interests of such trust that is a Member).

Section  10.02 Permitted Transfers . The restrictions contained in Section  10.01 shall not apply to any Transfer (each, a “ Permitted Transfer ”) pursuant to (i)(A) a Change of Control Transaction, (B) a Redemption or Exchange in accordance with Article XI hereof or (C) a Transfer by a Member to the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) a Transfer by any Member to such Member’s spouse, any lineal ascendants or descendants or trusts or other entities in which such Member or Member’s spouse, lineal ascendants or descendants hold (and continue to hold while such trusts or other entities hold Units) 50% or more of such entity’s beneficial interests; (iii) the laws of descent and distribution and (iv) a Transfer to a partner, shareholder, member or Affiliated investment fund of such Member; provided, however , that (A) the restrictions contained in this Agreement will continue to apply to Units after any Permitted Transfer of such Units, and (B) in the case of the foregoing clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv), the

 

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transferees of the Units so Transferred shall agree in writing to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement and, the transferor will deliver a written notice to the Company and the Members, which notice will disclose in reasonable detail the identity of the proposed transferee. In the case of a Permitted Transfer by any Original Member of Common Units to a transferee in accordance with this Section  10.02 , such Member (or any subsequent transferee of such Member) shall be required to also transfer an equal number of shares of Class B Common Stock, or Class C Common Stock, as applicable, corresponding to the proportion of such Member’s (or subsequent transferee’s) Common Units that were transferred in the transaction to such transferee. All Permitted Transfers are subject to the additional limitations set forth in Section  10.07(b) .

Section  10.03 Restricted Units Legend . The Units have not been registered under the Securities Act and, therefore, in addition to the other restrictions on Transfer contained in this Agreement, cannot be sold unless subsequently registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from such registration is then available. To the extent such Units have been certificated, each certificate evidencing Units and each certificate issued in exchange for or upon the Transfer of any Units (if such securities remain Units as defined herein after such Transfer) shall be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form:

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE ACT OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION THEREUNDER. THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SPECIFIED IN THE FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED OPERATING AGREEMENT OF SWITCH, LTD., AS MAY BE AMENDED AND MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME, AND SWITCH, LTD. RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REFUSE THE TRANSFER OF SUCH SECURITIES UNTIL SUCH CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN FULFILLED WITH RESPECT TO ANY TRANSFER. A COPY OF SUCH CONDITIONS SHALL BE FURNISHED BY SWITCH, LTD. TO THE HOLDER HEREOF UPON WRITTEN REQUEST AND WITHOUT CHARGE.”

The Company shall imprint such legend on certificates (if any) evidencing Units. The legend set forth above shall be removed from the certificates (if any) evidencing any units which cease to be Units in accordance with the definition thereof.

Section  10.04 Transfer . Prior to Transferring any Units (other than pursuant to a Change of Control Transaction), the Transferring Holder of Units shall cause the prospective Transferee to be bound by this Agreement as provided in Section  10.02 and any other agreements executed by the holders of Units and relating to such Units in the aggregate (collectively, the “ Other Agreements ”), and shall cause the prospective Transferee to execute and deliver to the Company and the other holders of Units counterparts of this Agreement and any applicable Other Agreements. Any Transfer or attempted Transfer of any Units in violation of any provision of this Agreement (including any prohibited indirect Transfers) shall be void, and in the event of any such Transfer or attempted Transfer, the Company shall not record such Transfer on its books or treat any purported Transferee of such Units as the owner of such securities for any purpose.

 

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Section  10.05 Assignee s Rights .

(a) The Transfer of a Company Interest in accordance with this Agreement shall be effective as of the date of its assignment (assuming compliance with all of the conditions to such Transfer set forth herein), and such Transfer shall be shown on the books and records of the Company. Profits, Losses and other Company items shall be allocated between the transferor and the Assignee according to Code Section 706, using any permissible method as determined in the reasonable discretion of the Manager. Distributions made before the effective date of such Transfer shall be paid to the transferor, and Distributions made after such date shall be paid to the Assignee.

(b) Unless and until an Assignee becomes a Member pursuant to Article XII , the Assignee shall not be entitled to any of the rights granted to a Member hereunder or under applicable Law, other than the rights granted specifically to Assignees pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however , that, without relieving the transferring Member from any such limitations or obligations as more fully described in Section  10.06 , such Assignee shall be bound by any limitations and obligations of a Member contained herein that a Member would be bound on account of the Assignee’s Company Interest (including the obligation to make Capital Contributions on account of such Company Interest).

Section  10.06 Assignor s Rights and Obligations . Any Member who shall Transfer any Company Interest in a manner in accordance with this Agreement shall cease to be a Member with respect to such Units or other interest and shall no longer have any rights or privileges, or, except as set forth in this Section  10.06 , duties, liabilities or obligations, of a Member with respect to such Units or other interest (it being understood, however, that the applicable provisions of Sections 6.08 and 7.04 shall continue to inure to such Person’s benefit), except that unless and until the Assignee (if not already a Member) is admitted as a Substituted Member in accordance with the provisions of Article XII (the “ Admission Date ”), (i) such assigning Member shall retain all of the duties, liabilities and obligations of a Member with respect to such Units or other interest, and (ii) the Manager may, in its sole discretion, reinstate all or any portion of the rights and privileges of such Member with respect to such Units or other interest for any period of time prior to the Admission Date. Nothing contained herein shall relieve any Member who Transfers any Units or other interest in the Company from any liability of such Member to the Company with respect to such Company Interest that may exist on the Admission Date or that is otherwise specified in the Act and incorporated into this Agreement or for any liability to the Company or any other Person for any materially false statement made by such Member (in its capacity as such) or for any present or future breaches of any representations, warranties or covenants by such Member (in its capacity as such) contained herein or in the other agreements with the Company.

Section  10.07 Overriding Provisions .

(a) Any Transfer in violation of this Article X shall be null and void ab initio, and the provisions of Sections 10.05 and 10.06 shall not apply to any such Transfers. For the avoidance

 

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of doubt, any Person to whom a Transfer is made or attempted in violation of this Article X shall not become a Member, shall not be entitled to vote on any matters coming before the Members and shall not have any other rights in or with respect to any rights of a Member of the Company. The approval of any Transfer in any one or more instances shall not limit or waive the requirement for such approval in any other or future instance. The Manager shall promptly amend the Schedule of Members to reflect any Permitted Transfer pursuant to this Article X .

(b) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of Section  10.01 and Article XI and Article XII ), in no event shall any Member Transfer any Units to the extent such Transfer could, in the reasonable determination of the Manager:

(i) result in a violation of the Securities Act, or any other applicable federal, state or foreign Laws;

(ii) cause an assignment under the Investment Company Act;

(iii) be a violation of or a default (or an event that, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under, or result in an acceleration of any indebtedness under, any promissory note, mortgage, loan agreement, indenture or similar instrument or agreement to which the Company or the Manager is a party; provided that (x) the payee or creditor to whom the Company or the Manager owes such obligation is not an affiliate of the Company or the Manager and (y) such indebtedness, individually or in the aggregate, has an aggregate principal amount then outstanding that is greater than $25,000,000;

(iv) cause the Company to lose its status as a partnership for federal income tax purposes or, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, such Transfer was effected on or through an “established securities market” or a “secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof,” as such terms are used in Section 1.7704-1 of the Treasury Regulations;

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

(vi) cause the Company or any Member or the Manager to be treated as a fiduciary under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended;

(vii) cause the Company (as determined by the Manager in its sole discretion) to be treated as a “publicly traded partnership” or to be taxed as a corporation pursuant to Section 7704 of the Code or successor provision of the Code; or

(viii) result in the Company having more than one hundred (100) partners, within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(1) (determined pursuant to the rules of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(3)) in any Taxable Year that is not a Restricted Taxable Year.

 

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ARTICLE XI.

REDEMPTION AND EXCHANGE RIGHTS

Section  11.01 Redemption Right of a Member .

(a) Redemption Notice.

(i) Subject to the provisions set forth in this Section  11.01 , each Member (other than the Corporation) shall be entitled to cause the Company to redeem (a “ Redemption ”) its Common Units (the “ Redemption Right ”) at any time beginning on the date of the closing of the IPO. A Member desiring to exercise its Redemption Right (the “ Redeeming Member ”) shall exercise such right by giving written notice (the “ Redemption Notice ”) to the Company with a copy to the Corporation. The Redemption Notice shall specify the number of Common Units (the “ Redeemed Units ”) that the Redeeming Member intends to have the Company redeem and a date (unless and to the extent that the Manager in its sole discretion agrees in writing to waive such time periods) on which exercise of the Redemption Right shall be completed, which complies with the requirements set forth in Section  11.01(a)(ii) (the “ Redemption Date ”); provided that (x) the Redemption Date occurs in a Restricted Taxable Year, the Redemption Date must be a date that satisfies the conditions of Section  11.01(a)(ii) , and (y) the Company, the Corporation and the Redeeming Member may change the number of Redeemed Units and/or the Redemption Date specified in such Redemption Notice to another number and/or date by mutual agreement signed in writing by each of them; provided further that a Redemption Notice may be conditioned on the closing of an underwritten distribution of the shares of Class A Common Stock that may be issued in connection with such proposed Redemption. Unless the Redeeming Member timely has delivered a Retraction Notice as provided in Section  11.01(b) or has revoked or delayed a Redemption as provided in Section  11.01(c) , on the Redemption Date (to be effective immediately prior to the close of business on the Redemption Date) (A) the Redeeming Member shall transfer and surrender the Redeemed Units to the Company, free and clear of all liens and encumbrances, and (B) the Company shall (x) cancel the Redeemed Units, (y) transfer to the Redeeming Member the consideration to which the Redeeming Member is entitled under Section  11.01(b) , and (z), if the Units are certificated, issue to the Redeeming Member a certificate for a number of Common Units equal to the difference (if any) between the number of Common Units evidenced by the certificate surrendered by the Redeeming Member pursuant to clause (B) of this Section  11.01(a)(i) and the Redeemed Units.

(ii) Any Redemption Date that occurs in a Restricted Taxable Year must be a Quarterly Redemption Date not less than sixty (60) days after delivery of the applicable Redemption Notice. Any Redemption Date that occurs in a year that is not a Restricted Taxable Year must be not less than seven (7) Business Days nor more than ten (10) Business Days after delivery of the applicable Redemption Notice.

(b) In exercising its Redemption Right, a Redeeming Member shall be entitled to receive the Share Settlement or the Cash Settlement; provided that the Corporation shall have the option (as determined solely by its Independent Directors who are disinterested) as provided in

 

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Section  11.02 and subject to Section  11.01(d) to select whether the redemption payment is made by means of a Share Settlement or a Cash Settlement. Within three (3) Business Days of delivery of the Redemption Notice, the Corporation shall give written notice (the “ Contribution Notice ”) to the Company (with a copy to the Redeeming Member) of its intended settlement method; provided that if the Corporation does not timely deliver a Contribution Notice, the Corporation shall be deemed to have elected the Share Settlement method. If the Corporation elects the Cash Settlement method, the Redeeming Member may retract its Redemption Notice by giving written notice (the “ Retraction Notice ”) to the Company (with a copy to the Corporation) within two (2) Business Days of delivery of the Contribution Notice. The timely delivery of a Retraction Notice shall terminate all of the Redeeming Member’s, Company’s and the Corporation’ rights and obligations under this Section  11.01 arising from the Redemption Notice.

(c) In the event the Corporation elects a Share Settlement in connection with a Redemption, a Redeeming Member shall be entitled to revoke its Redemption Notice or delay the consummation of a Redemption if any of the following conditions exists: (i) any registration statement pursuant to which the resale of the Class A Common Stock to be registered for such Redeeming Member at or immediately following the consummation of the Redemption shall have ceased to be effective pursuant to any action or inaction by the SEC or no such resale registration statement has yet become effective; (ii) the Corporation shall have failed to cause any related prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement necessary to effect such Redemption; (iii) the Corporation shall have exercised its right to defer, delay or suspend the filing or effectiveness of a registration statement and such deferral, delay or suspension shall affect the ability of such Redeeming Member to have its Class A Common Stock registered at or immediately following the consummation of the Redemption; (iv) the Corporation shall have disclosed to such Redeeming Member any material non-public information concerning the Corporation, the receipt of which could reasonably be determined to result in such Redeeming Member being prohibited or restricted from selling Class A Common Stock at or immediately following the Redemption without disclosure of such information (and the Corporation does not permit disclosure); (v) any stop order relating to the registration statement pursuant to which the Class A Common Stock was to be registered by such Redeeming Member at or immediately following the Redemption shall have been issued by the SEC; (vi) there shall have occurred a material disruption in the securities markets generally or in the market or markets in which the Class A Common Stock is then traded; (vii) there shall be in effect an injunction, a restraining order or a decree of any nature of any Governmental Entity that restrains or prohibits the Redemption; (viii) the Corporation shall have failed to comply in all material respects with its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, and such failure shall have affected the ability of such Redeeming Member to consummate the resale of Class A Common Stock to be received upon such redemption pursuant to an effective registration statement; (ix) the Redemption Date would occur three (3) Business Days or less prior to, or during, a Black-Out Period; provided further , that in no event shall the Redeeming Member seeking to revoke its Redemption Notice or delay the consummation of such Redemption and relying on any of the matters contemplated in clauses (i) through (ix) above have controlled or intentionally materially influenced any facts, circumstances, or Persons in connection therewith (except in the good faith performance of his or her duties as an officer or director of the Corporation) in order to provide such Redeeming Member with a basis for such delay or revocation. If a Redeeming Member delays the consummation of a Redemption pursuant to this Section  11.01(c) , the Redemption Date shall occur on the fifth Business Day following the date on which the conditions giving rise to such delay cease to exist (or such earlier day as the Corporation, the Company and such Redeeming Member may agree in writing).

 

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(d) The number of shares of Class A Common Stock or the Redeemed Units Equivalent that a Redeeming Member is entitled to receive under Section  11.01(b) (through a Share Settlement or Cash Settlement, as applicable) shall not be adjusted on account of any Distributions previously made with respect to the Redeemed Units or dividends previously paid with respect to Class A Common Stock; provided, however , that if a Redeeming Member causes the Company to redeem Redeemed Units and the Redemption Date occurs subsequent to the record date for any Distribution with respect to the Redeemed Units but prior to payment of such Distribution, the Redeeming Member shall be entitled to receive such Distribution with respect to the Redeemed Units on the date that it is made notwithstanding that the Redeeming Member transferred and surrendered the Redeemed Units to the Company prior to such date.

(e) In the event of a reclassification or other similar transaction as a result of which the shares of Class A Common Stock are converted into another security, then in exercising its Redemption Right a Redeeming Member shall be entitled to receive the amount of such security that the Redeeming Member would have received if such Redemption Right had been exercised and the Redemption Date had occurred immediately prior to the record date of such reclassification or other similar transaction. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, neither the Company nor the Corporation shall be obligated to effectuate a Redemption if such Redemption (in the sole discretion of the Manager) could cause the Company to be treated as a “publicly traded partnership” or to be taxed as a corporation pursuant Section 7704 of the Code or successor provisions of the Code.

Section  11.02 Election and Contribution of the Corporation . In connection with the exercise of a Redeeming Member’s Redemption Rights under Section  11.01(a) , the Corporation shall contribute to the Company the consideration the Redeeming Member is entitled to receive under Section  11.01(b) . The Corporation, at its option (as determined solely by its Independent Directors who are disinterested), shall determine whether to contribute, pursuant to Section  11.01(b) , the Share Settlement or the Cash Settlement. Unless the Redeeming Member has timely delivered a Retraction Notice as provided in Section  11.01(b) , or has revoked or delayed a Redemption as provided in Section  11.01(c) , on the Redemption Date (to be effective immediately prior to the close of business on the Redemption Date) (i) the Corporation shall make its Capital Contribution to the Company (in the form of the Share Settlement or the Cash Settlement) required under this Section  11.02 , and (ii) the Company shall issue to the Corporation a number of Common Units equal to the number of Redeemed Units surrendered by the Redeeming Member. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the Corporation elects a Cash Settlement, the Corporation shall only be obligated to contribute to the Company an amount in respect of such Cash Settlement equal to the net proceeds (after deduction of any underwriters’ discounts or commissions and brokers’ fees or commissions) from the sale by the Corporation of a number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the number of Redeemed Units to be redeemed with such Cash Settlement provided that the Corporation’s Capital Account shall be increased by an amount equal to any Discount relating to such sale of shares of Class A Common Stock in accordance with Section  6.06 . The timely delivery of a Retraction Notice shall terminate all of the Company’s and the Corporation’ rights and obligations under this Section  11.02 arising from the Redemption Notice.

 

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Section  11.03 Exchange Right of the Corporation .

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article XI , the Corporation may, in its sole and absolute discretion (as determined solely by its Independent Directors who are disinterested), elect to effect on the Redemption Date the exchange of Redeemed Units for the Share Settlement or Cash Settlement, as the case may be, through a direct exchange of such Redeemed Units and such consideration between the Redeeming Member and the Corporation (a “ Direct Exchange ”). Upon such Direct Exchange pursuant to this Section  11.03 , the Corporation shall acquire the Redeemed Units and shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as the owner of such Units.

(b) The Corporation may, at any time prior to a Redemption Date, deliver written notice (an “ Exchange Election Notice ”) to the Company and the Redeeming Member setting forth its election to exercise its right to consummate a Direct Exchange; provided that such election does not prejudice the ability of the parties to consummate a Redemption or Direct Exchange on the Redemption Date. An Exchange Election Notice may be revoked by the Corporation at any time; provided that any such revocation does not prejudice the ability of the parties to consummate a Redemption or Direct Exchange on the Redemption Date. The right to consummate a Direct Exchange in all events shall be exercisable for all the Redeemed Units that would have otherwise been subject to a Redemption. Except as otherwise provided by this Section  11.03 , a Direct Exchange shall be consummated pursuant to the same timeframe and in the same manner as the relevant Redemption would have been consummated if the Corporation had not delivered an Exchange Election Notice.

Section  11.04 Reservation of Shares of Class  A Common Stock; Listing; Certificate of the Corporation . At all times the Corporation shall reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Class A Common Stock, solely for the purpose of issuance upon a Redemption or Direct Exchange, such number of shares of Class A Common Stock as shall be issuable upon any such Redemption or Direct Exchange pursuant to Share Settlements; provided that nothing contained herein shall be construed to preclude the Corporation from satisfying its obligations in respect of any such Redemption or Direct Exchange by delivery of purchased Class A Common Stock (which may or may not be held in the treasury of the Corporation) or the delivery of cash pursuant to a Cash Settlement. The Corporation shall deliver Class A Common Stock that has been registered under the Securities Act with respect to any Redemption or Direct Exchange to the extent a registration statement is effective and available for such shares. The Corporation shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to list the Class A Common Stock required to be delivered upon any such Redemption or Direct Exchange prior to such delivery upon each national securities exchange upon which the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock are listed at the time of such Redemption or Direct Exchange (it being understood that any such shares may be subject to transfer restrictions under applicable securities Laws). The Corporation covenants that all Class A Common Stock issued upon a Redemption or Direct Exchange will, upon issuance, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. The provisions of this Article XI shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with the corresponding provisions of the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation.

 

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Section  11.05 Effect of Exercise of Redemption or Exchange Right . This Agreement shall continue notwithstanding the consummation of a Redemption or Direct Exchange and all governance or other rights set forth herein shall be exercised by the remaining Members and the Redeeming Member (to the extent of such Redeeming Member’s remaining interest in the Company). No Redemption or Direct Exchange shall relieve such Redeeming Member of any prior breach of this Agreement.

Section  11.06 Tax Treatment . Unless otherwise required by applicable Law, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree a Redemption or a Direct Exchange, as the case may be, shall be treated as a direct exchange between the Corporation and the Redeeming Member for U.S. federal and applicable state and local income tax purposes.

ARTICLE XII.

ADMISSION OF MEMBERS

Section  12.01 Substituted Members . Subject to the provisions of Article X hereof, in connection with the Permitted Transfer of a Company Interest hereunder, the transferee shall become a substituted Member (“ Substituted Member ”) on the effective date of such Permitted Transfer, which effective date shall not be earlier than the date of compliance with the conditions to such Transfer, and such admission shall be shown on the books and records of the Company.

Section  12.02 Additional Members . Subject to the provisions of Article X hereof, any Person that is not an Original Member may be admitted to the Company as an additional Member (any such Person, an “ Additional Member ”) only upon furnishing to the Manager (a) counterparts of this Agreement and any applicable Other Agreements and (b) such other documents or instruments as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate to effect such Person’s admission as a Member (including entering into such documents as the Manager may deem appropriate in its reasonable discretion). Such admission shall become effective on the date on which the Manager determines in its reasonable discretion that such conditions have been satisfied and when any such admission is shown on the books and records of the Company.

ARTICLE XIII.

WITHDRAWAL AND RESIGNATION; TERMINATION OF RIGHTS

Section  13.01 Withdrawal and Resignation of Members . No Member shall have the power or right to withdraw or otherwise resign as a Member from the Company prior to the dissolution and winding up of the Company pursuant to Article XIV . Any Member, however, that attempts to withdraw or otherwise resign as a Member from the Company without the prior written consent of the Manager upon or following the dissolution and winding up of the Company pursuant to Article XIV , but prior to such Member receiving the full amount of Distributions from the Company to which such Member is entitled pursuant to Article XIV , shall be liable to the Company for all damages (including all lost profits and special, indirect and consequential damages) directly or indirectly caused by the withdrawal or resignation of such Member. Upon a Transfer of all of a Member’s Units in a Transfer permitted by this Agreement, subject to the provisions of Section  10.06 , such Member shall cease to be a Member.

 

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ARTICLE XIV.

DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

Section  14.01 Dissolution . The Company shall not be dissolved by the admission of Additional Members or Substituted Members or the attempted withdrawal or resignation of a Member. The Company shall dissolve, and its affairs shall be wound up, upon:

(a) the decision of the Manager together with the holders of a majority of the then-outstanding Common Units entitled to vote to dissolve the Company;

(b) a Change of Control Transaction that is not approved by the Majority Members;

(c) a dissolution of the Company under Section 86.491(1)(e) of the Act; or

(d) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Company under Section 86.495 of the Act.

Except as otherwise set forth in this Article XIV , the Company is intended to have perpetual existence. An Event of Withdrawal shall not cause a dissolution of the Company and the Company shall continue in existence subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

Section  14.02 Liquidation and Termination . On dissolution of the Company, the Manager shall act as liquidator or may appoint one or more Persons as liquidator. The liquidators shall proceed diligently to wind up the affairs of the Company and make final distributions as provided herein and in the Act. The costs of liquidation shall be borne as a Company expense. Until final distribution, the liquidators shall continue to operate the Company properties with all of the power and authority of the Manager. The steps to be accomplished by the liquidators are as follows:

(a) as promptly as possible after dissolution and again after final liquidation, the liquidators shall cause a proper accounting to be made by a recognized firm of certified public accountants of the Company’s assets, liabilities and operations through the last day of the calendar month in which the dissolution occurs or the final liquidation is completed, as applicable;

(b) the liquidators shall cause the notice described in the Act to be mailed to each known creditor of and claimant against the Company in the manner described thereunder;

(c) the liquidators shall pay, satisfy or discharge from Company funds, or otherwise make adequate provision for payment and discharge thereof (including the establishment of a cash fund for contingent liabilities in such amount and for such term as the liquidators may reasonably determine): first, all expenses incurred in liquidation; and second, all of the debts, liabilities and obligations of the Company; and

(d) all remaining assets of the Company shall be distributed to the Members in accordance with Article IV by the end of the Taxable Year during which the liquidation of the Company occurs (or, if later, by ninety (90) days after the date of the liquidation). The distribution of cash and/or property to the Members in accordance with the provisions of this

 

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Section  14.02 and Section  14.03 below constitutes a complete return to the Members of their Capital Contributions, a complete distribution to the Members of their interest in the Company and all the Company’s property and constitutes a compromise to which all Members have consented within the meaning of the Act. To the extent that a Member returns funds to the Company, it has no claim against any other Member for those funds.

Section  14.03 Deferment; Distribution in Kind . Notwithstanding the provisions of Section  14.02 , but subject to the order of priorities set forth therein, if upon dissolution of the Company the liquidators determine that an immediate sale of part or all of the Company’s assets would be impractical or would cause undue loss (or would otherwise not be beneficial) to the Members, the liquidators may, in their sole discretion, defer for a reasonable time the liquidation of any assets except those necessary to satisfy Company liabilities (other than loans to the Company by Members) and reserves. Subject to the order of priorities set forth in Section  14.02 , the liquidators may, in their sole discretion, distribute to the Members, in lieu of cash, either (a) all or any portion of such remaining Company assets in-kind in accordance with the provisions of Section  14.02(d) , (b) as tenants in common and in accordance with the provisions of Section  14.02(d) , undivided interests in all or any portion of such Company assets or (c) a combination of the foregoing. Any such Distributions in kind shall be subject to (y) such conditions relating to the disposition and management of such assets as the liquidators deem reasonable and equitable and (z) the terms and conditions of any agreements governing such assets (or the operation thereof or the holders thereof) at such time. Any Company assets distributed in kind will first be written up or down to their Fair Market Value, thus creating Profit or Loss (if any), which shall be allocated in accordance with Article V . The liquidators shall determine the Fair Market Value of any property distributed in accordance with the valuation procedures set forth in Article XV .

Section  14.04 Cancellation of Certificate . On completion of the distribution of Company assets as provided herein, the Company is terminated (and the Company shall not be terminated prior to such time), and the Manager (or such other Person or Persons as the Act may require or permit) shall file a certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of Nevada, cancel any other filings made pursuant to this Agreement that are or should be canceled and take such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the Company. The Company shall be deemed to continue in existence for all purposes of this Agreement until it is terminated pursuant to this Section  14.04 .

Section  14.05 Reasonable Time for Winding Up . A reasonable time shall be allowed for the orderly winding up of the business and affairs of the Company and the liquidation of its assets pursuant to Sections 14.02 and 14.03 in order to minimize any losses otherwise attendant upon such winding up.

Section  14.06 Return of Capital . The liquidators shall not be personally liable for the return of Capital Contributions or any portion thereof to the Members (it being understood that any such return shall be made solely from Company assets).

 

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ARTICLE XV.

VALUATION

Section  15.01 Determination . “ Fair Market Value ” of a specific Company asset will mean the amount which the Company would receive in an all-cash sale of such asset in an arms-length transaction with a willing unaffiliated third party, with neither party having any compulsion to buy or sell, consummated on the day immediately preceding the date on which the event occurred which necessitated the determination of the Fair Market Value (and after giving effect to any transfer taxes payable in connection with such sale), as such amount is determined by the Manager (or, if pursuant to Section  14.02 , the liquidators) in its good faith judgment using all factors, information and data it deems to be pertinent.

Section  15.02 Dispute Resolution . If any Member or Members dispute the accuracy of any determination of Fair Market Value in accordance with Section  15.01 , and the Manager and such Member(s) are unable to agree on the determination of the Fair Market Value of any asset of the Company, the Manager and such Member(s) shall each select a nationally recognized investment banking firm experienced in valuing securities of closely-held companies such as the Company in the Company’s industry (the “ Appraisers ”), who shall each determine the Fair Market Value of the asset or the Company (as applicable) in accordance with the provisions of Section  15.01 . The Appraisers shall be instructed to give written notice of their determination of the Fair Market Value of the asset or the Company (as applicable) within thirty (30) days of their appointment as Appraisers. If Fair Market Value as determined by an Appraiser is higher than Fair Market Value as determined by the other Appraiser by 10% or more, and the Manager and such Member(s) do not otherwise agree on a Fair Market Value, the original Appraisers shall designate a third Appraiser meeting the same criteria used to select the original two. If Fair Market Value as determined by an Appraiser is within 10% of the Fair Market Value as determined by the other Appraiser (but not identical), and the Manager and such Member(s) do not otherwise agree on a Fair Market Value, the Manager shall select the Fair Market Value of one of the Appraisers. The fees and expenses of the Appraisers shall be borne by the Company.

ARTICLE XVI.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section  16.01 Power of Attorney .

(a) Each Member who is an individual hereby constitutes and appoints the Manager (or the liquidator, if applicable) with full power of substitution, as his or her true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority in his, her or its name, place and stead, to:

(i) execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record in the appropriate public offices (A) this Agreement, all certificates and other instruments and all amendments thereof which the Manager deems appropriate or necessary to form, qualify, or continue the qualification of, the Company as a limited-liability company in the State of Nevada and in all other jurisdictions in which the Company may conduct business or own property; (B) all instruments which the Manager deems appropriate or necessary to reflect any amendment, change, modification or restatement of this Agreement in

 

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accordance with its terms; (C) all conveyances and other instruments or documents which the Manager deems appropriate or necessary to reflect the dissolution and liquidation of the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including a certificate of cancellation; and (D) all instruments relating to the admission, withdrawal or substitution of any Member pursuant to Article XII or XIII ; and

(ii) sign, execute, swear to and acknowledge all ballots, consents, approvals, waivers, certificates and other instruments appropriate or necessary, in the reasonable judgment of the Manager, to evidence, confirm or ratify any vote, consent, approval, agreement or other action which is made or given by the Members hereunder or is consistent with the terms of this Agreement, in the reasonable judgment of the Manager, necessary or appropriate to effectuate the terms of this Agreement.

(b) The foregoing power of attorney is irrevocable and coupled with an interest, and shall survive the death, disability, incapacity, dissolution, bankruptcy, insolvency or termination of any Member who is an individual and the transfer of all or any portion of his, her or its Company Interest and shall extend to such Member’s heirs, successors, assigns and personal representatives.

Section  16.02 Confidentiality . The Manager and each of the Members agree to hold the Company’s Confidential Information in confidence and may not use such information except (i) in furtherance of the business of the Company, (ii) as reasonably necessary for compliance with applicable law, including compliance with disclosure requirements under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and securities laws of other jurisdictions, or (iii) as otherwise authorized separately in writing by the Manager. “ Confidential Information ” as used herein includes, but is not limited to, ideas, financial product structuring, business strategies, innovations and materials, all aspects of the Company’s business plan, proposed operation and products, corporate structure, financial and organizational information, analyses, proposed partners, software code and system and product designs, employees and their identities, equity ownership, the methods and means by which the Company plans to conduct its business, all trade secrets, trademarks, tradenames and all intellectual property associated with the Company’s business. With respect to the Manager and each Member, Confidential Information does not include information or material that: (a) is rightfully in the possession of the Manager or each Member at the time of disclosure by the Company; (b) before or after it has been disclosed to the Manager or each Member by the Company, becomes part of public knowledge, not as a result of any action or inaction of the Manager or such Member, respectively, in violation of this Agreement; (c) is approved for release by written authorization of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company or of the Corporation; (d) is disclosed to the Manager or such Member or their representatives by a third party not, to the knowledge of the Manager or such Member, respectively, in violation of any obligation of confidentiality owed to the Company with respect to such information; or (e) is or becomes independently developed by the Manager or such Member or their respective representatives without use or reference to the Confidential Information.

Section  16.03 Amendments . This Agreement may be amended or modified (a) by the Corporation, as provided in Section 3.10 of this Agreement or (b) upon the consent of the Majority Members; provided , that, solely for purposes of clause (b) of this Section  16.03 , the second reference to “a majority” in the definition of Majority Members shall be deemed to be

 

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“thirty-three percent (33%) or more”. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment or modification (x) to this Section  16.03 may be made without the prior written consent of the Manager and each of the Members, (y) to any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement which terms and conditions expressly require the approval or action of certain Persons may be made without obtaining the consent of the requisite number or specified percentage of such Persons who are entitled to approve or take action on such matter, and (z) to any of the terms and conditions of Article VI or Section  14.01 (and related definitions as used directly or indirectly therein) may be made without the prior written consent of the Manager, which consent may be given or withheld in the Manager’s sole discretion.

Section  16.04 Title to Company Assets . Company assets shall be deemed to be owned by the Company as an entity, and no Member, individually or collectively, shall have any ownership interest in such Company assets or any portion thereof. The Company shall hold title to all of its property in the name of the Company and not in the name of any Member. All Company assets shall be recorded as the property of the Company on its books and records, irrespective of the name in which legal title to such Company assets is held. The Company’s credit and assets shall be used solely for the benefit of the Company, and no asset of the Company shall be transferred or encumbered for, or in payment of, any individual obligation of any Member.

Section  16.05 Addresses and Notices . Any notice provided for in this Agreement will be in writing and will be either personally delivered, or received by certified mail, return receipt requested, or sent by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid) to the Company at the address set forth below and to any other recipient and to any Member at such address as indicated by the Company’s records, or at such address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party. Notices will be deemed to have been given hereunder when delivered personally, three (3) days after deposit in the U.S. mail and one (1) day after deposit with a reputable overnight courier service or transmission via e-mail ( provided confirmation of transmission is received). The Company’s address is:

to the Company:

Switch, Ltd.

7135 South Decatur Boulevard,

Las Vegas, Nevada 89118

Attn: Rob Roy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

E-mail: robroy@switch.com

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

Switch, Ltd.

7135 South Decatur Boulevard,

Las Vegas, Nevada 89118

Attn: Corporate Secretary

E-mail: secretary@switch.com

and

 

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Latham & Watkins LLP

650 Town Center Drive, 20th Floor

Costa Mesa, California 92626

Attn: Shayne Kennedy

E-mail: shayne.kennedy@lw.com

Section  16.06 Binding Effect; Intended Beneficiaries . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.

Section  16.07 Creditors . None of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of or enforceable by any creditors of the Company or any of its Affiliates, and no creditor who makes a loan to the Company or any of its Affiliates may have or acquire (except pursuant to the terms of a separate agreement executed by the Company in favor of such creditor) at any time as a result of making the loan any direct or indirect interest in Company Profits, Losses, Distributions, capital or property other than as a secured creditor.

Section  16.08 Waiver . No failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof shall constitute a waiver of any such breach or any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.

Section  16.09 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, including pursuant to an omnibus signature page, each of which will be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement binding on all the parties hereto.

Section  16.10 Applicable Law . This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Nevada, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of Nevada or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Nevada. Any dispute relating hereto shall be heard in the state or federal courts of the State of Nevada, and the parties agree to jurisdiction and venue therein.

Section  16.11 Severability . Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable Law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable Law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provision or the effectiveness or validity of any provision in any other jurisdiction, and this Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

Section  16.12 Further Action . The parties shall execute and deliver all documents, provide all information and take or refrain from taking such actions as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Agreement.

Section  16.13 Delivery by Electronic Transmission . This Agreement and any signed agreement or instrument entered into in connection with this Agreement or contemplated hereby,

 

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and any amendments hereto or thereto, to the extent signed and delivered by means of an electronic transmission, including by a facsimile machine or via email, shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person. At the request of any party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument, each other party hereto or thereto shall re-execute original forms thereof and deliver them to all other parties. No party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument shall raise the use of electronic transmission by a facsimile machine or via email to deliver a signature or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through such electronic transmission as a defense to the formation of a contract and each such party forever waives any such defense.

Section  16.14 Right of Offset . Whenever the Company is to pay any sum (other than pursuant to Article IV ) to any Member, any amounts that such Member owes to the Company which are not the subject of a good faith dispute may be deducted from that sum before payment. For the avoidance of doubt, the distribution of Units to the Corporation shall not be subject to this Section  16.14 .

Section  16.15 Effectiveness . This Agreement shall be effective upon the date hereof (the “ Effective Time ”); provided, however , that in the event the Corporation fails to acquire any Common Units within four (4) business days of the date hereof (or such later date as may be agreed to by Members holding a majority Percentage Interest in the Company) then this Agreement shall immediately be deemed null and void ab initio , this Agreement shall be of no further force and effect and the Prior Operating Agreement shall continue to govern the rights and obligations of the Company and the Members.

Section  16.16 Entire Agreement . This Agreement, those documents expressly referred to herein (including the Registration Rights Agreement and the Tax Receivable Agreement), any indemnity agreements entered into in connection with the Prior Operating Agreement with any member of the board of managers at that time and other documents of even date herewith embody the complete agreement and understanding among the parties and supersede and preempt any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way. For the avoidance of doubt, the Prior Operating Agreement is superseded by this Agreement as of the Effective Time and shall be of no further force and effect thereafter.

Section  16.17 Remedies . Each Member shall have all rights and remedies set forth in this Agreement and all rights and remedies which such Person has been granted at any time under any other agreement or contract and all of the rights which such Person has under any Law. Any Person having any rights under any provision of this Agreement or any other agreements contemplated hereby shall be entitled to enforce such rights specifically (without posting a bond or other security), to recover damages by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights granted by Law.

Section  16.18 Descriptive Headings; Interpretation . The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a substantive part of this Agreement. Whenever required by the context, any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns

 

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and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa. The use of the word “including” in this Agreement shall be by way of example rather than by limitation and shall mean, “including, without limitation”. Reference to any agreement, document or instrument means such agreement, document or instrument as amended or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, and if applicable hereof. Without limiting the generality of the immediately preceding sentence, no amendment or other modification to any agreement, document or instrument that requires the consent of any Person pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other agreement will be given effect hereunder unless such Person has consented in writing to such amendment or modification. Wherever required by the context, references to a Fiscal Year shall refer to a portion thereof. The use of the words “or,” “either” and “any” shall not be exclusive. The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement. Wherever a conflict exists between this Agreement and any other agreement, this Agreement shall control but solely to the extent of such conflict.

[ Remainder of page intentionally left blank ]

 

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The undersigned hereby agree(s) to be bound by all of the terms and provisions of the Fifth Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Switch, Ltd. as of the date first set forth above.

 

SWITCH, LTD.
By:   /s/ Rob Roy
Name:   Rob Roy
Title:   Chief Executive Officer

 

SWITCH, INC.
By:   /s/ Rob Roy
Name:   Rob Roy
Title:   Chief Executive Officer

The undersigned, being the Secretary of the Switch, Ltd., does hereby certify that this Fifth Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Switch, Ltd. was executed and adopted by Members holding the requisite number of Units.

 

By:   /s/ Thomas Morton
Name:   Thomas Morton
Title:   Secretary

S IGNATURE P AGE

T O

F IFTH A MENDED AND R ESTATED O PERATING A GREEMENT O F S WITCH , L TD .


Exhibit A

FORM OF JOINDER AGREEMENT

This JOINDER AGREEMENT, dated as of                      , 20      (this “ Joinder ”), is delivered pursuant to that certain Fifth Amended and Restated Operating Agreement, dated as of October 5, 2017 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Operating Agreement ”) by and among Switch, Ltd., a Nevada limited-liability company (the “ Company ”), Switch, Inc., a Nevada corporation and the manager of the Company (the “ Corporation ”), and each of the Members from time to time party thereto. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the respective meanings set forth in the Operating Agreement.

 

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

 

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

 

  3. Address . All notices under the Operating Agreement to the undersigned shall be directed to:

[Name]

[Address]

[City, State, Zip Code]

Attn:

Facsimile:

E-mail:

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

 

[NAME OF NEW MEMBER]
By:    
Name:
Title:


Acknowledged and agreed

as of the date first set forth above:

 

SWITCH, LTD.

By:    
Name: [●]
Title: [●]


Exhibit B

Corporation Stock Incentive Plan Implementation Guidelines

SWITCH, INC.

2017 INCENTIVE AWARD PLAN

Policy Regarding Certain Equity Issuances

All capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Switch, Inc. 2017 Incentive Award Plan (the “ Plan ”).

Pursuant to Sections 3(a) and 10(q) of the Plan, this Policy Regarding Certain Equity Issuances (this “ Policy ”), effective as of October 5, 2017, is established to provide for the method by which shares of Common Stock or other securities and/or payment therefor may be exchanged or contributed between Switch, Inc. (the “ Company ”) and Switch, Ltd. (the “ Operating Company ”), or any Subsidiary, or may be returned to the Company upon any forfeiture of shares of Common Stock or other securities by the Participant, for the purpose of ensuring that the relationship between the Company and its Subsidiaries remains at arm’s-length.

This Policy may be modified, supplemented or terminated at any time and from time to time in the Company’s discretion. In the event of any conflict between the Fifth Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Switch, Ltd., dated as of October 5, 2017 (the “ Operating Agreement ”) or the Plan and this Policy, the Operating Agreement or Plan, as applicable, will control. In the event of any conflict between the Operating Agreement and the Plan, unless explicitly stated otherwise, the Operating Agreement will control.

 

1. Restricted Stock Awards

 

  a. Transfers of Restricted Stock to Company Employees, Company Consultants or Company Directors . The following shall apply to Restricted Stock granted under the Plan to Employees and Consultants of the Company and Directors (collectively, “ Company Service Providers ”) in consideration for services performed by such Company Service Providers:

 

  i. Issuance of Restricted Stock .

 

  A. The Company shall issue such number of shares of Common Stock as are to be issued to the Company Service Provider in accordance with the terms of the Plan.

 

  B. Concurrently with or prior to such issuance, a Company Service Provider shall pay the purchase price (if any) of the Restricted Stock to the Company in exchange for the issuance of the Restricted Stock.

 

  C. Prior to the Vesting Date, the Company shall pay dividends to the holder of the Restricted Stock and make any other payments to the Company Service Provider as the terms of the Restricted Stock award provide for. The Company and the Operating Company shall treat such payments as having been made by the Company, and the Company shall report such payments as compensation to the Company Service Provider for all purposes. Prior to the Vesting Date (as defined below), the Operating Company shall pay to the Company the amount of any such payments the Company is required to pay to the Company Service Provider, as a reimbursement of Company expenses pursuant to Section 6.06 of the Operating Agreement.


  ii. Vesting of Restricted Stock . On the date when the value of any share of Restricted Stock is includible in taxable income (with respect to each such share, the “ Vesting Date ”) of the Company Service Provider, the following events shall occur or be deemed to have occurred:

 

  A. If required by Section 6.06 of the Operating Agreement, the Operating Company shall be deemed to reimburse the Company for the compensation expense equal to the amount includible in taxable income of the Company Service Provider.

 

  B. The Operating Company shall issue to the Company on the Vesting Date a number of Common Units (as defined in the Operating Agreement) equal to the number of such shares of Restricted Stock that are includible in the taxable income of the Company Service Provider as of the applicable Vesting Date in consideration for a deemed Capital Contribution from the Company in an amount equal to the number of Common Units issued in accordance with this section, multiplied by the Fair Market Value (as defined in the Operating Agreement).

 

  b. Transfers of Restricted Stock to Employees and Consultants of the Operating Company . The following shall apply to Restricted Stock granted under the Plan to Employees and Consultants of the Operating Company in consideration for services performed by such Employees and Consultants for the Operating Company or its Subsidiaries:

 

  i. Issuance of Restricted Stock .

 

  A. The Company shall issue such number of shares of Common Stock as are to be issued to the Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company in accordance with the terms of the Plan.

 

  B. Concurrently with or prior to such issuance, an Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company shall pay the purchase price (if any) of the Restricted Stock to the Company in exchange for the issuance of the Restricted Stock.

 

  C. The Company shall transfer any such purchase price to the Operating Company. For tax purposes, any such purchase price shall be treated as paid by the Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company to the Operating Company as the employer of the Employee or the recipient of the Consultant’s services ( i.e., not a capital contribution).

 

  D. Prior to the Vesting Date, the Company shall pay dividends to the holder of the Restricted Stock and make any other payments to the Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company as provided by the terms of the Restricted Stock award, provided that the Operating Company shall reimburse the Company for such amounts and deduct such amounts as compensation. In order to effectuate the foregoing, in addition to the Operating Company’s distributions to the Company with respect to the Common Units held by the Company, the Operating Company shall make an additional payment to the Company in the amount of this reimbursement, which shall not be treated as a partnership distribution. The Company and the Operating Company shall treat such payments as having been made by the Operating Company (and not by the Company) to such Employee or Consultant, and the Operating Company shall report such payments as compensation to the Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company for all purposes.


  ii. Vesting of Restricted Stock . On the Vesting Date of any shares of Restricted Stock of the Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company, the following events shall occur or be deemed to have occurred:

 

  A. The Company shall be deemed to sell to the Operating Company (or, if the Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company is an employee or other service provider of a Subsidiary of the Operating Company, to such Subsidiary of the Operating Company), and the Operating Company (or such Subsidiary of the Operating Company) shall be deemed to purchase from the Company, such shares of Restricted Stock that are includible in the taxable income of the Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company on such Vesting Date (the “ Operating Company Purchased Restricted Stock ”). The deemed price paid by the Operating Company (or a Subsidiary of the Operating Company) to the Company for Operating Company Purchased Restricted Stock shall be an amount equal to the product of (x) the number of Operating Company Purchased Restricted Stock and (y) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Vesting Date.

 

  B. The Operating Company (or any Subsidiary of the Operating Company) shall be deemed to transfer Operating Company Purchased Restricted Stock to the Participant at no additional cost, as additional compensation.

 

  C. The Operating Company shall issue to the Company on the Vesting Date a number of Common Units equal to the number of shares of Operating Company Purchased Restricted Stock in consideration for a deemed Capital Contribution from the Company in an amount equal to the number of Common Units issued in accordance with this section, multiplied by the Fair Market Value. In the case where an Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company is an employee or service provider to a Subsidiary of the Operating Company, then the Operating Company shall be deemed to have contributed such amount to the capital of such Subsidiary of the Operating Company.

 

2. Restricted Stock Unit and Other Stock or Cash Based Awards . The following shall apply to all Restricted Stock Units and Other Stock or Cash Based Awards (other than cash awards) granted under the Plan and settled in shares of Common Stock:

 

  a. Transfers of Common Stock to Company Service Providers . The Company shall issue such number of shares of Common Stock as are to be issued to the Company Service Provider in accordance with the terms of the Plan and any Restricted Stock Unit or applicable Other Stock or Cash Based Award to a Company Service Provider in accordance with Section 6 or 7 of the Plan and, as soon as reasonably practicable after such Award is settled, with respect to each such settlement:

 

  i. If required by Section 6.06 of the Operating Agreement, the Operating Company shall be deemed to reimburse the Company for the compensation expense equal to the amount includible in taxable income of the Company Service Provider with respect to such Award.


  ii. The Operating Company shall issue to the Company on the date of settlement a number of Common Units equal to the number of shares of Common Stock issued in settlement of the Restricted Stock Unit or applicable Other Stock or Cash Based Award in consideration for a deemed Capital Contribution from the Company in an amount equal to the number of Common Units issued in accordance with this section, multiplied by the Fair Market Value.

 

  b. Transfer of Common Stock to an Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company . The Company shall issue such number of shares of Common Stock as are to be issued to an Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company in accordance with the terms of the Plan and any Restricted Stock Unit or applicable Other Stock or Cash Based Award to an Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company in accordance with Section 6 or 7 of the Plan and, as soon as reasonably practicable after such Award is settled, with respect to each such settlement:

 

  i. The Company shall be deemed to sell to the Operating Company (or, if the Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company is an employee or other service provider of a Subsidiary of the Operating Company, to such Subsidiary of the Operating Company), and the Operating Company (or such Subsidiary of the Operating Company) shall be deemed to purchase from the Company, the number of shares of Common Stock (the “ Operating Company Purchased RSU/Other Award Shares ”) equal to the number issued in settlement of the Restricted Stock Units or Other Cash or Stock Based Awards. The deemed price paid by the Operating Company (or Subsidiary of the Operating Company) to the Company for Operating Company Purchased RSU/Other Award Shares shall be an amount equal to the product of (x) the number of Operating Company Purchased RSU/Other Award Shares and (y) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock at the time of settlement.

 

  ii. The Operating Company (or Subsidiary of the Operating Company) shall be deemed to transfer such shares of Common Stock to the Participant at no additional cost, as additional compensation.

 

  iii. The Operating Company shall issue to the Company on the date of settlement a number of Common Units equal to the number of Operating Company Purchased RSU/Other Award Shares in consideration for a deemed Capital Contribution from the Company in an amount equal to the number of Common Units issued in accordance with this section, multiplied by the Fair Market Value. In the case where an Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company is an employee or service provider to a Subsidiary of the Operating Company, the Operating Company shall be deemed to have contributed such amount to the capital of such Subsidiary of the Operating Company.

 

  c. Other Full-Value Awards . To the extent the Company grants full-value Awards (other than Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and Other Stock and Cash Based Awards), the provisions of this Section 2 shall apply mutatis mutandis with respect to such full-value Awards, to the extent applicable (as determined by the Administrator).

 

3. Stock Options . The following shall apply to Options granted under the Plan:

 

  a. Transfer of Common Stock to a Company Service Provider . As soon as reasonably practicable after receipt by the Company, pursuant to Section 5(e) of the Plan, of payment for the shares of Common Stock with respect to which an Option (which in the case of a Company Service Provider was issued to and is held by such Participant in such capacity), or portion thereof, is exercised by a Participant who is a Company Service Provider:

 

  i. The Company shall transfer to the holder of such Option the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Option (or portion thereof) that is exercised.


  ii. The Company, shall, as soon as practicable after such exercise, make a Capital Contribution to the Operating Company in an amount equal to the exercise price paid to the Company by such Participant in connection with the exercise of the Option. If required by Section 6.06 of the Operating Agreement, the Operating Company shall be deemed to reimburse the Company for the compensation expense equal to the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock as of the date of exercise multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock then being issued in connection with the exercise of such Option less the exercise price paid to the Company by such Participant in connection with the exercise of the Option. Notwithstanding the amount of the Capital Contribution actually made pursuant to this Section 3(a)(ii), the Company shall be deemed to have contributed to the Operating Company as a Capital Contribution, in lieu of the Capital Contribution actually made, an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock as of the date of exercise multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock then being issued in connection with the exercise of such Option.

 

  iii. The Operating Company shall issue to the Company, on the date of the deemed Capital Contribution described in Section 3(a)(ii) hereof, a number of Common Units equal to the number of newly issued shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 3(a)(i) hereof, in consideration for the deemed Capital Contribution described in Section 3(a)(ii) hereof.

 

  b. Transfer of Common Stock to an Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company . As soon as reasonably practicable after receipt by the Company, pursuant to Section 5(e) of the Plan, of payment for the shares of Common Stock with respect to which an Option (which was issued to and is held by an Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company in such capacity), or portion thereof, is exercised by a Participant who is an Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company:

 

  i. The Company shall transfer to the Participant, on behalf of the Operating Company, the number of shares of Common Stock equal to (A) the amount of the exercise price paid by the Participant to the Company pursuant to Section 5(e) of the Plan divided by (B) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock at the time of exercise (the “ Operating Company Holder Purchased Shares ”).

 

  ii. The Company shall be deemed to sell to the Operating Company (or, if the Employee or Consultant is an employee or other service provider of a Subsidiary of the Operating Company, to such Subsidiary of the Operating Company), and the Operating Company (or such Subsidiary of the Operating Company) shall be deemed to purchase from the Company, the number of shares of Common Stock (the “ Operating Company Purchased Option Shares ”) equal to the excess of (A) the number of shares subject to the Option (or portion thereof) that is exercised, over (B) the number of Operating Company Holder Purchased Shares. The deemed price paid by the Operating Company (or a Subsidiary of the Operating Company) to the Company for Operating Company Purchased Option Shares shall be an amount equal to the product of (x) the number of Operating Company Purchased Option Shares and (y) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock at the time of the exercise.


  iii. The Operating Company (or a Subsidiary of the Operating Company) shall be deemed to transfer Operating Company Purchased Option Shares to the Participant at no additional cost, as additional compensation.

 

  iv. The Operating Company shall issue to the Company on the date of exercise a number of Common Units equal to the sum of the number of Operating Company Holder Purchased Shares and the number of Operating Company Purchased Option Shares in consideration for a deemed Capital Contribution from the Company in an amount equal to the number of Common Units issued in accordance with this section, multiplied by the Fair Market Value. In the case where an Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company is an employee or service provider to a Subsidiary of the Operating Company, the Operating Company shall be deemed to have contributed such amount to the capital of such Subsidiary of the Operating Company.

 

  c. Stock Appreciation Rights . To the extent the Company grants any Stock Appreciation Rights, the provisions of this Section 3 shall apply mutatis mutandis with respect to such Stock Appreciation Rights, to the extent applicable (as determined by the Administrator).

 

4. Dividend Equivalent Awards . The following shall apply to Dividend Equivalents granted under the Plan to Employees and Consultants of the Operating Company:

 

  a. The Company shall make any payments to an Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company under the terms of the Dividend Equivalent award, provided that the Operating Company shall reimburse the Company for such amounts and deduct such amounts as compensation. In order to effectuate the foregoing, in addition to the Operating Company’s distributions to the Company with respect to Common Units held by the Company, the Operating Company shall make an additional payment to the Company in the amount of this reimbursement, which shall not be treated as a partnership distribution. The Company and the Operating Company shall treat such payments as having been made by the Operating Company (and not by the Company to such Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company), and the Operating Company shall report such payments as compensation to such Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company for all purposes.

 

5. Forfeiture, Surrender or Repurchase of Common Stock . If any shares of Common Stock granted under the Plan are (a) forfeited or surrendered by any Service Provider eligible to participate in the Plan (an “ Eligible Service Provider ”) or (b) repurchased from any Eligible Service Provider by the Company, the Operating Company or a Subsidiary, (i) the shares of Common Stock forfeited, surrendered or repurchased shall be returned to the Company, (ii) the Company (or, if the Eligible Service Provider is an Employee or Consultant of the Operating Company, the Operating Company or a Subsidiary of the Operating Company, as applicable) shall pay the repurchase price (if any) of the repurchased shares of Common Stock to such Eligible Service Provider, and (iii) the Operating Company shall, contemporaneously with to such forfeiture, surrender or repurchase of shares of Common Stock, redeem or repurchase a number of the Common Units held by the Company equal to the number of forfeited, surrendered or repurchased shares of Common Stock, such redemption or repurchase to be upon the same terms and for the same price per Common Unit as such shares of Common Stock are forfeited, surrendered or repurchased.