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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 1, 2020

Registration No. 333-238307

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

Amendment No. 1 to

FORM S-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware    7389    84-3676340

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

  

(Primary Standard Industrial

Classification Code Number)

  

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

2202 N. Irving St.

Allentown, Pennsylvania 18109

Telephone: (888) 276-2108

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

 

 

Jordan Frankel

2202 N. Irving St.

Allentown, Pennsylvania 18109

Telephone: (888) 276-2108

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

 

 

Copies to:

 

Marc D. Jaffe, Esq.

Ian D. Schuman, Esq.

Adam J. Gelardi, Esq.

Latham & Watkins LLP

885 Third Avenue

New York, NY 10022

Telephone: (212) 906-1200

Fax: (212) 751-4864

  

Jordan Frankel, Esq.

Secretary and General Counsel

Shift4 Payments, Inc.

2202 N. Irving St.

Allentown, Pennsylvania 18109

Telephone: (888) 276-2108

  

Richard A. Fenyes, Esq.

Joshua F. Bonnie, Esq.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

425 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10017

Telephone: (212) 455-2000

Fax: (212) 455-2502

 

 

APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE AFTER THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT IS DECLARED EFFECTIVE.

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 check the following box.  ☐

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

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

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

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

 

Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer      Smaller reporting company  
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 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  ☐

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Each Class of

Securities to be Registered

 

Amount

to be

Registered(1)

 

Proposed

Maximum

Offering Price

Per Share

 

Proposed

Maximum

Aggregate

Offering Price(2)

 

Amount of

Registration Fee(3)

Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value per share

  17,250,000   $21.00   $362,250,000   $47,020.05

 

 

(1)

Includes the aggregate offering price of shares of Class A common stock that may be sold if the option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock granted by the Registrant to the underwriters is exercised.

(2)

Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(3)

Of this amount, $12,980 has previously been paid.

 

 

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

 

 

 


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The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to completion. Dated June 1, 2020.

15,000,000 Shares

 

 

LOGO

 

Shift4 Payments, Inc.

Class A Common Stock

 

 

This is an initial public offering of shares of Class A common stock of Shift4 Payments, Inc. We are selling 15,000,000 shares of Class A common stock.

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for the Class A common stock. It is currently estimated that the initial public offering price per share of Class A common stock will be between $19.00 and $21.00. We have been approved to list our Class A common stock on the New York Stock Exchange, or the NYSE, under the symbol “FOUR.”

We will have three classes of common stock outstanding after this offering: Class A common stock, Class B common stock and Class C common stock. Each share of our Class A common stock entitles its holder to one vote per share and each share of each of our Class B common stock and Class C common stock entitles its holder to ten votes per share on all matters presented to our stockholders generally. Immediately following the consummation of this offering and the concurrent private placement (as defined below), all shares of our Class B common stock and Class C common stock will be held by Searchlight (as defined below) and our Founder (as defined below), which combined will represent approximately 96.5% of the voting power of our outstanding common stock after this offering (or approximately 96.1% if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares).

We will be a holding company, and upon consummation of this offering and the concurrent private placement (as defined below) and the application of proceeds therefrom, our principal asset will consist of (i) the LLC Interests (as defined below) that we purchase directly from Shift4 Payments, LLC with the proceeds from this offering and the concurrent private placement and (ii) the LLC Interests that we acquire from the Former Equity Owner and the Blocker Shareholders (each as defined below) in connection with the consummation of the Transactions (as defined below), collectively representing an aggregate 52.3% economic interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC. Of the remaining 47.7% economic interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC, 16.2% will be owned by Searchlight through their ownership of LLC Interests and 31.5% will be owned by our Founder through his ownership of LLC Interests.

We will be the sole managing member of Shift4 Payments, LLC. We will operate and control all of the business and affairs of Shift4 Payments, LLC and, through Shift4 Payments, LLC and its subsidiaries, conduct our business.

Rook Holdings, Inc., a corporation wholly-owned by our Founder, has agreed to purchase up to $100.0 million of our Class C common stock in a private placement concurrent with, and subject to, the completion of this offering at a purchase price per share equal to the initial public offering price per share at which our Class A common stock is sold to the public in this offering less underwriting discounts and commissions, which we refer to as the concurrent private placement. The sale of such shares will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Act. The closing of this offering is not conditioned upon the closing of the concurrent private placement.

Following this offering and the concurrent private placement, we will be a “controlled company” within the meaning of the NYSE rules. See “Our Organizational Structure” and “Management—Controlled Company Exception.”

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and will be subject to reduced disclosure and public reporting requirements. This prospectus complies with the requirements that apply to an issuer that is an emerging growth company.

 

Investing in our Class A common stock involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 26 to read about factors you should consider before buying shares of our Class A common stock.

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

 

     Per
Share
     Total  

Initial public offering price

   $                    $                

Underwriting discounts and commissions(1)

   $        $    

Proceeds, before expenses, to Shift4 Payments, Inc.

   $        $    

 

  (1)

We have agreed to reimburse the underwriters for certain expenses in connection with this offering. See “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest).”

The underwriters have the option to purchase up to an additional 2,250,000 shares of Class A common stock from us at the initial public offering price less the underwriting discount within 30 days of the date of this prospectus.

The underwriters expect to deliver the shares of Class A common stock against payment in New York, New York on                 , 2020.

 

 

(listed in alphabetical order)

Citigroup   Credit Suisse   Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

 

 

 

BofA Securities   Morgan Stanley   RBC Capital Markets   Evercore ISI
Raymond James   SunTrust Robinson Humphrey   Wolfe Capital Markets and Advisory
Citizens Capital Markets   Scotiabank   TD Securities   Telsey Advisory Group

Prospectus dated                 , 2020.


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LOGO


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

LETTER FROM JARED ISAACMAN, OUR FOUNDER

     vi  

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

     1  

RISK FACTORS

     26  

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     61  

OUR ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

     63  

USE OF PROCEEDS

     68  

CAPITALIZATION

     70  

DIVIDEND POLICY

     72  

DILUTION

     73  

SELECTED HISTORICAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

     76  

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

     78  

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

     85  

BUSINESS

     104  

MANAGEMENT

     124  

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     131  

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

     138  

PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

     149  

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

     152  

DESCRIPTION OF INDEBTEDNESS

     159  

SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

     163  

MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS FOR NON-U.S. HOLDERS OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK

     168  

UNDERWRITING (CONFLICTS OF INTEREST)

     172  

LEGAL MATTERS

     178  

EXPERTS

     178  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     178  

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     F-1  

We and the underwriters have not authorized anyone to provide any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus or in any related free writing prospectuses. We and the underwriters take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the shares offered by this prospectus, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this prospectus is current only as of its date. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospectus may have changed since that date.

Through and including                 , 2020 (the 25th day after the date of this prospectus), all dealers effecting transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to a dealer’s obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as an underwriter and with respect to an unsold allotment or subscription.

For investors outside the United States: We and the underwriters have not done anything that would permit this offering or the possession or distribution of this prospectus or any free writing prospectus we may provide to you in connection with this offering in any jurisdiction where action for purpose is required, other than in the United States. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of the shares of Class A common stock and the distribution of this prospectus outside the United States. See “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest).”

 

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BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Organizational Structure

In connection with the closing of this offering, we will effect certain organizational transactions. Unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise requires, all information in this prospectus reflects the consummation of the organizational transactions and this offering, which we refer to collectively as the Transactions. See “Our Organizational Structure” for a description of the Transactions and a diagram depicting our organizational structure after giving effect to the Transactions, including this offering.

Certain Definitions

As used in this prospectus, unless the context otherwise requires, references to:

 

   

“we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company,” “Shift4” and similar references refer: (1) following the consummation of the Transactions, including this offering, to Shift4 Payments, Inc., and, unless otherwise stated, all of its subsidiaries, including Shift4 Payments, LLC and, unless otherwise stated, all of its subsidiaries, and (2) prior to the completion of the Transactions, including this offering, to Shift4 Payments, LLC and, unless otherwise stated, all of its subsidiaries.

 

   

Blocker Companies” refers to certain direct and/or indirect owners of LLC Interests in Shift4 Payments, LLC, collectively, prior to the Transactions that are taxable as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes and each of which is an affiliate of Searchlight (as defined below).

 

   

Blocker Mergers” refers to the acquisition by Shift4 Payments, Inc. of LLC Interests held by the Blocker Shareholders, pursuant to one or more contributions by Blocker Shareholders of the equity interests in the Blocker Companies to Shift4 Payments, Inc., followed by one or more mergers, and in exchange for which Shift4 Payments, Inc. will issue to the Blocker Shareholders shares of Class B common stock and Class C common stock.

 

   

Blocker Shareholders” refers to the owners of Blocker Companies, collectively, prior to the Transactions.

 

   

“Continuing Equity Owners” refers collectively to Searchlight, our Founder and their respective permitted transferees that will own LLC Interests after the Transactions and who may, following the consummation of this offering, redeem at each of their options, in whole or in part from time to time, their LLC Interests for, at our election (determined solely by our independent directors (within the meaning of the rules of the NYSE ) who are disinterested), cash or newly-issued shares of our Class A common stock as described in “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions— Shift4 LLC Agreement—Agreement in Effect Upon Consummation of this Offering.”

 

   

“LLC Interests” refers to the common units of Shift4 Payments, LLC, including those that we purchase directly from Shift4 Payments, LLC with the proceeds from this offering and the concurrent private placement and the common units of Shift4 Payments, LLC that we acquire from the Former Equity Owners in connection with the consummation of the Transactions.

 

   

Founder” refers to Jared Isaacman, our Chief Executive Officer and the sole stockholder of Rook Holdings, Inc. Following this offering, our Founder will be a Continuing Equity Owner and following the concurrent private placement will be an owner of Class C common stock.

 

   

“Former Equity Owner” refers to FPOS Holding Co., Inc. who will exchange its LLC Interests for shares of our Class A common stock (to be held by the Former Equity Owner either directly or indirectly) in connection with the consummation of the Transactions.

 

   

“Rook” refers to Rook Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation wholly-owned by our Founder and for which our Founder is the sole stockholder.

 

   

“RSU Holders” refers to certain current and former employees of Shift4 Payments, LLC who will receive restricted stock units, or RSUs, of Shift4 Payments, Inc. in connection with this offering.

 

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“Searchlight” refers to Searchlight Capital Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and certain funds affiliated with Searchlight. Following this offering, Searchlight will be a Continuing Equity Owner and following the Blocker Mergers will be an owner of Class C common stock (including any such fund or entity formed to hold shares of Class C common stock).

 

   

“Shift4 Payments LLC Agreement” refers to Shift4 Payments, LLC’s amended and restated limited liability company agreement, which will become effective on or prior to the consummation of this offering.

Shift4 Payments, Inc. will be a holding company and the sole managing member of Shift4 Payments, LLC, and upon consummation of this offering and the application of proceeds therefrom, its principal asset will consist of LLC Interests.

Presentation of Financial Information

Shift4 Payments, LLC is the accounting predecessor of the issuer, Shift4 Payments, Inc., for financial reporting purposes. Shift4 Payments, Inc. will be the audited financial reporting entity following this offering. Accordingly, this prospectus contains the following historical financial statements:

 

   

Shift4 Payments, Inc. Other than the inception balance sheet, dated as of November 5, 2019, the historical financial information of Shift4 Payments, Inc. has not been included in this prospectus as it is a newly incorporated entity, has no significant business transactions or activities to date and had no significant assets or liabilities during the periods presented in this prospectus.

 

   

Shift4 Payments, LLC. As Shift4 Payments, Inc. will have no interest in any operations other than those of Shift4 Payments, LLC and its subsidiaries, the historical consolidated financial information included in this prospectus is that of Shift4 Payments, LLC and its subsidiaries.

The unaudited pro forma financial information of Shift4 Payments, Inc. presented in this prospectus has been derived by the application of pro forma adjustments to the historical consolidated financial statements of Shift4 Payments, LLC and its subsidiaries included elsewhere in this prospectus. These pro forma adjustments give effect to the Transactions as described in “Our Organizational Structure,” including the consummation of this offering and the concurrent private placement, as if all such transactions had occurred on January 1, 2019 in the case of the unaudited pro forma consolidated statements of operations data, and as of March 31, 2020 in the case of the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet data. See “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information” for a complete description of the adjustments and assumptions underlying the pro forma financial information included in this prospectus.

Certain monetary amounts, percentages and other figures included in this prospectus have been subject to rounding adjustments. Percentage amounts included in this prospectus have not in all cases been calculated on the basis of such rounded figures, but on the basis of such amounts prior to rounding. For this reason, percentage amounts in this prospectus may vary from those obtained by performing the same calculations using the figures in our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. Certain other amounts that appear in this prospectus may not sum due to rounding.

Key Terms and Performance Indicators Used in this Prospectus; Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Throughout this prospectus, we use a number of key terms and provide a number of key performance indicators used by management. These key performance indicators are discussed in more detail in the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Key performance indicators and non-GAAP measures.” We define these terms as follows:

 

   

end-to-end payment volume, which we define as the total dollar amount of card payments that we authorize and settle on behalf of our merchants;

 

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net revenue, which we define as gross revenue less network fees, which includes interchange and assessment fees;

 

   

EBITDA, which we define as earnings before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization; and

 

   

adjusted EBITDA, which we define as EBITDA further adjusted for acquisition, restructuring and integration costs, management fees and other non-recurring items management believes are not indicative of ongoing operations.

We use non-GAAP financial measures to supplement financial information presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or GAAP. We believe that excluding certain items from our GAAP results allows management to better understand our consolidated financial performance from period to period and better project our future consolidated financial performance as forecasts are developed at a level of detail different from that used to prepare GAAP-based financial measures. Moreover, we believe these non-GAAP financial measures provide our stakeholders with useful information to help them evaluate our operating results by facilitating an enhanced understanding of our operating performance and enabling them to make more meaningful period to period comparisons. There are limitations to the use of the non-GAAP financial measures presented in this prospectus. For example, our non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate non-GAAP financial measures differently than we do, limiting the usefulness of those measures for comparative purposes. See “Prospectus Summary—Summary Historical and Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial and Other Data” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

 

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TRADEMARKS

This prospectus includes our trademarks and trade names which are protected under applicable intellectual property laws and are our property. This prospectus also contains trademarks, trade names and service marks of other companies, which are the property of their respective owners. Solely for convenience, trademarks, trade names and service marks referred to in this prospectus may appear without the ®, or SM symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, our rights or the right of the applicable licensor to these trademarks, trade names and service marks. We do not intend our use or display of other parties’ trademarks, trade names or service marks to imply, and such use or display should not be construed to imply, a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, these other parties.

MARKET AND INDUSTRY DATA

Unless otherwise indicated, information contained in this prospectus concerning our industry, competitive position and the markets in which we operate is based on information from independent industry and research organizations, other third-party sources and management estimates. Management estimates are derived from publicly available information released by independent industry analysts, such as The Nilson Report, the “Global payments 2018: A dynamic industry continues to break new ground” report by McKinsey & Company, or McKinsey, and other third-party sources, as well as data from our internal research, and are based on assumptions made by us upon reviewing such data, and our experience in, and knowledge of, such industry and markets, which we believe to be reasonable. In addition, projections, assumptions and estimates of the future performance of the industry in which we operate and our future performance are necessarily subject to uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors, including those described in “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.” These and other factors could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the estimates made by the independent parties and by us.

This prospectus also contains information regarding feedback that originated from our customers, including those described in “Business—Customer Success Stories.” This information is based upon feedback collected by us. We encourage our customers to describe their experiences with our services. We also survey our customers from time to time regarding their experiences with us. In response to positive feedback received, we contacted certain of these customers to request their consent to use their story in this prospectus and, in some cases, requested further detail about their positive experience.

 

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LETTER FROM JARED ISAACMAN, OUR FOUNDER

Shift4 Payments is an incredible story of vision, innovation and disciplined execution. As the founder and CEO, I want to share some of our history and why this is such a special business.

I founded what was to become Shift4 Payments when I was 16 years old, in my parents’ basement. I was drawn to what was, at the time, an emerging sector filled with odd and unnecessary inefficiencies and therefore opportunities. There were a lot of fundamental problems with how the merchant services industry was operating. The challenges I observed included mismanaged and misaligned distribution, cumbersome onboarding and a slew of operational inefficiencies. I believed there was a better way.

Our organizational determination to differentiate and grow through problem solving did not stop in the basement. We have built a successful company by pivoting in advance of industry trends, innovating technology solutions and empowering our distribution partners with a compelling value proposition. In fact, one of the few things that has changed over the years is the scale of the problems we solve… and the size of the merchants we solve them for.

Shift4 has pioneered several distinct and successful integrated payment strategies, long before competitors, analysts and even investors were talking about integrated payments. For decades now, we have monetized payments through software we have built, software assets we have acquired and through hundreds of software companies we have partnered with.

Our seat at the table begins with an in-house platform delivering proprietary technical capabilities. These capabilities give us a privileged position within the payments value chain. In fact, many of the largest payments processors in the country rely on Shift4 to handle their hospitality customers.

Leveraging the moat our platform affords, we further differentiate by obsessively solving merchant and partner pain points with innovative proprietary solutions like our Point-of-Sale software, business intelligence cloud, mobile pay-at-table (Skytab) products and a laser focus on operational capabilities that most competitors prefer to outsource. This allows us to deliver a single vendor solution to complex merchant environments. Eliminating multiple vendors and outsourced providers in turn eliminates cost and complexity and increases merchant satisfaction. This is why 7,000+ software partners and 200,000+ merchants have adopted the Shift4 model.

I constantly reflect on our history, not just because it’s a cool story, but also because I obsess over past decisions looking for opportunities to improve. It is amazing to look back at the types of customers we served in our earliest days — they were all small businesses and many are still loyal customers nearly two decades later. Today, we have hundreds of thousands of merchants that depend on our technology, which span from those same small businesses to some of the most recognizable brands like Mandarin Oriental, Caesars, Pebble Beach and many more. We didn’t win these great customer relationships by accident or by fighting over the last fraction of a penny. Shift4 wins because our “true north” is to seek out complexity and simplify it.

As I write this letter, I would be remiss if I didn’t reflect a bit on the extraordinary circumstances facing the world as the COVID-19 crisis paralyzes so many aspects of our society. I have navigated Shift4 through various economic climates after the “dot com” bubble, the tragedy of 9/11 and the Great Recession, but nothing before has had such a profound impact on commerce like the crisis we have all been enduring. It is during chaotic times like this that I am most proud of our company.

We have used the past two months to focus our resources around a number of initiatives to ensure employee safety, financial stability, industry stewardship and product innovation. You can find a detailed list of these on page 7 of this prospectus. These actions, while necessary in a time of crisis, also instill lasting values on our culture and strengthen our relationships with our customers.

Despite the heartache this pandemic has caused across the world, we have plenty of reasons to be optimistic. Our transaction data suggests the worst financial impact to our customers appears to have passed in late March 2020. As of the week beginning May 24, 2020 we have seen payment volumes rebound more than 116% from their March lows, and we believe those trends will continue to improve.

 

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The world will emerge from this crisis and, while many of us are excited to return to our social routines, some things will undoubtedly be different. As always, Shift4 Payments will be there to help solve those new and complex problems. That may include new methods for takeout and tableside ordering, as well as innovations with contactless payments. What I know won’t change is the American consumer’s desire to go out to dinner and socialize with friends and family, to enjoy a drink after work at the local pub and to travel and discover new experiences.

I have had the privilege throughout my career of observing many great companies through both the lens of an operator and investor. In that time, I have tried to distill all of the details into a simple list of what really drives success – and I use these criteria before making any investment decision.

Here is what you can expect from Shift4:

 

  1.

Our Strategy: We have a winning strategy and intend to keep the company focused on leveraging our distinct advantages and executing for the benefit of our customers, partners, employees and stockholders. If, for whatever reason, the puck changes direction, there is a good chance Shift4 will already be there and waiting for it.

 

  2.

Our Discipline: Shift4 will be disciplined and efficient allocators of capital. We have a track record of generating strong unit economics, investing in growth-accelerating innovation and acquiring and unlocking value in high-potential assets.

 

  3.

Our Focus: Shift4 will have my complete attention. Over the years, I have built and sold several successful businesses while still serving as CEO of Shift4 Payments. Despite those outside interests, I have overseen consistent year-over-year revenue growth. In consideration of this IPO and the road ahead, I have reduced my equity interest and resigned my officer responsibilities in all outside ventures so that I can devote substantially all of my time, focus and energy to Shift4.

 

  4.

Our Team: I am fortunate to have an extraordinary leadership team. I honestly can’t brag about them enough and I am passionate about ensuring that management is completely aligned with stockholders. It is my goal that, through reasonable and properly aligned compensation, every layer of management comes to work each day thinking and making decisions like an owner.

 

  5.

Our Alignment: I intend to ensure that all aspects of governance are informed by a thorough diversity of views and our independent directors. This includes my own compensation. My base salary going forward will be consistent with a typical entry-level manager and other compensation will be entirely at the discretion of our board’s compensation committee, of which I will not be a member. In this regard, it is my expectation that the financial successes from operating Shift4 as a public company will come to me much in the same way as they always have over the past 20 years: as a stockholder in the business.

I have spent more than half of my life building Shift4 Payments. I have always felt fortunate to be in a position to run the company through some of the most amazing and, as of late, some of the most unexpected and demanding times. Honestly, there is never a bad day coming to work as CEO of such an amazing company and our brightest days are clearly ahead. I can state wholeheartedly there is no shortage of opportunity as commerce-enabling software and payments continue their journey of convergence, and there is no better organization to accelerate that trend than Shift4 Payments.

We are honored to welcome you to our family.

Jared Isaacman

Founder and Chief Executive Officer

 

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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This summary highlights selected information included elsewhere in this prospectus. This summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider before deciding to invest in our Class A common stock. You should read the entire prospectus carefully, including the “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus, before making an investment decision. Some of the statements in this prospectus constitute forward-looking statements. See “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

Overview

We are a leading independent provider of integrated payment processing and technology solutions in the United States based on total volume of payments processed. We have achieved our leadership position through decades of solving complex business and operational challenges facing our customers: software partners and merchants. For our software partners, we offer a single integration to an end-to-end payments offering, a proprietary gateway and a robust suite of technology solutions to enhance the value of their software and simplify payment acceptance. For our merchants, we provide a seamless, unified consumer experience as an alternative to relying on multiple providers to accept payments and utilize technology in their businesses.

Merchants are increasingly adopting disparate software solutions to operate their businesses more effectively. The complexity of integrating a seamless payment solution across these software suites has grown exponentially. For example, a restaurant in the United States may use over a dozen disparate software systems to operate its business, manage interactions with its customers and accept payments. A large resort may operate an even greater number of software systems to enable online reservations, check-ins, restaurants, salon and spa, golf, parking and more. The scale and complexity of managing these software systems that are sourced from different providers while seamlessly accepting payments is challenging for merchants of any size.

Software partners are increasingly required to ensure that their solutions are integrated with a variety of applications to service merchants. For example, any software partner seeking to be adopted in a resort, such as an online reservation system or restaurant point-of-sale, or POS, must be able to integrate into that resort’s property management systems. These software integrations need to enable secure payment acceptance and also support additional services to manage the guest’s experience. Facilitating these integrations is both costly and time-consuming for software partners.

We integrate disparate software systems through a single point of connectivity. By partnering with us, every software provider receives the benefit of both a state-of-the-art payments platform and our library of over 350 established integrations with market-leading software suites. In turn, our merchants are able to simplify payment acceptance and streamline their business operations by reducing the number of vendors on which they rely.

At the heart of our business is our payments platform. Our payments platform is a full suite of integrated payment products and services that can be used across multiple channels (in-store, online, mobile and tablet-based). We also offer innovative technology solutions that go beyond payment processing—some of which are developed in-house, such as business intelligence and POS software, while others are powered by our network of complementary third-party applications.

We employ a partner-centric distribution approach in which we market and sell our solutions through a diversified network of over 7,000 software partners, which consist of independent software vendors, or ISVs, and value-added resellers, or VARs. ISVs are technology providers that develop commerce-enabling software suites with which they can bundle our payments platform. VARs are organizations that provide distribution support for ISVs and act as trusted and localized service providers to merchants by providing them with



 

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software and services. Together, our ISVs and VARs provide us immense distribution scale and provide our merchants with front-line service and support.

Our end-to-end payments offering combines our payments platform, including our proprietary gateway and breadth of software integrations, and our suite of technology solutions to create a compelling value proposition for our merchants. As of December 31, 2019, we served over 64,000 merchants who subscribe to our end-to-end payments offering, representing over $22.0 billion in end-to-end payment volume for the year ended December 31, 2019. As of March 31, 2020, we served over 66,000 merchants who subscribe to our end-to-end payments offering, representing over $6.0 billion in end-to-end payment volume for the three months ended March 31, 2020. This end-to-end payment volume contributed approximately 57% and 56% of net revenue for the year ended December 31, 2019 and the three months ended March 31, 2020, respectively. Additionally, in 2019 we served over 66,000 merchants representing over $185.0 billion in payment volume that relied on Shift4’s gateway or technology solutions but did not utilize our end-to-end payments offering.

Our merchants range from small-to-medium-sized businesses, or SMBs, to large enterprises across numerous verticals in which we have deep industry expertise, including food and beverage, lodging and leisure (which we collectively refer to as hospitality). In addition, our merchant base is highly diversified with no single merchant representing more than 1% of end-to-end payment volume for the year ended December 31, 2019 or the three months ended March 31, 2020.

We derive the majority of our revenue from fees paid by our merchants, which principally include a processing fee that is charged as a percentage of end-to-end payment volume. In cases where merchants subscribe only to our gateway, we generate revenue from transaction fees charged in the form of a fixed fee per transaction. We also generate subscription revenue from licensing subscriptions to our POS software, business intelligence tools, payment device management and other technology solutions, for which we typically charge flat subscription fees on a monthly basis. Our revenue is recurring in nature because of the mission-critical and embedded nature of the solutions we provide, the high switching costs associated with these solutions and the multi-year contracts we have with our customers. We also benefit from a high degree of operating leverage given the combination of our highly scalable payments platform and strong customer unit economics.

Our total revenue increased to $731.4 million for fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 from $560.6 million for fiscal year ended December 31, 2018. We generated net loss of $58.1 million for fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 and net loss of $49.9 million for fiscal year ended December 31, 2018. Our net revenue increased to $305.5 million for fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 from $252.7 million for fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, representing year-over-year growth of 20.9%. Our adjusted EBITDA increased to $103.8 million for fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 from $89.9 million for fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, representing year-over-year growth of 15.5%. The percentage of our total net revenue derived from volume-based payments, subscription agreements and transaction fees was 56.7%, 26.5% and 14.6% for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, respectively, and 56.2%, 26.9% and 14.0% for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, respectively. See “—Summary Historical and Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial and Other Data” for a reconciliation of our non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.

Our Shift4 Model

Our mission is to power the convergence of integrated payments and commerce-enabling software. Solving the complexity inherent to our software partners and merchants requires a specialized approach that combines a seamless customer experience with a secure, reliable and robust suite of payments and technology offerings.



 

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LOGO

To achieve this mission, we strategically built our Shift4 Model on a three pillar foundation: (i) payments platform; (ii) technology solutions; and (iii) partner-centric distribution.

 

LOGO

Payments Platform

Our payments platform provides omni-channel card acceptance and processing solutions, including:

 

   

end-to-end payment processing for a broad range of payment types;

 

   

merchant acquiring;

 

   

proprietary omni-channel gateway;

 

   

complementary software integrations;

 

   

integrated and mobile POS solutions;

 

   

security and risk management solutions; and

 

   

reporting and analytical tools.

For the year ended December 31, 2019, we processed over 3.5 billion transactions representing over $200.0 billion in payment volume across multiple payment types, including credit, debit, contactless card, EMV, mobile



 

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wallets and alternative payment methods. We continue to innovate and evolve our payments offering as new technology and payment methods are adopted by consumers.

Through our proprietary gateway, our payments platform is integrated with over 350 software suites including some of the largest and most recognized software providers in the world. In addition, we enable connectivity with the largest payment processors, alternative payment rails and over 100 payment devices. Our payments platform includes market-leading security features that help prevent consumer card data from entering the merchant’s environment.

Our merchants have the flexibility to subscribe to our payments platform in one of two ways: end-to-end payments or gateway. End-to-end payments merchants benefit from a single vendor solution for payment acceptance (including our proprietary gateway), devices, POS software solutions and a full suite of business intelligence tools. By consolidating these functions through a single, unified vendor solution, these merchants are able to reduce total spend on payment acceptance solutions and access gateway and technology solutions as value-added features. Gateway merchants benefit from interoperability with third-party payment processors. The flexibility in our model helps us attract software partners and merchants.

Technology Solutions

Our suite of technology solutions is designed to streamline our customers’ business operations, drive growth through strong consumer engagement and improve their business using rich transaction-level data.

 

   

Lighthouse 5 – Our cloud-based suite of business intelligence tools includes customer engagement, social media management, online reputation management, scheduling and product pricing, as well as extensive reporting and analytics.

 

   

Integrated Point-of-Sale (iPOS) – We provide purpose-built POS workstations pre-loaded with powerful, mission-critical software suites and integrated payment functionality. Our iPOS offering helps our merchants scale their business and improve operational efficiency while reducing total cost of ownership.

 

   

Mobile POS – Our mobile payments offering, Skytab, provides a complete feature set, including pay-at-the-table, order-at-the-table, delivery, customer feedback and email marketing, all of which are integrated with our proprietary gateway and Lighthouse 5.

 

   

Marketplace – We enable seamless integrations into complementary third-party applications (such as online delivery services, payroll, timekeeping and other human resource services), reducing the number of vendors on which our merchants rely.

Partner-Centric Distribution

Our payments platform and technology solutions are delivered to our merchants through our partner-centric distribution network. Today, our network includes over 7,000 software partners, providing full coverage across the United States.

Our partner-centric distribution approach is designed to leverage the domain expertise and local relationships that our software partners have built with our merchants over years of doing business together. Our software partners are entrusted by merchants to guide software purchasing decisions and provide service and support. In turn, our software partners entrust us to provide innovative payment and technology solutions to help them continue to grow.



 

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Our Key Differentiators

We believe that our Shift4 Model provides us with a competitive advantage and differentiated position in the market.

 

   

We are a pioneer in delivering innovative solutions. Since our founding, we have been at the forefront of developing and deploying new and innovative payments and technology solutions that are tailored to meet the demands of our customers as their business needs evolve, such as Skytab, Integrated POS, Tokenization and PCI-validated point-to-point encryption, or P2PE.

 

   

We have developed deep domain expertise and built specialized capabilities in the hospitality market. We believe that we have established a meaningful first-mover advantage in integrated payments and technology solutions for the hospitality market. With over 30 years of operating experience in the hospitality market, we have developed solutions that meet various use-cases in the hospitality industry. As a result, over 21,000 hotels and 125,000 restaurants in the United States use at least one of our products.

 

   

We maintain a privileged position as the last integration our software partners will ever need. We have over 350 integrations to market-leading software providers and we are integrated into a majority share of hotel property management systems in the United States. As a result, we simplify the operational complexity that our merchants face.

 

   

We control and integrate the most important parts of the payments value chain into a single point of access. We offer end-to-end processing, merchant acquiring, gateway, software integrations, POS solutions, security, reporting and analytical tools, enabling us to eliminate customer pain points around payment processing and device management. Integrating our payments platform into our software partners’ solutions enables them to deliver a comprehensive solution to their customers, with a single source of accountability and service.

 

   

We have a vision-driven, founder-led culture. Since our founding, we have focused on building an entrepreneurial and innovative culture that is deeply rooted in our philosophy of aligning our success with that of our software partners and merchants. Our founder-led team is able to draw on decades of experience in payments and software, which we believe is a key driver of our ability to innovate and disrupt our markets.

Our Growth Strategy

Our growth strategy will continue to be driven by our ability to leverage our Shift4 Model to solve the most complex business challenges facing our customers. The key elements of this strategy include:

 

   

Continue to win new customers. We plan to continue enhancing our value proposition to empower our existing software partners to win new merchants. We also intend to expand our network of software partners across a variety of industry verticals in order to target new merchants.

 

   

Unlock substantial opportunity within existing merchant base. Significant upsell and cross-sell opportunities exist within our current base of merchants. We intend to drive adoption of our integrated end-to-end payments offering within our gateway merchant base, which increases our revenue per merchant and enhances merchant retention, resulting in stronger unit economics. In 2019, the average integrated end-to-end merchant, or an end-to-end merchant who also utilizes our software, accounted for more than four times the gross profit than the average gateway merchant.

 

   

Continue enhancing our product portfolio with differentiated solutions. As merchants embrace simplicity and consolidate vendor relationships, we will continue to add new value-added features and functionality. This enables our merchants to deliver a higher quality experience to their consumers and increase their transaction volumes, benefitting both us and our merchants.



 

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Leverage domain expertise in hospitality market to expand into adjacent verticals. Our access to leading hospitality businesses and industry thought leaders affords us an advantaged position of identifying emerging trends in adjacent areas and verticals that could result in attractive investment opportunities, such as specialty retail.

 

   

Leverage our relationships with global merchants to expand internationally. Our Shift4 Model serves a host of multinational hospitality brands that currently utilize our tokenization and POS software solutions internationally. We also have the opportunity to follow our customers as they expand into new geographic markets.

 

   

Monetize the robust data we capture through our Shift4 Model. We believe we have an opportunity to leverage data from the billions of transactions we process to develop unique insights that help identify trends in consumer behavior, as well as consumer and merchant preferences. We believe monetization of this data could represent a larger component of our business in the future.

 

   

Pursue strategic acquisitions. We may selectively pursue acquisitions to improve our competitive positioning within existing and new verticals, expand our customer base and enhance our software and technology capabilities.

Our Market and Trends Impacting the Industry

The convergence of payments and software is transforming global commerce. Our software partners and merchants are seeking a bundled integrated payment and software solution to introduce operating efficiencies and enhance consumer experiences. The market opportunity is large and growing. According to the January 2019 issue of The Nilson Report, purchase volume on cards in the United States is expected to reach $10.4 trillion by 2027 from $5.5 trillion in 2017, representing a compound annual growth rate, or CAGR, of approximately 7%. We leverage our Shift4 Model to capture a larger share of this market opportunity and to capitalize on the following trends defining our markets:

Trends Impacting Merchants

 

   

Merchants must leverage the power of software to compete

 

   

Merchants are increasingly adopting multiple software suites

 

   

Increasing complexity of payments and the proliferation of frictionless and omni-channel commerce

 

   

Card-present verticals increasingly capture unique business insights

Trends Impacting ISVs

 

   

ISVs are integrating payments into their business models to remain competitive

 

   

ISVs struggle to integrate their software suites with the growing universe of third-party software applications

Searchlight Capital

Searchlight is a global private investment firm with over $7 billion in assets under management and offices in New York, London and Toronto. The firm manages capital through varied investment funds and special purpose partnerships. For additional information regarding Searchlight’s ownership in us after this offering, see “—Summary of the Transactions” and “Principal Stockholders.”



 

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Recent Developments

COVID-19

The global crisis resulting from the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, pandemic has had a material impact on our business. While it is not possible to estimate the duration or negative financial impact that the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to have on our business, we expect our future financial results to be materially adversely impacted. To date, the shelter-in-place orders, promotion of social distancing measures, restrictions to businesses deemed non-essential and travel restrictions implemented throughout the United States have materially impacted the restaurant and hospitality industries—verticals upon which we predominantly have focused on over the last decade. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of our hospitality merchants have experienced an 80% or greater decline in transaction volumes from pre-COVID-19 levels and many of our restaurant merchants are limited to take-out or delivery business only. As a result, we have experienced a significant decrease in payments volumes, which we expect to continue for the foreseeable future.

In response to these developments, we have implemented measures to focus on the safety of our employees and support our merchants as they shift to take-out and delivery operations, while at the same time seeking to mitigate the impact on our financial position and operations. We have implemented remote working capabilities for our entire organization and to date, there has been minimal disruption to our operations. We have also implemented new programs to help ease the burden for our merchants, encourage customers to support their local bars and restaurants and incentivize new merchants to enroll in our end-to-end payment platform. Specifically, we have:

 

   

established www.shift4.com/situation in an effort to share data to educate political leaders and advocacy groups as to where aid needs to be prioritized;

 

   

released a gift card funding campaign to encourage consumers to support their favorite bars/restaurants by purchasing a gift card through our Shift4Cares.com website; and

 

   

implemented temporary fee waivers on certain products that are not expected to have a material impact on financial performance.

We have engaged in aggressive efforts to reduce expenses and ensure we have sufficient liquidity to operate our business during this time and maintain compliance with our credit facilities. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, we have:

 

   

drawn the remaining $64.5 million available under our revolving credit facility in March 2020;

 

   

furloughed approximately 25% of our employees;

 

   

accelerated approximately $30 million of annual expense reduction plans related to prior acquisitions, including the Merchant Link Acquisition;

 

   

re-prioritized our capital projects to defer certain non-essential improvements;

 

   

instituted a company-wide hiring freeze; and

 

   

reduced salaries for management across the organization.

We do not believe these strategies will impact the services provided to our merchants or our current business operations.

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unable to accurately predict the ultimate impact that COVID-19 will have on our operations going forward due to a number of factors, including:

 

   

uncertainties which will be dictated by the length of time that COVID-19 related disruptions continue and the severity of such disruptions;

 

   

the potential for additional outbreaks as government restrictions are relaxed and any further shelter-in-place or other government restrictions imposed as a result;

 

   

the impact of existing and future governmental regulations that might be imposed in response to the pandemic;

 

   

potential interruptions or impacts to our supply chain;

 

   

potential changes in consumer behavior, including the use of hotels, bars and restaurants; and

 

   

the deterioration in the economic conditions in the United States, which could have a significant impact on spending.

In an effort to adapt to our merchants’ rapidly changing needs in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we recently released Skytab Solo, which allows existing Skytab users to re-purpose the product from an order- and pay-at-the-table device into a completely untethered payment terminal for curbside pickup or delivery that is not dependent on existing POS software. Skytab adoption rates have grown by more than 218% from the week beginning March 1, 2020 through the week beginning May 24, 2020.

We also expanded our online ordering capabilities to include a self-service store where merchants of any industry type can quickly accept online orders, even without existing software integrations. These products have helped many of our merchants, who traditionally process credit cards on-site, migrate their business to card-not-present during the crisis. Card-not-present transactions represented over 40% of our transaction volume in April 2020, a significant increase from prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. We will continue to explore new product offerings and modifications to our existing products to serve our merchants’ rapidly changing needs.

From mid-March, when shelter-in-place, social distancing, the closing of non-essential businesses and other restrictive measures were first put in place across the United States, we have begun to observe a steady increase in gateway transactions. Shown below is our weekly gateway transaction count from the week beginning February 2, 2020 through the week beginning May 24, 2020:

 

LOGO

While end-to-end payment volumes have been similarly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, such volumes are beginning to increase as businesses re-open their operations. From the week beginning March 22, 2020 through the week beginning May 24, 2020, end-to-end payment volumes have grown approximately 116%.



 

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Even as our merchants, particularly in the hospitality and restaurant industries, re-open their operations, we cannot accurately predict the ongoing impact of government regulations and changing consumer behavior on our business. While we have not seen a meaningful degradation in new merchant sign-ups or an increase in existing merchant attrition as a result of COVID-19, it is possible that those business trends change if economic hardship across the country forces merchant closures. As such, we cannot currently predict the ultimate impact of COVID-19 on our results of operations for the three months ending June 30, 2020 or the year ending December 31, 2020, though we expect to see material adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business well beyond March 31, 2020. As of May 25, 2020, we had a total cash balance of $59.1 million.

Concurrent Private Placement

On May 31, 2020, we entered into a purchase agreement with Rook, pursuant to which Rook agreed to purchase, subject to certain conditions, up to $100.0 million of our Class C common stock in a private placement concurrent with, and subject to, the completion of this offering, at a purchase price per share equal to the initial public offering price per share at which our Class A common stock is sold to the public in this offering less underwriting discounts and commissions. The sale of such shares will not be registered under the Act. The closing of this offering is not conditioned upon the closing of the concurrent private placement. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Rook Holdings, Inc. Purchase Agreement” for additional information.

In addition, the lock-up agreement Rook has entered into with the underwriters in connection with this transaction will prohibit the sale of any shares of Class C common stock (or any shares of Class A common stock such shares convert into) Rook purchases in the concurrent private placement for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus, subject to certain exceptions. See “Shares Eligible for Future Sale—Lock-Up Agreements.”

Summary Risk Factors

Participating in this offering involves substantial risk. Our ability to execute our strategy is also subject to certain risks. The risks described under the heading “Risk Factors” included elsewhere in this prospectus may cause us not to realize the full benefits of our strengths or may cause us to be unable to successfully execute all or part of our strategy. Some of the most significant challenges and risks we face include the following:

 

   

the recent novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, global pandemic has had and is expected to continue to have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations;

 

   

substantial and increasingly intense competition worldwide in the financial services, payments and payment technology industries may adversely affect our overall business and operations;

 

   

potential changes in the competitive landscape, including disintermediation from other participants in the payments chain, could harm our business;

 

   

our ability to anticipate and respond to changing industry trends and the needs and preferences of our merchants and consumers may adversely affect our competitiveness or the demand for our products and services;

 

   

because we rely on third-party vendors to provide products and services, we could be adversely impacted if they fail to fulfill their obligations;

 

   

acquisitions create certain risks and may adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations;

 

   

we may not be able to continue to expand our share of the existing payment processing markets or expand into new markets which would inhibit our ability to grow and increase our profitability; and

 

   

our Founder and Searchlight will continue to have significant influence over us after this offering, including control over decisions that require the approval of stockholders.



 

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Before you invest in our Class A common stock, you should carefully consider all the information in this prospectus, including matters set forth under the heading “Risk Factors.”

Summary of the Transactions

Shift4 Payments, Inc., a Delaware corporation, was formed on November 5, 2019 and is the issuer of the Class A common stock offered by this prospectus. Prior to this offering, all of our business operations have been conducted through Shift4 Payments, LLC and its subsidiaries. We will consummate the following organizational transactions in connection with this offering:

 

   

we will amend and restate the existing limited liability company agreement of Shift4 Payments, LLC to, among other things, (1) convert all existing ownership interests in Shift4 Payments, LLC (including redeemable preferred units) into 38,373,190 LLC Interests and (2) appoint Shift4 Payments, Inc. as the sole managing member of Shift4 Payments, LLC upon its acquisition of LLC Interests in connection with this offering;

 

   

we will amend and restate Shift4 Payments, Inc.’s certificate of incorporation to, among other things, provide (1) for Class A common stock, with each share of our Class A common stock entitling its holder to one vote per share on all matters presented to our stockholders generally, (2) for Class B common stock, with each share of our Class B common stock entitling its holder to ten votes per share on all matters presented to our stockholders generally, and that shares of our Class B common stock may only be held by Searchlight, our Founder and their respective permitted transferees as described in “Description of Capital Stock—Common Stock—Class B Common Stock and (3) for Class C common stock, with each share of our Class C common stock entitling its holder to ten votes per share on all matters presented to our stockholders generally, and that shares of our Class C common stock may only be held by Searchlight, our Founder, Rook and their respective permitted transferees as described in “Description of Capital Stock—Common Stock—Class C Common Stock;”

 

   

the Former Equity Owner will exchange its LLC Interests for 514,517 shares of Class A common stock on a one-to-one basis;

 

   

we will issue 15,000,000 shares of our Class A common stock to the purchasers in this offering (or 17,250,000 shares if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) in exchange for net proceeds of approximately $273.0 million (or approximately $315.3 million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) based upon an assumed initial public offering price of $20.00 per share (which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus);

 

   

we will acquire, pursuant to the Blocker Mergers, the LLC Interests held by the Blocker Shareholders, affiliates of Searchlight, in exchange for shares of Class B common stock and Class C common stock;

 

   

we will sell up to $100.0 million in Class C common stock to Rook in the concurrent private placement;

 

   

we will grant 5,122,375 RSUs to the RSU Holders in connection with this offering;

 

   

we will purchase 976,545 LLC Interests from Shift4 Payments, LLC in exchange for 976,545 shares of Class A common stock to be issued to P&W Enterprises, Inc., as satisfaction of Shift4 Payments, LLC’s existing obligation to P&W Enterprises, Inc.;

 

   

we will use all of the net proceeds from this offering to purchase 15,000,000 newly issued LLC Interests (or 17,250,000 LLC Interests if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) directly from Shift4 Payments, LLC at a price per unit equal to the initial public offering price per share of Class A common stock in this offering less the underwriting discounts and commissions;



 

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we will use all of the net proceeds from the concurrent private placement to purchase 5,319,148 newly issued LLC Interests directly from Shift4 Payments, LLC at a price per unit equal to the initial public offering price per share of Class A common stock in this offering less the underwriting discounts and commissions;

 

   

Shift4 Payments, LLC intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of LLC Interests to Shift4 Payments, Inc. to repay certain existing indebtedness and, if any remain, for general corporate purposes as described under “Use of Proceeds;” and

 

   

we will enter into (1) a stockholders agreement, which we refer to as the Stockholders Agreement, with Searchlight and our Founder, (2) a registration rights agreement, which we refer to as the Registration Rights Agreement, with Searchlight and our Founder and (3) a tax receivable agreement, which we refer to as the Tax Receivable Agreement, or TRA, with Shift4 Payments, LLC, the Continuing Equity Owners and the Blocker Shareholders. For a description of the terms of the Stockholders Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Tax Receivable Agreement, see “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.”

We collectively refer to the foregoing organizational transactions and this offering as the Transactions.

Immediately following the consummation of the Transactions (including this offering and the concurrent private placement):

 

   

Shift4 Payments, Inc. will be a holding company and its principal asset will consist of LLC Interests it purchases from Shift4 Payments, LLC and LLC Interests it acquires from the Former Equity Owner;

 

   

Shift4 Payments, Inc. will be the sole managing member of Shift4 Payments, LLC and will control the business and affairs of Shift4 Payments, LLC and its subsidiaries;

 

   

Shift4 Payments, Inc. will own, directly or indirectly, 42,045,958 LLC Interests of Shift4 Payments, LLC, representing approximately 52.3% of the economic interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC (or 44,295,958 LLC Interests, representing approximately 53.6% of the economic interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock);

 

   

the Continuing Equity Owners will own 38,373,190 LLC Interests of Shift4 Payments, LLC, representing approximately 47.7% of the economic interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC (or 38,373,190 LLC Interests, representing approximately 46.4% of the economic interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) and 38,373,190 shares of Class B common stock of Shift4 Payments, Inc., representing approximately 63.0% of the voting interest in Shift4 Payments, Inc. (or 38,373,190 shares of Class B common stock of Shift4 Payments, Inc., representing approximately 62.7% of the voting interest in Shift4 Payments, Inc. if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock);

 

   

the purchasers in this offering will own (1) 15,000,000 shares of Class A common stock of Shift4 Payments, Inc. (or 17,250,000 shares of Class A common stock of Shift4 Payments, Inc. if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock), representing approximately 2.5% of the combined voting power of all of Shift4 Payments, Inc.’s common stock and approximately 35.7% of the economic interest in Shift4 Payments, Inc. (or approximately 2.8% of the combined voting power and approximately 38.9% of the economic interest if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock), and (2) through Shift4 Payments, Inc.’s ownership of LLC Interests, indirectly will hold approximately 18.7% of the economic interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC (or approximately 20.9% of the economic interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock);



 

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Rook and Searchlight will own 20,432,521 shares of Class C common stock of Shift4 Payments, Inc, representing (i) approximately 48.6% of the economic interest in Shift4 Payments, Inc. (or approximately 46.1% of the economic interest in Shift4 Payments, Inc. if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) and (ii) approximately 33.5% of the voting interest in Shift4 Payments, Inc. (or approximately 33.3% of the voting interest in Shift4 Payments, Inc. if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock); and

 

   

as the sole managing member of Shift4 Payments, LLC, we will operate and control all of the business and affairs of Shift4 Payments, LLC and, through Shift4 Payments, LLC and its subsidiaries, conduct the business. Following the Transactions, including this offering and the concurrent private placement, Shift4 Payments, Inc. will have the majority economic interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC, and will control the management of Shift4 Payments, LLC as the sole managing member. As a result, Shift4 Payments, Inc. will consolidate Shift4 Payments, LLC and record a significant noncontrolling interest in consolidated entity for the economic interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC held by the Continuing Equity Owners.

Unless otherwise indicated, this prospectus assumes the shares of Class A common stock are offered at $20.00 per share (the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus). The indirect economic interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC represented by the shares of Class A common stock sold in this offering will be unaffected by the initial public offering price.

For more information regarding the Transactions and our structure, see “Our Organizational Structure.”



 

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Ownership Structure

The diagram below depicts our organizational structure after giving effect to the Transactions, including this offering, assuming no exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock, and the concurrent private placement.

 

 

LOGO

 

(1)

Investors in this offering will hold approximately 2.5% of the voting interest.

 

(2)

Jared Isaacman will hold his LLC interests in Shift4 Payments, LLC and his Class B common stock and Class C common stock of Shift4 Payments, Inc. through a wholly owned corporation, Rook Holdings, Inc., for which he is the sole stockholder.

 

(3)

Assumes vesting of all RSUs granted in connection with this offering.

Our Corporate Information

Shift4 Payments, Inc., the issuer of the Class A common stock in this offering, was incorporated as a Delaware corporation on November 5, 2019. Our corporate headquarters are located at 2202 N. Irving St., Allentown, PA 18109. Our telephone number is (888) 276-2108. Our principal website address is www.shift4.com. The information on any of our websites is deemed not to be incorporated in this prospectus or to be part of this prospectus.



 

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After giving effect to the Transactions, including this offering, Shift4 Payments, Inc. will be a holding company whose principal asset will consist of 52.3% of the outstanding LLC Interests of Shift4 Payments, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (or 53.6% if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of our Class A common stock).

Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company

We qualify as an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act. An emerging growth company may take advantage of certain reduced reporting and other requirements that are otherwise generally applicable to public companies. As a result:

 

   

we are required to have only two years of audited financial statements and only two years of related selected financial data and management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations disclosure;

 

   

we are not required to engage an auditor to report on our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act;

 

   

we are not required to comply with the requirement of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or PCAOB, regarding the communication of critical audit matters in the auditor’s report on the financial statements;

 

   

we are not required to submit certain executive compensation matters to stockholder advisory votes, such as “say-on-pay,” “say-on-frequency” and “say-on-golden parachutes;” and

 

   

we are not required to comply with certain disclosure requirements related to executive compensation, such as the requirement to present a comparison of our Chief Executive Officer’s compensation to our median employee compensation.

We may take advantage of these reduced reporting and other requirements until the last day of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering, or such earlier time that we are no longer an emerging growth company. However, if certain events occur prior to the end of such period, including if we have more than $1.07 billion in annual revenue, have more than $700 million in market value of our Class A common stock held by non-affiliates, or issue more than $1.0 billion of non-convertible debt over a three-year period, we will cease to be an emerging growth company prior to the end of such period. We may choose to take advantage of some but not all of these reduced burdens. We have elected to adopt the reduced requirements with respect to our financial statements and the related selected financial data and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” disclosure, including in this prospectus.

In addition, the JOBS Act permits an emerging growth company like us to take advantage of an extended transition period to comply with new or revised accounting standards applicable to public companies. We have elected to use this extended transition period.

As a result, the information that we provide to stockholders may be different than the information you may receive from other public companies in which you hold equity.



 

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The Offering

 

Issuer

Shift4 Payments, Inc.

 

Shares of Class A common stock offered by us

15,000,000 shares (or 17,250,000 shares if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares).

 

Underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock from us

We have granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to 2,250,000 additional shares of Class A common stock from us within 30 days of the date of this prospectus.

 

Concurrent private placement

Rook has agreed to purchase up to $100.0 million of our Class C common stock in a private placement concurrent with, and subject to, the completion of this offering at a purchase price per share equal to the initial public offering price per share at which our Class A common stock is sold to the public in this offering less underwriting discounts and commissions. The sale of such shares will not be registered under the Act. The closing of this offering is not conditioned upon the closing of the concurrent private placement. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Rook Holdings, Inc. Purchase Agreement” for additional information.

Shares of Class A common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering

21,613,437 shares, representing approximately 3.5% of the combined voting power of all of Shift4 Payments, Inc.’s common stock (or 23,863,437 shares, representing approximately 3.9% of the combined voting power of all of Shift4 Payments, Inc.’s common stock if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock), 51.4% of the economic interest in Shift4 Payments, Inc. and 26.9% of the indirect economic interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC (or 53.9% of the economic interest in Shift4 Payments, Inc. and 28.9% of the indirect economic interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock).

 

Shares of Class B common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering

38,373,190 shares, representing approximately 63.0% of the combined voting power of all of Shift4 Payments, Inc.’s common stock (or 38,373,190 shares, representing approximately 62.7% of the combined voting power of all of Shift4 Payments, Inc.’s common stock if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) and no economic interest in Shift4 Payments, Inc.

 

Shares of Class C common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering and the concurrent private placement

20,432,521 shares, representing approximately 33.5% of the combined voting power of all of Shift4 Payments, Inc.’s common stock (or 20,432,521 shares, representing approximately 33.4% of the combined voting power of all of Shift4 Payments, Inc.’s common stock if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) and 48.6% of the economic interest in Shift4 Payments, Inc. and 25.4% of the indirect economic interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC (or 46.1% of the



 

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economic interest in Shift4 Payments, Inc. and 24.7% of the indirect economic interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock).

 

LLC Interests to be held by us immediately after this offering

42,045,958 LLC Interests, representing approximately 52.3% of the economic interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC (or 44,295,958 LLC Interests, representing approximately 53.6% of the economic interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock).

 

LLC Interests to be held by the Continuing Equity Owners immediately after this offering

38,373,190 LLC Interests, representing approximately 47.7% of the economic interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC (or 38,373,190 LLC Interests, representing approximately 46.4% of the economic interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock).

 

Ratio of shares of Class A common stock and Class C common stock to LLC Interests

The Shift4 Payments LLC Agreement will require that we and Shift4 Payments, LLC at all times maintain a one-to-one ratio between the aggregate number of shares of Class A common stock and Class C common stock issued by us and the number of LLC Interests owned by us. Immediately after this offering, Searchlight and our Founder will together own 100% of the outstanding shares of our Class C common stock.

 

Ratio of shares of Class B common stock to LLC Interests

The Shift4 Payments LLC Agreement will require that we and Shift4 Payments, LLC at all times maintain a one-to-one ratio between the number of shares of Class B common stock owned by Searchlight, our Founder and their respective permitted transferees and the number of LLC Interests owned by Searchlight, our Founder and their respective permitted transferees. Immediately after this offering, Searchlight and our Founder will together own 100% of the outstanding shares of our Class B common stock.

 

Permitted holders of shares of Class B common stock

Only Searchlight, our Founder (through Rook) and the permitted transferees of Class B common stock as described in this prospectus will be permitted to hold shares of our Class B common stock. Shares of Class B common stock are transferable to permitted transferees only together with an equal number of LLC Interests (subject to certain exceptions). See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Shift4 LLC Agreement—Agreement in Effect Upon Consummation of this Offering.”

 

Permitted holders of shares of Class C common stock

Only Searchlight, our Founder (through Rook) and the permitted transferees of Class C common stock as described in this prospectus will be permitted to hold shares of our Class C common stock. If any such shares are transferred to any other person, they automatically convert into shares of Class A common stock. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Shift4 LLC Agreement—Agreement in Effect Upon Consummation of this Offering.”


 

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Voting rights

Holders of shares of our Class A common stock, our Class B common stock and Class C common stock will vote together as a single class on all matters presented to stockholders for their vote or approval, except as otherwise required by law or our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Each share of our Class A common stock entitles its holders to one vote per share, each share of each of our Class B common stock entitles its holders to ten votes per share and each share of our Class C common stock entitles its holders to ten votes per share on all matters presented to our stockholders generally. See “Description of Capital Stock.”

 

Redemption rights of holders of LLC Interests

The Continuing Equity Owners may from time to time at each of their options require Shift4 Payments, LLC to redeem all or a portion of their LLC Interests (38,373,190 LLC Interests held by Continuing Equity Owners in the aggregate immediately after this offering (or 38,373,190 LLC Interests held by Continuing Equity Owners in the aggregate if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) in exchange for, at our election (determined solely by our independent directors (within the meaning of the rules of the NYSE) who are disinterested), newly-issued shares of our Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis or a cash payment equal to a volume weighted average market price of one share of our Class A common stock for each LLC Interest redeemed, in each case, in accordance with the terms of the Shift4 Payments LLC Agreement; provided that, at our election (determined solely by our independent directors (within the meaning of the rules of the NYSE) who are disinterested), we may effect a direct exchange by Shift4 Payments, Inc. of such Class A common stock or such cash, as applicable, for such LLC Interests. The Continuing Equity Owners may exercise such redemption right for as long as their LLC Interests remain outstanding. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Shift4 LLC Agreement—Agreement in Effect Upon Consummation of this Offering.” Simultaneously with the payment of cash or shares of Class A common stock, as applicable, in connection with a redemption or exchange of LLC Interests pursuant to the terms of the Shift4 Payments LLC Agreement, a number of shares of our Class B common stock registered in the name of the redeeming or exchanging Continuing Equity Owner will be cancelled for no consideration on a one-for-one basis with the number of LLC Interests so redeemed or exchanged.

 

Use of proceeds

We estimate, based upon an assumed initial public offering price of $20.00 per share (which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus), that we will receive net proceeds from this offering of approximately $273.0 million (or $315.3 million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock), after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions. In addition, we will receive gross proceeds of up to $100.0 million from the concurrent private placement. We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering and



 

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the concurrent private placement to purchase 20,319,148 LLC Interests (or 22,569,148 LLC Interests if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) directly from Shift4 Payments, LLC at a price per unit equal to the initial public offering price per share of Class A common stock in this offering less underwriting discounts and commissions. We cannot specify with certainty all of the uses of the net proceeds that we will receive from this offering. Accordingly, we will have broad discretion in the application of these proceeds. Shift4 Payments, LLC intends to use approximately $285.0 million of the net proceeds from the sale of LLC Interests to Shift4 Payments, Inc. to repay certain existing indebtedness and the remainder, if any, for general corporate purposes. Shift4 Payments, LLC will bear or reimburse Shift4 Payments, Inc. for all of the expenses of this offering. See “Use of Proceeds.”

 

Dividend policy

We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings to fund the development and growth of our business and to repay indebtedness, and therefore we do not anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends on our Class A common stock in the foreseeable future. Holders of our Class B common stock are not entitled to participate in any dividends declared by our board of directors. Additionally, our ability to pay any cash dividends on our Class A common stock is limited by restrictions on the ability of Shift4 Payments, LLC and our other subsidiaries to pay dividends or make distributions under the terms of our Credit Facilities. Additionally, because we are a holding company, our ability to pay cash dividends on our Class A common stock depends on our receipt of cash distributions from Shift4 Payments, LLC and, through Shift4 Payments, LLC, cash distributions and dividends from our other direct and indirect wholly owned subsidiaries. Any future determination as to the declaration and payment of dividends, if any, will be at the discretion of our board of directors, subject to compliance with contractual restrictions and covenants in the agreements governing our current and future indebtedness. Any such determination will also depend upon our business prospects, results of operations, financial condition, cash requirements and availability, industry trends and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant. See “Dividend Policy.”

 

Controlled company exception

After the consummation of this offering and the concurrent private placement, we will be considered a “controlled company” for the purposes of the NYSE rules as Searchlight and our Founder will have more than 50% of the voting power for the election of directors. See “Principal Stockholders.” As a “controlled company,” we will not be subject to certain corporate governance requirements, including that: (1) a majority of our board of directors consists of “independent directors,” as defined under the NYSE rules; (2) we have a nominating and corporate governance committee that is composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s



 

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purpose and responsibilities; (3) we have a compensation committee that is composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities; and (4) we perform annual performance evaluations of the nominating and corporate governance and compensation committees. As a result, we may not have a majority of independent directors on our board of directors, an entirely independent nominating and corporate governance committee, an entirely independent compensation committee or perform annual performance evaluations of the nominating and

  corporate governance and compensation committees unless and until such time as we are required to do so.

 

Tax receivable agreement

We will enter into a Tax Receivable Agreement with Shift4 Payments, LLC, the Continuing Equity Owners and the Blocker Shareholders that will provide for the payment by Shift4 Payments, Inc. to the Continuing Equity Owners and the Blocker Shareholders of 85% of the amount of tax benefits, if any, that Shift4 Payments, Inc. actually realizes (or in some circumstances is deemed to realize) as a result of (1) increases in tax basis resulting from Shift4 Payments, Inc.’s purchase of LLC Interests directly and future redemptions funded by Shift4 Payments, Inc. or exchanges (or deemed exchanges in certain circumstances) of LLC Interests for Class A common stock or cash as described above under “—Redemption rights of holders of LLC Interests,” (2) our utilization of certain tax attributes of the Blocker Companies and (3) certain additional tax benefits attributable to payments made under the Tax Receivable Agreement. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Tax Receivable Agreement” for a discussion of the Tax Receivable Agreement.

 

Registration rights agreement

Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, we will, subject to the terms and conditions thereof, agree to register the resale of the shares of our Class A common stock that are issuable to certain of the Continuing Equity Owners (including each of our executive officers) upon redemption or exchange of their LLC Interests and the shares of our Class A common stock that are issued to the Former Equity Owner in connection with the Transactions. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Registration Rights Agreement” for a discussion of the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Conflicts of Interest

Affiliates of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC will receive at least 5% of the net proceeds of this offering in connection with the repayment of borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility. See “Use of Proceeds.” Accordingly, this offering is being made in compliance with the requirements of Rule 5121 (“Rule 5121”) of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”). This rule requires, among other things, that a “qualified independent underwriter” has participated in the preparation of, and has exercised the usual standards of “due diligence” with respect to, the registration statement. Citigroup



 

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Global Markets Inc. has agreed to act as qualified independent underwriter for this offering and to undertake the legal responsibilities and liabilities of an underwriter under the Securities Act. Citigroup Global Markets Inc. will not receive any additional fees for serving as qualified independent underwriter in connection with this offering. We have agreed to indemnify Citigroup Global Markets Inc. against liabilities incurred in connection with acting as qualified independent underwriter, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

Risk factors

See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 26 and other information included in this prospectus for a discussion of factors you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in shares of our Class A common stock.

 

Trading symbol

We have been approved to list our Class A common stock on the NYSE under the symbol “ FOUR.”

Unless we indicate otherwise or the context otherwise requires, all information in this prospectus:

 

   

gives effect to the amendment and restatement of the Shift4 Payments LLC Agreement that converts all existing ownership interests in Shift4 Payments, LLC into 38,373,190 LLC Interests, as well as the filing of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation;

 

   

gives effect to the other Transactions, including the consummation of this offering;

 

   

excludes 627,625 shares of Class A common stock reserved for issuance under our 2020 Equity Plan, or 2020 Plan;

 

   

assumes the issuance of 5,122,375 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon vesting of RSUs granted to the RSU Holders in connection with this offering;

 

   

assumes the issuance of $100.0 million of Class C common stock to Rook upon the closing of the concurrent private placement immediately following the consummation of this offering, which represents 5,319,148 shares of Class C common stock at a purchase price of $18.80, assuming an initial public offering price of $20.00 per share of Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus;

 

   

assumes an initial public offering price of $20.00 per share of Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus; and

 

   

assumes no exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase 2,250,000 additional shares of Class A common stock from us.



 

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Summary Historical and Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial and Other Data

The following tables present the summary historical consolidated financial and other data for Shift4 Payments, LLC and its subsidiaries and the summary pro forma condensed consolidated financial and other data for Shift4 Payments, Inc. Shift4 Payments, LLC is the predecessor of the issuer, Shift4 Payments, Inc., for financial reporting purposes. The summary consolidated statements of operations data and statements of cash flows data for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019 are derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of Shift4 Payments, LLC included elsewhere in this prospectus. The summary condensed consolidated statements of operations data and statements of cash flows data for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2020, and the summary condensed consolidated balance sheet data as of March 31, 2020 are derived from the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Shift4 Payments, LLC included elsewhere in this prospectus. The results of operations for the periods presented below are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any future period, and the results for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for a full year. The information set forth below should be read together with the “Selected Historical Condensed Consolidated Financial Data,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.

As a result of the adoption of Accounting Standards Codification 606: Revenue from Contracts with Customers, or ASC 606, in 2019, the summary historical financial data for the year ended December 31, 2019 and the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2020 is not comparable to the summary historical financial data for the year ended December 31, 2018. See Notes 2 and 4 to our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019 included elsewhere in this prospectus for more information about the adoption of ASC 606.

The summary unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial data of Shift4 Payments, Inc. presented below have been derived from our unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information included elsewhere in this prospectus. The summary unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information as of and for the year ended December 31, 2019 and the three months ended March 31, 2020 gives effect to the Transactions, including the consummation of this offering and the concurrent private placement, and the use of proceeds therefrom, as described in “Our Organizational Structure” and “Use of Proceeds,” as if all such transactions had occurred on January 1, 2019 in the case of the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statements of operations data, and as of March 31, 2020 in the case of the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet data. The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information includes various estimates which are subject to material change and may not be indicative of what our operations or financial position would have been had this offering and related transactions taken place on the dates indicated, or that may be expected to occur in the future. See “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information” for a complete description of the adjustments and assumptions underlying the summary unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information.



 

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The summary historical consolidated financial and other data of Shift4 Payments, Inc. has not been presented because Shift4 Payments, Inc. is a newly incorporated entity, has had no significant business transactions or activities to date and had no significant assets or liabilities during the periods presented in this section.

 

     Shift4 Payments, LLC
Historical
    Shift4 Payments, Inc.
Pro Forma
 

(in millions, except share and per share amounts)

   Year Ended
December 31,
    Three Months
Ended
March 31,
    Year Ended
December 31, 
    Three Months
Ended
March 31,
 
     2018     2019     2019     2020     2019     2020  

Consolidated Statement of Operations:

            

Gross revenue

   $   560.6     $   731.4     $   155.0     $   199.4     $   731.4     $   199.4  

Cost of sales

     410.2       552.4       116.4       154.9       552.4       154.9  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     150.4       179.0       38.6       44.5       179.0       44.5  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

General and administrative expenses

     83.7       124.4       26.5       22.3       144.7       27.4  

Depreciation and amortization expense

     40.4       40.2       9.8       10.5       40.2       10.5  

Professional fees

     7.4       10.4       1.8       1.7       10.4       1.7  

Advertising and marketing expenses

     6.1       6.3       1.4       1.3       6.3       1.3  

Restructuring expenses

     20.1       3.8       0.2       0.2       3.8       0.2  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     157.7       185.1       39.7       36.0       205.4       41.1  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Loss) income from operations

     (7.3     (6.1     (1.1     8.5       (26.4     3.4  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other income (expense), net

     0.6       1.0       0.2       (0.1     1.0       (0.1

Interest expense

     (47.0     (51.5     (12.5     (13.3     (33.9     (8.6
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss before income taxes

     (53.7     (56.6     (13.4     (4.9     (59.3     (5.3

Income tax benefit (provision)

     3.8       (1.5     (0.1     (0.3     (1.5     (0.3
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

   $ (49.9   $ (58.1   $ (13.5   $ (5.2     (60.8     (5.6
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

Net loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests

             (29.0     (2.7
          

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to Shift4 Payments, Inc.

             (31.8     (2.9
          

 

 

   

 

 

 

Pro Forma Net Loss per Share Data:

 

 

Pro forma weighted average shares

of Class A common stock and Class C common stock outstanding:

 

 

   

Basic

 

    39,530,880       39,530,880  

Diluted

 

    39,530,880       39,530,880  

Pro forma net loss available to

Class A common stock and Class C common stock per share:

 

 

   

Basic

 

  $ (0.80   $ (0.07

Diluted

 

  $ (0.80   $ (0.07

 

     Shift4 Payments, LLC
Historical
 
     Year Ended
December 31,
    Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
(in millions)    2018     2019     2019     2020  

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows:

        

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 25.5     $ 26.7     $ 10.4     $ 9.7  

Net cash used in investing activities

     (41.4     (98.8     (7.1     (9.6

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     11.3       71.0       (2.2     66.4  


 

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     Shift4 Payments, LLC
Historical
    Shift4 Payments, Inc.
Pro Forma
 
(in millions)    As of
March 31, 2020
 

Consolidated Balance Sheet:

    

Cash

   $ 70.2     $ 151.2  

Total assets

     840.8       916.5  

Total liabilities

     833.2       523.6  

Redeemable preferred units

     43.0       —    

Retained deficit

     (183.6     (32.2

Total members’ (deficit)/stockholders’ equity

     (35.4     392.9  

 

     Shift4 Payments, LLC
Historical
 
   Year Ended
December 31,
     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
(in millions)    2018      2019      2019      2020  

End-to-end payment volume(1)

   $   16,145.1      $   22,125.2      $   4,661.6      $   6,146.1  

Net revenue(2)

     252.7        305.5        66.3        79.1  

EBITDA(2)

     59.5        58.1        14.0        26.1  

Adjusted EBITDA(2)

     89.9        103.8        20.6        17.5  

 

(1)

End-to-end payment volume is defined as the face value of payments successfully completed through our authorization and settlement processing ecosystem. For a description of end-to-end payment volume, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Key performance indicators and non-GAAP measures” and “Basis of Presentation—Key Terms and Performance Indicators Used in this Prospectus; Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

 

(2)

We use supplemental measures of our performance which are derived from our consolidated financial information but which are not presented in our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures include net revenue, which represents gross revenue less network fees, which includes interchange and assessment fees; earnings before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation, and amortization, or EBITDA; and adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA is the primary financial performance measure used by management to evaluate its business and monitor results of operations.

Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA further adjusted for certain non-cash and other non-recurring items that management believes are not indicative of ongoing operations. These adjustments include acquisition, restructuring and integration costs, management fees and other non-recurring items.

We use non-GAAP financial measures to supplement financial information presented on a GAAP basis. We believe that excluding certain items from our GAAP results allows management to better understand our consolidated financial performance from period to period and better project our future consolidated financial performance as forecasts are developed at a level of detail different from that used to prepare GAAP-based financial measures. Moreover, we believe these non-GAAP financial measures provide our stakeholders with useful information to help them evaluate our operating results by facilitating an enhanced understanding of our operating performance and enabling them to make more meaningful period to period comparisons. There are limitations to the use of the non-GAAP financial measures presented in this prospectus. For example, our non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate non-GAAP financial measures differently than we do, limiting the usefulness of those measures for comparative purposes.

The non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered as indicators of performance in isolation from or as a substitute for net income (loss) prepared in accordance with GAAP, and should be read only in conjunction with financial information presented on a GAAP basis. Reconciliations of each of net revenue, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA to its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure are presented below. We encourage you to review the reconciliations in conjunction with the presentation of the non-GAAP financial measures for each of the periods presented. In future fiscal periods, we may exclude such items and may incur income and expenses similar to these excluded items.



 

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The tables below provide reconciliations of net revenue to gross revenue and EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA to net loss on a consolidated basis for the periods presented.

Net revenue:

 

     Shift4 Payments, LLC
Historical
 
     Year Ended
December 31,
     Three Months
Ended March 31,
 
(in millions)    2018      2019      2019      2020  

Payments-based revenue

   $ 485.2      $ 643.6      $ 134.0      $ 176.4  

Subscription and other revenues

     75.4        87.8        21.0        23.0  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total gross revenue

     560.6        731.4        155.0        199.4  

Less: network fees

     307.9        425.9        88.7        120.3  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net revenue

   $ 252.7      $ 305.5      $ 66.3      $ 79.1  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA:

 

     Shift4 Payments, LLC
Historical
 
     Year Ended
December 31,
    Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
(in millions)    2018     2019     2019     2020  

Net loss

   $ (49.9   $ (58.1   $ (13.5     (5.2

Interest expense

     47.0       51.5       12.5       13.3  

Income tax (benefit) provision

     (3.8     1.5       0.1       0.3  

Depreciation and amortization expense

     66.2       63.2       14.9       17.7  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

EBITDA

     59.5       58.1       14.0       26.1  

Acquisition, restructuring and integration costs(a)

     24.8       28.3       6.7       (9.8

Impact of adoption of ASC 606(b)

     —         14.0       —         —    

Management fees(c)

     2.0       2.0       0.5       0.5  

Other nonrecurring items(d)

     3.6       1.4       (0.6     0.7  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 89.9     $ 103.8     $ 20.6     $ 17.5  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  (a)

For the year ended December 31, 2018, consists primarily of restructuring expenses of $20.1 million. For the year ended December 31, 2019, consists primarily of adjustments to contingent liabilities of $15.5 million, one-time professional fees of $6.7 million, restructuring expenses of $3.8 million, and deferred compensation arrangements of $1.9 million. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, consists primarily of fair value adjustments to contingent liabilities of $4.1 million, deferred compensation arrangements of $1.2 million and one-time professional fees of $0.7 million. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, consists primarily of fair value adjustments to contingent liabilities of $(8.5) million and $(2.0) million for deferred compensation arrangements, offset by one-time professional fees of $0.2 million. See notes to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for more information on these restructuring expenses and contingent liability adjustments.

  (b)

Effective January 1, 2019, we adopted ASC 606: Revenue from Contracts with Customers. As a result of the adoption of ASC 606, the cost of equipment deployed to new merchants in 2019 is expensed when shipped within “Cost of Sales” in our consolidated statements of operations. Previously, the cost of equipment deployed to new merchants was capitalized as an acquisition cost and amortized over the estimated life of a customer and the amortization was included in the depreciation and amortization expense used to calculate EBITDA. The impact on EBITDA as a result of the ASC 606 adoption was



 

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  $14.0 million. In order to provide comparability to our 2018 adjusted EBITDA, the impact of $14.0 million is included as a component of adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2019.
  (c)

Represents fees to the equityholders for consulting and managing services that we will not be required to pay after closing of this offering. See notes to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for more information about these related party transactions.

  (d)

For the year ended December 31, 2018, primarily consists of a one-time accrual of $2.3 million for cumulative unremitted sales and use tax related to years 2017 and prior.



 

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in our Class A common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described below, as well as the other information in this prospectus, including our consolidated financial statements and the related notes, before deciding to invest in our Class A common stock. The occurrence of any of the events described below could harm our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity or prospects. In such an event, the market price of our Class A common stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business.

Business risks

The recent novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, global pandemic has had and is expected to continue to have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

In late 2019, COVID-19 was first detected in Wuhan, China. In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, and governmental authorities around the world have implemented measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19. These measures, including “shelter-in-place” orders suggested or mandated by governmental authorities or otherwise elected by companies as a preventive measure, have adversely affected workforces, customers, consumer sentiment, economies, and financial markets, and, along with decreased consumer spending, have led to an economic downturn in the United States.

Numerous state and local jurisdictions, including in markets where we operate, have imposed, and others in the future may impose, “shelter-in-place” orders, quarantines, travel restrictions, executive orders and similar government orders and restrictions for their residents to control the spread of COVID-19. For example, the federal and state governments in the United States have imposed social distancing measures and restrictions on movement, only allowing essential businesses to remain open. Such orders or restrictions have resulted in the temporary closure of many of our merchant operations, work stoppages, slowdowns and delays, travel restrictions and cancellation of events, among other effects, any of which may materially impact our business and results of operations.

As a result of COVID-19, we have begun to experience a significant decrease in our payments volumes and expect the impact of shelter-in-place orders and other government measures to continue to significantly impact our business, results of operations and cash flows for the foreseeable future. As result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of our hospitality merchants have experienced an 80% or greater decline in transaction volumes from pre-COVID-19 levels and many of our restaurant merchants are limited to take-out or delivery business only.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, we have:

 

   

drawn the remaining $64.5 million available under our revolving credit facility in March 2020;

 

   

furloughed approximately 25% of our employees;

 

   

accelerated approximately $30 million of annual expense reduction plans related to previous acquisitions;

 

   

re-prioritized our capital projects;

 

   

instituted a company-wide hiring freeze; and

 

   

reduced salaries for management across the organization.

Due to the uncertainty of COVID-19, we will continue to assess the situation, including abiding by any government-imposed restrictions, market by market. We are unable to accurately predict the ultimate impact that COVID-19 will have on our operations going forward due to uncertainties that will be dictated by the length of

 

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time that such disruptions continue, which will, in turn, depend on the currently unknowable duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of governmental regulations that might be imposed in response to the pandemic, the speed and extent to which normal economic and operating conditions will resume and overall changes in consumer behavior. In particular, even as our merchants re-open their operations, we cannot accurately predict the ongoing impact of government regulations and changing consumer behavior on our business. While we have not seen a meaningful degradation in new merchant sign-ups or an increase in existing merchant attrition as a result of COVID-19, it is possible that those business trends change if economic hardship across the country forces merchant closures. Any significant reduction in consumer visits to, or spending at, our merchants, would result in a loss of revenue to us. In particular, we cannot accurately forecast the potential impact of additional outbreaks as government restrictions are relaxed, further shelter-in-place or other government restrictions implemented in response to such outbreaks, or the impact on the ability of our merchants to remain in business as a result of the ongoing pandemic, which could result in additional chargeback or merchant receivable losses, any future outbreak or any government restrictions related thereto.

In addition, the global deterioration in economic conditions, which may have an adverse impact on discretionary consumer spending, could also impact our business. For instance, consumer spending may be negatively impacted by general macroeconomic conditions, including a rise in unemployment, and decreased consumer confidence resulting from COVID-19 pandemic. Changing consumer behaviors as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic may also have a material impact on our payments-based revenue for the foreseeable future, particularly for the hospitality and restaurant industries, verticals upon which we have predominantly focused on over the last decade.

In the past, governments have taken unprecedented actions in an attempt to address and rectify these extreme market and economic conditions by providing liquidity and stability to financial markets. If these actions are not successful, the return of adverse economic conditions may cause a material impact on our ability to raise capital, if needed, on a timely basis and on acceptable terms or at all.

To the extent the COVID-19 pandemic adversely affects our business and financial results, it may also have the effect of heightening many of the other risks described in this “Risk Factors” section, such as those relating to our liquidity, indebtedness and our ability to comply with the covenants contained in the agreements that govern our indebtedness.

Substantial and increasingly intense competition worldwide in the financial services, payments and payment technology industries may adversely affect our overall business and operations.

The financial services, payments and payment technology industries are highly competitive, and our payment services and solutions compete against all forms of financial services and payment systems, including cash and checks and electronic, mobile, e-commerce and integrated payment platforms. Many of the areas in which we compete are evolving rapidly with changing and disruptive technologies, shifting user needs, and frequent introductions of new products and services. We compete against a wide range of businesses with varying roles within the payments value chain. If we are unable to differentiate ourselves from our competitors and drive value for our customers, we may not be able to compete effectively. Our competitors may introduce their own value-added or other innovative services or solutions more effectively than we do, which could adversely impact our current competitive position and prospects for growth. Our competitors also may be able to offer and provide services that we do not offer. We also compete against new entrants that have developed alternative payment systems, e-commerce payment systems, payment systems for mobile devices and customized integrated software payment solutions. Failure to compete effectively against any of these competitive threats could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. In addition, some of our competitors are larger and/or have greater financial resources than us, enabling them to maintain a wider range of product offerings, mount extensive promotional campaigns and be more aggressive in offering products and services at lower rates, which may adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

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Potential changes in competitive landscape, including disintermediation from other participants in the payments chain, could harm our business.

We expect the competitive landscape will continue to change in a variety of ways, including:

 

   

rapid and significant changes in technology, resulting in new and innovative payment methods and programs, that could place us at a competitive disadvantage and reduce the use of our products and services;

 

   

competitors, including third-party processors (such as Chase Paymentech, Elavon, Fiserv, Global Payments and Worldpay) and integrated payment providers (such as Adyen, Lightspeed POS, Shopify and Square), merchants, governments and/or other industry participants may develop products and services that compete with or replace our value-added products and services, including products and services that enable payment networks and banks to transact with consumers directly;

 

   

participants in the financial services, payments and payment technology industries may merge, create joint ventures, or form other business combinations that may strengthen their existing business services or create new payment services that compete with our services; and

 

   

new services and technologies that we develop may be impacted by industry-wide solutions and standards related to migration to Europay, Mastercard and Visa, or EMV, standards, including chip technology, tokenization and other safety and security technologies.

Certain competitors could use strong or dominant positions in one or more markets to gain a competitive advantage against us, such as by integrating competing platforms or features into products they control such as search engines, web browsers, mobile device operating systems or social networks; by making acquisitions; or by making access to our platform more difficult. Further, current and future competitors could choose to offer a different pricing model or to undercut prices in the market or our prices in an effort to increase their market share. Failure to compete effectively against any of these or other competitive threats could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Our ability to anticipate and respond to changing industry trends and the needs and preferences of our merchants and consumers may adversely affect our competitiveness or the demand for our products and services.

The financial services, payments and payments technology industries are subject to rapid technological advancements, resulting in new products and services, including mobile payment applications and customized integrated software payment solutions, and an evolving competitive landscape, as well as changing industry standards and merchant and consumer needs and preferences. We expect that new services and technologies applicable to the financial services, payments and payment technology industries will continue to emerge. These changes may limit the competitiveness of and demand for our services. Also, our merchants continue to adopt new technology for business. We must anticipate and respond to these changes in order to remain competitive within our relative markets. In addition, failure to develop value-added services that meet the needs and preferences of our merchants could adversely affect our ability to compete effectively in our industry. Any new solution we develop or acquire might not be introduced in a timely or cost-effective manner and might not achieve the broad market acceptance necessary to generate significant revenue. In addition, these solutions could become subject to legal or regulatory requirements, which could prohibit or slow the development and provision of such new solutions and/or our adoption thereof. Furthermore, our merchants’ potential negative reaction to our products and services can spread quickly through social media and damage our reputation before we have the opportunity to respond. Improving and enhancing the functionality, performance, reliability, design, security and scalability of our platform is expensive, time-consuming and complex, and to the extent we are not able to do so in a manner that responds to our merchants’ evolving needs, our business, financial condition and results of operations will be adversely affected. If we are unable to anticipate or respond to technological or industry standard changes on a timely basis, our ability to remain competitive could be adversely affected.

 

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Because we rely on third-party vendors to provide products and services, we could be adversely impacted if they fail to fulfill their obligations.

We depend on third-party vendors for certain products and services, including components of our computer systems, software, data centers and telecommunications networks, to conduct our business. Any changes in these systems that degrade the functionality of our products and services, impose additional costs or requirements on it, or give preferential treatment to competitors’ services, including their own services, could materially and adversely affect usage of our products and services. For example, we are dependent on our relationship with a single third-party processor for services such as merchant authorization, processing, risk and chargeback monitoring accounting and clearing and settlement for the transactions we service. In the event our agreement with our third-party processor is terminated, or if upon its expiration we are unable to renew the contract on terms favorable to us, or at all, it may be difficult for us to replace these services which may adversely affect our operations and profitability.

We also rely on third parties for specific software and devices used in providing our products and services. Some of these organizations and service providers provide similar services and technology to our competitors, and we do not have long-term or exclusive contracts with them.

Our systems and operations or those of our merchants and software partners could be exposed to damage or interruption from, among other things, fire, natural disaster, power loss, telecommunications failure, unauthorized entry, computer viruses, denial-of-service attacks, acts of terrorism, human error, vandalism or sabotage, financial insolvency, bankruptcy and similar events. For example, the extent to which COVID-19 may impact our results will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including new information which may emerge concerning the severity of COVID-19 and the actions to contain COVID-19 or treat its impact, among others. In addition, we may be unable to renew our existing contracts with our most significant merchants and software and partners or our merchants and software partners may stop providing or otherwise supporting the products and services we obtain from them, and we may not be able to obtain these or similar products or services on the same or similar terms as our existing arrangements, if at all. The failure of our third-party vendors to perform their obligations and provide the products and services we obtain from them in a timely manner for any reason could adversely affect our operations and profitability due to, among other consequences:

 

   

loss of revenues;

 

   

loss of merchants and software partners;

 

   

loss of merchant and cardholder data;

 

   

fines imposed by payment networks;

 

   

harm to our business or reputation resulting from negative publicity;

 

   

exposure to fraud losses or other liabilities;

 

   

additional operating and development costs; or

 

   

diversion of management, technical and other resources.

Acquisitions create certain risks and may adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

We have acquired businesses and may continue to make acquisitions of businesses or assets in the future. The acquisition and integration of businesses or assets involve a number of risks. These risks include valuation (determining a fair price for the business or assets), integration (managing the process of integrating the acquired business’ people, products, technology and other assets to extract the value and synergies projected to be realized in connection with the acquisition), regulation (obtaining regulatory or other government approvals that may be

 

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necessary to complete the acquisition) and due diligence (including identifying risks to the prospects of the business, including undisclosed or unknown liabilities or restrictions to be assumed in the acquisition). In addition, a significant portion of the purchase price of companies we acquire may be allocated to acquired goodwill, and other intangible assets. We are required to test goodwill and any other intangible assets with an indefinite life for possible impairment on an annual basis, or more frequently when circumstances indicate that impairment may have occurred. We are also required to evaluate amortizable intangible assets and fixed assets for impairment if there are indicators of a possible impairment. In the future, if our acquisitions do not yield expected returns, we may be required to take charges to our operating results based on this impairment assessment process, which could adversely affect our results of operations. See “—Financial risks—Our balance sheet includes significant amounts of goodwill and intangible assets. The impairment of a significant portion of these assets would negatively affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.”

In addition, to the extent we pursue acquisitions outside of the United States, these potential acquisitions often involve additional or increased risks including:

 

   

managing geographically separated organizations, systems and facilities;

 

   

integrating personnel with diverse business backgrounds and organizational cultures;

 

   

complying with non-U.S. regulatory and other legal requirements;

 

   

addressing financial and other impacts to our business resulting from fluctuations in currency exchange rates and unit economics across multiple jurisdictions;

 

   

enforcing intellectual property rights outside of the United States;

 

   

difficulty entering new non-U.S. markets due to, among other things, consumer acceptance and business knowledge of these markets; and

 

   

general economic and political conditions. See “—Business risks—Global economic, political and other conditions may adversely affect trends in consumer, business and government spending, which may adversely impact the demand for our services and our revenue and profitability.”

The process of integrating operations could cause an interruption of, or loss of momentum in, the activities of one or more of our combined businesses and the possible loss of key personnel. The diversion of management’s attention and any delays or difficulties encountered in connection with acquisitions and their integration could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Health concerns arising from the outbreak of a health epidemic or pandemic may have an adverse effect on our business.

In addition to COVID-19, our business could be materially and adversely affected by the outbreak of a widespread health epidemic or pandemic, including arising from various strains of avian flu or swine flu, such as H1N1, particularly if located in the United States. The occurrence of such an outbreak or other adverse public health developments could materially disrupt our business and operations. Such events could also significantly impact our industry and cause a temporary closure of our merchants’ businesses, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Furthermore, other viruses may be transmitted through human contact, and the risk of contracting viruses could cause consumers to avoid gathering in public places or patronizing certain businesses, which could adversely affect payment volumes. We could also be adversely affected if government authorities impose mandatory closures, seek voluntary closures, impose restrictions on operations of our merchants’ businesses, or restrict the import or export of hardware and equipment. Even if such measures are not implemented and a virus or other disease does not spread significantly, the perceived risk of infection or health risk may adversely affect our business and operating results.

 

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We may not be able to continue to expand our share of the existing payment processing markets or expand into new markets which would inhibit our ability to grow and increase our profitability.

Our future growth and profitability depend upon the growth of the markets in which we currently operate and our ability to increase our penetration and service offerings within these markets, as well as the emergence of new markets for our services and our ability to successfully expand into these new markets. It is difficult to attract new merchants because of potential disadvantages associated with switching payment processing vendors, such as transition costs, business disruption and loss of accustomed functionality. There can be no assurance that our efforts to overcome these factors will be successful, and this resistance may adversely affect our growth. A merchant’s payment processing activity with us may also decrease for a variety of reasons, including the merchant’s level of satisfaction with our products and services, the effectiveness of our support services, pricing of our products and services, the pricing and quality of competing products or services, the effects of global economic conditions (including as a result of COVID-19), or reductions in the consumer spending levels.

Our expansion into new markets is also dependent upon our ability to adapt our existing technology and offerings or to develop new or innovative applications to meet the particular service needs of each new market. In order to do so, we will need to anticipate and react to market changes and devote appropriate financial and technical resources to our development efforts, and there can be no assurance that we will be successful in these efforts.

Furthermore, we may expand into new geographical markets, including foreign countries, in which we do not currently have any operating experience. We cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully continue such expansion efforts due to our lack of experience in such markets and the multitude of risks associated with global operations, including the possibility of needing to obtain appropriate regulatory approval.

Our services and products must integrate with a variety of operating systems, software, device and web browsers, and our business may be materially and adversely affected if we are unable to ensure that our services interoperate with such operating systems, device, software and web browsers.

We are dependent on the ability of our products and services to integrate with a variety of operating systems, software and devices, such as the POS terminals we provide to merchants, as well as web browsers that we do not control. Any changes in these systems that degrade the functionality of our products and services, impose additional costs or requirements on us, or give preferential treatment to competitive services, could materially and adversely affect usage of our products and services. In addition, system integrators may show insufficient appetite to enable our products and services to integrate with a variety of operating systems, software and devices. In the event that it is difficult for our merchants to access and use our products and services, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may be materially and adversely affected.

We depend, in part, on our merchant and software partner relationships and strategic partnerships with various institutions to operate and grow our business. If we are unable to maintain these relationships and partnerships, our business may be adversely affected.

We depend, in part, on our merchant and software partner relationships and partnerships with various institutions to operate and grow our business. We rely on the growth of our merchant and other strategic relationships, and our ability to maintain these relationships and other distribution channels, to support and grow our business. If we fail to maintain these relationships, or if our software partners or other strategic partners fail to maintain their brands or decrease the size of their branded networks, our business may be adversely affected. In addition, our contractual arrangements with our merchants and other strategic partners vary in length, and may also allow for early termination upon the occurrence of certain events. There can be no assurance that we will be able to renew these contractual arrangements on similar terms or at all. The loss of merchant or software partner relationships could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

We rely on our sponsor bank to provide sponsorship to card and other payment networks and treasury services. If our sponsor bank stops providing sponsorship and treasury services, we would need to find one or more other

 

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financial institutions to provide those services. If we are unable to find a replacement institution, we may no longer be able to provide processing services to certain merchants, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. In the event of a chargeback, merchant bankruptcy or other failure to fund, or other intervening failure in the payment network system, we may be unable to recoup certain payments, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

A significant number of our merchants are small- and medium-sized businesses and small affiliates of large companies, which can be more difficult and costly to retain than larger enterprises and may increase the impact of economic fluctuations on us.

We market and sell our products and services to, among others, SMBs. To continue to grow our revenue, we must add merchants, sell additional services to existing merchants and encourage existing merchants to continue doing business with us. However, retaining SMBs can be more difficult than retaining large enterprises, as SMB merchants:

 

   

often have higher rates of business failure and more limited resources;

 

   

may have decisions related to the choice of payment processor dictated by their affiliated parent entity; and

 

   

are more able to change their payment processors than larger organizations dependent on our services.

SMBs are typically more susceptible to the adverse effects of economic fluctuations, including as a result of COVID-19. Adverse changes in the economic environment or business failures of our SMB merchants may have a greater impact on us than on our competitors who do not focus on SMBs to the extent that we do. As a result, we may need to attract and retain new merchants at an accelerated rate or decrease our expenses to reduce negative impacts on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Global economic, political and other conditions may adversely affect trends in consumer, business and government spending, which may adversely impact the demand for our services and our revenue and profitability.

The financial services, payments and payment technology industries in which we operate depend heavily upon the overall level of consumer, business and government spending. A sustained deterioration in general economic conditions (including distress in financial markets and turmoil in specific economies around the world), in particular as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, may adversely affect our financial performance by reducing the number or average purchase amount of transactions we process. See “—The recent novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, global pandemic has had and is expected to continue to have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.” A reduction in the amount of consumer spending or credit card transactions could result in a decrease of our revenue and profits.

Adverse economic trends may accelerate the timing, or increase the impact of, risks to our financial performance. These trends could include:

 

   

declining economies and the pace of economic recovery can change consumer spending behaviors, on which the majority of our revenue is dependent;

 

   

low levels of consumer and business confidence typically associated with recessionary environments, and those markets experiencing relatively high unemployment, may result in decreased spending by cardholders;

 

   

budgetary concerns in the United States and other countries around the world could affect the United States and other sovereign credit ratings, which could impact consumer confidence and spending;

 

   

financial institutions may restrict credit lines to cardholders or limit the issuance of new cards to mitigate cardholder credit concerns;

 

   

uncertainty and volatility in the performance of our merchants’ businesses, particularly SMBs, may make estimates of our revenues and financial performance less predictable;

 

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cardholders or merchants may decrease spending for value-added services we market and sell; and

 

   

government intervention, including the effect of laws, regulations and government investments in our merchants, may have potential negative effects on our business and our relationships with our merchants or otherwise alter their strategic direction away from our products and services.

In addition, the banking industry remains subject to consolidation regardless of overall economic conditions. In times of economic distress, various financial institutions in the markets we serve have been acquired or merged with and into other financial institutions, including those with which we partner. If a current referral partner of ours is acquired by another bank, the acquiring bank may seek to terminate our agreement and impose its own merchant services program on the acquired bank. We may be unable to retain our banking relationships post-acquisition, or may have to offer financial concessions to do so, which could adversely affect our results of operations or growth.

We may in the future offer merchant acquiring and processing services in geographies outside of the United States, including potentially in the European Union or the United Kingdom. In such circumstances, we may become subject to additional European Union and United Kingdom financial regulatory requirements and we could become subject to risks associated with the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union (including any resulting economic downturn) following the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union (Brexit) on January 31, 2020. We are subject to risks associated with operations in international markets, including changes in foreign governmental policies and requirements applicable to our business, including the presence of more established competitors and our lack of experience in such non-U.S. markets. In addition, any future partners in non-U.S. jurisdictions, may also be acquired, reorganized or otherwise disposed of in the event of further market turmoil or losses in their loan portfolio that result in such financial institutions becoming less than adequately capitalized. Our revenue derived from these and other non-U.S. operations will be subject to additional risks, including those resulting from social and geopolitical instability and unfavorable political or diplomatic developments, all of which could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

In the event we expand internationally, we may face challenges due to the presence of more established competitors and our lack of experience in such non-U.S. markets. If we are unable to successfully manage these risks relating to the international expansion of our business, it could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

We are subject to governmental regulation and other legal obligations, particularly related to privacy, data protection and information security, and consumer protection laws across different markets where we conduct our business. Our actual or perceived failure to comply with such obligations could harm our business.

In the United States and other jurisdictions in which our services are used, we are subject to various consumer protection laws (including laws on disputed transactions) and related regulations. If we are found to have breached any consumer protection laws or regulations in any such market, we may be subject to enforcement actions that require us to change our business practices in a manner which may negatively impact our revenue, as well as expose ourselves to litigation, fines, civil and/or criminal penalties and adverse publicity that could cause our customers to lose trust in us, negatively impacting our reputation and business in a manner that harms our financial position.

As part of our business, we collect personally identifiable information, also referred to as personal data, and other potentially sensitive and/or regulated data from our consumers and the merchants we work with. Laws and regulations in the United States and around the world restrict how personal information is collected, processed, stored, used and disclosed, as well as set standards for its security, implement notice requirements regarding privacy practices, and provide individuals with certain rights regarding the use, disclosure and sale of their protected personal information. Several foreign jurisdictions, including the EU and the United Kingdom, have

 

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laws and regulations which are more restrictive in certain respects than those in the United States. For example, the EU General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, which came into force on May 25, 2018, implemented stringent operational requirements for the use of personal data. The European regime also includes directives which, among other things, require EU member states to regulate marketing by electronic means and the use of web cookies and other tracking technology. Each EU member state has transposed the requirements of these directives into its own national data privacy regime, and therefore the laws may differ between jurisdictions. These are also under reform and are expected to be replaced by a regulation which should provide consistent requirements across the EU.

The GDPR introduced more stringent requirements (which will continue to be interpreted through guidance and decisions over the coming years) and require organizations to erase an individual’s information upon request, implement mandatory data breach notification requirements and additional new obligations on service providers. A UK version of the GDPR is expected to take effect on January 1, 2021 after the end of the Brexit transition period (during which the EU GDPR continues to apply). If our privacy or data security measures fail to comply with applicable current or future laws and regulations, we may be subject to litigation, regulatory investigations, enforcement notices requiring us to change the way we use personal data or our marketing practices. For example, under the GDPR we may be subject to fines of up to €20 million or up to 4% of the total worldwide annual group turnover of the preceding financial year (whichever is higher). We may also be subject to other liabilities, as well as negative publicity and a potential loss of business.

In the United States, both the federal and various state governments have adopted or are considering, laws, guidelines or rules for the collection, distribution, use and storage of information collected from or about consumers or their devices. For example, California enacted the California Consumer Privacy Act, or CCPA, which became effective January 1, 2020, requires new disclosures to California consumers, imposes new rules for collecting or using information about minors, and affords consumers new abilities to opt out of certain disclosures of personal information. The CCPA provides for civil penalties for violations, as well as a private right of action for data breaches that is expected to increase data breach litigation. The effects of the CCPA, forthcoming implementing regulations, and uncertainties about the scope and applicability of exemptions that may apply to our business, are potentially significant and may require us to modify our data collection or processing practices and policies and to incur substantial costs and expenses in an effort to comply.

Restrictions on the collection, use, sharing or disclosure of personally identifiable information or additional requirements and liability for security and data integrity could require us to modify our solutions and features, possibly in a material manner, could limit our ability to develop new services and features and could subject us to increased compliance obligations and regulatory scrutiny.

Our inability to protect our systems and data from continually evolving cybersecurity risks, security breaches or other technological risks could affect our reputation among our merchants and consumers and may expose us to liability.

We are subject to a number of legal requirements, contractual obligations and industry standards regarding security, data protection and privacy and any failure to comply with these requirements, obligations or standards could have an adverse effect on our reputation, business, financial condition and operating results.

In conducting our business, we process, transmit and store sensitive business information and personally identifiable information about our merchants, consumers, sales and financial institution partners, vendors, and other parties. This information may include account access credentials, credit and debit card numbers, bank account numbers, social security numbers, driver’s license numbers, names and addresses and other types of sensitive business or personal information. Some of this information is also processed and stored by our merchants, software and financial institution partners, third-party service providers to whom we outsource certain functions and other agents, which we refer to collectively as our associated third parties. We have certain responsibilities to payment networks and their member financial institutions for any failure, including the failure of our associated third parties, to protect this information.

 

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In addition, as a provider of security-related solutions to merchants and other business customers, our products and services may themselves be targets of cyber-attacks that attempt to sabotage or otherwise disable them, or the defensive and preventative measures we take ultimately may not be able to effectively detect, prevent, or protect against or otherwise mitigate losses from all cyber-attacks. Despite significant efforts to create security barriers against such threats, it is virtually impossible for us to eliminate these risks entirely. Any such breach could compromise our networks, creating system disruptions or slowdowns and exploiting security vulnerabilities of our products. Additionally, the information stored on our networks could be accessed, publicly disclosed, lost, or stolen, which could subject us to liability and cause us financial harm. These breaches, or any perceived breach, may also result in damage to our reputation, negative publicity, loss of key partners, merchants and sales, increased costs to remedy any problem, and costly litigation, and may therefore adversely impact market acceptance of our products and seriously affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

We have previously been the target of malicious third-party attempts to identify and exploit system vulnerabilities, and/or penetrate or bypass our security measures, in order to gain unauthorized access to our networks and systems or those of third parties associated with us. If these attempts are successful it could lead to the compromise of sensitive, business, personal or confidential information. While we proactively employ multiple methods at different layers of our systems to defend against intrusion and attack and to protect our data, we cannot be certain that these measures or sufficient to counter all current and emerging technology threats.

Our computer systems and the computer systems of our merchants and software partners have been, and could be in the future, subject to breaches, and our data protection measures may not prevent unauthorized access. While we believe the procedures and processes we have implemented to handle an attack are adequate, the techniques used to obtain unauthorized access, disable or degrade service, or sabotage systems change frequently and are often difficult to detect. Threats to our systems and associated third party systems can originate from human error, fraud or malice on the part of employees or third parties, or simply from accidental technological failure. Computer viruses and other malware can be distributed and could infiltrate our systems or those of associated third parties. In addition, denial of service or other attacks could be launched against us for a variety of purposes, including to interfere with our services or create a diversion for other malicious activities. Our defensive measures may not prevent unplanned downtime, unauthorized access or unauthorized use of sensitive data. While we maintain cyber errors and omissions insurance coverage that covers certain aspects of cyber risks, our insurance coverage may be insufficient to cover all losses. Further, while we select our associated third parties carefully, we do not control their actions. Any problems experienced by these third parties, including those resulting from breakdowns or other disruptions in the services provided by such parties or cyber-attacks and security breaches, could adversely affect our ability to service our merchants or otherwise conduct our business.

We could also be subject to liability for claims relating to misuse of personal information, such as unauthorized marketing purposes and violation of consumer protection or data privacy laws. We cannot provide assurance that the contractual requirements related to security and privacy that we impose on our service providers who have access to merchant and consumer data will be followed or will be adequate to prevent the unauthorized use or disclosure of data. In addition, we have agreed in certain agreements to take certain protective measures to ensure the confidentiality of merchant and consumer data. The costs of systems and procedures associated with such protective measures may increase and could adversely affect our ability to compete effectively. Any failure to adequately enforce or provide these protective measures could result in liability, protracted and costly litigation, governmental and card network intervention and fines and, with respect to misuse of personal information of our merchants and consumers, lost revenue and reputational harm.

Any type of security breach, attack or misuse of data, whether experienced by us or an associated third party, could harm our reputation or deter existing or prospective merchants from using our services, increase our operating expenses in order to contain and remediate the incident, expose us to unbudgeted or uninsured liability, disrupt our operations (including potential service interruptions), divert management focus away from other priorities, increase our risk of regulatory scrutiny, result in the imposition of penalties and fines under state, federal and foreign laws or by payment networks and adversely affect our continued payment network

 

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registration and financial institution sponsorship. As set out above, fines under the GDPR, including for inadequate security, can reach €20 million or up to 4% of the total worldwide annual group turnover of the preceding financial year, whichever is higher. Further, if we were to be removed from networks’ lists of Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, compliant service providers, our existing merchants, sales and financial institution partners or other third parties may cease using or referring our services. Also, prospective merchants, sales partners, financial institution partners or other third parties may choose to terminate their relationship with us, or delay or choose not to consider us for their processing needs, and the payment networks on which we rely could refuse to allow us to continue processing through their networks.

We may experience failures in our processing systems due to software defects, computer viruses and development delays, which could damage customer relations and expose us to liability.

Our core business depends heavily on the reliability of our processing systems, including the security of the applications and systems we develop and license to our customers, in addition to the security of the processing system of our sponsor bank. Software defects or vulnerabilities, a system outage, or other failures could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations, including by damaging our reputation or exposing us to third-party liability. Payment network rules and certain governmental regulations allow for possible penalties if our products and services do not meet certain operating standards. To successfully operate our business, we must be able to protect our systems from interruption, including from events that may be beyond our control. Events that could cause system interruptions include fire, natural disaster, unauthorized entry, power loss, telecommunications failure, computer viruses, terrorist acts and war. Although we have taken steps to protect against data loss and system failures, we still face the risk that we may lose critical data or experience system failures. To help protect against these events, we perform a portion of disaster recovery operations ourselves, as well as utilize select third parties for certain operations. To the extent we outsource any disaster recovery functions, we are at risk of the merchant’s unresponsiveness or other failures in the event of breakdowns in our systems. In addition, our property and business interruption insurance may not be adequate to compensate us for all losses or failures that may occur.

Our products and services are based on sophisticated software and computing systems that are constantly evolving. We often encounter delays and cost overruns in developing changes implemented to our systems. In addition, the underlying software may contain undetected errors, viruses or defects. Defects in our software products and errors or delays in our processing of electronic transactions could result in additional development costs, diversion of technical and other resources from our other development efforts, loss of credibility with current or potential merchants, harm to our reputation or exposure to liability claims. In addition, we rely on technologies supplied to us by third parties that may also contain undetected errors, viruses or defects that could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. Although we attempt to limit our potential liability for warranty claims through disclaimers in our software documentation and limitation of liability provisions in our licenses and other agreements with our merchants and software partners, we cannot assure that these measures will be successful in limiting our liability. Additionally, we and our merchants and software partners are subject to payment network rules. If we do not comply with payment network requirements or standards, we may be subject to fines or sanctions, including suspension or termination of our registrations and licenses necessary to conduct business. We have experienced high growth rates in payment transaction volumes over the past years and expect growth to continue for the coming years; however, despite the implementation of architectural changes to safeguard sufficient future processing capacity on our payments platform, in the future the payments platform could potentially reach the limits of the number of transactions it is able to process, resulting in longer processing time or even downtime. Our efforts to safeguard sufficient future processing capacity are time-consuming, involve significant technical risk and may divert our resources from new features and products, and there can be no guarantee that these efforts will succeed. Furthermore, any efforts to further scale the platform or increase its complexity to handle a larger number or more complicated transactions could result in performance issues, including downtime. A failure to adequately scale our payments platform could therefore materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

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Degradation of the quality of the products and services we offer, including support services, could adversely impact our ability to attract and retain merchants and software partners.

Our merchants and software partners expect a consistent level of quality in the provision of our products and services. The support services we provide are a key element of the value proposition to our merchants and software partners. If the reliability or functionality of our products and services is compromised or the quality of those products or services is otherwise degraded, or if we fail to continue to provide a high level of support, we could lose existing merchants and software partners and find it harder to attract new merchants and software partners. If we are unable to scale our support functions to address the growth of our merchant and partner network, the quality of our support may decrease, which could adversely affect our ability to attract and retain merchants and software partners.

A significant natural disaster could have a material and adverse effect on our business. Despite any precautions we may take, the occurrence of a natural disaster or other unanticipated problems at our headquarters or data centers could result in lengthy interruptions in access to or functionality of our platform or could result in related liabilities.

Increased customer attrition could cause our financial results to decline.

We experience attrition in customer credit and debit card processing volume resulting from several factors, including business closures, transfers of merchants’ accounts to our competitors, unsuccessful contract renewal negotiations and account closures that we initiate for various reasons, such as heightened credit risks, unacceptable card types or businesses, or contract breaches by customers. In addition, if a software partner switches to another payment processor, terminates our services, internalizes payment processing functions that we perform, merges with or is acquired by one of our competitors, or shuts down or becomes insolvent, we may no longer receive new merchant referrals from the software partner, and we risk losing existing merchants that were originally enrolled by the software partner. We cannot predict the level of attrition in the future and it could increase. Our software partners, most of which are not exclusive, are an important source of new business. Higher than expected attrition could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. If we are unable to renew our customer contracts on favorable terms, or at all, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be adversely affected.

Fraud by merchants or others could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

We may be liable for certain fraudulent transactions or credits initiated by merchants or others. Examples of merchant fraud include merchants or other parties knowingly using a stolen or counterfeit credit, debit or prepaid card, card number, or other credentials to record a false sales or credit transaction, processing an invalid card or intentionally failing to deliver the merchandise or services sold in an otherwise valid transaction. Criminals are using increasingly sophisticated methods to engage in illegal activities such as counterfeiting and fraud. Failure to effectively manage risk and prevent fraud could increase our chargeback liability or cause us to incur other liabilities. It is possible that incidents of fraud could increase in the future. Increases in chargebacks or other liabilities could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Our risk management policies and procedures may not be fully effective in mitigating our risk exposure in all market environments or against all types of risk.

We operate in a rapidly changing industry. Accordingly, our risk management policies and procedures may not be fully effective to identify, monitor and manage all risks our business encounters. In addition, when we introduce new services, focus on new business types, or begin to operate in markets where we have a limited history of fraud loss, we may be less able to forecast and reserve accurately for those losses. If our policies and procedures are not fully effective or we are not successful in identifying and mitigating all risks to which we are or may be exposed, we may suffer uninsured liability, harm to our reputation or be subject to litigation or regulatory actions that could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

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Our business depends on strong and trusted brands, and damage to our reputation, or the reputation of our partners, could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

We market our products and services under our brands and we must protect and grow the value of our brands to continue to be successful in the future. If an incident were to occur that damages our reputation, the value of our brands could be adversely affected and our business could be damaged.

Our ability to recruit, retain and develop qualified personnel is critical to our success and growth.

All of our businesses function at the intersection of rapidly changing technological, social, economic and regulatory environments that require a wide range of expertise and intellectual capital. For us to successfully compete and grow, we must recruit, retain and develop personnel who can provide the necessary expertise across a broad spectrum of intellectual capital needs. In addition, we must develop, maintain and, as necessary, implement appropriate succession plans to assure we have the necessary human resources capable of maintaining continuity in our business. For instance, we are highly dependent on the expertise of our Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Jared Isaacman. The market for qualified personnel is competitive and we may not succeed in recruiting additional personnel or may fail to effectively replace current personnel who depart with qualified or effective successors. In addition, from time to time, there may be changes in our management team that may be disruptive to our business. If our management team, including any new hires that we make, fails to work together effectively and to execute our plans and strategies on a timely basis, our business could be harmed. Our effort to retain and develop personnel may also result in significant additional expenses, which could adversely affect our profitability. We cannot assure that key personnel, including our executive officers, will continue to be employed or that we will be able to attract and retain qualified personnel in the future. Failure to recruit, retain or develop qualified personnel could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

We incur chargeback liability when our merchants refuse to or cannot reimburse chargebacks resolved in favor of their customers. Any increase in chargebacks not paid by our merchants may adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

In the event a dispute between a cardholder and a merchant is not resolved in favor of the merchant, the transaction is normally charged back to the merchant and the purchase price is credited or otherwise refunded to the cardholder. If we are unable to collect such amounts from the merchant’s account or reserve account, if applicable, or if the merchant refuses or is unable, due to closure, bankruptcy or other reasons, to reimburse us for a chargeback, we are responsible for the amount of the refund paid to the cardholder. The risk of chargebacks is typically greater with those merchants that promise future delivery of goods and services rather than delivering goods or rendering services at the time of payment (for example in the hospitality and auto rental industries, both of which we support), as well as “card not present” transactions in which consumers do not physically present cards to merchants in connection with the purchase of goods and services, such as e-commerce, telephonic and mobile transactions. We may experience significant losses from chargebacks in the future. Any increase in chargebacks not paid by our merchants could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. We have policies and procedures to monitor and manage merchant-related credit risks and often mitigate such risks by requiring collateral, such as cash reserves, and monitoring transaction activity. Notwithstanding our policies and procedures for managing credit risk, it is possible that a default on such obligations by one or more of our merchants could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

We expend significant resources pursuing sales opportunities, and if we fail to close sales after expending significant time and resources to do so, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.

The initial installation and set-up of many of our services often involve significant resource commitments by our merchants, particularly those with larger operational scale. Potential merchants generally commit significant

 

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resources to an evaluation of available services and may require us to expend substantial time, effort and money educating them as to the value of our services. We incur substantial costs in order to obtain each new customer. We may expend significant funds and management resources during a sales cycle and ultimately fail to close the sale. Our sales cycle may be extended due to our merchants’ budgetary constraints or for other reasons. If we are unsuccessful in closing sales after expending significant funds and management resources or we experience delays or experience greater than anticipated costs, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

There may be a decline in the use of cards as a payment mechanism for consumers or adverse developments with respect to the card industry in general.

If consumers do not continue to use credit or debit cards as a payment mechanism for their transactions, if there continues to be a reduction in “card present” transactions as a result of COVID-19, or if there is a change in the mix of payments between cash, credit cards and debit cards and other emerging means of payment our business could be adversely affected. Consumer credit risk may make it more difficult or expensive for consumers to gain access to credit facilities such as credit cards. Regulatory changes may result in financial institutions seeking to charge their customers additional fees for use of credit or debit cards. Such fees may result in decreased use of credit or debit cards by cardholders. In order to consistently increase and maintain our profitability, consumers and businesses must continue to use electronic payment methods that we process, including credit and debit cards. If consumers and businesses do not continue to use credit, debit or prepaid cards as a payment mechanism for their transactions or if there is a change in the mix of payments between cash, alternative currencies and technologies, credit, debit and prepaid cards, or the corresponding methodologies used for each, which is adverse to us, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Increases in card network fees and other changes to fee arrangements may result in the loss of merchants or a reduction in our earnings.

From time to time, card networks, including Visa and Mastercard, increase the fees that they charge processors. We could attempt to pass these increases along to our merchants, but this strategy might result in the loss of merchants to our competitors who do not pass along the increases. If competitive practices prevent us from passing along the higher fees to our merchants in the future, we may have to absorb all or a portion of such increases, which may increase our operating costs and reduce our earnings. In addition, regulators are subjecting interchange and other fees to increased scrutiny, and new regulations could require greater pricing transparency of the breakdown in fees or fee limitations, which could lead to increased price-based competition, lower margins and higher rates of merchant attrition and affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

In addition, in certain of our markets, card issuers pay merchant acquirers such as us fees based on debit card usage in an effort to encourage debit card use. If these card issuers discontinue this practice, our revenue and margins in these jurisdictions could be adversely affected.

If we fail to comply with the applicable requirements of payment networks, they could seek to fine us, suspend us or terminate our registrations. If our merchants or sales partners incur fines or penalties that we cannot collect from them, we may have to bear the cost of such fines or penalties.

In order to provide our transaction processing services, several of our subsidiaries are registered with Visa and Mastercard and other payment networks as members or as service providers for members. Visa, Mastercard, and other payment networks, set the rules and standards with which we must comply. The termination of our member registration or our status as a certified service provider, or any changes in network rules or standards, including interpretation and implementation of the rules or standards, that increase the cost of doing business or limit our ability to provide transaction processing services to or through our merchants or partners, could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

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As such, we and our merchants are subject to payment network rules that could subject us or our merchants to a variety of fines or penalties that may be levied by such networks for certain acts or omissions by us or our merchants. The rules of card networks are set by their boards, which may be influenced by card issuers, and some of those issuers are our competitors with respect to these processing services. Many banks directly or indirectly sell processing services to merchants in direct competition with us. These banks could attempt, by virtue of their influence on the networks, to alter the networks’ rules or policies to the detriment of non-members including certain of our businesses. The termination of our registrations or our status as a service provider or a merchant processor, or any changes in network rules or standards, including interpretation and implementation of the rules or standards, that increase the cost of doing business or limit our ability to provide transaction processing services to our merchants, could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. If a merchant fails to comply with the applicable requirements of card networks, it could be subject to a variety of fines or penalties that may be levied by card networks. If we cannot collect the amounts from the applicable merchant, we may have to bear the cost of the fines or penalties, resulting in lower earnings for us. The termination of our registration, or any changes in card network rules that would impair our registration, could require us to stop providing payment processing services relating to the affected card network, which would adversely affect our ability to conduct our business.

Many of our key components are procured from a single or limited number of suppliers. Thus, we are at risk of shortage, price increases, tariffs, changes, delay, or discontinuation of key components, which could disrupt and materially and adversely affect our business.

Many of the key components used to manufacture our products, such as our POS systems, come from limited or single sources of supply. In addition, in some cases, we rely only on one manufacturer to fabricate, test, and assemble our products. In general, our contract manufacturers fabricate or procure components on our behalf, subject to certain approved procedures or supplier lists, and we do not have firm commitments from all of these manufacturers to provide all components, or to provide them in quantities and on timelines that we may require.

Due to our reliance on the components and products produced by suppliers such as these, we are subject to the risk of shortages and long lead times in the supply of certain components or products. We are still in the process of identifying alternative manufacturers for the assembly of our products and for many of the single-sourced components used in our products. In the case of off-the-shelf components, we are subject to the risk that our suppliers may discontinue or modify them, or that the components may cease to be available on commercially reasonable terms, or at all. We have in the past experienced, and may in the future experience, component shortages or delays or other problems in product assembly, and the availability of these components or products may be difficult to predict. For example, our manufacturers may experience temporary or permanent disruptions in their manufacturing operations due to equipment breakdowns, labor strikes or shortages, natural disasters, component or material shortages, cost increases, acquisitions, insolvency, changes in legal or regulatory requirements, or other similar problems.

Additionally, various sources of supply-chain risk, including strikes or shutdowns at delivery ports or loss of or damage to our products while they are in transit or storage, intellectual property theft, losses due to tampering, issues with quality or sourcing control, failure by our suppliers to comply with applicable laws and regulation, potential tariffs or other trade restrictions, or other similar problems could limit or delay the supply of our products or harm our reputation. In the event of a shortage or supply interruption from suppliers of these components, we may not be able to develop alternate sources quickly, cost-effectively, or at all. Any interruption or delay in manufacturing or component supply, any increases in component costs, or the inability to obtain these parts or components from alternate sources at acceptable prices and within a reasonable amount of time, would harm our ability to provide our products to sellers on a timely basis. This could harm our relationships with our sellers, prevent us from acquiring new sellers, and materially and adversely affect our business.

 

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Cost savings initiatives may not produce the savings expected and may negatively impact our other initiatives and efforts to grow our business.

We are consistently exploring measures aimed at improving our profitability and maintaining flexibility in our capital resources, including the introduction of cost savings initiatives. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we furloughed approximately 25% of our employees, accelerated expense reduction plans related to previous acquisitions, limited discretionary spending, re-prioritized our capital projects, instituted a company-wide hiring freeze and reduced salaries for management. We expect to continue to take measures to improve our profitability and cash flows from operating activities. However, there can be no assurance that the cost control measures will be successful. In addition, these and any future spending reductions, if any, may negatively impact our other initiatives or our efforts to grow our business, which may negatively impact our future results of operations and increase the burden on existing management, systems, and resources.

Our operating results and operating metrics are subject to seasonality and volatility, which could result in fluctuations in our quarterly revenues and operating results or in perceptions of our business prospects.

We have experienced in the past, and expect to continue to experience, seasonal fluctuations in our revenue, which can vary by region. For instance, our revenue has historically been strongest in our second and third quarters and weakest in our first quarter. Some variability results from seasonal retail events and the number of business days in a month or quarter. We also experience volatility in certain other metrics, such as number of transactions processed and payment processing volumes. Volatility in our key operating metrics or their rates of growth could result in fluctuations in financial condition or results of operations and may lead to adverse inferences about our prospects, which could result in declines in our stock price.

Financial risks

Our balance sheet includes significant amounts of goodwill and intangible assets. The impairment of a significant portion of these assets would negatively affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

As a result of our prior acquisitions, a significant portion of our total assets consists of intangible assets (including goodwill). Goodwill and intangible assets, net of amortization, together accounted for approximately 81% and 74% of the total assets on our balance sheet as of December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020, respectively. To the extent we engage in additional acquisitions we may recognize additional intangible assets and goodwill. We evaluate goodwill for impairment annually at October 1 and whenever events or circumstances make it more likely than not that impairment may have occurred. Under current accounting rules, any determination that impairment has occurred would require us to record an impairment charge, which would adversely affect our earnings. An impairment of a significant portion of goodwill or intangible assets could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Our substantial indebtedness could adversely affect our ability to raise additional capital to fund our operations, limit our ability to react to changes in the economy or our industry, expose us to interest rate risk to the extent of our variable rate debt and prevent us from meeting our debt obligations.

We have substantial indebtedness. As of March 31, 2020, we had approximately $729.3 million of total debt outstanding. Our substantial indebtedness could have adverse consequences, including:

 

   

increasing our vulnerability to adverse economic, industry or competitive developments;

 

   

requiring a substantial portion of cash flow from operations to be dedicated to the payment of principal and interest on our indebtedness, reducing our ability to use cash flow to fund our operations, capital expenditures and future business opportunities;

 

   

making it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to our indebtedness, including restrictive covenants and borrowing conditions, which could result in an event of default under the agreements governing such indebtedness;

 

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restricting us from making strategic acquisitions or causing us to make nonstrategic divestitures;

 

   

making it more difficult for us to obtain network sponsorship and clearing services from financial institutions or to obtain or retain other business with financial institutions;

 

   

limiting our ability to obtain additional financing for working capital, capital expenditures, product development, debt service requirements, acquisitions, and general corporate or other purposes; and

 

   

limiting our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business or market conditions and placing us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors who are less highly leveraged and who, therefore, may be able to take advantage of opportunities that our leverage prevents us from exploiting.

Successful execution of our business strategy is dependent in part upon our ability to manage our capital structure to reduce interest expense and enhance free cash flow generation. As of March 31, 2020, we had $509.8 million, $130.0 million, and $89.5 million outstanding under the first lien term loan facility, second lien term loan facility, and the revolving credit facility, respectively. The revolving credit facility had no remaining capacity as of March 31, 2020. We may not be able to refinance our Credit Facilities or our other existing indebtedness at or prior to their maturity at attractive rates of interest because of our high levels of debt, debt incurrence restrictions under our debt agreements or because of adverse conditions in credit markets generally. See “Description of Indebtedness” for additional information.

In addition, our total debt outstanding at March 31, 2020 of $729.3 million, including borrowings under our Credit Facilities, are at variable rates of interest and none of these borrowings are subject to an interest rate hedge. The condition of the financial and credit markets and prevailing interest rates have fluctuated in the past and are likely to fluctuate in the future. In addition, developments in our business and operations could lead to a ratings downgrade for us or our subsidiaries. As a result, as of March 31, 2020, the impact of a 100 basis point increase in interest rates would increase our annual interest expense by approximately $7.3 million.

Any such fluctuation in the financial and credit markets, or in the rating of us or our subsidiaries, may impact our ability to access debt markets in the future or increase our cost of current or future debt, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Restrictions imposed by our Credit Facilities and our other outstanding indebtedness may materially limit our ability to operate our business and finance our future operations or capital needs.

The terms of our Credit Facilities restrict us and our restricted subsidiaries, which currently includes all of our operating subsidiaries, from engaging in specified types of transactions. These covenants restrict our ability, and that of our restricted subsidiaries, to, among other things:

 

   

incur indebtedness;

 

   

create liens;

 

   

engage in mergers or consolidations;

 

   

make investments, loans and advances;

 

   

pay dividends and distributions and repurchase capital stock;

 

   

sell assets;

 

   

engage in certain transactions with affiliates;

 

   

enter into sale and leaseback transactions;

 

   

make certain accounting changes; and

 

   

make prepayments on junior indebtedness.

 

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In addition, the credit agreements governing our Credit Facilities contain a springing maximum total leverage ratio financial covenant and customary financial covenants based on various leverage and interest coverage ratios. See “Description of Indebtedness.” A breach of any of these covenants, or any other covenant in the documents governing our Credit Facilities, could result in a default or event of default under our Credit Facilities. In the event of any event of default under our Credit Facilities, the applicable lenders or agents could elect to terminate borrowing commitments and declare all borrowings and loans outstanding thereunder, together with accrued and unpaid interest and any fees and other obligations, to be immediately due and payable. In addition, or in the alternative, the applicable lenders or agents could exercise their rights under the security documents entered into in connection with our Credit Facilities. We have pledged substantially all of our assets as collateral securing our Credit Facilities and any such exercise of remedies on any material portion of such collateral would likely materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

If we were unable to repay or otherwise refinance these borrowings and loans when due, and the applicable lenders proceeded against the collateral granted to them to secure that indebtedness, we may be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation. In the event the applicable lenders accelerate the repayment of our borrowings, we may not have sufficient assets to repay that indebtedness. Any acceleration of amounts due under our Credit Facilities or other outstanding indebtedness would also likely have a material adverse effect on us.

Accelerated funding programs increase our working capital requirements and expose us to incremental credit risk, and if we are unable to access or raise sufficient liquidity to address these funding programs we may be exposed to additional competitive risk.

In response to demand from our merchants and competitive offerings, we offer certain of our merchants various accelerated funding programs, which are designed to enable qualified participating merchants to receive their deposits from credit card transactions in an expedited manner. These programs increase our working capital requirements and expose us to incremental credit risk related to our merchants, which could constrain our ability to raise additional capital to fund our operations and adversely affect our growth, financial condition and results of operations. Our inability to access or raise sufficient liquidity to address our needs in connection with the anticipated expansion of such advance funding programs could put us at a competitive disadvantage by restricting our ability to offer programs to all of our merchants similar to those made available by various of our competitors.

Our results of operations may be adversely affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates.

Revenue and profit generated by our non-U.S. operations will increase or decrease compared to prior periods as a result of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. In addition, we may become subject to exchange control regulations that restrict or prohibit the conversion of our other revenue currencies into U.S. dollars. Any of these factors could decrease the value of revenues and earnings we derive from our non-U.S. operations and adversely affect our business.

While we currently have limited diversification in foreign currency, we may seek to reduce our exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates through the use of hedging arrangements. To the extent that we hedge our foreign currency exchange rate exposure, we forgo the benefits we would otherwise experience if foreign currency exchange rates changed in our favor. No strategy can completely insulate us from risks associated with such fluctuations and our currency exchange rate risk management activities could expose us to substantial losses if such rates move materially differently from our expectations.

New or revised tax regulations or their interpretations, or becoming subject to additional foreign or U.S. federal, state or local taxes that cannot be passed through to our merchants or partners, could reduce our net income.

We are subject to tax laws in each jurisdiction where we do business. Changes in tax laws or their interpretations could decrease the amount of revenues we receive, the value of any tax loss carry-forwards and tax credits

 

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recorded on our balance sheet and the amount of our cash flow, and adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Additionally, companies in the electronic payments industry, including us, may become subject to incremental taxation in various tax jurisdictions. Taxing jurisdictions have not yet adopted uniform positions on this topic. If we are required to pay additional taxes and are unable to pass the tax expense through to our merchants, our costs would increase and our net income would be reduced.

If we cannot pass along increases in interchange and other fees from payment networks to our merchants, our operating margins would be reduced.

We pay interchange, assessment, transaction and other fees set by the payment networks to such networks and, in some cases, to the card issuing financial institutions for each transaction we process. From time to time, the payment networks increase the interchange fees and other fees that they charge payment processors and the financial institution sponsors. At their sole discretion, our financial institution sponsors have the right to pass any increases in interchange and other fees on to us and they have consistently done so in the past. We are generally permitted under the contracts into which we enter, and in the past we have been able to, pass these fee increases along to our merchants through corresponding increases in our processing fees. However, if we are unable to pass through these and other fees in the future, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Legal and regulatory risks

Failure to comply with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or the FCPA, anti-money laundering, economic and trade sanctions regulations, and similar laws could subject us to penalties and other adverse consequences.

We may operate our business in foreign countries where companies often engage in business practices that are prohibited by U.S. and other regulations applicable to us. We are subject to anti-corruption laws and regulations, including the FCPA and other laws that prohibit the making or offering of improper payments to foreign government officials and political figures, including anti-bribery provisions enforced by the Department of Justice and accounting provisions enforced by the SEC. These laws prohibit improper payments or offers of payments to foreign governments and their officials and political parties by the United States and other business entities for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. We have implemented policies, procedures, systems, and controls designed to identify and address potentially impermissible transactions under such laws and regulations; however, there can be no assurance that all of our employees, consultants and agents, including those that may be based in or from countries where practices that violate U.S. or other laws may be customary, will not take actions in violation of our policies, for which we may be ultimately responsible.

In addition, we are contractually required to comply with anti-money laundering laws and regulations, including the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, or the BSA. Among other things, the BSA requires subject entities to develop and implement risk-based anti-money laundering programs, report large cash transactions and suspicious activity, and maintain transaction records.

We are also subject to certain economic and trade sanctions programs that are administered by the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC, which prohibit or restrict transactions to or from or dealings with specified countries, their governments, and in certain circumstances, their nationals, and with individuals and entities that are specially-designated nationals of those countries, narcotics traffickers, and terrorists or terrorist organizations. Other entities may be subject to additional foreign or local sanctions requirements in other relevant jurisdictions.

Similar anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing and proceeds of crime laws apply to movements of currency and payments through electronic transactions and to dealings with persons specified in lists maintained

 

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by the country equivalents to OFAC lists in several other countries and require specific data retention obligations to be observed by intermediaries in the payment process. Our businesses in those jurisdictions are subject to those data retention obligations.

Failure to comply with any of these laws and regulations or changes in this regulatory environment, including changing interpretations and the implementation of new or varying regulatory requirements by the government, may result in significant financial penalties, reputational harm or change the manner in which we currently conduct some aspects of our business, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Failure to protect, enforce and defend our intellectual property rights may diminish our competitive advantages or interfere with our ability to market and promote our products and services.

Our trademarks, trade names, trade secrets, patents, know-how, proprietary technology and other intellectual property are important to our future success. We believe our trademarks and trade names are widely recognized and associated with quality and reliable service. While it is our policy to protect and defend our intellectual property rights vigorously, we cannot predict whether the steps we take to protect our intellectual property will be adequate to prevent infringement, misappropriation, dilution or other potential violations of our intellectually property rights. We also cannot guarantee that others will not independently develop technology with the same or similar functions to any proprietary technology we rely on to conduct our business and differentiate ourselves from our competitors. Unauthorized parties may also attempt to copy or obtain and use our technology to develop applications with the same functionality as our solutions, and policing unauthorized use of our technology and intellectual property rights is difficult and may not be effective. Furthermore, we may face claims of infringement of third-party intellectual property rights that could interfere with our ability to market and promote our brands, products and services. Any litigation to enforce our intellectual property rights or defend ourselves against claims of infringement of third-party intellectual property rights could be costly, divert attention of management and may not ultimately be resolved in our favor. Moreover, if we are unable to successfully defend against claims that we have infringed the intellectual property rights of others, we may be prevented from using certain intellectual property or may be liable for damages, which in turn could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

While software and other of our proprietary works may be protected under copyright law, we have chosen not to register any copyrights in these works, and instead, primarily rely on protecting our software as a trade secret. In order to bring a copyright infringement lawsuit in the United States, the copyright must be registered with the United States Copyright Office. Accordingly, the remedies and damages available to us for unauthorized use of our software may be limited.

We attempt to protect our intellectual property and proprietary information by requiring all of our employees, consultants and certain of our contractors to execute confidentiality and invention assignment agreements. However, we may not obtain these agreements in all circumstances, and individuals with whom we have these agreements may not comply with their terms. The assignment of intellectual property rights under these agreements may not be self-executing or the assignment agreements may be breached, and we may be forced to bring claims against third parties, or defend claims that they may bring against us, to determine the ownership of what we regard as our intellectual property. In addition, we may not be able to prevent the unauthorized disclosure or use of our technical know-how or other trade secrets by the parties to these agreements despite the existence generally of confidentiality agreements and other contractual restrictions. Monitoring unauthorized uses and disclosures is difficult and we do not know whether the steps we have taken to protect our proprietary technologies will be effective.

In addition, we use open-source software in connection with our proprietary software and expect to continue to use open-source software in the future. Some open-source licenses require licensors to provide source code to licensees upon request, or prohibit licensors from charging a fee to licensees. While we try to insulate our

 

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proprietary code from the effects of such open-source license provisions, we cannot guarantee we will be successful. Accordingly, we may face claims from others claiming ownership of, or seeking to enforce the license terms applicable to such open-source software, including by demanding release of the open-source software, derivative works or our proprietary source code that was developed or distributed with such software. These claims could also result in litigation, require us to purchase a costly license or require us to devote additional research and development resources to change our software, any of which would have a negative effect on our business and results of operations. In addition, if the license terms for the open-source code change, we may be forced to re-engineer our software or incur additional costs.

Our existing patents may not be valid, and we may not be able to obtain and enforce additional patents to protect our proprietary rights from use by potential competitors. Companies with other patents could require us to stop using or pay to use required technology.

We have applied for, and intend to continue to apply for, patents relating to our proprietary software and technology. Such applications may not result in the issuance of any patents, and any patents now held or that may be issued may not provide adequate protection from competition. Furthermore, because the issuance of a patent is not conclusive as to its inventorship, scope, validity or enforceability, it is possible that patents issued or licensed to us may be challenged successfully and found to be invalid or unenforceable. In that event, any competitive advantage that such patents might provide would be lost. If we are unable to secure or to continue to maintain patent coverage, our technology could become subject to competition from the sale of similar competing products.

Competitors may also be able to design around our patents. Changes in either the patent laws or interpretation of the patent laws in the United States and other countries may diminish the value of our patents or narrow the scope of our patent protection. If these developments were to occur, we could face increased competition. In addition, filing, prosecuting, maintaining, defending and enforcing patents on our software and technology in all countries throughout the world would be prohibitively expensive, and our intellectual property rights in some countries outside the United States can be less extensive than those in the United States.

Failure to comply with, or changes in, laws, regulations and enforcement activities may adversely affect the products, services and markets in which we operate.

We, our merchants and certain third party partners are subject to laws, regulations and industry standards that affect the electronic payments industry in the many countries in which our services are used. In particular, certain merchants and software partners and our sponsor bank are subject to numerous laws and regulations applicable to banks, financial institutions, and card issuers in the United States and abroad, and, consequently, we are at times affected by these foreign, federal, state, and local laws and regulations. There may be changes to the laws, regulation and standards that affect our operations in substantial and unpredictable ways at the federal and state level in the United States and in other countries in which our services are used. Changes to laws, regulations and standards, including interpretation and enforcement of such laws, regulations and standards could increase the cost of doing business or otherwise change how or where we want to do business. In addition, changes to laws, regulations and standards could affect our merchants and software partners and could result in material effects on the way we operate or the cost to operate our business.

In addition, the U.S. government has increased its scrutiny of a number of credit card practices, from which some of our merchants derive significant revenue. Regulation of the payments industry, including regulations applicable to us, our merchants and software partners, has increased significantly in recent years. Failure to comply with laws and regulations applicable to our business may result in the suspension or revocation of licenses or registrations, the limitation, suspension or termination of services or the imposition of consent orders or civil and criminal penalties, including fines which could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

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We are also subject to U.S. financial services regulations, a myriad of consumer protection laws, including economic sanctions, laws and regulations, anticorruption laws, escheat regulations and privacy and information security regulations. Changes to legal rules and regulations, or interpretation or enforcement of them, could have a negative financial effect on us. Any lack of legal certainty exposes our operations to increased risks, including increased difficulty in enforcing our agreements in those jurisdictions and increased risks of adverse actions by local government authorities, such as expropriations. In addition, certain of our alliance partners are subject to regulation by federal and state authorities and, as a result, could pass through some of those compliance obligations to us, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

In particular, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, or the Dodd-Frank Act, significantly changed the U.S. financial regulatory system. Among other things, Title X of the Dodd-Frank Act established the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or CFPB, which regulates consumer financial products and services, including some offered by certain of our merchants. Regulation, examination and enforcement actions from the CFPB may require us to adjust our activities and may increase our compliance costs.

Separately, under the Dodd-Frank Act, debit interchange fees that a card issuer receives and which are established by a payment network for an electronic debit transaction are regulated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, or the Federal Reserve, and must be “reasonable and proportional” to the cost incurred by the card issuer in authorizing, clearing, and settling the transaction. The Federal Reserve has capped debit interchange rates for card issuers operating in the United States with assets of $10 billion or more at the sum of $0.21 per transaction and an ad valorem component of 5 basis points to reflect a portion of the card issuer’s fraud losses plus, for qualifying card issuers, an additional $0.01 per transaction in debit interchange for fraud prevention costs. Regulations such as these could result in the need for us to make capital investments to modify our services to facilitate our existing merchants’ and potential merchants’ compliance and reduce the fees we are able to charge our merchants. These regulations also could result in greater pricing transparency and increased price-based competition leading to lower margins and higher rates of merchant attrition. Furthermore, the requirements of the regulations could result in changes in our merchants’ business practices, which could change the demand for our services and alter the type or volume of transactions that we process on behalf of our merchants.

From time to time we are subject to various legal proceedings which could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

We are involved in various litigation matters from time to time. Such matters can be time-consuming, divert management’s attention and resources and cause us to incur significant expenses. Our insurance or indemnities may not cover all claims that may be asserted against us, and any claims asserted against us, regardless of merit or eventual outcome, may harm our reputation. If we are unsuccessful in our defense in these litigation matters, or any other legal proceeding, we may be forced to pay damages or fines, enter into consent decrees or change our business practices, any of which could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Risks related to our organizational structure

Our principal asset after the completion of this offering will be our interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC, and, as a result, we will depend on distributions from Shift4 Payments, LLC to pay our taxes and expenses, including payments under the TRA. Shift4 Payments, LLC’s ability to make such distributions may be subject to various limitations and restrictions.

Upon the consummation of this offering, we will be a holding company and will have no material assets other than our ownership of LLC Interests. As such, we will have no independent means of generating revenue or cash flow, and our ability to pay our taxes and operating expenses or declare and pay dividends in the future, if any, will be dependent upon the financial results and cash flows of Shift4 Payments, LLC and its subsidiaries and

 

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distributions we receive from Shift4 Payments, LLC. There can be no assurance that our subsidiaries will generate sufficient cash flow to distribute funds to us or that applicable state law and contractual restrictions, including negative covenants in our debt instruments, will permit such distributions. Although Shift4 Payments, LLC is not currently subject to any debt instruments or other agreements that would restrict its ability to make distributions to Shift4 Payments, Inc., the terms of our Credit Facilities and other outstanding indebtedness restrict the ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends to Shift4 Payments, LLC.

Shift4 Payments, LLC will continue to report as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, as such, generally will not be subject to any entity-level U.S. federal income tax. Instead, any taxable income of Shift4 Payments, LLC will be allocated to holders of LLC Interests, including us. Accordingly, we will incur income taxes on our allocable share of any net taxable income of Shift4 Payments, LLC. Under the terms of the Shift4 Payments LLC Agreement, Shift4 Payments, LLC will be obligated to make tax distributions to holders of LLC Interests, including us. In addition to tax expenses, we will also incur expenses related to our operations, including payments under the TRA, which we expect could be significant. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Tax Receivable Agreement.” We intend, as its managing member, to cause Shift4 Payments, LLC to make cash distributions to the owners of LLC Interests in an amount sufficient to (1) fund all or part of their tax obligations in respect of taxable income allocated to them and (2) cover our operating expenses, including payments under the TRA. However, Shift4 Payments, LLC’s ability to make such distributions may be subject to various limitations and restrictions, such as restrictions on distributions that would either violate any contract or agreement to which Shift4 Payments, LLC is then a party, including debt agreements, or any applicable law, or that would have the effect of rendering Shift4 Payments, LLC insolvent. If we do not have sufficient funds to pay tax or other liabilities or to fund our operations (including as a result of an acceleration of our obligations under the TRA), we may have to borrow funds, which could materially adversely affect our liquidity and financial condition and subject us to various restrictions imposed by any such lenders. To the extent that we are unable to make timely payments under the TRA for any reason, such payments generally will be deferred and will accrue interest until paid; provided, however, that nonpayment for a specified period may constitute a material breach of a material obligation under the TRA and therefore accelerate payments due under the TRA. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Tax Receivable Agreement” and “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions— Shift4 LLC Agreement—Agreement in Effect Upon Consummation of this Offering—Distributions.” In addition, if Shift4 Payments, LLC does not have sufficient funds to make distributions, our ability to declare and pay cash dividends will also be restricted or impaired. See “—Risks related to the offering and ownership of our Class A common stock” and “Dividend Policy.”

Under the Shift4 Payments LLC Agreement, we expect Shift4 Payments, LLC, from time to time, to make distributions in cash to its equityholders, in amounts sufficient to cover the taxes on their allocable share of taxable income of Shift4 Payments, LLC. As a result of (i) potential differences in the amount of net taxable income indirectly allocable to us and to Shift4 Payments, LLC’s other equityholders, (ii) the lower tax rate applicable to corporations as opposed to individuals and (iii) the favorable tax benefits that we anticipate from (a) future purchases or redemptions of LLC Interests from the Continuing Equity Owners, (b) payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement and (c) the acquisition of interests in Shift4 Payments, LLC from its equityholders, we expect that these tax distributions may be in amounts that exceed our tax liabilities. Our board of directors will determine the appropriate uses for any excess cash so accumulated, which may include, among other uses, the payment of obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement and the payment of other expenses. We will have no obligation to distribute such cash (or other available cash) to our stockholders. No adjustments to the exchange ratio for LLC Interests and corresponding shares of Class A common stock will be made as a result of any cash distribution by us or any retention of cash by us. To the extent we do not distribute such excess cash as dividends on our Class A common stock or otherwise take ameliorative actions between LLC Interests and shares of Class A common stock and instead, for example, hold such cash balances, or lend them to Shift4 Payments, LLC, this may result in shares of our Class A common stock increasing in value relative to the value of LLC Interests. The holders of LLC Interests may benefit from any value attributable to such cash balances if they acquire shares of Class A common stock in exchange for their LLC Interests, notwithstanding that such holders may previously have participated as holders of LLC Interests in distributions that resulted in such excess cash balances.

 

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The TRA with the Continuing Equity Owners and the Blocker Shareholders requires us to make cash payments to them in respect of certain tax benefits to which we may become entitled, and we expect that the payments we will be required to make will be substantial.

Under the TRA, we will be required to make cash payments to the Continuing Equity Owners and the Blocker Shareholders equal to 85% of the tax benefits, if any, that we actually realize, or in certain circumstances are deemed to realize, as a result of (1) the increases in our share of the tax basis of assets of Shift4 Payments, LLC resulting from any redemptions of LLC Interests from the Continuing Equity Owners as described under “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Shift4 LLC Agreement—Agreement in Effect Upon Consummation of this Offering—Common Unit Redemption Right,” (2) our utilization of certain tax attributes of the Blocker Companies and (3) certain other tax benefits related to our making payments under the TRA. The payment obligations under the TRA are obligations of Shift4 Payments, Inc. and we expect that the amount of the cash payments that we will be required to make under the TRA will be significant. Any payments made by us to the Continuing Equity Owners and the Blocker Shareholders under the TRA will not be available for reinvestment in our business and will generally reduce the amount of overall cash flow that might have otherwise been available to us. The payments under the TRA are not conditioned upon continued ownership of us by the exchanging Continuing Equity Owners. Furthermore, our future obligation to make payments under the TRA could make us a less attractive target for an acquisition, particularly in the case of an acquirer that cannot use some or all of the tax benefits that are the subject of the TRA. For more information, see “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Tax Receivable Agreement.” The actual increase in tax basis, as well as the amount and timing of any payments under the TRA, will vary depending upon a number of factors, including the timing of redemptions by the Continuing Equity Owners, the price of shares of our Class A common stock at the time of the exchange, the extent to which such exchanges are taxable, the amount of gain recognized by such holders of LLC Interests, the amount and timing of the taxable income allocated to us or otherwise generated by us in the future, the portion of our payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement constituting imputed interest and the federal and state tax rates then applicable.

Our organizational structure, including the TRA, confers certain benefits upon the Continuing Equity Owners and the Blocker Shareholders that will not benefit holders of our Class A common stock to the same extent that it will benefit the Continuing Equity Owners and the Blocker Shareholders.

Our organizational structure, including the TRA, confers certain benefits upon the Continuing Equity Owners and the Blocker Shareholders that will not benefit the holders of our Class A common stock to the same extent that it will benefit the Continuing Equity Owners and the Blocker Shareholders. We will enter into the TRA with Shift4 Payments, LLC, the Continuing Equity Owners and the Blocker Shareholders in connection with the completion of this offering, which will provide for the payment by Shift4 Payments, Inc. to the Continuing Equity Owners and the Blocker Shareholders of 85% of the amount of tax benefits, if any, that Shift4 Payments, Inc. actually realizes, or in some circumstances is deemed to realize, as a result of (1) the increases in the tax basis of assets of Shift4 Payments, LLC resulting from any redemptions of LLC Interests from the Continuing Equity Owners as described under “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Shift4 LLC Agreement—Agreement in Effect Upon Consummation of this Offering—Common Unit Redemption Right” (2) our utilization of certain tax attributes of the Blocker Companies and (3) certain other tax benefits related to our making payments under the TRA. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Tax Receivable Agreement.” Although Shift4 Payments, Inc. will retain 15% of the amount of such tax benefits, this and other aspects of our organizational structure may adversely impact the future trading market for the Class A common stock.

In certain cases, payments under the TRA to the Continuing Equity Owners and the Blocker Shareholders may be accelerated or significantly exceed any actual benefits we realize in respect of the tax attributes subject to the TRA.

The TRA provides that upon certain mergers, asset sales, other forms of business combinations or other changes of control or if, at any time, we elect an early termination of the TRA, then our obligations, or our successor’s

 

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obligations, under the TRA to make payments would be based on certain assumptions, including an assumption that we would have sufficient taxable income to fully utilize all potential future tax benefits that are subject to the TRA.

As a result of the foregoing, (1) we could be required to make payments under the TRA that are greater than the specified percentage of any actual benefits we ultimately realize in respect of the tax benefits that are subject to the TRA and (2) if we elect to terminate the TRA early, we would be required to make an immediate cash payment equal to the present value of the anticipated future tax benefits that are the subject of the TRA, based on certain assumptions, which payment may be made significantly in advance of the actual realization, if any, of such future tax benefits. In these situations, our obligations under the TRA could have a substantial negative impact on our liquidity and could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing certain mergers, asset sales, other forms of business combinations or other changes of control. There can be no assurance that we will be able to fund or finance our obligations under the TRA.

We will not be reimbursed for any payments made to the Continuing Equity Owners or the Blocker Shareholders under the TRA in the event that any tax benefits are disallowed.

Payments under the TRA will be based on the tax reporting positions that we determine, and the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, or another tax authority may challenge all or part of the tax basis increases or other tax benefits we claim, as well as other related tax positions we take, and a court could sustain such challenge. If the outcome of any such challenge would reasonably be expected to materially affect a recipient’s payments under the TRA, then we will not be permitted to settle such challenge without the consent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) of Searchlight and Rook. The interests of the Continuing Equity Owners and the Blocker Shareholders in any such challenge may differ from or conflict with our interests and your interests, and Searchlight and Rook may exercise their consent rights relating to any such challenge in a manner adverse to our interests and your interests. We will not be reimbursed for any cash payments previously made to the Continuing Equity Owners or the Blocker Shareholder under the TRA in the event that any tax benefits initially claimed by us and for which payment has been made to a Continuing Equity Owner or the Blocker Shareholder are subsequently challenged by a taxing authority and are ultimately disallowed. Instead, any excess cash payments made by us to a Continuing Equity Owner or the Blocker Shareholder will be netted against any future cash payments that we might otherwise be required to make to such Continuing Equity Owner or such Blocker Shareholder, as applicable, under the terms of the TRA. However, we might not determine that we have effectively made an excess cash payment to a Continuing Equity Owner or the Blocker Shareholder for a number of years following the initial time of such payment and, if any of our tax reporting positions are challenged by a taxing authority, we will not be permitted to reduce any future cash payments under the TRA until any such challenge is finally settled or determined. Moreover, the excess cash payments we previously made under the TRA could be greater than the amount of future cash payments against which we would otherwise be permitted to net such excess. As a result, payments could be made under the TRA significantly in excess of any tax savings that we realize in respect of the tax attributes with respect to a Continuing Equity Owner or the Blocker Shareholder that are the subject of the TRA.

Unanticipated changes in effective tax rates or adverse outcomes resulting from examination of our income or other tax returns could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

We are subject to taxes by the U.S. federal, state, local and foreign tax authorities. Our future effective tax rates could be subject to volatility or adversely affected by a number of factors, including:

 

   

allocation of expenses to and among different jurisdictions;

 

   

changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities;

 

   

expected timing and amount of the release of any tax valuation allowances;

 

   

tax effects of stock-based compensation;

 

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costs related to intercompany restructurings;

 

   

changes in tax laws, tax treaties, regulations or interpretations thereof; or

 

   

lower than anticipated future earnings in jurisdictions where we have lower statutory tax rates and higher than anticipated future earnings in jurisdictions where we have higher statutory tax rates.

In addition, we may be subject to audits of our income, sales and other taxes by U.S. federal, state, and local and foreign taxing authorities. Outcomes from these audits could have an adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition.

If we were deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or the 1940 Act, including as a result of our ownership of Shift4 Payments, LLC, applicable restrictions could make it impractical for us to continue our business as contemplated and could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Under Sections 3(a)(1)(A) and (C) of the 1940 Act, a company generally will be deemed to be an “investment company” for purposes of the 1940 Act if (1) it is, or holds itself out as being, engaged primarily, or proposes to engage primarily, in the business of investing, reinvesting or trading in securities or (2) it engages, or proposes to engage, in the business of investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading in securities and it owns or proposes to acquire investment securities having a value exceeding 40% of the value of its total assets (exclusive of U.S. government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis. We do not believe that we are an “investment company,” as such term is defined in either of those sections of the 1940 Act.

We and Shift4 Payments, LLC intend to conduct our operations so that we will not be deemed an investment company. As the sole managing member of Shift4 Payments, LLC, we will control and operate Shift4 Payments, LLC. On that basis, we believe that our interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC is not an “investment security” as that term is used in the 1940 Act. However, if we were to cease participation in the management of Shift4 Payments, LLC, or if Shift4 Payments, LLC itself becomes an investment company, our interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC could be deemed an “investment security” for purposes of the 1940 Act.

We and Shift4 Payments, LLC intend to conduct our operations so that we will not be deemed an investment company. If it were established that we were an unregistered investment company, there would be a risk that we would be subject to monetary penalties and injunctive relief in an action brought by the SEC, that we would be unable to enforce contracts with third parties and that third parties could seek to obtain rescission of transactions undertaken during the period it was established that we were an unregistered investment company. If we were required to register as an investment company, restrictions imposed by the 1940 Act, including limitations on our capital structure and our ability to transact with affiliates, could make it impractical for us to continue our business as contemplated and could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Risks related to the offering and ownership of our Class A common stock

Searchlight and our Founder will continue to have significant influence over us after this offering, including control over decisions that require the approval of stockholders.

Upon consummation of this offering, Searchlight and our Founder will control, in the aggregate, approximately 96.5% of the voting power represented by all our outstanding classes of stock. As a result, Searchlight and our Founder will continue to exercise significant influence over all matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election and removal of directors and the size of our board, any amendment of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or bylaws and any approval of significant corporate transactions (including a sale of substantially all of our assets), and will continue to have significant control over our management and policies.

Our Founder, an affiliate of our Founder and affiliates of Searchlight are members of our board of directors. These board members are designees of Searchlight and our Founder and can take actions that have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of us or discouraging others from making tender offers for our shares,

 

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which could prevent stockholders from receiving a premium for their shares. These actions may be taken even if other stockholders oppose them. The concentration of voting power with Searchlight and our Founder may have an adverse effect on the price of our Class A common stock. The interests of Searchlight and our Founder may not be consistent with your interests as a stockholder.

Searchlight and their respective affiliates engage in a broad spectrum of activities. In the ordinary course of their business activities, Searchlight and their respective affiliates may engage in activities where their interests conflict with our interests or those of our stockholders. Searchlight may also pursue acquisition opportunities that may be complementary to our business, and, as a result, those acquisition opportunities may not be available to us. In addition, Searchlight may have an interest in us pursuing acquisitions, divestitures and other transactions that, in its judgment, could enhance its investment, even though such transactions might involve risks to you.

The multiple class structure of our common stock has the effect of concentrating voting power with our Founder and Searchlight, which will limit your ability to influence the outcome of important transactions, including a change in control.

Our Class B common stock and Class C common stock each have ten votes per share, and our Class A common stock, which is the stock we are offering by means of this prospectus, has one vote per share. Upon the closing of this offering and the concurrent private placement, Jared Isaacman, our Founder, Chief Executive Officer and a member of our board of directors will control approximately 50.3% of the voting power of our outstanding capital stock; and Searchlight will hold approximately 46.2% of the voting power of our outstanding capital stock. Accordingly, upon the closing of this offering and the concurrent private placement, our Founder and Searchlight will together hold all of the issued and outstanding shares of our Class B common stock and Class C common stock and therefore, individually or together, will be able to significantly influence matters submitted to our stockholders for approval, including the election of directors, amendments of our organizational documents and any merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of our assets or other major corporate transactions. Our Founder and Searchlight, individually or together, may vote in a way with which you disagree and which may be adverse to your interests. This concentrated control may have the effect of delaying, preventing or deterring a change in control of our company, could deprive our stockholders of an opportunity to receive a premium for their capital stock as part of a sale of our company and might ultimately affect the market price of our Class A common stock. Future transfers by the holders of Class B common stock and Class C common stock will generally result in those shares converting into shares of Class A common stock, subject to limited exceptions. For information about our multiple class structure, see the section titled “Description of Capital Stock.”

We cannot predict the effect our multiple class structure may have on the market price of our Class A common stock.

We cannot predict whether our multiple class structure will result in a lower or more volatile market price of our Class A common stock, in adverse publicity, or other adverse consequences. For example, certain index providers have announced restrictions on including companies with multiple-class share structures in certain of their indices. In July 2017, FTSE Russell announced that it plans to require new constituents of its indices to have greater than 5% of the company’s voting rights in the hands of public stockholders, and S&P Dow Jones announced that it will no longer admit companies with multiple-class share structures to certain of its indices. Affected indices include the Russell 2000 and the S&P 500, S&P MidCap 400, and S&P SmallCap 600, which together make up the S&P Composite 1500. Also in 2017, MSCI, a leading stock index provider, opened public consultations on their treatment of no-vote and multi-class structures and temporarily barred new multi-class listings from certain of its indices and in October 2018, MSCI announced its decision to include equity securities “with unequal voting structures” in its indices and to launch a new index that specifically includes voting rights in its eligibility criteria. Under such announced policies, the multiple class structure of our common stock would make us ineligible for inclusion in certain indices and, as a result, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds and other investment vehicles that attempt to track those indices would not invest in our Class A common stock. These policies are relatively new and it is unclear what effect, if any, they will have on the valuations of publicly-traded

 

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companies excluded from such indices, but it is possible that they may depress valuations, as compared to similar companies that are included. Given the sustained flow of investment funds into passive strategies that seek to track certain indices, exclusion from certain stock indices would likely preclude investment by many of these funds and could make our Class A common stock less attractive to other investors. As a result, the market price of our Class A common stock could be adversely affected.

We are a “controlled company” within the meaning of the NYSE rules and, as a result, will qualify for, and intend to rely on, exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements. You may not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to such corporate governance requirements.

After the consummation of this offering and the concurrent private placement, Searchlight and our Founder will have more than 50% of the voting power for the election of directors, and, as a result, we will be considered a “controlled company” for the purposes of the NYSE. As such, we will qualify for, and intend to rely on, exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements, including the requirements to have a majority of independent directors on our board of directors, an entirely independent nominating and corporate governance committee, an entirely independent compensation committee or to perform annual performance evaluations of the nominating and corporate governance and compensation committees.

The corporate governance requirements and specifically the independence standards are intended to ensure that directors who are considered independent are free of any conflicting interest that could influence their actions as directors. Following this offering, we intend to utilize certain exemptions afforded to a “controlled company.” As a result, we will not be subject to certain corporate governance requirements, including that a majority of our board of directors consists of “independent directors,” as defined under the rules of the NYSE. In addition, we will not be required to have a nominating and corporate governance committee or compensation committee that is composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities or to conduct annual performance evaluations of the nominating and corporate governance and compensation committees.

Accordingly, you may not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of the corporate governance requirements of the NYSE. Our status as a controlled company could make our Class A common stock less attractive to some investors or otherwise harm our stock price.

Certain provisions of Delaware law and antitakeover provisions in our organizational documents could delay or prevent a change of control.

Certain provisions of Delaware law and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws may have an antitakeover effect and may delay, defer, or prevent a merger, acquisition, tender offer, takeover attempt or other change of control transaction that a stockholder might consider in its best interest, including those attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares held by our stockholders. These provisions provide for, among other things:

 

   

a multi-class common stock structure;

 

   

a classified board of directors with staggered three-year terms;

 

   

the ability of our board of directors to issue one or more series of preferred stock;

 

   

advance notice for nominations of directors by stockholders and for stockholders to include matters to be considered at our annual meetings;

 

   

certain limitations on convening special stockholder meetings;

 

   

prohibit cumulative voting in the election of directors; and

 

   

the removal of directors only for cause and only upon the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power represented by our then-outstanding common stock.

 

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These antitakeover provisions could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us, even if the third party’s offer may be considered beneficial by many of our stockholders. As a result, our stockholders may be limited in their ability to obtain a premium for their shares.

In addition, we have opted out of Section 203 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, which we refer to as the DGCL, but our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that engaging in any of a broad range of business combinations with any “interested” stockholder (any stockholder with 15% or more of our voting stock) for a period of three years following the date on which the stockholder became an “interested” stockholder is prohibited, subject to certain exceptions. See “Description of Capital Stock.”

The JOBS Act will allow us to postpone the date by which we must comply with certain laws and regulations intended to protect investors and to reduce the amount of information we provide in our reports filed with the SEC. We cannot be certain if this reduced disclosure will make our Class A common stock less attractive to investors.

The JOBS Act is intended to reduce the regulatory burden on “emerging growth companies.” As defined in the JOBS Act, a public company whose initial public offering of common equity securities occurs after December 8, 2011 and whose annual gross revenues are less than $1.07 billion will, in general, qualify as an “emerging growth company” until the earliest of:

 

   

the last day of its fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the date of its initial public offering of common equity securities;

 

   

the last day of its fiscal year in which it has annual gross revenue of $1.07 billion or more;

 

   

the date on which it has, during the previous three-year period, issued more than $1.07 billion in nonconvertible debt; and

 

   

the date on which it is deemed to be a “large accelerated filer,” which will occur at such time as the company (1) has an aggregate worldwide market value of common equity securities held by non-affiliates of $700 million or more as of the last business day of its most recently completed second fiscal quarter, (2) has been required to file annual and quarterly reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, for a period of at least 12 months and (3) has filed at least one annual report pursuant to the Exchange Act.

Under this definition, we will be an “emerging growth company” upon completion of this offering and could remain an “emerging growth company” until as late as the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering. For so long as we are an “emerging growth company,” we will, among other things:

 

   

not be required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act;

 

   

not be required to hold a nonbinding advisory stockholder vote on executive compensation pursuant to Section 14A(a) of the Exchange Act;

 

   

not be required to seek stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved pursuant to Section 14A(b) of the Exchange Act;

 

   

be exempt from the requirement of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or PCAOB, regarding the communication of critical audit matters in the auditor’s report on the financial statements; and

 

   

be subject to reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements.

In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can use the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act,

 

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for complying with new or revised accounting standards. This permits an emerging growth company to delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have elected to use this extended transition period and, as a result, our consolidated financial statements may not be comparable to the financial statements of issuers who are required to comply with the effective dates for new or revised accounting standards that are applicable to public companies.

We cannot predict if investors will find our Class A common stock less attractive as a result of our decision to take advantage of some or all of the reduced disclosure requirements above. If some investors find our Class A common stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our Class A common stock and our stock price may be more volatile.

Because we have no current plans to pay regular cash dividends on our Class A common stock following this offering, you may not receive any return on investment unless you sell your Class A common stock for a price greater than that which you paid for it.

We do not anticipate paying any regular cash dividends on our Class A common stock following this offering. Any decision to declare and pay dividends in the future will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on, among other things, general and economic conditions, our results of operations and financial condition, our available cash and current and anticipated cash needs, capital requirements, contractual, legal, tax and regulatory restrictions and such other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant. In addition, our ability to pay dividends is, and may be, limited by covenants of existing and any future outstanding indebtedness we or our subsidiaries incur, including under our Credit Facilities. Therefore, any return on investment in our Class A common stock is solely dependent upon the appreciation of the price of our Class A common stock on the open market, which may not occur. See “Dividend Policy” for more detail.

No market currently exists for our Class A common stock, and an active, liquid trading market for our Class A common stock may not develop, which may cause our Class A common stock to trade at a discount from the initial offering price and make it difficult for you to sell the Class A common stock you purchase.

Prior to this offering, there has not been a public market for our Class A common stock. We cannot predict the extent to which investor interest in us will lead to the development of a trading market or how active and liquid that market may become. If an active and liquid trading market does not develop or continue, you may have difficulty selling any of our Class A common stock that you purchase at a price above the price you purchase it or at all. The initial public offering price for the shares was determined by negotiations between us and the underwriters and may not be indicative of prices that will prevail in the open market following this offering. The failure of an active and liquid trading market to develop and continue would likely have a material adverse effect on the value of our Class A common stock. The market price of our Class A common stock may decline below the initial offering price, and you may not be able to sell your shares of our Class A common stock at or above the price you paid in this offering, or at all. An inactive market may also impair our ability to raise capital to continue to fund operations by selling shares and may impair our ability to acquire other companies or technologies by using our shares as consideration.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide, subject to limited exceptions, that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forum for certain stockholder litigation matters, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or stockholders.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide, subject to limited exceptions, that unless we consent to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for any (1) derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of our Company, (2) action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, or other employee or stockholder of our Company to the Company or the Company’s

 

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stockholders, creditors or other constituents, (3) action asserting a claim against the Company or any director or officer of the Company arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, or our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or (4) action asserting a claim against the Company or any director or officer of the Company governed by the internal affairs doctrine; provided that the exclusive forum provisions will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, or to any claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. For instance, the provision would not apply to actions arising under federal securities laws, including suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Act, Exchange Act, or the rules and regulations thereunder. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation further provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act. The choice of forum provision may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers, or other employees, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and our directors, officers, and other employees. Alternatively, if a court were to find the choice of forum provision contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions, which could harm our business, results of operations, and financial condition. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the forum provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that the doctrine of “corporate opportunity” will not apply against Searchlight, any of our directors who are employees of or affiliated with Searchlight, Rook, any of our directors who are employees of or affiliated with Rook, or any director or stockholder who is not employed by us or our subsidiaries.

The doctrine of corporate opportunity generally provides that a corporate fiduciary may not develop an opportunity using corporate resources, acquire an interest adverse to that of the corporation or acquire property that is reasonably incident to the present or prospective business of the corporation or in which the corporation has a present or expectancy interest, unless that opportunity is first presented to the corporation and the corporation chooses not to pursue that opportunity. The doctrine of corporate opportunity is intended to preclude officers or directors or other fiduciaries from personally benefiting from opportunities that belong to the corporation. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, which will be in effect upon the consummation of this offering, will provide that the doctrine of “corporate opportunity” will not apply against Searchlight, any of our directors who are employees of or affiliated with Searchlight, Rook, any of our directors who are employees of or affiliated with Rook, or any director or stockholder who is not employed by us or our subsidiaries. Searchlight, any of our directors who are employees of or affiliated with Searchlight, Rook, any of our directors who are employees of or affiliated with Rook, or any director or stockholder who is not employed by us or our subsidiaries will therefore have no duty to communicate or present corporate opportunities to us, and will have the right to either hold any corporate opportunity for their (and their affiliates’) own account and benefit or to recommend, assign or otherwise transfer such corporate opportunity to persons other than us, including to any director or stockholder who is not employed by us or our subsidiaries. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will not renounce our interest in any business opportunity that is expressly offered to an employee director or employee in his or her capacity as a director or employee of Shift4 Payments, Inc.

As a result, certain of our stockholders, directors and their respective affiliates will not be prohibited from operating or investing in competing businesses. We therefore may find ourselves in competition with certain of our stockholders, directors or their respective affiliates, and we may not have knowledge of, or be able to pursue, transactions that could potentially be beneficial to us. Accordingly, we may lose a corporate opportunity or suffer competitive harm, which could negatively impact our business or prospects.

 

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If securities analysts do not publish research or reports about our business or if they downgrade our stock or our sector, or if there is any fluctuation in our credit rating, our stock price and trading volume could decline.

The trading market for our Class A common stock will rely in part on the research and reports that industry or financial analysts publish about us or our business. We do not control these analysts. Securities and industry analysts do not currently, and may never, publish research on our Company. If no securities or industry analysts commence coverage of our Company, the trading price of our shares would likely be negatively impacted. Furthermore, if one or more of the analysts who do cover us downgrade our stock or our industry, or the stock of any of our competitors, or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, the price of our stock could decline. If one or more of these analysts stops covering us or fails to publish reports on us regularly, we could lose visibility in the market, which in turn could cause our stock price or trading volume to decline.

Additionally, any fluctuation in the credit rating of us or our subsidiaries may impact our ability to access debt markets in the future or increase our cost of future debt which could have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial condition, which in return may adversely affect the trading price of shares of our Class A common stock.

As a public reporting company, we will be subject to rules and regulations established from time to time by the SEC and the NYSE regarding our internal control over financial reporting. If we fail to establish and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results, or report them in a timely manner.

Upon completion of this offering, we will become a public reporting company subject to the rules and regulations established from time to time by the SEC and the NYSE. These rules and regulations will require, among other things, that we establish and periodically evaluate procedures with respect to our internal control over financial reporting. Reporting obligations as a public company are likely to place a considerable strain on our financial and management systems, processes and controls, as well as on our personnel.

In addition, as a public company we will be required to document and test our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act so that our management can certify as to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting by the time our second annual report is filed with the SEC and thereafter, which will require us to document and make significant changes to our internal control over financial reporting. Likewise, our independent registered public accounting firm will be required to provide an attestation report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting at such time as we cease to be an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act, and we become an accelerated or large accelerated filer although, as described above, we could potentially qualify as an “emerging growth company” until as late as the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering.

We expect to incur costs related to implementing an internal audit and compliance function in the upcoming years to further improve our internal control environment. If we identify future deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting or if we are unable to comply with the demands that will be placed upon us as a public company, including the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, in a timely manner, we may be unable to accurately report our financial results, or report them within the timeframes required by the SEC. We also could become subject to sanctions or investigations by the SEC or other regulatory authorities. In addition, if we are unable to assert that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, or if our independent registered public accounting firm is unable to express an opinion as to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, when required, investors may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports, we may face restricted access to the capital markets and our stock price may be adversely affected.

 

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We have broad discretion over the use of proceeds we receive in this offering and may not apply the proceeds in ways that increase the value of your investment.

Our management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds from this offering and, as a result, you will have to rely upon the judgment of our management with respect to the use of these proceeds. Our management may spend a portion or all of the net proceeds in ways that not all shareholders approve of or that may not yield a favorable return. The failure by our management to apply these funds effectively could harm our business.

We will incur significant costs as a result of operating as a public company.

Prior to this offering, we operated on a private basis. After this offering, we will be subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Act, the listing requirements of the NYSE and other applicable securities laws and regulations. The expenses incurred by public companies generally for reporting and corporate governance purposes have been increasing. We expect these rules and regulations to increase our legal and financial compliance costs and to make some activities more difficult, time-consuming and costly, although we are currently unable to estimate these costs with any degree of certainty. We also expect that being a public company and being subject to new rules and regulations will make it more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance, and we may be required to accept reduced coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain coverage. These laws and regulations could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified persons to serve on our board of directors, our board committees or as our executive officers. Furthermore, if we are unable to satisfy our obligations as a public company, we could be subject to delisting of our Class A common stock, fines, sanctions and other regulatory action and potentially civil litigation. These factors may therefore strain our resources, divert management’s attention and affect our ability to attract and retain qualified board members.

Future sales, or the perception of future sales, by us or our existing stockholders in the public market following this offering could cause the market price for our Class A common stock to decline.

After this offering, the sale of shares of our Class A common stock in the public market, or the perception that such sales could occur, could harm the prevailing market price of shares of our Class A common stock. These sales, or the possibility that these sales may occur, also might make it more difficult for us to sell equity securities in the future at a time and at a price that we deem appropriate.

Upon consummation of this offering, we will have outstanding a total of 21,613,437 shares of Class A common stock. Of the outstanding shares, the 15,000,000 shares sold in this offering (or 17,250,000 shares if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares) will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, other than any shares held by our affiliates. In addition, the shares of Class A common stock issued to the Former Equity Owner in the Transactions will be eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144 without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, other than any shares held by our affiliates. Any shares of Class A common stock held by our affiliates will be eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, subject to the volume, manner of sale, holding period and other limitations of Rule 144.

Our directors and executive officers, and substantially all of our stockholders have entered into lock-up agreements with the underwriters prior to the commencement of this offering pursuant to which each of these persons or entities, subject to certain exceptions, for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus, may not, without the prior written consent of any two of Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, or collectively, the Lock-up Release Parties, (1) offer, pledge, loan, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of our common stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for

 

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our common stock (including, without limitation, common stock or such other securities which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by such directors, executive officers, managers and members in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and securities which may be issued upon exercise of a stock option or warrant), or (2) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the common stock or such other securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of common stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, or (3) make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any shares of our common stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our common stock. See “Shares Eligible for Future Sale—Lock-Up Agreements.”

In addition, we have reserved shares of Class A common stock equal to 6.8% of the total number of outstanding LLC Interests following this offering for issuance under the 2020 Plan. Any Class A common stock that we issue under the 2020 Plan or other equity incentive plans that we may adopt in the future would dilute the percentage ownership held by the investors who purchase Class A common stock in this offering.

As restrictions on resale end or if these stockholders exercise their registration rights, the market price of our shares of Class A common stock could drop significantly if the holders of these shares sell them or are perceived by the market as intending to sell them. These factors could also make it more difficult for us to raise additional funds through future offerings of our shares of Class A common stock or other securities.

In the future, we may also issue securities in connection with investments, acquisitions or capital raising activities. In particular, the number of shares of our Class A common stock issued in connection with an investment or acquisition, or to raise additional equity capital, could constitute a material portion of our then-outstanding shares of our Class A common stock. Any such issuance of additional securities in the future may result in additional dilution to you or may adversely impact the price of our Class A common stock.

Our stock price may change significantly following the offering, and you may not be able to resell shares of our Class A common stock at or above the price you paid or at all, and you could lose all or part of your investment as a result.

The initial public offering price for the shares was determined by negotiations between us and the underwriters. You may not be able to resell your shares at or above the initial public offering price due to a number of factors included herein, including the following:

 

   

results of operations that vary from the expectations of securities analysts and investors;

 

   

results of operations that vary from those of our competitors;

 

   

changes in expectations as to our future financial performance, including financial estimates and investment recommendations by securities analysts and investors;

 

   

technology changes, changes in consumer behavior or changes in merchant relationships in our industry;

 

   

security breaches related to our systems or those of our merchants, affiliates or strategic partners;

 

   

changes in economic conditions for companies in our industry;

 

   

changes in market valuations of, or earnings and other announcements by, companies in our industry;

 

   

declines in the market prices of stocks generally, particularly those of global payment companies;

 

   

strategic actions by us or our competitors;

 

   

announcements by us, our competitors or our strategic partners of significant contracts, new products, acquisitions, joint marketing relationships, joint ventures, other strategic relationships, or capital commitments;

 

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changes in general economic or market conditions or trends in our industry or the economy as a whole and, in particular, in the consumer spending environment;

 

   

changes in business or regulatory conditions;

 

   

future sales of our Class A common stock or other securities;

 

   

investor perceptions of the investment opportunity associated with our Class A common stock relative to other investment alternatives;

 

   

the public’s response to press releases or other public announcements by us or third parties, including our filings with the SEC;

 

   

announcements relating to litigation or governmental investigations;

 

   

guidance, if any, that we provide to the public, any changes in this guidance, or our failure to meet this guidance;

 

   

the development and sustainability of an active trading market for our stock;

 

   

changes in accounting principles; and

 

   

other events or factors, including those resulting from system failures and disruptions, natural disasters, war, acts of terrorism or responses to these events.

Furthermore, the stock market may experience extreme volatility that, in some cases, may be unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of particular companies. These broad market and industry fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of our Class A common stock, regardless of our actual operating performance. In addition, price volatility may be greater if the public float and trading volume of our Class A common stock is low.

In the past, following periods of market volatility, stockholders have instituted securities class action litigation. If we were involved in securities litigation, it could have a substantial cost and divert resources and the attention of management from our business regardless of the outcome of such litigation.

If you purchase shares of Class A common stock in this offering, you will suffer immediate and substantial dilution of your investment.

The initial public offering price of our Class A common stock is substantially higher than the pro forma net tangible book value per share of our Class A common stock. Therefore, if you purchase shares of our Class A common stock in this offering, you will pay a price per share that substantially exceeds our pro forma net tangible book value per share after this offering. You will experience immediate dilution of $23.34 per share, representing the difference between our pro forma net tangible book value per share after giving effect to this offering and the initial public offering price. In addition, investors who purchase Class A common stock from us in this offering will have contributed 100.0% of the aggregate price paid by all purchasers of our Class A common stock but will own only approximately 47.9% of the economic interests in our outstanding equity after this offering and the concurrent private placement (assuming the vesting of all RSUs granted in connection with the offering). See “Dilution” for more detail, including the calculation of the pro forma net tangible book value per share of our Class A common stock.

 

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this prospectus may be forward-looking statements. Statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, including, among others, statements regarding the Transactions, including the consummation of this offering, expected growth, future capital expenditures and debt service obligations, are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “intends,” “targets,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus include, but are not limited to statements about:

 

   

the effect of the COVID-19 global pandemic on our business and results of operations;

 

   

our ability to differentiate ourselves from our competitors and compete effectively;

 

   

our ability to anticipate and respond to changing industry trends and merchant and consumer needs;

 

   

our ability to continue making acquisitions of businesses or assets;

 

   

our ability to continue to expand our market share or expand into new markets;

 

   

our reliance on third-party vendors to provide products and services;

 

   

our ability to integrate our services and products with operating systems, devices, software and web browsers;

 

   

our ability to maintain merchant and software partner relationships and strategic partnerships;

 

   

the effects of global economic, political and other conditions on consumer, business and government spending;

 

   

our compliance with governmental regulation and other legal obligations, particularly related to privacy, data protection and information security, and consumer protection laws;

 

   

our ability to establish, maintain and enforce effective risk management policies and procedures;

 

   

our ability to protect our systems and data from continually evolving cybersecurity risks, security breaches and other technological risks;

 

   

potential harm caused by software defects, computer viruses and development delays;

 

   

the effect of degradation of the quality of the products and services we offer;

 

   

potential harm caused by increased customer attrition;

 

   

potential harm caused by fraud by merchants or others;

 

   

potential harm caused by damage to our reputation or brands;

 

   

our ability to recruit, retain and develop qualified personnel;

 

   

our reliance on a single or limited number of suppliers;

 

   

the effects of seasonality and volatility on our operating results;

 

   

the effect of various legal proceedings;

 

   

our ability to raise additional capital to fund our operations;

 

   

our ability to protect, enforce and defend our intellectual property rights;

 

   

our ability to establish and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures;

 

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our compliance with laws, regulations and enforcement activities that affect our industry;

 

   

our dependence on distributions from Shift4 Payments, LLC to pay our taxes and expenses, including payments under the TRA; and

 

   

the significant influence Rook and Searchlight will continue to have over us after this offering, including control over decisions that require the approval of stockholders.

The forward-looking statements in this prospectus are only predictions. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. We believe that these factors include, but are not limited to the factors set forth under “Risk Factors.” Because forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The events and circumstances reflected in our forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.

In addition, statements that “we believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of this prospectus, and while we believe such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete, and our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements.

You should read this prospectus and the documents that we reference in this prospectus and have filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part with the understanding that our actual future results, levels of activity, performance and achievements may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.

These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus. Except as required by applicable law, we do not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus after we distribute this prospectus, whether as a result of any new information, future events or otherwise.

 

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OUR ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

Shift4 Payments, Inc., a Delaware corporation, was formed on November 5, 2019 and is the issuer of the Class A common stock offered by this prospectus. Prior to this offering, all of our business operations have been conducted through Shift4 Payments, LLC and its subsidiaries. We will consummate the Transactions, excluding this offering, on or prior to the consummation of this offering.

Existing Organization

Shift4 Payments, LLC is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, as such is generally not subject to any U.S. federal entity-level income taxes. Taxable income or loss of Shift4 Payments, LLC is included in the U.S. federal income tax returns of Shift4 Payments, LLC’s members. Prior to the consummation of this offering, the only owners of membership units of Shift4 Payments, LLC, were Searchlight, our Founder and FPOS Holding Co., Inc.

Transactions

We will consummate the following organizational transactions in connection with this offering:

 

   

we will amend and restate the existing limited liability company agreement of Shift4 Payments, LLC to, among other things, (1) convert all existing ownership interests in Shift4 Payments, LLC (including redeemable preferred units) into 38,373,190 LLC Interests and (2) appoint Shift4 Payments, Inc. as the sole managing member of Shift4 Payments, LLC upon its acquisition of LLC Interests in connection with this offering;

 

   

we will amend and restate Shift4 Payments, Inc.’s certificate of incorporation to, among other things, provide (1) for Class A common stock, with each share of our Class A common stock entitling its holder to one vote per share on all matters presented to our stockholders generally, (2) for Class B common stock, with each share of our Class B common stock entitling its holder to ten votes per share on all matters presented to our stockholders generally, and that shares of our Class B common stock may only be held by Searchlight, our Founder and their respective permitted transferees as described in “Description of Capital Stock—Common Stock—Class B Common Stock” and (3) for Class C common stock, with each share of our Class C common stock entitling its holder to ten votes per share on all matters presented to our stockholders generally, and that shares of our Class C common stock may only be held by Searchlight, our Founder and their respective permitted transferees as described in “Description of Capital Stock—Common Stock—Class C Common Stock;”

 

   

the Former Equity Owner will exchange its LLC Interests for 514,517 shares of Class A common stock on a one-to-one basis;

 

   

we will issue 15,000,000 shares of our Class A common stock to the purchasers in this offering (or 17,250,000 shares if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) in exchange for net proceeds of approximately $273.0 million (or approximately $315.3 million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) based upon an assumed initial public offering price of $20.00 per share (which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus) less the underwriting discounts and commissions;

 

   

we will acquire, pursuant to the Blocker Mergers, the LLC Interests held by the Blocker Shareholders, affiliates of Searchlight, in exchange for shares of Class B common stock and Class C common stock;

 

   

we will sell up to $100.0 million in Class C common stock to Rook in the concurrent private placement;

 

   

we will grant 5,122,375 RSUs to the RSU Holders in connection with this offering;

 

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we will purchase 976,545 LLC Interests from Shift4 Payments, LLC in exchange for 976,545 shares of Class A common stock to be issued to P&W Enterprises, Inc., as satisfaction of Shift4 Payments, LLC’s existing obligation to P&W Enterprises, Inc.;

 

   

we will use all of the net proceeds from this offering to purchase 15,000,000 newly issued LLC Interests (or 17,250,000 LLC Interests if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of

  Class A common stock) directly from Shift4 Payments, LLC at a price per unit equal to the initial public offering price per share of Class A common stock in this offering less the underwriting discounts and commissions;

 

   

we will use all of the net proceeds from the concurrent private placement to purchase 5,319,148 newly issued LLC Interests directly from Shift4 Payments, LLC at a price per unit equal to the initial public offering price per share of Class A common stock in this offering less underwriting discounts and commissions;

 

   

Shift4 Payments, LLC intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of LLC Interests to Shift4 Payments, Inc. to repay certain existing indebtedness and, if any remain, for general corporate purposes as described under “Use of Proceeds;” and

 

   

we will enter into (1) the Stockholders Agreement with Searchlight and our Founder, (2) the Registration Rights Agreement with Searchlight and our Founder and (3) the TRA with Shift4 Payments, LLC, the Continuing Equity Owners and the Blocker Shareholders. For a description of the terms of the Stockholders Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Tax Receivable Agreement, see “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.”

Organizational Structure Following this Offering

 

   

Shift4 Payments, Inc. will be a holding company and its principal asset will consist of LLC Interests it purchases from Shift4 Payments, LLC and LLC Interests it acquires from the Former Equity Owners;

 

   

Prior to the consummation of this offering, we expect there will be three holders of common stock of Shift4 Payments, Inc.

 

   

Shift4 Payments, Inc. will be the sole managing member of Shift4 Payments, LLC and will control the business and affairs of Shift4 Payments, LLC and its subsidiaries;

 

   

Shift4 Payments, Inc. will own, directly or indirectly, 42,045,958 LLC Interests of Shift4 Payments, LLC, representing approximately 52.3% of the economic interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC (or 44,295,958 LLC Interests, representing approximately 53.6% of the economic interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock);

 

   

the Continuing Equity Owners will own 38,373,190 LLC Interests of Shift4 Payments, LLC, representing approximately 47.7% of the economic interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC (or 38,373,190 LLC Interests, representing approximately 46.4% of the economic interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) and 38,373,190 shares of Class B common stock of Shift4 Payments, Inc., representing approximately 63.0% of the voting interest in Shift4 Payments, Inc. (or 38,373,190 shares of Class B common stock of Shift4 Payments, Inc., representing approximately 62.7% of the voting interest in Shift4 Payments, Inc. if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock;

 

   

the purchasers in this offering will own (1) 15,000,000 shares of Class A common stock of Shift4 Payments, Inc. (or 17,250,000 shares of Class A common stock of Shift4 Payments, Inc. if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock), representing approximately 2.5% of the combined voting power of all of Shift4 Payments, Inc.’s common stock and approximately 35.7% of the economic interest in Shift4 Payments, Inc. (or approximately 2.8% of the combined voting power and approximately 38.9% of the economic interest if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase

 

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additional shares of Class A common stock), and (2) through Shift4 Payments, Inc.’s ownership of LLC Interests, indirectly will hold approximately 18.7% of the economic interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC (or approximately 20.9% of the economic interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock);

 

   

Rook and Searchlight will own 20,432,521 shares of Class C common stock of Shift4 Payments, Inc, representing (i) approximately 48.6% of the economic interest in Shift4 Payments, Inc. (or approximately 46.1% of the economic interest in Shift4 Payments, Inc. if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) and (ii) approximately 33.5% of the voting interest in Shift4 Payments, Inc. (or approximately 33.3% of the voting interest in Shift4 Payments, Inc. if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock); and

 

   

as the sole managing member of Shift4 Payments, LLC, we will operate and control all of the business and affairs of Shift4 Payments, LLC and, through Shift4 Payments, LLC and its subsidiaries, conduct the business. Following the Transactions, including this offering and the concurrent private placement, Shift4 Payments, Inc. will have the majority economic interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC, and will control the management of Shift4 Payments, LLC as the sole managing member. As a result, Shift4 Payments, Inc. will consolidate Shift4 Payments, LLC and record a significant noncontrolling interest in consolidated entity for the economic interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC held by the Continuing Equity Owners.

 

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The below depicts our organizational structure after giving effect to the Transactions, including this offering, assuming no exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock, and the concurrent private placement.

 

LOGO

 

(1)

Investors in this offering will hold approximately 2.5% of the voting interest.

 

(2)

Jared Isaacman will hold his LLC interests in Shift4 Payments, LLC and his Class B common stock and Class C common stock of Shift4 Payments, Inc. through a wholly owned corporation, Rook Holdings, Inc., for which he is the sole stockholder.

 

(3)

Assumes vesting of all RSUs granted in connection with this offering.

As the sole managing member of Shift4 Payments, LLC, we will operate and control all of the business and affairs of Shift4 Payments, LLC and, through Shift4 Payments, LLC and its subsidiaries, conduct the business. Following the Transactions, including this offering, Shift4 Payments, Inc. will have the majority economic interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC, and will control the management of Shift4 Payments, LLC as the sole managing member. As a result, Shift4 Payments, Inc. will consolidate Shift4 Payments, LLC and record a significant noncontrolling interest in consolidated entity for the economic interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC held by the Continuing Equity Owners.

Unless otherwise indicated, this prospectus assumes the shares of Class A common stock are offered at $20.00 per share (the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus). The indirect economic

 

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interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC represented by the shares of Class A common stock sold in this offering will be largely unaffected by the initial public offering price.

Incorporation of Shift4 Payments, Inc.

Shift4 Payments, Inc., the issuer of the Class A common stock offered by this prospectus, was incorporated as a Delaware corporation on November 5, 2019. Shift4 Payments, Inc. has not engaged in any material business or other activities except in connection with its formation. The amended and restated certificate of incorporation of Shift4 Payments, Inc. that will become effective immediately prior to the consummation of this offering will authorize three classes of common stock, Class A common stock, Class B common stock and Class C common stock, each having the terms described in “Description of Capital Stock.”

Reclassification and Amendment and Restatement of the Shift4 Payments LLC Agreement

Prior to or substantially concurrently with the consummation of this offering, the existing limited liability company agreement of Shift4 Payments, LLC will be amended and restated to, among other things, modify its capital structure by creating a single new class of units that we refer to as “common units” and providing for a right of redemption of common units in exchange for, at our election (determined solely by our independent directors (within the meaning of the rules of the NYSE), who are disinterested), shares of our Class A common stock or cash. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Shift4 LLC Agreement.”

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate, based upon an assumed initial public offering price of $20.00 per share (which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus), that we will receive net proceeds from this offering of approximately $273.0 million (or $315.3 million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock), after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses. In addition, we will receive gross proceeds of up to $100.0 million from the concurrent private placement.

We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering (including any net proceeds from any exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) and the concurrent private placement to purchase 20,319,148 LLC Interests (or 22,569,148 LLC Interests if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) directly from Shift4 Payments, LLC at a price per unit equal to the initial public offering price per share of Class A common stock in this offering less the underwriting discounts and commissions.

Shift4 Payments, LLC intends to use the net proceeds it receives from the sale of LLC Interests to Shift4 Payments, Inc. (together with any additional proceeds it may receive if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) and the concurrent private placement as follows:

 

   

repay existing indebtedness in an amount up to approximately $285.0 million, which will include repayment of the Second Lien Term Loan Facility and the Revolving Credit Facility and partial repayment of the First Lien Credit Facility; and

 

   

the remainder, if any, for general corporate purposes.

The First Lien Credit Facility is scheduled to mature on November 30, 2024 and is comprised of ABR loans bearing an interest rate of 3.50% and LIBO Rate loans bearing an interest rate of 4.50%. The Second Lien Credit Facility is scheduled to mature on November 30, 2025 and is comprised of ABR loans bearing an interest rate of 7.50% and LIBO rate loans bearing an interest rate of 8.50%. The Revolving Credit Facility is scheduled to mature on November 30, 2024. Outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility were used to fund working capital. See “Description of Indebtedness.”

Pending use of the net proceeds from this offering and the concurrent private placement described above, we may invest the net proceeds in short- and intermediate-term interest-bearing obligations, investment-grade instruments, certificates of deposit or direct or guaranteed obligations of the United States government.

Assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock, each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $20.00 per share (which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus) would increase (decrease) the net proceeds to us from this offering by approximately $14.1 million and, in turn, the net proceeds received by Shift4 Payments, LLC from the sale of LLC Interests to Shift4 Payments, Inc. by $14.1 million, assuming the number of shares offered, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

Each 1,000,000 share increase (decrease) in the number of shares offered by us in this offering would increase (decrease) the net proceeds to us from this offering by approximately $18.8 million and, in turn, the net proceeds received by Shift4 Payments, LLC from the sale of LLC Interests to Shift4 Payments, Inc. by $18.8 million, assuming that the price per share for the offering remains at $20.00 (which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus), and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

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Affiliates of certain of the underwriters are lenders under our credit facilities and accordingly such underwriters and/or their affiliates will receive a portion of the net proceeds of this offering and the concurrent private placement through the repayment of such indebtedness. See “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest).”

Shift4 Payments, LLC will bear or reimburse Shift4 Payments, Inc. for all of the expenses incurred in connection with this offering. We will have broad discretion in the way that we use the net proceeds of this offering. Our use of the net proceeds from this offering will depend on a number of factors, including our future revenue and cash generated by operations and the other factors described in “Risk factors.”

 

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth the capitalization as of March 31, 2020, as follows:

 

   

of Shift4 Payments, LLC and its subsidiaries on a historical basis;

 

   

of Shift4 Payments, Inc. and its subsidiaries on a pro forma basis to give effect to the Transactions, excluding this offering and the concurrent private placement; and

 

   

of Shift4 Payments, Inc. and its subsidiaries on a pro forma as adjusted basis to give effect to the Transactions, including our sale of 15,000,000 shares of Class A common stock in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $20.00 per share (which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus), after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, and the concurrent private placement, and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described under “Use of Proceeds,” and use of proceeds therefrom.

For more information, please see “Our Organizational Structure,” “Use of Proceeds” and “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information” included elsewhere in this prospectus. You should read this information in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus and the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” section and other financial information contained in this prospectus.

 

     As of March 31, 2020  
(in millions, except per share and share amounts)    Shift4
Payments,

LLC
Historical
    Shift4
Payments,
Inc.

Pro Forma
     Shift4
Payments,
Inc. Pro
Forma As
Adjusted
 
           (unaudited)  

Long-term debt (including current portion)(1):

       

First Lien Term Loan Facility(2)

   $ 489.1     $ 489.1      $ 429.3  

Second Lien Term Loan Facility

     130.0       130.0        —    

Revolving Credit Facility

     89.5       89.5        —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total debt

   $ 708.6     $ 708.6      $ 429.3  

Redeemable preferred units

     43.0       —          —    

Members’/stockholders’ equity (deficit):

       

Member’s equity:

       

Class A common units

     —         —          —    

Class B common units

     0.3       —          —    

Members’ equity

     147.9       —          —    

Retained deficit

     (183.6     —          (32.2

Stockholders’ equity:

       

Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share; 300,000,000 shares authorized, 1,491,062 shares issued and outstanding, pro forma; and 21,613,437 shares issued and outstanding, pro forma as adjusted

     —         —          —    

Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share; 100,000,000 shares authorized, 38,373,190 shares issued and outstanding, pro forma; and 38,373,190 shares issued and outstanding, pro forma as adjusted

     —         —          —    

Class C common stock, par value $0.0001 per share; 100,000,000 shares authorized, 15,113,373 shares issued and outstanding, pro forma; and 20,432,521 shares issued and outstanding, pro forma as adjusted

     —         —          —    

Additional paid-in capital

     —         6.3        238.7  

Noncontrolling interests

     —         3.6        186.4  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total members’ (deficit)/stockholders’ equity

     (35.4     9.9        392.9  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total capitalization

   $ 716.2     $ 718.5      $ 822.2  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)

See “Description of Indebtedness” for a description of our currently outstanding indebtedness.

(2)

Amounts presented are net of approximately $20.7 million of capitalized loan fees.

 

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Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed public offering price of $20.00 per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) each of total indebtedness, additional paid-in capital and total members’ / stockholders’ equity on a pro forma as adjusted basis by approximately $14.1 million, assuming that the price per share for the offering remains at $20.00 (which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus), and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions.

Each 1,000,000 share increase or decrease in the number of shares offered in this offering by us would increase or decrease each of total indebtedness, additional paid-in capital and total members’ / stockholders’ equity on a pro forma as adjusted basis by approximately $18.8 million, assuming that the price per share for the offering remains at $20.00 (which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus), and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions.

 

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DIVIDEND POLICY

We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings to fund the development and growth of our business and to repay indebtedness, and therefore we do not anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends on our Class A common stock in the foreseeable future. Holders of our Class B common stock are not entitled to participate in any dividends declared by our board of directors. Furthermore, because we are a holding company, our ability to pay cash dividends on our Class A common stock depends on our receipt of cash distributions from Shift4 Payments, LLC and, through Shift4 Payments, LLC, cash distributions and dividends from our other direct and indirect wholly owned subsidiaries. Our ability to pay dividends may be restricted by the terms of any future credit agreement or any future debt or preferred equity securities of us or our subsidiaries. See “Description of Capital Stock,” “Description of Indebtedness” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation—Liquidity and capital resources.” Any future determination as to the declaration and payment of dividends, if any, will be at the discretion of our board of directors, subject to compliance with contractual restrictions and covenants in the agreements governing our current and future indebtedness. Any such determination will also depend upon our business prospects, results of operations, financial condition, cash requirements and availability and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant.

Accordingly, you may need to sell your shares of our Class A common stock to realize a return on your investment, and you may not be able to sell your shares at or above the price you paid for them. See “Risk Factors—Risks related to the offering and ownership of our Class A common stock—Because we have no current plans to pay regular cash dividends on our Class A common stock following this offering, you may not receive any return on investment unless you sell your Class A common stock for a price greater than that which you paid for it.”

Immediately following this offering, we will be a holding company, and our principal asset will be the LLC Interests we purchase from Shift4 Payments, LLC and acquire from the Former Equity Owner. If we decide to pay a dividend in the future, we would need to cause Shift4 Payments, LLC to make distributions to us in an amount sufficient to cover such dividend. If Shift4 Payments, LLC makes such distributions to us, the other holders of LLC Interests will be entitled to receive pro rata distributions. See “Risk Factors—Risks related to our organizational structure—Our principal asset after the completion of this offering will be our interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC, and, as a result, we will depend on distributions from Shift4 Payments, LLC to pay our taxes and expenses, including payments under the TRA. Shift4 Payments, LLC’s ability to make such distributions may be subject to various limitations and restrictions.”

 

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DILUTION

The Continuing Equity Owners will own LLC Interests after the Transactions. We have presented dilution in pro forma net tangible book value per share both before and after this offering assuming that all of the holders of LLC Interests (other than Shift4 Payments, Inc.) had their LLC Interests redeemed or exchanged for newly-issued shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis (rather than for cash) and the cancellation for no consideration of all of their shares of Class B common stock (which are not entitled to receive distributions or dividends, whether cash or stock from Shift4 Payments, Inc.) in order to more meaningfully present the dilutive impact on the investors in this offering. We refer to the assumed redemption or exchange of all LLC Interests for shares of Class A common stock as described in the previous sentence as the Assumed Redemption.

Dilution is the amount by which the offering price paid by the purchasers of the Class A common stock in this offering exceeds the pro forma net tangible book value per share of Class A common stock and Class C common stock after the offering and the concurrent private placement. Shift4 Payments, LLC’s pro forma net tangible book value as of March 31, 2020 prior to this offering and the concurrent private placement and after giving effect to the other Transactions and the Assumed Redemption was a deficit of $643.5 million. Pro forma net tangible book value per share prior to this offering is determined by subtracting our total liabilities from the total book value of our tangible assets and dividing the difference by the number of shares of Class A common stock and Class C common stock deemed to be outstanding after giving effect to the Assumed Redemption.

If you invest in our Class A common stock in this offering, your ownership interest will be immediately diluted to the extent of the difference between the initial public offering price per share and the pro forma net tangible book value per share of our Class A common stock and Class C common stock after this offering and the concurrent private placement.

Pro forma net tangible book value per share after this offering is determined by subtracting our total liabilities from the total book value of our tangible assets and dividing the difference by the number of shares of Class A common stock and Class C common stock deemed to be outstanding, after giving effect to the Transactions, including this offering and the concurrent private placement and the application of the proceeds from this offering and the concurrent private placement as described in “Use of Proceeds,” and the Assumed Redemption. Our pro forma net tangible book value as of March 31, 2020, after this offering would have been approximately a deficit of $260.5 million, or $(3.34) per share. This amount represents an immediate increase in pro forma net tangible book value of $7.83 per share to our existing stockholders and an immediate dilution in pro forma net tangible book value of approximately $23.34 per share to new investors purchasing shares of Class A common stock in this offering. We determine dilution by subtracting the pro forma net tangible book value per share after this offering and the concurrent private placement from the amount of cash that a new investor paid for a share of Class A common stock. The following table illustrates this dilution:

 

Assumed initial public offering price per share

     $ 20.00  

Pro forma net tangible book value (deficit) per share as of March 31, 2020 before this offering and the concurrent private placement (1)

     (11.17  

Increase per share attributable to new investors in this offering and the concurrent private placement

     7.83    
  

 

 

   

Pro forma net tangible book value (deficit) per share after this offering and the concurrent private placement (2)

                      $ (3.34

Dilution per share to new Class A common stock investors in this offering

     $ 23.34  
    

 

 

 

 

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(1)

The computation of pro forma net tangible book value per share as of March 31, 2020 before this offering and the concurrent private placement is set forth below:

 

Numerator

  

Book value of tangible assets

     187,400,000  

Less: total liabilities

     830,906,524  
  

 

 

 

Pro forma net tangible book value (deficit) (a)

     (643,506,524
  

 

 

 

Denominator

  

Shares of Class A common stock to be outstanding immediately prior to this offering, the Assumed Redemption and vested restricted stock units (b)

     42,471,549  

Shares of Class C common stock to be outstanding immediately prior to this offering

     15,113,373  
  

 

 

 

Total

     57,584,922  
  

 

 

 

Pro forma net tangible book value (deficit) per share

     (11.17
  

 

 

 

 

  (a)

Gives pro forma effect to the Transactions (excluding this offering) and the Assumed Redemption.

  (b)

Reflects 42,471,549 outstanding shares of Class A common stock, consisting of (i) 514,517 outstanding shares of Class A common stock issued in exchange for the Former Equity Owner’s indirect ownership interests in LLC Interests on a one-to-one basis, (ii) 976,545 outstanding shares of Class A common stock issued to P&W Enterprises, Inc., as satisfaction of Shift4 Payments, LLC’s existing obligation to P&W Enterprises, Inc., (iii) 2,607,297 RSUs that we expect to grant in connection with this offering and concurrent private placement and not subject to service conditions, and (iv) 38,373,190 outstanding shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exchange of LLC Interests to be held by the Continuing Equity Owners prior to this offering.

 

(2)

The computation of pro forma net tangible book value per share as of March 31, 2020, after giving effect to this offering and the concurrent private placement is set forth below:

 

Numerator

  

Book value of tangible assets

     263,106,424  

Less: total liabilities

     523,612,948  
  

 

 

 

Pro forma net tangible book value (deficit)(a)

     (260,506,524
  

 

 

 

Denominator

  

Shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering and the Assumed Redemption and vested restricted stock units (b)

     57,471,549  

Shares of Class C common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering and concurrent private placement

     20,432,521  
  

 

 

 

Total

     77,904,070  
  

 

 

 

Pro forma net tangible book value (deficit) per share

     (3.34
  

 

 

 

 

  (a)

Gives pro forma effect to the Transactions (including this offering) and the Assumed Redemption.

  (b)

Reflects 57,471,549 outstanding shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock, consisting of (i) 15,000,000 shares of Class A common stock to be issued in this offering, and (ii) the 42,471,549 shares described in note (1)(b) above. Does not reflect RSUs covering a total of approximately 2,515,078 shares of our Class A common stock to be granted to certain of our directors, executive officers and other employees in connection with this offering.

A $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $20.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase the pro forma net tangible book value (deficit) per share after this offering by approximately $0.18, and dilution in pro forma net tangible book value (deficit) per share to new investors by approximately $0.82 assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

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If the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock, the pro forma net tangible book value (deficit) after the offering would be $(2.72) per share, the increase in pro forma net tangible book value per share to existing stockholders would be $8.45 per share and the dilution in pro forma net tangible book value to new investors in this offering would be $22.72 per share, in each case assuming an initial public offering price of $20.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus.

The following table summarizes, as of March 31, 2020, after giving effect to the Transactions (including this offering and the concurrent private placement), the number of shares of Class A common stock and Class C common stock purchased from us, the total consideration paid, or to be paid, to us and the average price per share paid, or to be paid, by existing owners and by the new investors. The calculation below is based on an assumed initial public offering price of $20.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, before deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

     Shares
Purchased
    Total Consideration     Average Price
Per Share
 
     Number      Percent     Amount      Percent  

Existing stockholders before this offering and the concurrent private placement

     57,584,922        74   $ 6,000        0   $ —    

Concurrent private placement

     5,319,148        7       100,000,000        25       18.80  

New investors participating in this offering

     15,000,000        19       300,000,000        75       20.00  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     77,904,070        100   $ 400,006,000        100   $ 5.13  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $20.00 per share would increase (decrease) the total consideration paid by new investors and the total consideration paid by all stockholders by $14.1 million, assuming the number of shares offered by us remains the same and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions but before estimated offering expenses.

Except as otherwise indicated, the discussion and the tables above assume no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock. In addition, the discussion and tables above exclude shares of Class B common stock, because holders of the Class B common stock are not entitled to distributions or dividends, whether cash or stock, from Shift4 Payments, Inc. The number of shares of our Class A common stock outstanding after this offering as shown in the tables above is based on the number of shares outstanding as of March 31, 2020, after giving effect to the Transactions and the Assumed Redemption, and excludes                  shares of Class A common stock reserved for issuance under our 2020 Plan (as described in “Executive Compensation—2020 Incentive Award Plan”), including approximately 5,122,375 shares of Class A common stock issuable pursuant to RSU to be granted to the RSU Holders in connection with this offering as described in “Executive Compensation—New Equity Awards”

If the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock:

 

   

the percentage of shares of Class A common stock held by the Former Equity Owner will decrease to approximately 2.2% of the total number of shares of our Class A common stock outstanding after this offering; and

 

   

the number of shares of Class A common stock held by new investors in this offering will increase to 17,250,000, or approximately 72.3% of the total number of shares of our Class A common stock outstanding after this offering.

 

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SELECTED HISTORICAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

The following table presents the selected historical condensed consolidated financial data for Shift4 Payments, LLC and its subsidiaries. Shift4 Payments, LLC is the predecessor of the issuer, Shift4 Payments, Inc., for financial reporting purposes. The selected consolidated statements of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019, and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2018 and 2019 are derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of Shift4 Payments, LLC included elsewhere in this prospectus. The selected condensed consolidated statements of operations data and statements of cash flows data for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2020, and the selected condensed consolidated balance sheet data as of March 31, 2020 are derived from the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Shift4 Payments, LLC included elsewhere in this prospectus. The results of operations for the periods presented below are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any future period, and the results for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for a full year. The information set forth below should be read together with the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” section and the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

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The selected historical financial data of Shift4 Payments, Inc. has not been presented because Shift4 Payments, Inc. is a newly incorporated entity, has had no significant business transactions or activities to date and had no significant assets or liabilities during the periods presented in this section.

As a result of the adoption of ASC 606 in 2019, the selected historical financial data for the year ended December 31, 2019 and the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2020 is not comparable to the selected historical financial data for the year ended December 31, 2018. See Notes 2 and 4 our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019, included elsewhere in this prospectus for more information about the adoption of ASC 606.

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
    Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
(in millions)    2018     2019     2019     2020  

Consolidated Statement of Operations:

        

Gross revenue

   $  560.6     $ 731.4     $ 155.0     $ 199.4  

Cost of sales

     410.2       552.4       116.4       154.9  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     150.4       179.0       38.6       44.5  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

General and administrative expenses

     83.7       124.4       26.5       22.3  

Depreciation and amortization expense

     40.4       40.2       9.8       10.5  

Professional fees

     7.4       10.4       1.8       1.7  

Advertising and marketing expenses

     6.1       6.3       1.4       1.3  

Restructuring expenses

     20.1       3.8       0.2       0.2  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     157.7       185.1       39.7       36.0  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Loss) income from operations

     (7.3     (6.1     (1.1     8.5  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other income (expense), net

     0.6       1.0       0.2       (0.1

Interest expense

     (47.0     (51.5     (12.5     (13.3
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss before income taxes

     (53.7     (56.6     (13.4     (4.9

Income tax benefit (provision)

     3.8       (1.5     (0.1     (0.3
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

   $ (49.9   $ (58.1   $ (13.5   $ (5.2
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     As of December 31,      As of March 31,  
(in millions)    2018     2019     2020  

Consolidated Balance Sheet:

      

Cash

   $ 4.8     $ 3.7     $ 70.2  

Total assets

     738.7       788.0       840.8  

Total liabilities

     654.3       773.9       833.2  

Redeemable preferred units

     43.0       43.0       43.0  

Retained deficit

     (113.3     (178.4     (183.6

Total members’ equity (deficit)

     41.4       (28.9     (35.4

 

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UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The following unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information reflects the impact of this offering, after giving effect to the Transactions discussed in “Our Organizational Structure” and the concurrent private placement. Following the completion of the Transactions and the concurrent private placement, Shift4 Payments, Inc. will be a holding company whose principal asset will be the 42,045,958 LLC Interests (or 44,295,958 LLC Interests if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) that we purchase from Shift4 Payments, LLC in connection with this offering. The remaining LLC Interests will be held by the Continuing Equity Owners. Shift4 Payments, Inc. will act as the sole managing member of Shift4 Payments, LLC, will operate and control all of the business and affairs of Shift4 Payments, LLC and, through Shift4 Payments, LLC and its subsidiaries, conduct its business.

The following unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2019 and for the three months ended March 31, 2020 give effect to the Transactions, including this offering and the concurrent private placement, as if the same had occurred on January 1, 2019. The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2020 presents our unaudited pro forma balance sheet giving effect to the Transactions, including this offering and the concurrent private placement, as if they had occurred as of March 31, 2020.

We have derived the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statements of operations and unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet from the consolidated financial statements of Shift4 Payments, LLC and its subsidiaries included elsewhere in this prospectus. The historical consolidated financial information of Shift4 Payments, LLC has been adjusted in this unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information to give effect to events that are directly attributable to the Transactions, are factually supportable and, with respect to the condensed consolidated statements of operations, are expected to have a continuing impact on Shift4 Payments, Inc. The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information reflects adjustments that are described in the accompanying notes and are based on available information and certain assumptions we believe are reasonable, but are subject to change.

The adjustments related to the Transactions, which we refer to as the Pro Forma Transaction Adjustments, include the impact of all the Transactions described in “Our Organizational Structure,” other than the adjustments related to this offering described below.

The adjustments related to this offering, which we refer to as the Pro Forma Offering Adjustments, are described in the notes to the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information, and principally include the following:

 

   

the amendment and restatement of the limited liability company agreement of Shift4 Payments, LLC to, among other things, appoint Shift4 Payments, Inc. as the sole managing member of Shift4 Payments, LLC and provide certain redemption rights to the Continuing Equity Owners;

 

   

the issuance of 15,000,000 shares of our Class A common stock to the investors in this offering in exchange for net proceeds of approximately $273.0 (based on an assumed initial public offering price of $20.00 per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus), after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and offering expenses;

 

   

the issuance of 5,319,148 shares of Class C common stock to Rook upon the closing of the concurrent private placement immediately following the consummation of this offering, in exchange for gross proceeds of up to $100.0 million;

 

   

the application of the net proceeds from the sale of Class A common stock in this offering and the concurrent private placement to purchase LLC Interests directly from Shift4 Payments, LLC, at a purchase price per LLC Interest equal to the initial public offering price per share of Class A common stock less the underwriting discount, with such LLC Interests representing 26% of the outstanding LLC Interests; and

 

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the use by Shift4 Payments, LLC of the proceeds from the sale of LLC Interests to us to repay existing indebtedness and the remainder, if any, for general corporate purposes, as described under “Use of Proceeds.”

Except as otherwise indicated, the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information presented assumes no exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock in the offering.

As a public company, we will be implementing additional procedures and processes for the purpose of addressing the standards and requirements applicable to public companies. We expect to incur additional annual expenses related to these steps and, among other things, additional directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, director fees, reporting requirements of the SEC, transfer agent fees, hiring additional accounting, legal and administrative personnel, increased auditing, tax and legal fees, stock exchange listing fees and similar expenses. We have not included any pro forma adjustments relating to these costs.

The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information is included for informational purposes only. The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information should not be relied upon as being indicative of our results of operations or financial condition had the Transactions, including this offering and the concurrent private placement, occurred on the dates assumed. The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information also does not project our results of operations or financial position for any future period or date. The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statements of operations and balance sheet should be read in conjunction with the “Risk factors,” “Prospectus Summary—Summary Historical and Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial and Other Data,” “Selected Historical Condensed Consolidated Financial Data,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.

Shift4 Payments, Inc. and subsidiaries

Unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2020

 

(in millions, except share and per share
amounts)
  Shift4
Payments,
LLC
Historical
    Pro Forma
Transactions
Adjustments
        As Adjusted
for Pro Forma
Transactions
    Pro Forma
Offering
Adjustments
        Shift4
Payments,
Inc. Pro
Forma
 

Assets

             

Current assets

             

Cash

  $ 70.2     $ —         $ 70.2     $ 81.0     (1)   $ 151.2  

Accounts receivable, net

    67.5       —           67.5       —           67.5  

Contract assets, net

    6.8       —           6.8       —           6.8  

Inventory

    8.8       —           8.8       —           8.8  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    12.7       —           12.7       (5.3   (3)     7.4  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total current assets

    166.0       —           166.0       75.7         241.7  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Noncurrent assets

             

Goodwill

    422.0       —           422.0       —           422.0  

Other intangible assets, net

    202.7       —           202.7       —           202.7  

Capitalized acquisition costs, net

    28.7       —           28.7       —           28.7  

Property, plant and equipment, net

    15.4       —           15.4       —           15.4  

Contract assets, net

    3.5       —           3.5       —           3.5  

Deferred tax assets (2)

    —         —           —         —           —    

Other noncurrent assets

    2.5       —           2.5       —           2.5  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total noncurrent assets

    674.8       —           674.8       —           674.8  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total assets

  $ 840.8     $ —         $ 840.8     $ 75.7       $ 916.5  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

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(in millions, except share and per share
amounts)
  Shift4
Payments,
LLC
Historical
    Pro Forma
Transactions
Adjustments
        As Adjusted
for Pro Forma
Transactions
    Pro Forma
Offering
Adjustments
        Shift4
Payments,
Inc. Pro
Forma
 

Liabilities and Members’ Equity

             

Current liabilities

             

Current portion of long-term debt

  $ 5.2     $ —           5.2     $ —         $ 5.2  

Accounts payable

    55.4       —           55.4       —           55.4  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

    50.9       (2.3   (4)     48.6       (28.0   (1),(6)     20.6  

Deferred revenue

    10.3       —           10.3       —           10.3  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

    121.8       (2.3       119.5       (28.0       91.5  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Noncurrent liabilities

             

Long-term debt

    703.4       —           703.4       (279.3   (1)     424.1  

Deferred tax liability

    3.4       —           3.4       —           3.4  

Amounts payable pursuant to Tax Receivable Agreement (2)

    —         —           —         —           —    

Other non-current liabilities

    4.6       —           4.6       —           4.6  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total noncurrent liabilities

    711.4       —           711.4       (279.3       432.1  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    833.2       (2.3       830.9       (307.3       523.6  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies

    —         —           —         —           —    

Redeemable preferred units

    43.0       (43.0   (4)     —         —           —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Members’/Stockholders’ Equity

             

Class A common units, $0 par value; 100,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding.

    —         —       (4)     —         —           —    

Class B common units, $323 par value; 1,010 shares authorized, issued and outstanding

    0.3       (0.3   (5)     —         —           —    

Members’ Equity

    147.9       (147.9   (4)     —         —           —    

Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, 300,000,000 shares authorized on a pro forma basis, 21,613,437 shares issued and outstanding on a pro forma basis

    —         —       (5)     —         —       (1),(6)     —    

Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, 100,000,000 shares authorized on a pro forma basis, 38,373,190 shares issued and outstanding on a pro forma basis

    —         —       (5)     —         —           —    

Class C common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, 100,000,000 shares authorized on a pro forma basis, 20,432,521 shares issued and outstanding on a pro forma basis

    —         —       (4)     —         —       (1)     —    

Additional paid-in capital

    —         6.3     (4)     6.3       232.4     (1),(3),(6),(7)     238.7  

Retained deficit

    (183.6     183.6     (4)     —         (32.2   (4),(7)     (32.2
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

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(in millions, except share and per share
amounts)
  Shift4
Payments,
LLC
Historical
    Pro Forma
Transactions
Adjustments
        As Adjusted
for Pro Forma
Transactions
    Pro Forma
Offering
Adjustments
        Shift4
Payments,
Inc. Pro
Forma
 

Total members’/stockholders’ deficit attributable to Shift4 Payments, LLC/Shift4 Payments, Inc.(a)

    (35.4     41.7         6.3       200.2         206.5  

Noncontrolling interests

    —         3.6     (4)     3.6       182.8     (4)     186.4  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total members’/stockholders’ deficit

    (35.4     45.3         9.9       383.0         392.9  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total liabilities and deficit

  $ 840.8     $ —         $ 840.8     $ 75.7       $ 916.5  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

(a)

For Historical amounts, represents total members’ deficit attributable to Shift4 Payments, LLC. For Pro Forma amounts, represents total members’/stockholders’ deficit attributable to Shift4 Payments, Inc.

Shift4 Payments, Inc. and subsidiaries

Notes to unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet

 

  (1)

Reflects the net effect on cash of the receipt of offering proceeds to us of $400.0 million, based on the assumed sale of 15,000,000 shares of Class A common stock at an assumed initial public offering price of $20.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus and 5,319,148 shares of Class C common stock sold in a private placement concurrent with this offering, after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. These amounts, as described in “Use of Proceeds” above, relate to payment of approximately $27.0 million of underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses; and payment of approximately $287.3 million to repay in full borrowings under our Second Lien Credit Facility and Revolving Credit Facility, partial repayment of our First Lien Credit Facility, and accrued interest.

 

  (2)

As described in greater detail under “Our Organizational Structure” and “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Tax Receivable Agreement,” in connection with the completion of this offering, we will enter into a Tax Receivable Agreement, or TRA, with Shift4 Payments, LLC, each of the Continuing Equity Owners and each of the Blocker Shareholders that will provide for the payment by Shift4 Payments, Inc. to the Continuing Equity Owners of 85% of the amount of certain tax benefits, if any, that Shift4 Payments, Inc. actually realizes, or in some circumstances is deemed to realize in its tax reporting, as a result of (1) the increases in our share of the tax basis of assets of Shift4 Payments, LLC resulting from any redemptions of LLC Interests from the Continuing Equity Owners, (2) our utilization of certain tax attributes of the Blocker Companies and (3) certain other tax benefits related to making our payments under the TRA.

Due to the uncertainty in the amount and timing of future exchanges of LLC Units by the Continuing Equity Owners, and the uncertainty of when those exchanges will ultimately result in tax savings as we currently do not generate taxable income, the unaudited pro forma consolidated financial information assumes that no exchanges of LLC Units have occurred and therefore no increases in tax basis in Shift4 Payments, Inc.’s assets or other tax benefits that may be realized thereunder have been assumed in the unaudited pro forma consolidated financial information. However, if all of the Continuing Equity Owners were to exchange their LLC Units, we would recognize a deferred tax asset of approximately $383.0 million and a liability of approximately $325.6 million, assuming (i) that the Continuing Equity Members redeemed or exchanged all of their LLC Units immediately after the completion of this offering at the assumed initial public offering price of $20.00 per share of our Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, (ii) no material changes in relevant tax law, (iii) a constant corporate tax rate of 24.2%, (iv) that we earn sufficient taxable income in each year to realize on a current basis all tax benefits that are subject to the TRA, and (v) that the Blocker Attributes are not limited pursuant to section 382 of the Code. These amounts are estimates and have been prepared for informational purposes only. The actual amount of deferred tax assets and related liabilities that we will recognize will differ based on, among other things, the timing of the exchanges, the price of our shares of Class A common stock at the time of the exchange, and the tax rates then in effect.

 

  (3)

Reflects deferred costs associated with this offering, including certain legal, accounting and other related costs, which have been recorded in prepaid expenses and other current assets on the consolidated balance sheet. Upon completion of this offering, these deferred costs will be charged against the proceeds from this offering with a corresponding reduction to additional paid-in capital.

 

  (4)

Upon completion of the Transactions, we will become the sole managing member of Shift4 Payments, LLC. Although we will have a minority economic interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC, we will have the sole voting interest in, and control of the management of, Shift4 Payments, LLC. As a result, we will consolidate the financial results of Shift4 Payments, LLC and will report a non-controlling interest related to the interests in Shift4 Payments, LLC held by the Continuing Equity Holders on our consolidated balance sheet. Immediately following the Transactions, the economic interests held by the noncontrolling interest will be approximately 47.7%. If the underwriters were to exercise their option to purchase additional shares of our Class A common stock in full, the economic interests held by the noncontrolling interest would be approximately 46.4%.

 

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  (5)

Reflects the exchange of 1,010 Shift4 Payments, LLC common units held by the Former Equity Owner for 514,517 shares of our Class A common stock, and the issuance of a number of shares of our Class B common stock to Searchlight and our Founder, equal to the number of Shift4 Payments, LLC common units retained by each, for nominal consideration.

 

  (6)

Upon consummation of this offering, we expect to issue 976,545 shares of Class A common stock to satisfy a contingent liability arising from a past acquisition. This adjustment reflects the issuance of the Class A common stock and extinguishment of the contingent liability.

 

  (7)

Upon consummation of this offering, we expect to issue $52.1 million in the form of 2,607,297 RSUs to certain employees, based on the midpoint of the estimated offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus. These awards vest over time but are not subject to continued service. As these adjustments are nonrecurring in nature, they have not been included as adjustments in the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Shift4 Payments, Inc. and subsidiaries

Unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2019

 

(in millions, except share and per share amounts)   Shift4
Payments,
LLC
Historical
    Pro Forma
Transactions
Adjustments
          As Adjusted
for Pro
Forma
Transactions
    Pro Forma
Offering
Adjustments
        Shift4
Payments,
Inc. Pro
Forma
 

Gross revenue

  $ 731.4     $ —         $ 731.4       —         $ 731.4  

Cost of sales

    552.4     $
—  
 
      552.4       —           552.4  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Gross profit

    179.0     $ —           179.0       —           179.0  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

General and administrative expenses

    124.4     $ —           124.4       20.3     (4)     144.7  

Depreciation and amortization expense

    40.2     $ —           40.2       —           40.2  

Professional fees

    10.4     $ —           10.4       —           10.4  

Advertising and marketing expenses

    6.3     $ —           6.3       —           6.3  

Restructuring expenses

    3.8     $ —           3.8       —           3.8  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

    185.1     $ —           185.1       20.3         205.4  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Loss from operations

    (6.1   $ —           (6.1     (20.3       (26.4
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Other income, net

    1.0     $ —           1.0       —           1.0  

Interest expense

    (51.5   $ —           (51.5     17.6     (5)     (33.9
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Loss before income taxes (1)

    (56.6   $ —           (56.6     (2.7       (59.3

Income tax provision

    (1.5   $ —           (1.5     —           (1.5
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net loss

  $ (58.1   $ —           (58.1     (2.7       (60.8
 

 

 

             

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests

      (27.7     (2     (27.7     (1.3   (2)     (29.0
   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to Shift4 Payments, Inc.

    $ (27.7     $ (30.4   $ (1.4     $ (31.8
   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Per Share Data:

             

Net loss per share(3)

             

Basic

  $ (629.50             $ (0.80

Diluted

  $ (629.50             $ (0.80

Weighted-average shares used to compute net loss per share(3)

             

Basic

    100,000                 39,530,880  

Diluted

    100,000                 39,530,880  

 

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Shift4 Payments, Inc. and subsidiaries

Unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2020

 

(in millions, except share and per share amounts)   Shift4
Payments,
LLC
Historical
    Pro Forma
Transactions
Adjustments
          As Adjusted
for Pro
Forma
Transactions
    Pro Forma
Offering
Adjustments
        Shift4
Payments,
Inc. Pro
Forma
     

Gross revenue

  $ 199.4       —         $ 199.4       —         $ 199.4    

Cost of sales

    154.9       —           154.9       —           154.9    
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

Gross profit

    44.5       —           44.5       —           44.5    
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

General and administrative expenses

    22.3       —           22.3       5.1     (4)     27.4    

Depreciation and amortization expense

    10.5       —           10.5       —           10.5    

Professional fees

    1.7       —           1.7       —           1.7    

Advertising and marketing expenses

    1.3       —           1.3       —           1.3    

Restructuring expenses

    0.2       —           0.2       —           0.2    
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

Total operating expenses

    36.0       —           36.0       5.1         41.1    
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

Income from operations

    8.5       —           8.5       (5.1       3.4    
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

Other expense, net

    (0.1     —           (0.1     —           (0.1  

Interest expense

    (13.3     —           (13.3     4.7     (5)     (8.6  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

Loss before income taxes (1)

    (4.9     —           (4.9     (0.4       (5.3  

Income tax provision

    (0.3     —           (0.3     —           (0.3  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

Net loss

  $ (5.2     —         $ (5.2   $ (0.4       (5.6  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests

      (2.5     (2     (2.5     (0.2   (2)     (2.7  
   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

Net loss attributable to Shift4 Payments, Inc.

    $ (2.5     $ (2.7   $ (0.2     $ (2.9  
   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

Per Share Data:

               

Net loss per share(3)

               

Basic

  $ (63.67             $ (0.07   (3)

Diluted

  $ (63.67             $ (0.07   (3)

Weighted-average shares used to compute net loss per share(3)

               

Basic

    100,000                 39,530,880     (3)

Diluted

    100,000                 39,530,880     (3)

Shift4 Payments, Inc. and subsidiaries

Notes to unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statement of operations

 

  (1)

Following the Transactions we will be subject to United States federal income taxes, in addition to state and local taxes, with respect to our allocable share of any net taxable income of Shift4 Payments, LLC. As Shift4 Payments, LLC has historically generated losses, and on a pro forma basis, we anticipate incurring losses following this offering and the Transactions, the unaudited pro forma consolidated statements of operations do not reflect adjustments to our provision for federal income taxes.

 

  (2)

After the Transactions we will become the managing member of Shift4 Payments, LLC. We will own 52.3% of the economic interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC, but will have 97.3% of the voting interest in and control the management of Shift4 Payments, LLC. The Continuing Equity Holders will own the remaining 47.7% of the economic interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC, which will be accounted for as a noncontrolling interest in our future consolidated financial results.

 

  (3)

Pro forma basic earnings per share is computed by dividing the net income attributable to holders of Class A common stock and Class C common stock by the weighted-average shares of Class A common stock and Class C common stock outstanding during the period. Shares of Class B common stock do not participate in earnings of Shift4 Payments, Inc. As a result, the shares of Class B common stock are not considered participating securities and are not included in the weighted-average shares outstanding for purposes of computing pro forma net loss per share. The weighted-average shares of Class A common stock outstanding include 2,607,297 RSUs and that we expect to grant in connection with this offering and concurrent private placement that vest over time but are not subject to ongoing service requirements. As we have incurred losses for all periods presented, pro forma diluted loss per share is equal to pro forma basic loss per share because the effect of potentially dilutive securities would be anti-dilutive.

 

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  (4)

We intend to grant $50.3 million in the form of 2,515,078 RSUs to certain employees in connection with this offering, based on an assumed initial public offering price of $20.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the estimated offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus. The RSUs will vest ratably over time and are subject to continued employment. The grant date fair value of the RSUs will be equal to the initial public offering price.

 

  (5)

Reflects a net decrease in interest expense as if the repayment in full of our Second Lien Credit Facility and Revolving Credit Facility, and partial repayment of our First Lien Credit Facility, occurred on January 1, 2019.

 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the information presented in “Selected Historical Condensed Consolidated Financial Data” and our historical consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. In addition to historical information, the following discussion contains forward-looking statements, such as statements regarding our expectation for future performance, liquidity and capital resources, that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations. Our actual results may differ materially from those contained in or implied by any forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause such differences include those identified below and those described in “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” “Risk Factors” and “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information.” We assume no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements.

Overview

We are a leading independent provider of integrated payment processing and technology solutions in the United States based on total volume of payments processed. We have achieved our leadership position through decades of solving complex business and operational challenges facing our customers: software partners and merchants. For our software partners, we offer a single integration to an end-to-end payments offering, a proprietary gateway and a robust suite of technology solutions to enhance the value of their software and simplify payment acceptance. For our merchants, we provide a seamless, unified consumer experience as an alternative to relying on multiple providers to accept payments and utilize technology in their businesses.

At the heart of our business is our payments platform. Our payments platform is a full suite of integrated payment products and services that can be used across multiple channels (in-store, online, mobile and tablet- based) and industry verticals, including:

 

   

end-to-end payment processing for a broad range of payment types;

 

   

merchant acquiring;

 

   

proprietary omni-channel gateway;

 

   

complementary software integrations;

 

   

integrated and mobile POS solutions;

 

   

security and risk management solutions; and

 

   

reporting and analytical tools.

In addition, we offer innovative technology solutions that go beyond payment processing. Some of our solutions are developed in-house, such as business intelligence and POS software, while others are powered by our network of complementary third-party applications. Our focus on innovation combined with our product-driven culture enables us to create scalable technology solutions that benefit from an extensive library of intellectual property.

We have a partner-centric distribution approach. We market and sell our solutions through a diversified network of over 7,000 software partners, which consists of ISVs and VARs. ISVs are technology providers that develop commerce-enabling software suites with which they can bundle our payments platform. VARs are organizations that provide distribution support for ISVs and act as trusted and localized service providers to merchants by providing them with software and services. Together, our ISVs and VARs provide us immense distribution scale and provide our merchants with front-line service and support.

 

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Our end-to-end payments offering combines our payments platform, including our proprietary gateway and breadth of software integrations, and our suite of technology solutions to create a compelling value proposition for our merchants. As of December 31, 2019, we served over 64,000 merchants who subscribe to our end-to-end payments offering, representing over $22.0 billion in end-to-end payment volume for the year ended December 31, 2019. As of March 31, 2020, we served over 66,000 merchants who subscribe to our end-to-end payments offering, representing over $6.0 billion in end-to-end payment volume for the three months ended March 31, 2020. This end-to-end payment volume contributed approximately 57% and 56% of net revenue for the year ended December 31, 2019 and the three months ended March 31, 2020, respectively. Additionally, in 2019 we served over 66,000 merchants representing over $185.0 billion in payment volume that relied on Shift4’s gateway or technology solutions but did not utilize our end-to-end payments offering.

Our merchants range from SMBs to large enterprises across numerous verticals in which we have deep industry expertise, including food and beverage, lodging and leisure. In addition, our merchant base is highly diversified with no single merchant representing more than 1% of end-to-end payment volume for the year ended December 31, 2019 or the three months ended March 31, 2020.

Recent acquisitions

Merchant Link

In August 2019, we completed the acquisition of Merchant-Link, LLC, or Merchant Link, a leading provider of payment gateway and data security solutions, and which primarily services hotels and restaurants in the United States, or the Merchant Link Acquisition. The Merchant Link Acquisition brings to us a highly complementary customer base, with a significant portion of the customers using software already integrated on our gateway. This overlap presents us with a substantial opportunity for improved share of wallet and cost efficiencies.

Reorganization transactions

The historical results of operations discussed in this “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” are those of Shift4 Payments, LLC prior to the completion of the Transactions, including this offering, and do not reflect certain items that we expect will affect our results of operations and financial condition after giving effect to the Transactions and the use of proceeds from this offering and the concurrent private placement.

Following the completion of the Transactions, Shift4 Payments, Inc. will become the sole managing member of Shift4 Payments, LLC. Although we will have a minority economic interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC, we will have the sole voting interest in, and control the management of, Shift4 Payments, LLC. As a result, we will consolidate the financial results of Shift4 Payments, LLC and will report a noncontrolling interest related to the LLC Interests held by the Continuing Equity Owners on our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). Immediately after the Transactions, investors in this offering will collectively own 69.4% of our outstanding Class A common stock, consisting of 21,613,437 shares (or 23,863,437 shares if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock), Shift4 Payments, Inc. will own 42,045,958 LLC Interests (or 44,295,958 LLC Interests if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock), representing 52.3% of the LLC Interests (or 53.6% if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) and the Continuing Equity Owners will collectively own 38,373,190 LLC Interests, representing 47.7% of the LLC Interests (or 46.4% if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock). Shift4 Payments, Inc. is a holding company that conducts no operations and, as of the consummation of this offering, its principal asset will be LLC Interests we purchase from Shift4 Payments, LLC.

After consummation of this offering, Shift4 Payments, Inc. will become subject to U.S. federal, state and local income taxes with respect to our allocable share of any taxable income of Shift4 Payments, LLC and will be

 

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taxed at the prevailing corporate tax rates. In addition to tax expenses, we also will incur public company expenses related to our operations, plus payment obligations under the TRA, which we expect to be significant. We intend to cause Shift4 Payments, LLC to make distributions to us in an amount sufficient to allow us to pay our tax obligations and operating expenses, including distributions to fund any payments due under the TRA. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Shift4 LLC Agreement—Agreement in Effect Upon Consummation of this Offering—Distributions.”

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The unprecedented and rapid spread of COVID-19 as well as the shelter-in-place orders, promotion of social distancing measures, restrictions to businesses deemed non-essential, and travel restrictions implemented throughout the United States have significantly impacted the restaurant and hospitality industries – verticals in which we have predominantly focused on over the last decade.

In response to these developments, we have implemented measures to focus on the safety of our employees and support our merchants as they shift to take-out and delivery operations, while at the same time seeking to mitigate the impact on our financial position and operations. We have implemented remote working capabilities for our entire organization and to date, there has been minimal disruption to our operations.

We have also implemented new programs to help ease the burden for our merchants, encourage customers to support their local bars and restaurants and incentivize new merchants to enroll in our end-to-end payment platform. Specifically, we have:

 

   

established www.shift4.com/situation in an effort to share data to educate political leaders and advocacy groups as to where aid needs to be prioritized;

 

   

released a gift card funding campaign to encourage consumers to support their favorite bars or restaurants by purchasing a gift card through our Shift4Cares.com website; and

 

   

implemented temporary fee waivers on certain products that are not expected to have a material impact on financial performance.

We believe we have sufficient liquidity to satisfy our cash needs, however, we continue to evaluate and take action, as necessary, to preserve adequate liquidity and ensure that our business can continue to operate during these uncertain times. While our business was not significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic until the latter part of March 2020, we have taken the following actions to increase liquidity and strengthen our financial position:

 

   

drawn the remaining $64.5 million available under our Revolving Credit Facility in March 2020;

 

   

furloughed approximately 25% of our employees;

 

   

accelerated approximately $30 million of annual expense reduction plans related to prior acquisitions, including the Merchant Link Acquisition;

 

   

re-prioritized our capital projects to defer certain non-essential improvements;

 

   

instituted a company-wide hiring freeze; and

 

   

reduced salaries for management across the organization.

The overall impact of COVID-19 was not significant during the first ten weeks of the first quarter; however, it was notable during the final two weeks of March 2020. The ultimate impact that COVID-19 will have on our consolidated results of operations throughout 2020 remains uncertain. We expect the significant decrease in our payments-based revenue as a result of known shelter-in-place restrictions and social distancing measures anticipated will continue. We will continue to evaluate the nature and extent of these potential impacts to our business, consolidated results of operations, and liquidity.

 

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On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES, Act was signed into law. The CARES Act provides a substantial stimulus and assistance package intended to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including tax relief and government loans, grants and investments. As we are not eligible for any CARES Act relief, the CARES Act did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2020. We continue to monitor any effects that may result from the CARES Act or other government relief programs that are made available.

Factors impacting our business and results of operations

In general, our results of operations are impacted by factors such as adoption of software integrated payment solutions, continued investment in core capabilities, on-going pursuit of strategic acquisitions, and macro-level economic trends.

Increased adoption of software-integrated payments. We primarily generate revenue through volume-based payments and transaction fees and subscription fees for software and technology solutions. We expect to grow this volume by attracting new software partners through our market-leading and innovative solutions. These software partners have proven to be an effective and efficient way of acquiring new merchants and servicing these relationships.

Continued focus on the sale of our end-to-end payments offering and resulting revenue mix shift. Our customers utilize our comprehensive solutions to solve a variety of business challenges. Currently, a large percentage of our merchant base uses only our proprietary gateway. As these merchants adopt our end-to-end payment solutions, our revenue per merchant and merchant retention are expected to increase.

Mix of our merchant base. The revenue contribution of our merchant portfolio is affected by several factors, including the amount of payment volume processed per merchant, the industry vertical in which the merchant operates, and the number of solutions implemented by the merchant. As the size and sophistication of our merchants change, we may experience shifts in the average revenue per merchant and the weighted average pricing of the portfolio.

Ability to attract and retain software partners. A key pillar of our Shift4 Model is our partner-centric distribution approach. We work with over 7,000 software partners who are essential to helping us grow and serve our merchant base. Maintaining our product leadership and continued investment in innovative technology solutions is critical to attracting and retaining software partners.

Investment in product, distribution and operations. We make significant investments in both new product development and existing product enhancement, such as mobile point-of-sale and cloud enablement for our software partners’ existing systems. New product features and functionality are brought to market through varied distribution and promotional activities including collaborative efforts with industry leading software providers, trade shows, and customer conferences. Further, we will continue to invest in operational support in order to maintain service levels expected by our merchant customers. We believe these investments in product development and software integrations will lead to long-term growth and profitability.

Pursuit of strategic acquisitions. From time to time, we may pursue acquisitions as part of our ongoing growth strategy. While these acquisitions are intended to add long-term value, in the short term they may add redundant operating expenses or additional carrying costs until the underlying value is unlocked.

Economic conditions and resulting consumer spending trends. Changes in macro-level consumer spending trends, including as a result of COVID-19, could affect the amount of volumes processed on our platform, thus resulting in fluctuations to our revenue streams. Further, consumer spending habits are subject to seasonal fluctuations that could cause varied revenue results across the quarters.

 

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Key performance indicators and non-GAAP measures

The following table sets forth our key performance indicators and non-GAAP measures for the periods presented:

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
(in millions)    2018      2019      2019      2020  

End-to-end payment volume

   $ 16,145.1      $ 22,125.2      $ 4,661.6      $ 6,146.1  

Net revenue

     252.7        305.5        66.3        79.1  

EBITDA

     59.5        58.1        14.0        26.1  

Adjusted EBITDA

     89.9        103.8        20.6        17.5  

End-to-end payment volume

End-to-end payment volume is defined as the total dollar amount of card payments that we authorize and settle on behalf of our merchants. This volume does not include volume processed through our gateway-only merchants.

Net revenue, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA

We use supplemental measures of our performance which are derived from our consolidated financial information but which are not presented in our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures include: net revenue, which represents gross revenue less network fees, which includes interchange and assessment fees; earnings before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation, and amortization, or EBITDA; and adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA is the primary financial performance measure used by management to evaluate its business and monitor results of operations. Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA further adjusted for certain non-cash and other non-recurring items that management believes are not indicative of ongoing operations. These adjustments include acquisition, restructuring and integration costs, management fees and other nonrecurring items.

We use non-GAAP financial measures to supplement financial information presented on a GAAP basis. We believe that excluding certain items from our GAAP results allows management to better understand our consolidated financial performance from period to period and better project our future consolidated financial performance as forecasts are developed at a level of detail different from that used to prepare GAAP-based financial measures. Moreover, we believe these non-GAAP financial measures provide our stakeholders with useful information to help them evaluate our operating results by facilitating an enhanced understanding of our operating performance and enabling them to make more meaningful period to period comparisons. There are limitations to the use of the non-GAAP financial measures presented in this report. Our non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate non-GAAP financial measures differently than we do, limiting the usefulness of those measures for comparative purposes.

The non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered as indicators of performance in isolation from or as a substitute for net income (loss) prepared in accordance with GAAP, and should be read only in conjunction with financial information presented on a GAAP basis. Reconciliations of EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA to its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure are presented below. We encourage you to review the reconciliations in conjunction with the presentation of the non-GAAP financial measures for each of the periods presented. In future fiscal periods, we may exclude such items and may incur income and expenses similar to these excluded items.

 

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Reconciliations of net revenue, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA

The tables below provide reconciliations of net revenue to gross revenue and EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA to net loss on a consolidated basis for the periods presented.

Net revenue:

 

     Year Ended December 31,      Three Months Ended March 31,  
(in millions)    2018      2019      2019      2020  

Payments-based revenue

   $ 485.2      $ 643.6      $ 134.0      $ 176.4  

Subscription and other revenues

     75.4        87.8        21.0        23.0  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total gross revenue

     560.6        731.4        155.0        199.4  

Less: network fees

     307.9        425.9        88.7        120.3  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net revenue

   $ 252.7      $ 305.5      $ 66.3      $ 79.1  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA:

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
     Three Months Ended March 31,  
(in millions)    2018      2019      2019      2020  

Net loss

   $ (49.9    $ (58.1    $ (13.5    $ (5.2

Interest expense

        47.0        51.5        12.5        13.3  

Income tax (benefit) provision

     (3.8      1.5        0.1        0.3  

Depreciation and amortization expense

     66.2        63.2        14.9        17.7  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

EBITDA

     59.5        58.1        14.0        26.1  

Acquisition, restructuring and integration costs(a)

     24.8        28.3        6.7        (9.8

Impact of adoption of ASC 606(b)

     —          14.0        —          —    

Management fees(c)

     2.0        2.0        0.5        0.5  

Other nonrecurring items(d)

     3.6        1.4        (0.6      0.7  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 89.9      $ 103.8      $ 20.6      $ 17.5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a)

For the year ended December 31, 2018, consists primarily of restructuring expenses of $20.1 million. For the year ended December 31, 2019, consists primarily of fair value adjustments to contingent liabilities of $15.5 million, one-time professional fees of $6.7 million, restructuring expenses of $3.8 million and deferred compensation arrangements of $1.9 million. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, consists primarily of fair value adjustments to contingent liabilities of $4.1 million, deferred compensation arrangements of $1.2 million and one-time professional fees of $0.7 million. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, consists primarily of fair value adjustments to contingent liabilities of $(8.5) million and $(2.0) million for deferred compensation arrangements, offset by one-time professional fees of $0.2 million. See notes to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for more information on these restructuring expenses and contingent liability adjustments.

(b)

Effective January 1, 2019, we adopted ASC 606. As a result of the adoption of ASC 606, the cost of equipment deployed to new merchants in 2019 is expensed when shipped within “Cost of Sales” in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. Previously, the cost of equipment deployed to new merchants was capitalized as an acquisition cost and amortized over the estimated life of a customer and the amortization was included in the depreciation and amortization expense used to calculate EBITDA. The impact on EBITDA as a result of the ASC 606 adoption was $14.0 million. In order to provide comparability to our 2018 adjusted EBITDA, the impact of $14.0 million is included as a component of adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2019.

(c)

Represents fees to the equityholders for consulting and managing services that we will not be required to pay after closing of this offering. See notes to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for more information about these related party transactions.

(d)

For the year ended December 31, 2018, consists primarily of a one-time accrual of $2.3 million for cumulative unremitted sales and use tax related to years 2017 and prior.

 

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Key financial definitions

The following briefly describes the components of revenue and expenses as presented in the consolidated statements of operations.

Gross revenue consists primarily of payment-based revenue and subscriptions and other revenues:

Payment-based revenue includes fees for payment processing services, gateway services, data encryption and tokenization. Payment processing fees are primarily driven as a percentage of payment volume and a per transaction fee. They may also be based on minimum monthly usage fees.

Subscription and other revenues include software as a service, or SaaS, fees for point-of-sale systems provided to merchants. Point-of-sale SaaS fees are assessed based on the type and quantity of point-of-sale systems deployed to the merchant. This includes monthly minimums, statement fees, fees for our proprietary business intelligence software, annual fees, regulatory compliance fees and other miscellaneous services such as help desk support and warranties on equipment. This also includes revenue derived from third party residuals, automated teller machine services, and fees charged for technology support.

Cost of sales consists of interchange and processing fees, residual commissions, equipment and other costs of sales:

Interchange and processing fees represent payments to card issuing banks and assessments paid to card associations based on transaction processing volume. These also include fees incurred by third-parties for data transmission and settlement of funds, such as processors and sponsor banks.

Residual commissions represent monthly payments to software partners. These costs are typically based on a percentage of payment-based revenue.

Equipment represents our costs of devices that are purchased by the merchant.

Other costs of sales includes amortization of capitalized software development costs, capitalized software acquired technology and capitalized customer acquisition costs. It also includes incentives, shipping and handling costs related to the delivery of devices and other contract fulfillment costs. Capitalized software development costs are amortized using the straight-lined method on a product-by-product basis over the estimated useful life of the software. Capitalized software, acquired technology and capitalized acquisition costs are amortized on a straight-line basis in accordance with our accounting policies.

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of compensation, benefits and other expenses associated with corporate management, finance, human resources, shared services, information technology and other activities. General and administrative expenses also include the cost of equipment deployed that does not have a corresponding revenue stream, such as demonstration equipment and certain customer upgrades. We expect that our general and administrative expenses will decrease as a result of the furloughs taken in April 2020 and other cost saving measures implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we expect additional costs and expenses to be incurred associated with becoming a publicly listed company. We expect to incur additional costs in the amount of $52.1 million as a result of transaction bonuses, including issuances of RSUs to certain employees, due upon the successful completion of this offering.

Depreciation and amortization expense consists of depreciation and amortization expenses related to merchant relationships, trademarks and trade names, residual commission buyouts, equipment, leasehold improvements, and other intangible assets and property, plant and equipment. We depreciate and amortize our assets on a straight-line basis in accordance with our accounting policies. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the lesser of the estimated life of the leasehold improvement or the remaining lease term. Maintenance and repairs, which do not extend the useful life of the respective assets, are charged to expense as incurred. Intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives which range from two years to 15 years.

Professional fees consists of costs incurred for accounting, tax, legal, and consulting services.

 

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Advertising and marketing expenses relate to costs incurred to participate in industry tradeshows and dealer conferences, advertising initiatives to build brand awareness, and expenses to fulfill loyalty program rewards earned by software partners.

Restructuring expenses relate to strategic initiatives we have taken that include, but are not limited to, severance or separation costs and other exit and disposal costs. These expenses are typically not reflective of our ongoing operations.

Other income, net primarily consists of other non-operating items.

Interest expense consists of interest costs incurred on our borrowings and amortization of capitalized financing costs.

Income tax benefit (provision) represents federal, state and local taxes based on income in multiple domestic jurisdictions.

Comparison of results for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2020

The following table sets forth the consolidated statements of operations for the periods presented.

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
               
(in millions)    2019      2020      $ change      % change  

Payments-based revenue

   $   134.0      $   176.4      $   42.4        31.6

Subscription and other revenues

     21.0        23.0        2.0        9.5
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total gross revenue

     155.0        199.4        44.4        28.6

Less: Network fees

     88.7        120.3        31.6        35.6

Less: Other costs of sales

     27.7        34.6        6.9        24.9
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Gross profit

     38.6        44.5        5.9        15.3
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

General and administrative expenses

     26.5        22.3        (4.2      (15.8 %) 

Depreciation and amortization expense

     9.8        10.5        0.7        7.1

Professional fees

     1.8        1.7        (0.1      (5.6 %) 

Advertising and marketing expenses

     1.4        1.3        (0.1      (7.1 %) 

Restructuring expenses

     0.2        0.2        —          (—   %) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total operating expenses

     39.7        36.0        (3.7      (9.3 %) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

(Loss) income from operations

     (1.1      8.5        9.6        (872.7 %) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Other income, net

     0.2        (0.1      (0.3      (150.0 %) 

Interest expense

     (12.5      (13.3      (0.8      6.4
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Loss before income taxes

     (13.4      (4.9      8.5        (63.4 %) 

Income tax provision

     (0.1      (0.3      (0.2      200.0
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Net loss

   $ (13.5    $ (5.2    $ 8.3        (61.5 %) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

Gross Revenue

Gross revenue was $199.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared to $155.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, an increase of $44.4 million or 28.6%. Gross revenue is comprised of payments-based revenue and subscription and other revenues.

Payments-based revenue was $176.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared to $134.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, an increase of $42.4 million or 31.6%. The increase

 

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in payments-based revenue was driven by an increase in end-to-end payment volume of $1.5 billion, or 31.8%, for the three months ended March 31, 2020 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2019.

Subscription and other revenues were $23.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared to $21.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, an increase of $2.0 million or 9.5%. The increase was driven primarily by the Merchant Link Acquisition contributing $3.7 million in the three months ended March 31, 2020, partially offset by a decline in hardware revenue of $1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2019.

Network Fees

Network fees were $120.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared to $88.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, an increase of $31.6 million or 35.6%. This increase is correlated with the increase in end-to-end payment volume as described above.

Net revenue, which represents gross revenue less network fees, was $79.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared to $66.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, an increase of $12.8 million or 19.3%. See “—Key performance indicators and non-GAAP measures” for a reconciliation of net revenue to gross revenue.

Other costs of sales

Other costs of sales was $34.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared to $27.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, an increase of $6.9 million, or 24.9%. This increase was primarily a result of:

 

   

a growth in net revenue driving higher residual commissions of $1.8 million;

 

   

the Merchant Link Acquisition contributing $1.6 million to other costs of sales for the three months ended March 31, 2020;

 

   

an increase in equipment deployed for new contracts of $1.4 million;

 

   

higher capitalized acquisition cost amortization of $1.2 million related to deal bonuses; and

 

   

higher capitalized software development amortization of $0.5 million.

Operating expenses

General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses were $22.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared to $26.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, a decrease of $4.2 million or 15.8%. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease of $14.6 million in non-cash adjustments for contingent liability valuations and deferred compensation arrangements, offset by general and administrative expenses resulting from the Merchant Link Acquisition of $7.7 million and a $1.2 million increase in employee-related expenses as a result of continued growth and expansion of the Company in anticipation of our initial public offering. See Note 13 to our consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2020 included elsewhere in this prospectus for more information on these contingent liabilities.

Depreciation and amortization expense. Depreciation and amortization expense was $10.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared to $9.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, an increase of $0.7 million or 7.1%. The increase was primarily due to the Merchant Link Acquisition, which contributed $0.6 million to depreciation and amortization expense in the three months ended March 31, 2020.

Restructuring expenses. Restructuring expenses were $0.2 million for both the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, representing accretion on the one-time restructuring expenses incurred in 2018 for an historical acquisition. See Note 4 to our consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2020 included elsewhere in this prospectus for more information on restructuring expenses.

 

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Interest expense

Interest expense was $13.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared to $12.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, an increase of $0.8 million or 6.4%. This increase in interest expense was primarily due to an increase of $90.0 million in borrowings under the First Lien Term Loan Facility from refinancing of our outstanding indebtedness in April and October 2019 and additional borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility in the three months ended March 31, 2020.

Comparison of results for the years 2018 and 2019

The following table sets forth the consolidated statements of operations for the periods presented.

 

     Year Ended December 31,               
(in millions)    2018      2019      $ change     % change  

Payments-based revenue

   $   485.2      $   643.6      $   158.4       32.6

Subscription and other revenues

     75.4        87.8        12.4       16.4
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total gross revenue

     560.6        731.4        170.8       30.5

Less: Network fees

     307.9        425.9        118.0       38.3

Less: Other costs of sales

     102.3        126.5        24.2       23.7
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

Gross profit

     150.4        179.0        28.6       19.0

General and administrative expenses

     83.7        124.4        40.7       48.6

Depreciation and amortization expense

     40.4        40.2        (0.2     (0.5 %) 

Professional fees

     7.4        10.4        3.0       40.5

Advertising and marketing expenses

     6.1        6.3        0.2       3.3

Restructuring expenses

     20.1        3.8        (16.3     (81.1 %) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total operating expenses

     157.7        185.1        27.4       17.4
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

Loss from operations

     (7.3      (6.1      1.2       (16.4 %) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

Other income, net

     0.6        1.0        0.4       66.7

Interest expense

     (47.0      (51.5      (4.5     9.6
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

Loss before income taxes

     (53.7      (56.6      (2.9     5.4

Income tax benefit (provision)

     3.8        (1.5      (5.3     (139.5 %) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

Net loss

   $ (49.9    $ (58.1    $ (8.2     16.4
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

Gross Revenue

Gross revenue was $731.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to $560.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, an increase of $170.8 million or 30.5%. Gross revenue is comprised of payments-based revenue and subscription and other revenues.

Payments-based revenue was $643.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to $485.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, an increase of $158.4 million or 32.6%. The increase in payments-based revenue is primarily driven by an increase in end-to-end payment volume of $6.0 billion, or 37.0%, for the year ended December 31, 2019 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2018.

Subscription and other revenues were $87.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to $75.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, an increase of $12.4 million or 16.4%. The increase in subscription and other revenues was driven by the Merchant Link Acquisition contributing $4.8 million in 2019, $4.4 million from enhanced services offered in 2019 and $2.6 million as a result of adopting ASC 606 as of January 1, 2019.

 

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Network Fees

Network fees were $425.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to $307.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, an increase of $118.0 million or 38.3%. This increase is correlated with the increase in end-to-end payment volume as described above.

Net revenue, which represents gross revenue less network fees, was $305.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to $252.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, an increase of $52.8 million or 20.9%. See “—Key performance indicators and non-GAAP measures” for a reconciliation of net revenue to gross revenue.

Other costs of sales

Other costs of sales was $126.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to $102.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, an increase of $24.2 million, or 23.7%. This increase was primarily due to the growth in net revenue driving higher residual commissions of $11.4 million and higher capitalized acquisition cost amortization for deal bonuses of $5.1 million. In addition, as a result of the 2019 adoption of ASC 606, equipment that was previously capitalized is now expensed under the current contract terms. In 2018, amortization of equipment capitalized as acquisition costs on the consolidated balance sheets was $9.4 million, while in 2019, the equipment expensed was $13.7 million, driving an increase in cost of sales of $4.3 million.

Operating expenses

General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses were $124.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to $83.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, an increase of $40.7 million or 48.6%. The increase was primarily due to a $14.9 million increase in employee-related expenses in 2019 as a result of continued growth and expansion of the company and in anticipation of our initial public offering, as well as a change of $15.8 million in non-cash adjustments for contingent liability valuations. See Note 14 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for more information on these contingent liabilities. In addition, general and administrative expenses increased $13.8 million in 2019 due to the Merchant Link Acquisition.

Professional fees. Professional fees were $10.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to $7.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, an increase of $3.0 million or 40.5%. The increase was primarily due to higher professional fees resulting from nonrecurring costs associated with activities to prepare for our initial public offering.

Restructuring expenses. Restructuring expenses were $3.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to $20.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, a decrease of $16.3 million, or 81.1%. The one-time restructuring expenses incurred in 2018 were separation costs primarily associated with a historical acquisition. The restructuring expenses incurred in 2019 are separation costs associated with the integration as a result of the Merchant Link Acquisition. See Note 5 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for more information on restructuring expenses.

Interest expense

Interest expense was $51.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to $47.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, an increase of $4.5 million or 9.6%. This increase in interest expense was primarily due to an increase of $90.0 million in borrowings under the First Lien Term Loan Facility and additional borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility in 2019.

Income tax benefit (provision)

Income tax provision was $1.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to an income tax benefit of $3.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, a change of $5.3 million. This change was primarily due

 

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to pretax book income from Shift4 Corporation of $5.7 million in 2019 compared to a pretax book loss from Shift4 Corporation of $17.7 million in 2018. The change in pretax book income of $23.4 million for Shift4 Corporation was primarily a result of restructuring charges of $18.3 million recorded in 2018.

Quarterly results of operations

The following tables present our unaudited quarterly results of operations. This information should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus. We have prepared the unaudited consolidated quarterly financial information for the quarters presented on the same basis as our consolidated financial statements. The historical quarterly results presented are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any future quarters or periods.

The quarterly financial information for the year ended December 31, 2018 is presented under ASC 605, while the quarterly financial information for the year ended December 31, 2019 and the three months ended March 31, 2020 reflects the adoption of ASC 606.

 

     For the three months ended  
     March 31,
2018
     June 30,
2018
    September 30,
2018
    December 31,
2018
 

Payments-based revenue

   $ 103.0      $ 120.6     $ 130.7     $ 130.9  

Subscription and other revenues

     17.8        19.0       18.2       20.4  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total gross revenue

     120.8        139.6       148.9       151.3  

Less: Network fees

     63.6        76.1       83.4       84.8  

Less: Other costs of sales

     23.1        25.3       26.6       27.3  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     34.1        38.2       38.9       39.2  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

General and administrative expenses

     18.7        22.2       23.0       19.8  

Depreciation and amortization expense

     10.4        10.2       10.0       9.8  

Professional fees

     2.3        1.5       1.6       2.0  

Advertising and marketing expenses

     1.6        1.2       1.8       1.5  

Restructuring expenses

     6.1        12.6       0.9       0.5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     39.1        47.7       37.3       33.6  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Loss) income from operations

     (5.0      (9.5     1.6       5.6  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other income, net

     0.3        —         —         0.3  

Interest expense

     (10.9      (11.4     (12.2     (12.5
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss before income taxes

     (15.6      (20.9     (10.6     (6.6

Income tax benefit (provision)

     1.7        2.5       (0.2     (0.2
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

   $ (13.9    $ (18.4   $ (10.8   $ (6.8
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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     For the three months ended  
     March 31,
2019
     June 30,
2019
     September 30,
2019
     December 31,
2019
     March 31,
2020
 

Payments-based revenue

   $ 134.0      $ 159.5      $ 171.9      $ 178.2      $ 176.4  

Subscription and other revenues

     21.0        21.0        21.9        23.9        23.0  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total gross revenue

     155.0        180.5        193.8        202.1        199.4  

Less: Network fees

     88.7        105.2        114.1        117.9        120.3  

Less: Other costs of sales

     27.7        31.7        33.1        34.0        34.6  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross profit

     38.6        43.6        46.6        50.2        44.5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

General and administrative expenses

     26.5        26.1        37.5        34.3        22.3  

Depreciation and amortization expense

     9.8        9.8        10.1        10.5        10.5  

Professional fees

     1.8        2.0        3.3        3.3        1.7  

Advertising and marketing expenses

     1.4        1.4        1.6        1.9        1.3  

Restructuring expenses

     0.2        0.1        3.4        0.1        0.2  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     39.7        39.4        55.9        50.1        36.0  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

(Loss) income from operations

     (1.1      4.2        (9.3      0.1        8.5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other income, net

     0.2        0.7        0.1        —          (0.1

Interest expense

     (12.5      (12.7      (12.9      (13.4      (13.3
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Loss before income taxes

     (13.4      (7.8      (22.1      (13.3      (4.9

Income tax provision

     (0.1      (0.4      (0.5      (0.5      (0.3
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net loss

   $ (13.5    $ (8.2    $ (22.6    $ (13.8    $ (5.2
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Quarterly trends

Revenue and gross profit may be impacted by seasonal fluctuations in our business. This variability largely results from events such as holidays and the number of weekends in a reporting period. These events create volatility in payment processing volumes and the number of transactions processed during a given reporting period. Historically, our revenue has been strongest in our second and third quarters and weakest in our first quarter. The overall impact of COVID-19 was not significant during the first ten weeks of the first quarter 2020, however, it was notable during the final two weeks of March 2020.

General and administrative expenses primarily reflect the timing of additions of personnel and fair value adjustments to contingent liabilities. We expect that our general and administrative expenses will decrease as a result of cost saving measures implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the furloughs taken in April 2020 and the accelerated expense reduction plans related to previous acquisitions.

Professional fees reflect fees incurred for accounting, tax and legal services, consulting services as it relates to potential acquisitions, as well as costs incurred directly related to this offering.

Advertising and marketing expenses are impacted by the timing of industry tradeshows and dealer conferences, as well as customer acquisition initiatives.

Interest expense is impacted by higher borrowings as a result of refinancing the First Lien Term Loan Facility in April 2019 and October 2019, timing of proceeds and payments to the Revolving Credit Facility and changes in LIBOR, which is a component of the interest rate on the First Lien Term Loan Facility and Second Lien Term Loan Facility.

 

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Liquidity and capital resources

Overview

We have historically sourced our liquidity requirements primarily with cash flow from operations and, when needed, with borrowings under our Credit Facilities. The principal uses for liquidity have been debt service, capital expenditures (including research and development) and funds required to finance acquisitions. Given the impact COVID-19 has had on the restaurant and hospitality industries, we continue to evaluate and take action, as necessary, to preserve adequate liquidity and ensure we can continue to operate during these uncertain times. The Revolving Credit Facility portion of our Credit Facilities has a capacity of $90 million. During the three months ended March 31, 2020, we drew the remaining $68.5 million from the Revolving Credit Facility to have cash available to support operations if needed.

The following table sets forth summary cash flow information for the periods presented.

 

     Year ended December 31,      Three months ended
March 31,
 
(in millions)        2018              2019              2019              2020      

Net cash provided by operating activities(a)

   $ 25.5      $ 26.7      $ 10.4      $ 9.7  

Net cash used in investing activities(a)

     (41.4      (98.8      (7.1      (9.6

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     11.3        71.0        (2.2      66.4  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Change in cash

   $ (4.6    $ (1.1    $ 1.1        66.5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a)

Effective January 1, 2019, we adopted ASC 606. As a result of the adoption of ASC 606, under the current contract terms, the cost of equipment deployed to new merchants in 2019 of $13.7 million is no longer included in investing activities; rather, it is expensed when shipped and included in operating activities. On a comparative basis, cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2019 would have been $40.4 million and cash used in investing activities would have been $112.5 million without giving effect to the adoption of ASC 606. See Notes 2 and 4 to our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019 included elsewhere in this prospectus for more information about the adoption of ASC 606.

Operating activities

Net cash provided by operating activities consists of net loss adjusted for certain non-cash items and changes in other assets and liabilities.

For the three months ended March 31, 2020, cash provided by operating activities of $9.7 million is primarily a result of:

 

   

net loss of $5.2 million adjusted for non-cash expenses, including depreciation and amortization of $17.7 million, revaluation of contingent liabilities of $(8.5) million, provision for bad debts of $1.6 million and amortization of capitalized loan fees of $1.1 million; plus,

 

   

changes in operating assets and liabilities of $3.6 million, which is a result of working capital fluctuations, primarily due to the timing of annual compliance fees billed to our merchants.

For the three months ended March 31, 2019, cash provided by operating activities of $10.4 million is primarily a result of:

 

   

net loss of $13.5 million adjusted for non-cash expenses, including depreciation and amortization of $14.9 million, revaluation of contingent liabilities of $4.1 million, provision for bad debts of $1.2 million and amortization of capitalized loan fees of $0.9 million; plus,

 

   

changes in operating assets and liabilities of $2.8 million, which is a result of working capital fluctuations, primarily due to the timing of annual compliance fees billed to our merchants.

 

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For the year ended December 31, 2019, cash provided by operating activities of $26.7 million is primarily a result of:

 

   

net loss of $58.1 million adjusted for non-cash expenses, including depreciation and amortization of $63.2 million, revaluation of contingent liabilities of $15.5 million and amortization of capitalized loan fees of $4.0 million; less,

 

   

changes in operating assets and liabilities of $(4.9) million.

For the year ended December 31, 2018, cash provided by operating activities of $25.5 million is primarily a result of:

 

   

net loss of $49.9 million adjusted for non-cash expenses, including depreciation and amortization of $66.2 million and amortization of capitalized loan fees of $3.7 million; plus,

 

   

changes in operating assets and liabilities of $7.8 million, which is a result of working capital fluctuations, primarily due to timing of interest payments for our long-term debt.

Investing activities

Cash flows from investing activities include cash paid for acquisitions, purchases of future commission streams of our software partners, purchases of property and equipment, and capitalized software development costs. As discussed above, in 2018, the cost of equipment deployed to new merchants was an investing activity.

Net cash used in investing activities was $9.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, an increase of $2.5 million compared to net cash used in investing activities of $7.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. This increase is primarily the result of:

 

   

an increase in costs to obtain contracts of $1.9 million due to growth in merchants that subscribe to our end-to-end payments platform, plus,

 

   

an increase of $1.2 million in capitalized software development costs driven by development for additional new products and enhancements and timing of when technological feasibility is established; partially offset by,

 

   

a decrease of $0.6 million in acquisition of property, plant and equipment driven by leasehold improvements made in 2019 to our Las Vegas office.

Net cash used in investing activities was $98.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, an increase of $57.4 million compared to net cash used in investing activities of $41.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. This increase is primarily the result of:

 

   

acquisition of Merchant Link in 2019 for $64.0 million, net of cash acquired of $3.8 million see Note 3 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for more information, plus,

 

   

an increase of $6.6 million in acquisition of property, plant and equipment driven by leasehold improvements in 2019 to our Las Vegas office; partially offset by,

 

   

the impact of adopting ASC 606 of $13.7 million for equipment deployed to new merchants that in 2019 is no longer capitalized and instead included within operating activities.

Financing activities

Net cash provided by financing activities was $66.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, an increase of $68.6 million, compared to net cash used in financing activities of $2.2 million for three months ended March 31, 2019. This increase was primarily due to proceeds from the Revolving Credit Facility during the three months ended March 31, 2020 of $68.5 million, which was primarily drawn to have cash available to support operations if needed.

 

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Net cash provided by financing activities was $71.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, an increase of $59.7 million, compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $11.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. This increase was primarily due to refinancings in April and October 2019 of the First Lien Term Loan Facility of approximately $90.0 million, and an increase in 2019 in Revolving Credit Facility borrowings of $71.0 million, offset by payments on the Revolving Credit Facility of $90.0 million. See “Description of Indebtedness” for more information.

Credit Facilities

As of December 31, 2019, we had $511.1 million, $130.0 million, and $21.0 million outstanding under the First Lien Term Loan Facility, Second Lien Term Loan Facility, and the Revolving Credit Facility, respectively. As of March 31, 2020, we had $509.8 million, $130.0 million, and $89.5 million outstanding under the First Lien Term Loan Facility, Second Lien Term Loan Facility, and the Revolving Credit Facility, respectively. The Revolving Credit Facility had no remaining capacity as of March 31, 2020. See “Description of Indebtedness” for more information.

We intend to use proceeds of this offering and the concurrent private placement to repay certain existing indebtedness. See “Use of Proceeds.”

Contractual obligations

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2019 without giving effect to the Transactions, including this offering and concurrent private placement and the use of proceeds therefrom.

 

     Payments due by period  
(in millions)    Total      Less than
1 year
     1-3 years      3-5 years      More than
5 years
 

Long-term debt

   $ 662.1      $ 5.3      $ 31.4      $ 495.4      $ 130.0  

Interest on long-term debt(1)

     223.0        47.9        91.0        76.5        7.6  

Operating leases(2)

     23.5        4.6        7.1        4.9        6.9  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 908.6      $ 57.8      $ 129.5      $ 576.8      $ 144.5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)

Assumes interest payment through stated maturity. Payments herein are subject to change, as payments for variable rate debt have been estimated.

(2)

As of December 31, 2019, we are obligated under non-cancelable operating leases for our premises, which expire through November 2028. Rent expense incurred under operating leases, which totaled $4.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, is included in “General and Administrative expenses” in our consolidated statements of operations.

Off-balance sheet arrangements

During the periods presented, we did not engage in any off-balance sheet financing activities other than those reflected in the notes to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.

Critical accounting policies

Our discussion and analysis of our historical financial condition and results of operations for the periods described is based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these historical financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates, assumptions and judgments in certain circumstances that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and contingencies as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. We evaluate our assumptions and estimates on an ongoing basis. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying

 

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values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Additionally, the full impact of COVID-19 is unknown and cannot be reasonably estimated. However, we have made accounting estimates for our allowance for doubtful accounts, valuation of our contingent liabilities, other intangible assets and goodwill based on the facts and circumstances available as of the reporting date. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

We have provided a summary of our significant accounting policies in Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019 included elsewhere in this prospectus. The following critical accounting discussion pertains to accounting policies management believes are most critical to the portrayal of our historical financial condition and results of operations and that require significant, difficult, subjective or complex judgments.

Revenue recognition

Application of the accounting principles in U.S. GAAP related to the measurement and recognition of revenue requires us to make judgments and estimates. Complex arrangements with nonstandard terms and conditions may require significant contract interpretation to determine the appropriate accounting. Specifically, the determination of whether we are a principal to a transaction or an agent can require considerable judgment. We have concluded that we are the principal in our payment processing arrangements as we control the service on our payments platform, which is transformative in nature and allows for front-end and back-end risk mitigation, merchant portability, third party software integrations, and enhanced reporting functionality. We also contract directly with our merchants and have complete pricing latitude on the processing fees charged to our merchants. As such, we bear the credit risk for network fees and transactions charged back to the merchant. In addition, our SaaS arrangements include multiple performance obligations with differing patterns of revenue recognition. For such arrangements, we allocate revenue to each performance obligation based on its relative standalone selling price, which is based on the fair value of each product and service. Changes in judgments with respect to these assumptions and estimates could impact the amount of revenue recognized.

Business combinations

Upon acquisition of a company, we determine if the transaction is a business combination, which is accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting. Under the acquisition method, once control is obtained of a business, the assets acquired, and liabilities assumed, including amounts attributed to noncontrolling interests, are recorded at fair value. We use our best estimates and assumptions to assign fair value to the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date. One of the most significant estimates relates to the determination of the fair value of these assets and liabilities. The determination of the fair values is based on estimates and judgments made by management. Our estimates of fair value are based upon assumptions we believe to be reasonable, but which are inherently uncertain and unpredictable. Measurement period adjustments are reflected at the time identified, up through the conclusion of the measurement period, which is the time at which all information for determination of the values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed is received, and is not to exceed one year from the acquisition date. We may record adjustments to the fair value of these tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed, with the corresponding offset to goodwill.

Additionally, uncertain tax positions and tax-related valuation allowances are initially recorded in connection with a business combination as of the acquisition date. We continue to collect information and reevaluate these estimates and assumptions periodically and record any adjustments to preliminary estimates to goodwill, provided we are within the measurement period. If outside of the measurement period, any subsequent adjustments are recorded to the consolidated statement of operations.

Goodwill and intangible assets

We perform a goodwill impairment test annually at October 1 and whenever events or circumstances make it more likely than not that impairment may have occurred. We have determined that our business comprises one

 

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reporting unit. We have the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether events or circumstances indicate it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is greater than its carrying amount, in which case a quantitative impairment test is not required.

Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over their estimated useful life on a straight-line basis. We monitor conditions related to these assets to determine whether events and circumstances warrant a revision to the remaining amortization or depreciation period. We test these assets for potential impairment whenever our management concludes events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. The original estimate of an asset’s useful life and the impact of an event or circumstance on either an asset’s useful life or carrying value involve significant judgment regarding estimates of the future cash flows associated with each asset.

Income taxes

Shift4 Payments, LLC is considered a flow-through entity for U.S. federal and most applicable state and local income tax purposes. As a flow-through entity, taxable income or loss from Shift4 Payments, LLC is passed through to and included in the taxable income of its members. Accordingly, the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus do not include a provision for federal income taxes on the flow-through taxable income or loss from Shift4 Payments, LLC.

Shift4 Corporation, one of the operating subsidiaries of Shift4 Payments, LLC, is considered a C-Corporation for U.S. federal, state and local income tax purposes. Taxable income or loss from Shift4 Corporation is not passed through to Shift4 Payments, LLC. Instead, it is taxed at the corporate level subject to the prevailing corporate tax rates. A provision for income taxes related to the taxable income of Shift4 Corporation is included in the consolidated financial statements. This provision for income taxes is determined by using management’s judgments, estimates and the interpretation and application of complex tax laws in each of the jurisdictions in which Shift4 Corporation operates. Judgement is also required in assessing the timing and amounts of deductible and taxable items. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets.

After the Transactions and the consummation of this offering, Shift4 Payments, LLC will continue to be treated as a pass-through entity. Shift4 Payments, Inc. will become subject to U.S. federal, state and local income taxes with respect to our allocable share of any taxable income of Shift4 Payments, LLC and will be taxed at the prevailing corporate tax rates. In addition to tax expenses, we will also make payments under the TRA, which we expect to be significant. We anticipate that we will account for the income tax effects and corresponding TRA’s effect resulting from future taxable purchases or redemptions of LLC Interests of the Continuing Equity Owners by us or Shift4 Payments, LLC by recognizing an increase in our deferred tax assets, based on enacted tax rates at the date of the purchase or redemption. Further, we will evaluate the likelihood that we will realize the benefit represented by the deferred tax asset and, to the extent that we estimate that it is more likely than not that we will not realize the benefit, we will reduce the carrying amount of the deferred tax asset with a valuation allowance. The amounts to be recorded for both the deferred tax assets and the liability for our obligations under the TRA will be estimated at the time of any purchase or redemption as a reduction to shareholders’ equity, and the effects of changes in any of our estimates after this date will be included in net income (loss). Similarly, the effect of subsequent changes in the enacted tax rates will be included in net income. We currently believe that all deferred tax assets will be recovered based upon the projected profitability of our operations. Judgement is required in assessing the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in Shift4 Payments, Inc.’s financial statements. A change in the assessment of such consequences, such as realization of deferred tax assets, changes in tax laws or interpretations thereof could materially impact our results.

 

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New accounting pronouncements

For information regarding new accounting pronouncements, and the impact of these pronouncements on our consolidated financial statements, if any, refer to Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019 included elsewhere in this prospectus.

JOBS Act

We qualify as an “emerging growth company” pursuant to the provisions of the JOBS Act, enacted on April 5, 2012. Section 102 of the JOBS Act provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. We are electing to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards, and as a result, we may not comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies. As a result, our consolidated financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.

We are in the process of evaluating the benefits of relying on other exemptions and reduced reporting requirements provided by the JOBS Act. Subject to certain conditions set forth in the JOBS Act, if as an emerging growth company we choose to rely on such exemptions, we may not be required to, among other things, (1) provide an auditor’s attestation report on our systems of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404, (2) provide all of the compensation disclosure that may be required of non-emerging growth public companies under the Dodd-Frank Act, (3) comply with the requirement of the PCAOB regarding the communication of critical audit matters in the auditor’s report on the financial statements, and (4) disclose certain executive compensation-related items such as the correlation between executive compensation and performance and comparisons of the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation to median employee compensation. These exemptions will apply until we no longer meet the requirements of being an emerging growth company. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (a) the last day of the fiscal year (i) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of our initial public offering, (ii) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion or (iii) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700.0 million as of the last business day of our prior second fiscal quarter, and (b) the date on which we have issued more than $1.07 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three-year period.

Quantitative and qualitative disclosures of market risks

Our future income, cash flows and fair values relevant to financial instruments are subject to risks relating to interest rates.

We are subject to interest rate risk in connection with our Credit Facilities, which have variable interest rates. The interest rates on these facilities are based on a fixed margin plus a market interest rate, which can fluctuate accordingly but is subject to a minimum rate. Interest rate changes do not affect the market value of such debt, but could impact the amount of our interest payments, and accordingly, our future earnings and cash flows, assuming other factors are held constant.

As of March 31, 2020, we had approximately $729.3 million of variable rate debt, none of which was subject to an interest rate hedge. In the future, the interest rate may increase, and we may be subject to interest rate risk. Based on the amount outstanding on our Credit Facilities on March 31, 2020, an increase of 100 basis points in the applicable interest rate would increase our annual interest expense by approximately $7.3 million. A decrease of 100 basis points in the applicable rate (assuming such reduction would not be below the minimum rate) would reduce our annual interest expense by approximately $7.3 million.

 

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BUSINESS

Our Company

We are a leading independent provider of integrated payment processing and technology solutions in the United States based on total volume of payments processed. We have achieved our leadership position through decades of solving complex business and operational challenges facing our customers: software partners and merchants. For our software partners, we offer a single integration to an end-to-end payments offering, a proprietary gateway and a robust suite of technology solutions to enhance the value of their software and simplify payment acceptance. For our merchants, we provide a seamless, unified consumer experience as an alternative to relying on multiple providers to accept payments and utilize technology in their businesses.

Merchants are increasingly adopting disparate software solutions to operate their businesses more effectively. The complexity of integrating a seamless payment solution across these software suites has grown exponentially. For example, a restaurant in the United States may use over a dozen disparate software systems to operate its business, manage interactions with its customers and accept payments. A large resort may operate an even greater number of software systems to enable online reservations, check-ins, restaurants, salon and spa, golf, parking and more. The scale and complexity of managing these software systems that are sourced from different providers while seamlessly accepting payments is challenging for merchants of any size.

Software partners are increasingly required to ensure that their solutions are integrated with a variety of applications to service merchants. For example, any software partner seeking to be adopted in a resort, such as an online reservation system or restaurant POS, must be able to integrate into that resort’s property management systems. These software integrations need to enable secure payment acceptance and also support additional services to manage the guest’s experience. Facilitating these integrations is both costly and time-consuming for software partners.

We integrate disparate software systems through a single point of connectivity. By partnering with us, every software provider receives the benefit of both a state-of-the-art payments platform and our library of over 350 established integrations with market-leading software suites. In turn, our merchants are able to simplify payment acceptance and streamline their business operations by reducing the number of vendors on which they rely.

At the heart of our business is our payments platform. Our payments platform is a full suite of integrated payment products and services that can be used across multiple channels (in-store, online, mobile and tablet-based) and industry verticals, including:

 

   

end-to-end payment processing for a broad range of payment types;

 

   

merchant acquiring;

 

   

proprietary omni-channel gateway;

 

   

complementary software integrations;

 

   

integrated and mobile POS solutions;

 

   

security and risk management solutions; and

 

   

reporting and analytical tools.

In addition, we offer innovative technology solutions that go beyond payment processing. Some of our solutions are developed in-house, such as business intelligence and POS software, while others are powered by our network of complementary third-party applications. Our focus on innovation combined with our product-driven culture enables us to create scalable technology solutions that benefit from an extensive library of intellectual property.

 

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We have a partner-centric distribution approach. We market and sell our solutions through a diversified network of over 7,000 software partners, which consists of ISVs and VARs. ISVs are technology providers that develop commerce-enabling software suites with which they can bundle our payments platform. VARs are organizations that provide distribution support for ISVs and act as trusted and localized service providers to merchants by providing them with software and services. Together, our ISVs and VARs provide us immense distribution scale and provide our merchants with front-line service and support.

Our end-to-end payments offering combines our payments platform, including our proprietary gateway and breadth of software integrations, and our suite of technology solutions to create a compelling value proposition for our merchants. As of December 31, 2019, we served over 64,000 merchants who subscribe to our end-to-end payments offering, representing over $22.0 billion in end-to-end payment volume for the year ended December 31, 2019. As of March 31, 2020, we served over 66,000 merchants who subscribe to our end-to-end payments offering, representing over $6.0 billion in end-to-end payment volume for the three months ended March 31, 2020. This end-to-end payment volume contributed approximately 57% and 56% of net revenue for the year ended December 31, 2019 and the three months ended March 31, 2020, respectively. Additionally, in 2019 we served over 66,000 merchants representing over $185.0 billion in payment volume that relied on Shift4’s gateway or technology solutions but did not utilize our end-to-end payments offering.

Our merchants range from SMBs to large enterprises across numerous verticals in which we have deep industry expertise, including food and beverage, lodging and leisure. Over 185,000 of the customers that rely on our technology are SMBs. In addition, our merchant base is highly diversified with no single merchant representing more than 1% of end-to-end payment volume for the year ended December 31, 2019 or the three months ended March 31, 2020.

We derive the majority of our revenue from fees paid by our merchants, which principally include a processing fee that is charged as a percentage of end-to-end payment volume. In cases where merchants subscribe only to our gateway, we generate revenue from transaction fees charged in the form of a fixed fee per transaction. We also generate subscription revenue from licensing subscriptions to our POS software, business intelligence tools, payment device management and other technology solutions, for which we typically charge flat subscription fees on a monthly basis. Our revenue is recurring in nature because of the mission-critical and embedded nature of the solutions we provide, the high switching costs associated with these solutions and the multi-year contracts we have with our customers. We also benefit from a high degree of operating leverage given the combination of our highly scalable payments platform and strong customer unit economics.

Our total revenue increased to $731.4 million for fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 from $560.6 million for fiscal year ended December 31, 2018. We generated net loss of $58.1 million for fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 and net loss of $49.9 million for fiscal year ended December 31, 2018. Our net revenue increased to $305.5 million for fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 from $252.7 million for fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, representing year-over-year growth of 20.9%. Our adjusted EBITDA increased to $103.8 million for fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 from $89.9 million for fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, representing year-over-year growth of 15.5%. The percentage of our total net revenue derived from volume-based payments, subscription agreements and transaction fees was 56.7%, 26.5% and 14.6% for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, respectively, and 56.2%, 26.9% and 14.0% for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, respectively. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Key performance indicators and non-GAAP measures” for a reconciliation of our non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.

 

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Our Shift4 Model

Our mission is to power the convergence of integrated payments and commerce-enabling software. Solving the complexity inherent to our software partners and merchants requires a specialized approach that combines a seamless customer experience with a secure, reliable and robust suite of payments and technology offerings.

 

 

LOGO

To achieve this mission, we strategically built our Shift4 Model on a three pillar foundation: (i) payments platform; (ii) technology solutions; and (iii) partner-centric distribution.

 

 

LOGO

Payments Platform

Our payments platform provides omni-channel card acceptance and processing solutions. For the year ended December 31, 2019, we processed over 3.5 billion transactions representing over $200.0 billion in payment volume across multiple payment types, including credit, debit, contactless card, EMV and mobile wallets as well as alternative payment methods such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, Alipay and WeChat Pay. We continue to innovate and evolve our payments offering as new technology and payment methods are adopted by consumers.

Through our proprietary gateway, our payments platform is integrated with over 350 software suites including some of the largest and most recognized software providers in the world. In addition, we enable connectivity with the largest payment processors, alternative payment rails and over 100 payment devices. Our payments platform

 

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includes market-leading security features that help prevent consumer card data from entering the merchant’s environment.

We designed our payments platform to be:

 

   

Integrated – fully integrated and seamlessly connected, facilitating easy data capture and compatibility across all solutions;

 

   

Reliable – supports the most demanding payment environments in the United States 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year; and

 

   

SecurePCI-validated P2PE tokenization and EMV-ready solutions.

Our merchants have the flexibility to subscribe to our payments platform in one of two ways: end-to-end payments or gateway. End-to-end payments merchants benefit from a single, unified vendor solution for payment acceptance (including our proprietary gateway), devices, POS software solutions and a full suite of business intelligence tools. By consolidating these functions through a single, unified vendor solution, these merchants are able to reduce total spend on payment acceptance solutions and access gateway and technology solutions as value-added features. Gateway merchants benefit from interoperability with third-party payment processors. The flexibility in our model helps us attract software partners and merchants.

Technology Solutions

Our suite of technology solutions is designed to streamline our customers’ business operations, drive growth through strong consumer engagement and improve their business using rich transaction-level data.

 

   

Lighthouse 5 – Our cloud-based suite of business intelligence tools includes customer engagement, social media management, online reputation management, scheduling and product pricing, as well as extensive reporting and analytics.

 

   

Integrated Point-of-Sale (iPOS) – We provide purpose-built POS workstations pre-loaded with powerful, mission-critical software suites and integrated payment functionality. Our iPOS offering helps our merchants scale their business and improve operational efficiency while reducing total cost of ownership.

 

   

Mobile POS – Our mobile payments offering, Skytab, provides a complete feature set, including pay-at-the-table, order-at-the-table, delivery, customer feedback and email marketing, all of which are integrated with our proprietary gateway and Lighthouse 5. This unique solution is relevant for merchants ranging from SMBs to large enterprises and across numerous industry verticals.

 

   

Marketplace – We enable seamless integrations into complementary third-party applications, which helps reduce the number of vendors on which our merchants rely. For example, a restaurant can enable DoorDash via Marketplace and accept orders from their existing POS, dramatically simplifying implementation and eliminating manual reconciliation of multiple systems. That same restaurant can also enable payroll, timekeeping and other human resource services, reducing the time spent on manual workflows and enhancing employee engagement. Marketplace also includes a variety of functional applications including loyalty and inventory management.

Partner-Centric Distribution

Our payments platform and technology solutions are delivered to our merchants through our partner-centric distribution network. Today, our network includes over 7,000 software partners, providing full coverage across the United States.

Our partner-centric distribution approach is designed to leverage the domain expertise and local relationships that our software partners have built with our merchants over years of doing business together. Our software partners

 

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are entrusted by merchants to guide software purchasing decisions and provide service and support. In turn, our software partners entrust us to provide innovative payment and technology solutions to help them continue to grow.

We have always been deeply committed to supporting the growth of our software partners with a robust suite of tools, dedicated personnel and strategic and economic alignment. Our partner tools include: lead management, sales and marketing support, real-time pipeline alerts, transaction level residual reporting and merchant life-cycle reporting. Our partner-centric distribution approach provides us with strong merchant growth and retention.

Our Key Differentiators

We believe that our Shift4 Model provides us with a competitive advantage and differentiated position in the market.

We are a pioneer in delivering innovative solutions

Since our founding, we have been at the forefront of developing and deploying new and innovative payments and technology solutions that are tailored to meet the demands of our customers as their business needs evolve, such as:

 

   

Skytab – Recognizing the inefficiencies of the merchant experience, we developed Skytab, our mobile POS offering that includes pay-at-the-table and real-time ordering features, to improve operational efficiency and create a high-value consumer touchpoint.

 

   

Integrated POS – We were one of the first to recognize and capitalize on the convergence of software and devices by delivering a purpose-built POS system pre-loaded with powerful, mission-critical software suites and integrated payment functionality. This offering helps our merchants scale their business and improve operational efficiency while reducing total cost of ownership.

 

   

Tokenization – We introduced one of the world’s first payment tokenization solutions. We have further expanded our tokenization capabilities to include integration with merchants’ loyalty and analytics programs. As a pioneer in tokenization, we act as the exclusive tokenization provider and vault for many leading enterprise merchants.

 

   

PCI-validated P2PE – We developed one of the first PCI-validated point-to-point encryption, or P2PE, solutions. Our solution ensures that sensitive cardholder data does not enter the merchant’s environment, thereby eliminating the risk of exposure of cardholder data in the event of a merchant software breach.

Many of our innovations are a direct result of the collaboration we have with our customers as we continue to find new ways to help them grow their businesses. Innovation is in our DNA and will be a key to our future success.

We have developed deep domain expertise and built specialized capabilities in the hospitality market

We believe that we have established a meaningful first-mover advantage in integrated payments and technology solutions for the hospitality market. With over 30 years of operating experience in the hospitality market, we have developed deep domain expertise, an extensive industry-specific portfolio of software integrations and a comprehensive view of our customers’ complex business challenges.

Over 21,000 hotels and 125,000 restaurants in the United States use at least one of our products. With our scale in this market, software partners inevitably rely on our support for industry-specific solutions and capabilities when serving their merchants.

 

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Our portfolio of industry-specific integrations span hundreds of software versions, some of which are decades old but still in use today. We believe competitors would need to invest significant time and resources in order to replicate our software integration portfolio.

We leverage our expertise to develop proprietary payments and technology solutions that have specific features and functionality designed to meet various use-cases in the hospitality industry. For example, we offer customized integrations into varied and disparate hotel property management systems that enable our software partners to grow their merchant base to include merchants residing within hotels. In addition, restaurants using our Skytab product benefit from faster table turnover and enhanced customer engagement with powerful order/re-order and pay-at-the-table mobile functionality as well as robust email marketing and reputation management tools. Our in-depth understanding of the hospitality market allows us to continue to innovate and develop specialized solutions.

We maintain a privileged position as the last integration our software partners will ever need

We have over 350 integrations to market-leading software providers. In the hospitality market, we are integrated into a majority share of hotel property management systems in the United States, which enables us to serve both these hotels and the merchants that operate on their premises. Our extensive integrations contribute the vast majority of our transactions, with 99% of our payment transactions originating from commerce-enabling software. The vast number of software integrations and touchpoints we have with these customers provides us with differentiated access that makes our Shift4 Model difficult to replicate.

We simplify the operational complexity that our merchants face. A hotel, for example, is focused on providing a frictionless customer experience. They must securely process high-velocity transactions that pass through multiple disconnected systems. Adding to this complexity are compatibility challenges with their enterprise software systems, which may be many years old and have limited support. However, many of our merchants are reluctant to change or upgrade their enterprise software systems due to the risk of business disruption. We solve these challenges by leveraging our gateway to easily integrate into and unify a broad universe of disconnected software systems.

Our Shift4 Model benefits from powerful and mutually reinforcing network effects, which we believe strengthens our leadership position. As the last integration our software partners require, we attract world-class ISVs. By augmenting their software suites with our payments platform, we empower our ISVs to deliver a compelling value proposition to new and existing merchants. In turn, we leverage the extensive reach of our ISVs and VARs who provide us with direct access to their broad and diversified base of merchants. As the number of merchants we serve increases, we are able to make informed technology investments that meet the diverse needs of our customers.

We control and integrate the most important parts of the payments value chain into a single point of access

We own and control many components of the payments and technology value chain, enabling us to eliminate customer pain points around payment processing and device management. Our Shift4 Model provides a full suite of integrated payment solutions that can be used across multiple channels and numerous industry verticals, including:

 

   

end-to-end processing for a broad range of payment types;

 

   

merchant acquiring;

 

   

proprietary omni-channel gateway;

 

   

complementary software integrations;

 

   

integrated and mobile POS solutions;

 

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security and risk management solutions; and

 

   

reporting and analytical tools.

While our software partners are experts in developing commerce-enabling software suites, they lack the expertise to navigate the complexities and compliance requirements of the payments ecosystem. Integrating our payments platform into their software suites enables our partners to deliver a comprehensive solution to their merchants, with a single source of accountability and service.

For merchants, a typical payment solution can require the coordination of multiple vendors, such as an ISV, gateway provider, merchant acquirer, payment hardware original equipment manufacturer, on-site installation and support professionals. Managing these vendors often becomes the responsibility of a merchant and can result in unnecessary expense and delays in implementation. Further, as new commerce technologies arise, such as online delivery, new non-integrated systems must be added to adapt. We combine payments, technology solutions, operations and support into a bundled offering that provides better, faster and more convenient services to our merchants.

We have a vision-driven, founder-led culture

Since our founding, we have focused on building an entrepreneurial and innovative culture that is deeply rooted in our philosophy of aligning our success with that of our software partners and merchants. Every strategic decision we make embodies our belief that we must be champions of our customers and provide a differentiated partner and merchant experience. Our Shift4 Model demonstrates this culture by providing a simple, intuitive and superior product and service experience to all of our customers, from a small café to a large enterprise. Our founder-led team is able to draw on decades of experience in payments and software, which we believe is a key driver of our ability to innovate and disrupt our markets.

Customer Success Stories

Our story is best viewed through the lenses of our customers. We are proud of their success and strive to enable their future growth.

Pebble Beach Resorts

Pebble Beach Resorts is home to world-class golf, offers luxury accommodations, provides food and beverage experiences and operates a 5-star spa. With its extensive array of hospitality offerings, in addition to sixteen retail shops and an online shop, Pebble Beach Resorts requires a payments and technology partner to ensure that its guests have a frictionless and consistent payment experience across its many services and facilities.

We offer Pebble Beach Resorts the following solutions and benefits:

 

   

Proprietary Gateway: Pebble Beach Resorts relies on Shift4’s technology to provide merchant payment gateway services throughout its properties. Shift4’s payment gateway platform serves as the unifying technology for the multitude of software suites that operate across the entire Pebble Beach Resorts organization, making certain that any credit card payment entering Pebble Beach’s ecosystem is secured by Shift4’s technology.

 

   

Software Integrations: Whether it is Pebble Beach Resorts’ property management software handling nearly 500 guest rooms and luxury suites, or the e-commerce platform supporting the resort’s online retail shop, Shift4 is the single integration point to all of these systems, at any point of sale, in order to enable seamless and secure payment transactions.

 

   

Payments Solutions: Shift4 also administers the resort’s gift card program, which makes selling, redeeming, and managing gift cards convenient for Pebble Beach Resorts and its customers. Gift card

 

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transactions at Pebble Beach Resorts are secured with the same industry-leading encryption and tokenization technologies that Shift4 uses to secure credit card transactions at each payment location throughout the property. In addition, Shift4’s gift card program enables Pebble Beach Resorts to take advantage of advanced back-office reporting capabilities.

Focus POS

Focus POS is a restaurant management system with over 15,000 installations across the United States supporting a variety of environments, from quick service and fast casual to bar and table service. Focus POS solutions are designed to turn restaurant workflows into simple, streamlined processes. These include tools and analytics that allow restaurateurs to control labor costs, efficiently manage inventory and gain deeper visibility into their businesses.

We offer Focus POS’ resellers and merchants the following solutions and benefits:

 

   

Fully Customized Payments Offering: Together, Shift4 and Focus POS have developed a fully customized payment offering for Focus POS’ resellers and merchants. By integrating Shift4’s payment processing solutions into Focus POS restaurant management systems, Focus POS resellers are able to deliver a comprehensive restaurant solution. This includes POS and business management software with integrated payment processing, payment acceptance devices, PCI-validated point-to-point encryption and advanced tokenization.

 

   

Single Vendor Relationship: Focus POS’ comprehensive restaurant solution enables merchants to consolidate their business, technology and IT service needs into a single vendor. Merchants can select software that addresses the unique complexities of their business (both front- and back-office) while receiving the benefits of a scaled payment provider, all at a disruptive price point. In addition, Focus POS merchants can rely on a single vendor to resolve any customer service requirements 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

 

   

Rapid Deployment of New Product Features and Enhancements: Continuous collaboration between Focus POS and Shift4 allows us to deliver software and solution enhancements that augment Focus POS’ value proposition. These include our technology solutions such as Skytab (mobile POS), Lighthouse 5 (business intelligence) and Marketplace, all of which are seamlessly integrated into Focus POS software and act as a natural extension of the Focus POS offering.

In 2019, over 500 merchants adopted Focus POS’ restaurant management system with our integrated end-to-end payments offering. These merchants represent annualized payment volume of over $500 million as of the fourth quarter of 2019.

 

Our Growth Strategy

Our growth strategy will continue to be driven by our ability to leverage our Shift4 Model to solve the most complex business challenges facing our customers. The key elements of this strategy include:

Continue to win new customers

We plan to continue expanding relationships with our existing software partners to win new merchants through an enhanced value proposition. Furthermore, we are able to capitalize on the strength of our brand and our comprehensive service offerings, both of which have proven successful in winning new software partners and merchants. We also intend to expand our network of software partners across a variety of industry verticals in order to target new merchants.

 

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Unlock substantial opportunity within existing merchant base

There are significant upsell and cross-sell opportunities within our existing base of merchants. We intend to leverage our large, active base of gateway merchants to drive the adoption of our end-to-end payments offering. As merchants convert to our integrated end-to-end payments offering, we are able to increase our revenue per merchant, resulting in stronger unit economics. In 2019, the average integrated end-to-end merchant, or an end-to-end merchant who also utilizes our software, accounted for more than four times the gross profit than the average gateway merchant.

Continue enhancing our product portfolio with differentiated solutions

Our payments platform and technology solutions help us win new customers and strengthen our relationships with existing customers. As merchants embrace simplicity and consolidate vendor relationships, we will continue to innovate and add new value-added features and functionality. This enables our merchants to deliver a higher quality experience to their consumers and increase their transaction volumes, benefitting both us and our merchants.

Leverage domain expertise in hospitality market to expand into adjacent verticals

We continue to benefit from strong market conditions within the hospitality market, primarily driven by accelerating technology spend and evolving consumer preferences. Our access to leading hospitality businesses and industry thought leaders affords us an advantaged position of identifying emerging trends in adjacent areas and verticals that could result in attractive investment opportunities, such as specialty retail.

Leverage our relationships with global merchants to expand internationally

Our Shift4 Model is well-positioned to expand into new geographic regions. A host of multinational hospitality brands currently utilize our tokenization and POS software solutions internationally. We also have the opportunity to follow our customers as they expand into new geographic markets.

Monetize the robust data we capture through our Shift4 Model

We currently process billions of transactions. We believe we have an opportunity to leverage data from these transactions to develop unique insights that help identify trends in consumer behavior, as well as consumer and merchant preferences. We believe monetization of this data could represent a larger component of our business in the future.

Pursue strategic acquisitions

We have a proven track record of successfully unlocking value through identifying, pursuing and integrating numerous strategic acquisitions. We may selectively pursue acquisitions to improve our competitive positioning within existing and new verticals, expand our customer base and enhance our software and technology capabilities.

Our Market and Trends Impacting the Industry

The convergence of payments and software is transforming global commerce. Our software partners and merchants are seeking a bundled integrated payment and software solution to introduce operating efficiencies and enhance consumer experiences. The market opportunity is large and growing. According to the January 2019 issue of The Nilson Report, purchase volume on cards in the United States is expected to reach $10.4 trillion by 2027 from $5.5 trillion in 2017, representing a CAGR of approximately 7%. We leverage our Shift4 Model to capture a larger share of this market opportunity and to capitalize on the following trends defining our markets:

 

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Trends Impacting Merchants

Merchants must leverage the power of software to compete

We believe software is catalyzing new growth opportunities and operating efficiencies, enabling merchants to adapt to a changing landscape. We have seen merchants heavily invest in software tools to boost productivity, access the latest technological innovations in the market and create a frictionless consumer experience. We provide a diverse suite of over 350 integrations with market-leading software providers that enable our merchants to remain agile and not be limited in the tools they choose to operate their businesses.

Merchants are increasingly adopting multiple software suites

Managing a business requires multiple software suites. We have observed a proliferation of solutions for both front-office (POS, loyalty, reservations, etc.) and back-office (employee scheduling, inventory management, accounting and reporting) functions. Merchants who adopt these tools are able to unlock new growth from improved accuracy, higher employee engagement and reduced administrative burden. Our extensive portfolio of software integrations means that merchants are supported across hundreds of suites and myriad versions so that they never have to compromise on the right choice for their business.

Increasing complexity of payments

Consumers transact everywhere: mobile, online and in-store, all in real-time. According to McKinsey, global mobile commerce, including in-app payments and mobile browser payments, is expected to grow from approximately $1.5 trillion in 2017 to approximately $4.6 trillion in 2022, implying a CAGR of approximately 25%. We have seen that existing multi-vendor solutions often fail to keep up with consumer payment innovation, such as NFC, digital wallet, e-cash and other alternative payment networks. Connecting these systems through a single infrastructure reduces costs, simplifies complexity and eases maintenance. Our ability to offer a single payments integration that supports over 350 software suites transforms the complexity our merchants face into growth opportunities for us.

Card-present verticals increasingly capture unique business insights

Card-present commerce historically lagged online commerce in terms of data capturing capabilities and the derivation of unique, actionable insights. We believe brick-and-mortar merchants are increasingly turning to the power of analytical tools to extract valuable information about consumer spending behavior in order to compete with online commerce providers. Capturing critical transaction-level data requires a privileged position at the point-of-sale and a fully integrated solutions suite that can process and route data securely from a variety of omni-channel sources. The ability to understand the consumer, including their behavior and preferences, provides merchants with a significant competitive advantage in the market. Our Lighthouse 5 offering is fully integrated throughout the Shift4 Model and can process data from numerous omni-channel sources, providing meaningful consumer insights for our merchants to act on.

Trends Impacting ISVs

ISVs are integrating payments into their business models to remain competitive

The ISV market is highly fragmented and competitive. We believe ISVs must differentiate their value proposition and find new growth areas in order to remain relevant to their merchants and to attract more developers to their community. Many are doing so by adding payments capabilities to their software suites, recognizing the importance of the capability. Integrated payments enable ISVs to deliver a superior product experience. Our ability to provide a leading integrated payments platform accelerates ISVs strategy to enhance their differentiated value proposition.

 

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ISVs struggle to integrate their software suites with the growing universe of third-party software applications

Merchants require a dynamic and real-time ecosystem of software solutions that must collaborate and communicate with each other. However, we believe ISVs are struggling to keep pace with the volume of new software solutions being created. Building integrations into these third-party solutions is costly and time-consuming. Even if these integrations are built, a significant number of merchants continue to use legacy software that lacks cloud connectivity infrastructure. Our offerings, such as Marketplace, provide turn-key integrations into a variety of complementary third-party software applications that our ISVs can use to enhance their own solutions.

Our Ecosystem

The figure below illustrates how our Shift4 Model fits in the payments value chain:

 

 

LOGO

The typical payment value chain involves several constituents, including:

Processors – financial technology vendors that perform a range of functions to facilitate the acceptance of electronic payments, including processing, clearing and settlement.

Payment Types – firms that create rules and standards and provide network infrastructure, such as Visa and Mastercard. They connect, secure and transmit transactions between payment processors and issuers to facilitate payment authorization, clearing and settlement. New technology developments are resulting in alternative payment types, such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, Alipay and WeChat Pay.

Issuers banks and other licensed vendors of financial services that provide a range of services to consumers, merchants and other financial institutions. These firms provide financial accounts, such as checking and savings accounts, issue bank cards such as credit, debit, and prepaid cards and offer revolving credit lines and loans.

 

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Point-of-Sale Technology – providers of devices and software systems that enable businesses to perform a range of front and back-office functions. Basic POS technologies, such as card terminals, help read credit and debit card information to initiate payment transactions. More advanced systems, such as integrated POS, enable business owners to operate more sophisticated software applications to perform functions that help them manage their enterprise from a PC, tablet, or mobile device that is integrated with transaction processing functionality.

Software Providers – software developers who create a range of software solutions that merchants use to run their businesses at the point-of-sale, in their daily operations and in their back-office functions. These include:

 

   

Business Management Software – enables a merchant to manage its daily front-of-house operations, including scheduling appointments or reservations, loyalty, transaction ordering, fulfillment, customer relationship management, or CRM, and inventory management; and

 

   

Enterprise Software – enables a merchant to manage its back-office functions, such as data reconciliation, financial reporting, accounting, payroll and supply chain management.

Traditional Model

Merchants have historically relied on multiple vendors to effectively service their customers. Further complicating this challenge, a variety of commerce-enabling tools have been created to address various business challenges that merchants face. However, these systems lack the ability to communicate and share data, forcing merchants to inefficiently manage disconnected systems.

The following steps illustrate a typical transaction under the traditional model:

 

  1.

Patrons place orders for goods that are manually keyed into the POS terminal. The POS terminal would be provided by Vendor 1.

 

  2.

The POS terminal is pre-loaded with POS software that captures card data from a variety of methods, including chip, magnetic strip, NFC or QR code. POS software is provided by Vendor 2.

 

  3.

Patrons pay for the goods using a card, mobile-phone or other form factor. Payment devices that accept these card or digital forms of payment are provided by Vendor 3.

 

  4.

Transaction details and SKU sales data are typically exported from POS and payment providers systems and manually imported into data and analytics software, provided by Vendor 4.

 

  5.

Patron provides their email address to the merchant, who manually enters the information into their CRM system. CRM software is provided by Vendor 5.

 

  6.

Transaction data is routed through a gateway. The gateway is provided by Vendor 6.

 

  7.

The processor, Vendor 7, routes the transaction to the payment types, including the card networks.

 

  8.

The payment types/card networks obtain authorization for the transaction from the issuers and forward the authorization to the processor.

 

  9.

The processor sends the authorization through the gateway to the POS terminal, enabling the merchant to proceed with the transaction and providing the patron with a confirmation, receipt and the items purchased.

 

  10.

The merchant receives a separate bill from the processor.

Our Shift4 Model

We provide a bundled solution that consolidates several vendors into an integrated, single vendor solution. In the transaction described above, we consolidate seven different vendors into a single integration to our payments

 

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platform. Our end-to-end payments offering provides a comprehensive solution suite that enables our merchants to, among other things, securely accept payments, operate powerful POS software and build loyalty campaigns with their customers.

Our payments platform provides interconnectivity across all software and payment devices. This deep level of integration enables our merchants to capitalize on rapidly changing consumer preferences and technological advancements to provide a seamless experience to their customers. For example, we enable merchants to capture consumer email addresses at the time of checkout from mobile POS devices, and we automatically route this data to Lighthouse 5, our data and analytics platform. Furthermore, our gateway enables merchants to maintain their existing commercial software and payment relationships through a single, cost-effective integration.

 

LOGO

Sales and Distribution

Our partner-centric distribution approach and commitment to our software partners are the foundation of our go-to-market strategy. We have built an extensive distribution network of over 7,000 software partners including both ISVs and VARs.

 

   

Independent software vendors – Our solutions are connected into over 350 integrations with market-leading software providers, including some of the largest and most recognizable technology companies in the world. By integrating our payments platform into their software suites, our ISVs are able to sell a comprehensive solution to the merchant at an attractive price point.

 

   

Value added resellers – We partner with VARs to sell our solutions to merchants. Our VARs include third-party resellers and organizations that provide distribution support for ISVs. VARs act as trusted and localized service providers to our merchants by providing them with software and services. This partnership enables us to expand our reach and scalability by allowing a VAR to bundle our full payments and technology product suite with other value-added services provided by the VAR.

 

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In addition, we employ a team of approximately 60 employees dedicated to providing account support to our ISVs and VARs. This team is also responsible for finding new ISV and VAR partners in order to expand our partner network.

We are selective in identifying and choosing our software partners, and we seek to align our business objectives with those that have strong networks, local expertise, high-quality merchant portfolios and a trusted brand name. Our network of software partners provides a consistent and extensive source of new merchant acquisition, with no single relationship accounting for more than 3.25% of our end-to-end volume. In addition, we leverage our Shift4 Model to create strategic and economic alignment with our partners to incentivize them to continue working with us.

Our compelling value proposition enables our software partners to extend attractive pricing arrangements to our merchants. For merchants that subscribe to our end-to-end payments offering, our software partners can offer gateway and technology solutions as value-added features included in the price of our payments offering. We believe that enabling our software partners to provide a cost-effective and comprehensive bundle of solutions best supports their ability to sell our solutions and grow their businesses.

Our Solutions

Our solutions are designed to help our customers grow their businesses and include, but are not limited to:

Payments Platform

 

Solution

  

Description

Merchant Acquiring

   Omni-channel card acceptance and processing solutions across multiple payment types, including credit, debit, contactless card, mobile wallets as well as alternative payment methods

Gateway

   Seamlessly connects merchant’s software to the payment processor of their choice enabling a wide range of payment options including traditional and alternative payments methods and provides integrations to hundreds of software suites

Security

  

Security features including PCI-validated P2PE and EMV-compliance

P2PE encrypts consumer card data from the moment a card is inserted, swiped, manually keyed or tapped, as with mobile wallets, at a secure payment device

Tokenization

  

Replaces cardholder data, which has universal value, with a random alphanumeric value (a token) that is only valuable within specific parameters and in a particular environment. Tokens enable a merchant to maintain transaction records without the risk of compromising consumer card data

 

Traditional tokens preclude a merchant from identifying their consumers, which undermines the efficacy of business intelligence solutions. Our MetaTokens provide 16-digit numeric values that remain constant for a particular consumer’s card number. MetaTokens enable a merchant to identify their consumers across multiple transactions, numerous transaction types and different revenue centers within a merchant

Risk Management / Underwriting

   Risk management teams and underwriting systems assess, plan, and implement strategies to minimize risk associated with chargebacks

Payment Device Management

   Device provisioning encryption and ongoing maintenance and support

 

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Solution

  

Description

Chargeback Management

   Chargeback system provides an efficient support structure in which we work directly with the merchant, payment card networks and card issuing brands to determine liability and resolve open dispute claims

Fraud Prevention

   Our Fraud Sentry solution is an automated solution that monitors transaction activity to identify instances of employee fraud. Fraud Sentry will monitor purchase and refund activity on the POS and will notify the merchant in the event these amounts are not aligned

Gift Card

   Flexible, feature-rich gift card solution for card-present and card-not-present environments

Technology Solutions

 

Solution

  

Description

Point-of-Sale

  

Point-of-sale solutions combining powerful software with secure payments that serves merchants of any size or complexity

 

Mobile POS solution, Skytab, combines state-of-the-art devices with simple, intuitive software

Business Intelligence (Lighthouse 5)

  

Cloud-based suite of business management tools includes customer engagement, social media management, online reputation management, scheduling and product pricing as well as extensive reporting and analytics

 

Lighthouse 5 is integrated throughout our Shift4 Model

Marketplace

   Developer marketplace that provides complementary third-party applications that help our merchants integrate best-of-breed systems and devices

Partner-Centric Distribution

 

Solution

  

Description

Merchant Management

   Tools to access, organize and manage merchants

Training and Education

   Trainings by industry experts as well as interactive videos and other customized training material for new and existing products and services

Marketing Management

   Wide breadth of marketing and social media resources

Incentives Tracking

   Reconciliation and tracking tools for partner bonuses and revenue share commissions

Operations and Support Services

Our operations infrastructure is designed to deliver high-quality experiences to our customers and to drive efficiencies throughout the entire payment ecosystem. We leverage our over 30 years of operating history in the hospitality sector and our domain expertise to ensure our obligations to our customers are maintained and fulfilled effectively. Our operations and support services include:

Merchant Operations and Support

 

   

Merchant underwriting – Our merchant underwriting team manages applications and risk evaluation of new merchants. Our merchant base operates in end markets with high card-present volume and low

 

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levels of fraud and chargeback losses. In addition, our underwriting strategy offers merchants with a low risk profile expedited activation which enhances their customer experience.

 

   

Merchant onboarding and activation – Our merchant onboarding and activation team works closely with our partners to ensure a high-touch transition from sales to implementation and activation. Our streamlined activation and automated approval process enables fast and frictionless merchant onboarding, providing us and our partners with enhanced speed-to-market. Our partners are typically able to board even the largest and most complex merchants within 24 hours of submitting an application.

 

   

Merchant training – We provide a full curriculum of training materials to our merchants via a dedicated training department and content delivery platform.

 

   

Merchant risk management – Our risk management operations are designed to monitor merchant accounts on an on-going basis. This includes dedicated security and regulatory support such as PCI compliance support, vulnerability scanning, system monitoring and breach assistance. Once a merchant is activated, our systems are configured to automatically monitor any activity that may require additional diligence, which in turn helps minimize losses associated with fraud and default.

 

   

Merchant support – Our merchant support team responds to inquiries from merchants 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The team provides customer support for systems integrations and other technical solutions. In addition, we have a dedicated team of merchant account specialists that guide merchants through the payment acceptance process from onboarding to settlement and reporting. With strong emphasis on first-call resolution, we seek to provide exceptional payment expertise and support for our merchants. We train our customer support team to quickly identify and resolve each matter in an empathetic and professional manner which reduces repeat calls and improves our operational efficiency.

Software Partner Operations and Support

 

   

Software integrations and compliance management – We have a team of engineers and technical support staff dedicated to support software integrations and ensure compliance with all card brand, security and regulatory requirements, including PCI and Payment Application Data Security Standard compliance support and system integration and configuration guidance.

 

   

Partner support – We have dedicated support teams who work with our software providers to address any questions or issues that may pertain to the integration of our products and solutions into their software suites. We seek to deliver end-to-end issue resolution by bringing all appropriate disciplines together in an integrated manner in order to optimize partner support. In addition, we help resolve issues that may pertain to our partners’ entire portfolio of merchants or incidents pertaining to a single merchant.

 

   

Partner services – Through our partner-facing customer relationship management system, our partners are able to track each step of the activation process of their new merchant accounts real-time. Through this system, our partners can track their merchant portfolio, including commissions, residual payments and even support calls/recordings, in an accurate and real-time manner. We have added substantial automation to these processes, which is essential to ensure optimal experience as well as financial efficiency.

Competition

We compete with a range of providers, each of whom may provide a component of our offering, but do not provide an integrated offering capable of solving complex business challenges for software partners and merchants. For certain services and solutions, including end-to-end payments, we compete with third-party payment processors (such as Chase Paymentech, Elavon, Fiserv, Global Payments and Worldpay) and integrated payment providers (such as Adyen, Lightspeed POS, Shopify and Square).

 

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While competitive factors and their relative importance can vary based on size, industry and geographic reach of software partners and merchants, we believe we compete primarily on the basis of reputation, domain expertise, scale of distribution channels, breadth of offerings, simplicity and ease-of-use of solutions, pace of innovation, price, data security and customer service. We believe we compete favorably with respect to all of these factors.

For information on risks relating to increased competition in our industry, see “Risk Factors—Business risks— Substantial and increasingly intense competition worldwide in the financial services, payments and payment technology industries may adversely affect our overall business and operations,” “Risk Factors—Business risks— Potential changes in competitive landscape, including disintermediation from other participants in the payments chain, could harm our business,” and “Risk Factors—Business risks— Our ability to anticipate and respond to changing industry trends and the needs and preferences of our merchants and consumers may adversely affect our competitiveness or the demand for our products and services.”

Patents, Trademarks and Other Intellectual Property

We rely on a combination of intellectual property rights, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and contractual rights to protect our proprietary software and our brands. We have registered or applied to register certain of our trademarks in the United States and several other countries. In addition, we have obtained or applied for patents in the United States and certain foreign countries on certain material aspects of our proprietary software applications. We also license intellectual property from third parties, including software that is incorporated in our bundled with our proprietary software applications. We generally control access to and use of our proprietary software and other confidential information through the use of internal and external controls, including entering into non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements with both our employees and third parties.

We hold approximately 19 issued United States utility patents, four issued Canadian patents, one issued Mexican patent and one issued European patent related to our proprietary payments technologies. As of January 8, 2020, we also held three pending United States utility patent applications related to our payment technologies. If the United States and foreign patents currently issued to us are maintained until the end of their terms, they will expire between the year 2026 and the year 2032. The expiration of these patents is not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. In addition, we own a portfolio of trademarks in multiple jurisdictions around the world and are in the process of registering for our primary mark, Shift4 Payments.

Government Regulation

Various aspects of our business and service areas are subject to U.S. federal, state, and local regulation, as well as regulation outside the United States. Certain of our services also are subject to rules promulgated by various card networks and other authorities, as more fully described below. These descriptions are not exhaustive, and these laws, regulations and rules frequently change and are increasing in number.

The Dodd-Frank Act

In July 2010, the Dodd-Frank Act was signed into law in the United States. The Dodd-Frank Act has resulted in significant structural and other changes to the regulation of the financial services industry. Among other things, Title X of the Dodd-Frank Act established the CFPB to regulate consumer financial products and services (including some offered by our partners). The CFPB may also have authority over us as a provider of services to regulated financial institutions in connection with consumer financial products.

Separately, the Dodd-Frank Act directed the Federal Reserve to regulate debit interchange transaction fees that a card issuer or payment network receives or charges for an electronic debit transaction. Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act, debit interchange transaction fees must be “reasonable and proportional” to the cost incurred by the card issuer in authorizing, clearing, and settling the transaction. Pursuant to the regulations promulgated by the

 

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Federal Reserve implementing this “reasonable and proportional” requirement, debit interchange rates for card issuers operating in the United States with assets of $10 billion or more are capped at the sum of $0.21 per transaction and an ad valorem component of 5 basis points to reflect a portion of the issuer’s fraud losses plus, for qualifying issuers, an additional $0.01 per transaction in debit interchange for fraud prevention costs. In addition, the regulations contain non-exclusivity provisions that ban debit card networks from prohibiting an issuer from contracting with any other card network that may process an electronic debit transaction involving an issuer’s debit cards and prohibit card issuers and card networks from inhibiting the ability of merchants to direct the routing of debit card transactions over any network that can process the transaction.

Further, the ability of payment networks to impose certain restrictions are limited because the Dodd-Frank Act allows merchants to set minimum dollar amounts (not to exceed $10) for the acceptance of a credit card (while federal governmental entities and institutions of higher education may set maximum amounts for the acceptance of credit cards). Depending on the card network rules, merchants are now also allowed to provide discounts or other incentives to entice consumers to pay with an alternative payment method, such as cash, checks, or debit cards. However, merchants cannot impose any additional charges for the use of credit cards.

Association and network rules

We are subject to the rules of Mastercard, Visa, INTERAC and other payment networks. In order to provide our services, we must be registered either indirectly or directly as service providers with the payment networks that we utilize. Because we are not a “member bank” as defined in certain of the payment networks’ rules, we are not eligible for primary membership in certain payment networks and are therefore unable to directly access them. Instead, those payment networks require us to be sponsored by a member bank as a service provider, which we have accomplished through a sponsorship agreement with our sponsor bank. We are registered with Visa, Mastercard and other networks as service providers for member institutions. As such, we are subject to applicable card association and payment network rules, which impose various requirements and could subject us to a variety of fines or penalties that may be levied by such associations and/or networks for certain acts or omissions. Our failure to comply with the networks’ requirements, or to pay the fees or fines they may impose, could result in the suspension or termination of our sponsorship by our sponsor bank or our registration with the relevant payment network(s), and therefore require us to limit or cease providing the relevant payment processing services.

Card associations and payment networks and their member financial institutions regularly update and generally expand security expectations and requirements related to the security of cardholder data and environments. We are also subject to network operating rules promulgated by the National Automated Clearing House Association relating to payment transactions processed by us using the Automated Clearing House Network and to various state federal and foreign laws regarding such operations, including laws pertaining to electronic benefits transactions.

Privacy and information security regulations

We provide services that may be subject to various state, federal, and foreign privacy laws and regulations, including, among others, the Financial Services Modernization Act of 1999, which we refer to as the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, the GDPR, and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act in Canada. These laws and their implementing regulations restrict certain collection, processing, storage, use, and disclosure of personal information, require notice to individuals of privacy practices, and provide individuals with certain rights to prevent use and disclosure of protected information. These laws also impose requirements for the safeguarding and proper destruction of personal information through the issuance of data security standards or guidelines. Certain federal, state and foreign laws and regulations impose similar privacy obligations and, in certain circumstances, obligations to notify affected individuals, state officers or other governmental authorities, the media, and consumer reporting agencies, as well as businesses and governmental agencies, of security breaches affecting personal information. In addition, there are state and foreign laws restricting the ability to collect and utilize certain types of information such as Social Security and driver’s license numbers.

 

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As a processor of personal data of EU data subjects, we are also subject to regulation and oversight in the applicable EU Member States with regard to data protection legislation. In May 2018, the GDPR, a new European wide Regulation on data privacy came into force. The GDPR contains additional obligations on data controllers and data processors that have an establishment in the EU or are offering goods or services to, or monitoring the behavior of, consumers within the EU. The GDPR includes significant enhancements with regard to the rights of data subjects (which include the right to be forgotten and the right of data portability), stricter regulation on obtaining consent to processing of personal data and sensitive personal data, stricter obligations with regard to the information to be included in privacy notices and significant enhanced requirements with regard to compliance, including a regime of “accountability” for processors and controllers and a requirement to embed compliance with GDPR into the fabric of an organization by developing appropriate policies and practices, to achieve a standard of data protection by “design and default.” The GDPR includes enhanced data security obligations, requiring data processors and controllers to take appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect the data they process and their systems. Organizations that process significant amounts of data may be required to appoint a Data Protection Officer responsible for reporting to highest level of management within the business. There are greatly enhanced sanctions under GDPR for failing to comply with the core principles of the GDPR or failing to secure data.

Unfair trade practice regulations

We, our partners and certain of our merchants are subject to various federal, state, and international laws prohibiting unfair or deceptive trade practices, such as Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act and the prohibition against unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices, or UDAAPs, under the Dodd-Frank Act. Various regulatory agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission, the CFPB, and state attorneys general, have authority to take action against parties that engage in unfair or deceptive trade practices or violate other laws, rules, and regulations, and to the extent we are processing payments for a client that may be in violation of laws, rules, and regulations, we may be subject to enforcement actions and incur losses and liabilities that may impact our business. For example, all persons offering or providing financial services or products to consumers, directly or indirectly, can be subject to the prohibition against UDAAPs. The CFPB has enforcement authority to prevent an entity that offers or provides consumer financial services or products or a service provider from committing or engaging in UDAAPs, including the ability to engage in joint investigations with other agencies, issue subpoenas and civil investigative demands, conduct hearings and adjudication proceedings, commence a civil action, grant relief (e.g., limit activities or functions; rescission of contracts), and refer matters for criminal proceedings.

Anti-money laundering, anti-bribery, sanctions, and counter-terrorist regulations

We are contractually required to comply with the anti-money laundering laws and regulations in certain countries. In the United States, we comply with certain provisions of the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, and its implementing regulations, or collectively the BSA, which are enforced by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, or FinCEN, a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. We are also subject to anti-corruption laws and regulations, including the FCPA and other laws, that prohibit the making or offering of improper payments to foreign government officials and political figures and includes anti-bribery provisions enforced by the Department of Justice and accounting provisions enforced by the SEC. The FCPA has a broad reach and requires maintenance of appropriate records and adequate internal controls to prevent and detect possible FCPA violations. Many other jurisdictions where we conduct business also have similar anticorruption laws and regulations. We have policies, procedures, systems, and controls designed to identify and address potentially impermissible transactions under such laws and regulations.

We are also subject to certain economic and trade sanctions programs that are administered by the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC, which prohibit or restrict transactions to or from or dealings with specified countries, their governments, and in certain circumstances, their nationals, and with individuals and entities that are specially-designated nationals of those countries, narcotics traffickers, and

 

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terrorists or terrorist organizations. Other group entities may be subject to additional local sanctions requirements in other relevant jurisdictions.

Similar anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing and proceeds of crime laws apply to movements of currency and payments through electronic transactions and to dealings with persons specified in lists maintained by the country equivalents to OFAC lists in several other countries and require specific data retention obligations to be observed by intermediaries in the payment process. Our businesses in those jurisdictions are subject to those data retention obligations.

Employees

As of April 30, 2020, we employed 734 full-time employees. We also employed 4 part-time employees. We employed 612 people in the United States, 116 in Lithuania and 10 people in Canada. None of our employees are represented by a labor union or are party to a collective bargaining agreement, and we have had no labor-related work stoppages. We believe that we have good relationships with our employees.

Facilities

We are headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Our other principal operations are located in Las Vegas, Nevada. The table below sets forth certain information regarding these properties, all of which are leased.

 

Property

  

Location

   Approximate Square
Footage
     Lease Expiration Date

Corporate Headquarters

   Allentown, Pennsylvania      45,840      August 31, 2025

Las Vegas Office

   Las Vegas, Nevada      60,200      December 31, 2027

For leases that are scheduled to expire during the next 12 months, we may negotiate new lease agreements, renew existing lease agreements or use alternate facilities. We believe that our facilities are adequate for our needs and believe that we should be able to renew any of the above leases or secure similar property without an adverse impact on our operations.

Legal Proceedings

We are, from time to time, party to various claims and legal proceedings arising out of our ordinary course of business, but we do not believe that any of these existing claims or proceedings will have a material effect on our business, consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

 

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MANAGEMENT

The following table provides information regarding our executive officers and members of our board of directors (ages as of May 1, 2020):

 

Name    Age     

Position(s)

Jared Isaacman

     37      Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman

Bradley Herring

     50      Chief Financial Officer

Jordan Frankel

     37     

Secretary, General Counsel and Executive Vice President, Legal, Human Resources and Compliance

Taylor Lauber

     36      Chief Strategy Officer

Donald Isaacman

     73      Director

Christopher Cruz

     36      Director

Andrew Frey

     45      Director

Nancy Disman

     49      Director Nominee*

Sarah Goldsmith-Grover

     55      Director Nominee*

Jonathan Halkyard

     55      Director Nominee*

 

*

To be elected to the board upon or before the consummation of this offering.

Executive Officers, Directors and Director Nominees

Jared Isaacman has served as Shift4 Payments, Inc.’s Chief Executive Officer and the Chairman of the board of directors since its formation, and is the Founder of Shift4 Payments, LLC, as well as serving as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Shift4 Payments, LLC’s board of managers since its founding in 1999. Mr. J. Isaacman is also the founder and a current member of the board of directors of Draken International, a provider of contract air services. From 2006 to 2008, Mr. J. Isaacman was named as a finalist for the Ernst & Young “Entrepreneur of the Year” award, was the youngest person to ever be named to the list of “Industry Leaders” by The Green Sheet, a leading publication in the credit card industry and has been recognized as one of “America’s Best Entrepreneurs” by BusinessWeek magazine and “30 Entrepreneurs Under 30” by Inc. Magazine. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. We believe Mr. J. Isaacman is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to his extensive experience in executive leadership positions in the payment processing industry and his knowledge of our business in particular, gained through his services as our Founder and Chief Executive Officer.

Bradley Herring has served as Shift4 Payments, Inc.’s Chief Financial Officer since its formation and as Chief Financial Officer of Shift4 Payments, LLC since October 2019. Prior to joining Shift4, from 2016 to 2019, Mr. Herring served as Chief Financial Officer of Elavon, Inc., a processor of credit card transactions. Mr. Herring also served as Chief Financial Officer of the digital banking group of Fiserv, a provider of online banking and online payment services, from 2012 to 2015. He was also the Vice President of Global Operations for Equifax for five years, from 2008 to 2013. Mr. Herring has passed the Series 7 General Securities Representative Exam, administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Management and Economics and a Masters of Business Administration from Georgia Institute of Technology Scheller College of Business.

Jordan Frankel has served as Shift4 Payments, Inc.’s Secretary and General Counsel since its formation, and as General Counsel and Executive Vice President, Legal, Human Resources and Compliance and a member of the board of managers of Shift4 Payments, LLC since 2014. From 2011 to 2019, Mr. Frankel also served as a member of the board of directors of Draken International, a provider of contract air services. He holds a Bachelor of Finance and Marketing from the Syracuse University Martin J Whitman School of Management and a Juris Doctor and Masters in Business Administration from the Quinnipiac University School of Law and Quinnipiac University Lender School of Business, respectively.

 

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Taylor Lauber has served as Shift4 Payments, Inc.’s Chief Strategy Officer since its formation and as Senior Vice President, Strategic Projects of Shift4 Payments, LLC since 2018. Prior to joining Shift4, from 2010 to 2018, he served as a Principal at The Blackstone Group, L.P. Mr. Lauber also spent from 2005 to 2010 at Merrill Lynch as a Financial Advisor, where he advised numerous Fortune 500 companies and their executives on capital markets transactions. Mr. Lauber has passed the Series 7 General Securities Representative Exam, Series 66 Uniform Combined State Law Exam and Series 27 Financial and Operations Principal Exam, all administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. He holds a Bachelor of Economics and Finance from Bentley College.

Donald Isaacman has served as a member of the board of directors of Shift4 Payments, Inc. since its formation, and has served as the President and a member of the board of managers of Shift4 Payments, LLC since its founding in 1999. From February 1971 to September 2000, Mr. D. Isaacman also served as the Vice President of Supreme Security Systems, Inc., a home alarm and business security system company. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Sales from Monmouth University. We believe Mr. D. Isaacman is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to his senior management experience and his knowledge of our business in particular, gained through his services as our President.

Christopher Cruz has served as a member of the board of directors of Shift4 Payments, Inc. since its formation, and as a member of the board of managers of Shift4 Payments, LLC since May 2016. Mr. Cruz is a Managing Director at Searchlight, which he joined in 2011. From 2008 to 2010, Mr. Cruz served on the investment team at Oaktree Capital Management, a global alternative investment management firm. Prior to that, Mr. Cruz was in the leveraged finance and restructuring group at UBS Investment Bank, from 2006 to 2008. Mr. Cruz has also served as a member of the board of directors of M&M Food Market, a frozen food retail chain, since 2014. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Honors Business Administration from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario. We believe Mr. Cruz is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to his extensive experience in finance and capital markets and his knowledge of our business in particular, gained through his services as a member of our board of managers.

Andrew Frey has served as a member of the board of directors of Shift4 Payments, Inc. since its formation, and has served as a member of the board of managers of Shift4 Payments, LLC since May 2016. Mr. Frey is a Partner at Searchlight, which he joined in 2011. Prior to joining Searchlight, Mr. Frey served as Managing Principal at Quadrangle Group, a private investment firm focused on media, communications, technology and information services sectors. Mr. Frey has also served as a member of the board of directors of Hemisphere Media Group, a publicly-traded language media company, since October 2016, and Mitel Networks Corp, a telecommunications company, since April 2018. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Systems Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. We believe Mr. Frey is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to his public company board experience and his knowledge of finance and our business in particular, gained through his services as a member of our board of managers.

Nancy Disman has been nominated to serve on our board of directors. Ms. Disman is the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of Intrado Corporation, a provider of cloud-based technology, which she joined in December 2017. From 2016 to 2017, Ms. Disman served as the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of the Merchant Acquiring Segment of Total System Services, Inc., a global provider of payment solutions. Ms. Disman has also served as a member of the board of directors of Intrado Foundation since June 2019 and various subsidiaries of Intrado Corporation since December 2017. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Accounting from the State University of New York at Albany and is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of New York. We believe Ms. Disman is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to her experience in leading companies in the payments industry and her knowledge in finance and accounting.

Sarah Goldsmith-Grover has been nominated to serve on our board of directors. Ms. Goldsmith-Grover is the interim Chief Marketing Officer of Veggie Grill, a vegan and vegetarian food chain, which she joined in January

 

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2020. Prior to that, Ms. Goldsmith-Grover served in executive marketing roles at various food & beverages companies, including Garden Fresh Restaurants, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and True Food Kitchen, since 2016. Ms. Goldsmith-Grover has also served various executive roles at California Pizza Kitchen, including as Executive Vice President and Chief Concept Officer. Ms. Goldsmith-Grover has served as a member of the board of directors of the Annual UCLA Restaurant Conference since 2000. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from DePauw University. We believe Ms. Goldsmith-Grover is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to her experience and insight acquired from leading companies in the restaurant and consumer industries.

Jonathan Halkyard has been nominated to serve on our board of directors. From 2013 to 2019, Mr. Halkyard held various senior management positions at Extended Stay America, Inc., an integrated hotel owner and operator, including Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Halkyard has also served as a member of the board of directors of Dave & Buster’s Entertainment, Inc. since September 2011, including as the chair of its nominating and governance committee and member of its finance committee since June 2016, and as a member of its audit committee since September 2013. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Colgate University and a Masters in Business Administration from Harvard Business School. We believe Mr. Halkyard is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to his experience in leading companies in the finance and hospitality industries and his knowledge of the board and corporate governance practices of other organizations.

Family Relationships

Mr. D. Isaacman, one of our directors, is the father of Mr. J. Isaacman, our Founder, Chief Executive Officer and a member of our board of directors. Other than discussed above, there are no family relationships between or among any of our directors, executive officers or person nominated or chosen to become a director or executive officer.

Composition of our Board of Directors

Our business and affairs are managed under the direction of our board of directors, which will consist of seven members upon consummation of this offering. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that the number of directors on our board of directors shall be fixed exclusively by resolution adopted by our board of directors (provided that such number shall not be less than the aggregate number of directors that the parties to the Stockholders Agreement are entitled to designate from time to time). Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws will provide that our board of directors will be divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible, with the directors in each class serving for a three-year term, and one class being elected each year by our stockholders.

When considering whether directors have the experience, qualifications, attributes or skills, taken as a whole, to enable our board of directors to satisfy its oversight responsibilities effectively in light of our business and structure, the board of directors focuses primarily on each person’s background and experience as reflected in the information discussed in each of the directors’ individual biographies set forth above. We believe that our directors provide an appropriate mix of experience and skills relevant to the size and nature of our business.

Prior to the consummation of this offering, we will enter into the Stockholders Agreement with Searchlight and our Founder, pursuant to which each party thereto will agree to vote, or cause to be voted, all of their outstanding shares of our Class A common stock, Class B common stock and Class C common stock at any annual or special meeting of stockholders in which directors are elected, so as to cause the election of Jared Isaacman, Donald Isaacman, Christopher Cruz and Andrew Frey. Immediately following the consummation of this offering, Searchlight will own 13,030,711 shares of Class B common stock of Shift4 Payments, Inc. and 15,113,373 shares of Class C common stock of Shift4 Payments, Inc., which represents approximately 46.2% of the combined voting power of all of Shift4 Payments, Inc.’s common stock. Immediately following the consummation of this

 

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offering and the concurrent private placement, our Founder (through Rook) will own 25,342,479 shares of Class B common stock of Shift4 Payments, Inc. and 5,319,148 shares of Class C common stock of Shift4 Payments, Inc., which represents approximately 50.3% of the combined voting power of all of Shift4 Payment, Inc.’s common stock. For a description of the terms of the Stockholders Agreement, see “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Stockholders Agreement.”

In accordance with our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, each of which will be in effect immediately prior to the consummation of this offering, our board of directors will be divided into three classes with staggered three year terms. At each annual meeting of stockholders after the initial classification, the successors to the directors whose terms will then expire will be elected to serve from the time of election and qualification until the third annual meeting following their election. Our directors will be divided among the three classes as follows:

 

   

the Class I directors will be Jared Isaacman and Andrew Frey, and their terms will expire at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2021;

 

   

the Class II directors will be Nancy Disman and Sarah Goldsmith-Grover, and their terms will expire at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2022; and

 

   

the Class III directors will be Donald Isaacman, Christopher Cruz and Jonathan Halkyard, and their terms will expire at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2023.

Any increase or decrease in the number of directors will be distributed among the three classes so that, as nearly as possible, each class will consist of approximately one-third of the directors. This classification of our board of directors may have the effect of delaying or preventing changes in control of our Company.

Director Independence

Prior to the consummation of this offering, our board of directors undertook a review of the independence of our directors and considered whether any director has a relationship with us that could compromise that director’s ability to exercise independent judgment in carrying out that director’s responsibilities. Our board of directors has affirmatively determined that Nancy Disman, Sarah Goldsmith-Grover and Jonathan Halkyard are each an “independent director,” as defined under the NYSE rules.

Controlled Company Exception

After the consummation of this offering and the concurrent private placement, Searchlight and our Founder will have more than 50% of the combined voting power of our common stock. As a result, we will be a “controlled company” within the meaning of the corporate governance standards of the NYSE rules and intend to elect not to comply with certain corporate governance standards, including that: (1) a majority of our board of directors consists of “independent directors,” as defined under the rules of the NYSE; (2) we have a nominating and corporate governance committee that is composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities; (3) we have a compensation committee that is composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities; and (4) we perform annual performance evaluations of the nominating and corporate governance and compensation committees. We intend to rely on the foregoing exemptions provided to controlled companies under the NYSE rules. Therefore, immediately following the consummation of this offering, we may not have a majority of independent directors on our board of directors, an entirely independent nominating and corporate governance committee, an entirely independent compensation committee or perform annual performance evaluations of the nominating and corporate governance and compensation committees unless and until such time as we are required to do so. Accordingly, you may not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of these corporate governance requirements. In the event that we cease to be a “controlled company” and our shares continue to be listed on the NYSE, we will be required to comply with

 

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these provisions within the applicable transition periods. See “Risk Factors—Risks related to the offering and ownership of our Class A common stock—We are a “controlled company” within the meaning of the NYSE rules and, as a result, will qualify for, and intend to rely on, exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements. You may not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to such corporate governance requirements.”

Committees of Our Board of Directors

Our board of directors directs the management of our business and affairs, as provided by Delaware law, and conducts its business through meetings of the board of directors and its standing committees. We will have a standing audit committee, nominating and corporate governance committee and compensation committee. In addition, from time to time, special committees may be established under the direction of the board of directors when necessary to address specific issues.

Audit Committee

Our audit committee will be responsible for, among other things:

 

   

appointing, approving the fees of, retaining and overseeing our independent registered public accounting firm;

 

   

discussing with our independent registered public accounting firm their independence from management;

 

   

discussing with our independent registered public accounting firm any audit problems or difficulties and management’s response;

 

   

approving all audit and permissible non-audit services to be performed by our independent registered public accounting firm;

 

   

discussing with management and our independent registered public accounting firm the interim and annual financial statements that we file with the SEC;

 

   

reviewing our policies on risk assessment and risk management;

 

   

reviewing related person transactions; and

 

   

establishing procedures for the confidential anonymous submission of complaints regarding questionable accounting, internal controls or auditing matters, and for the confidential anonymous submission of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.

Upon the consummation of this offering, our audit committee will consist of Christopher Cruz, Nancy Disman and Jonathan Halkyard, with Nancy Disman serving as chair. Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act and the NYSE rules require that our audit committee have at least one independent member upon the listing of our Class A common stock, have a majority of independent members within 90 days of the date of this prospectus and be composed entirely of independent members within one year of the date of this prospectus. Our board of directors has affirmatively determined that Nancy Disman and Jonathan Halkyard each meet the definition of “independent director” under the NYSE rules and the independence standards under Rule 10A-3. Each member of our audit committee meets the financial literacy requirements of the NYSE rules. In addition, our board of directors has determined that Christopher Cruz, Nancy Disman and Jonathan Halkyard will each qualify as an “audit committee financial expert,” as such term is defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K. Our board of directors will adopt a written charter for the audit committee, which will be available on our principal corporate website at www.shift4.com substantially concurrently with the consummation of this offering. The information on any of our websites is deemed not to be incorporated in this prospectus or to be part of this prospectus.

 

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Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

Our nominating and corporate governance committee will be responsible for, among other things:

 

   

identifying individuals qualified to become members of our board of directors, consistent with criteria set forth in our corporate governance guidelines and in accordance with the terms of the Stockholders Agreement;

 

   

annually reviewing the committee structure of the board of directors and recommending to the board of the directors the directors to serve as members of each committee; and

 

   

developing and recommending to our board of directors a set of corporate governance guidelines.

Upon the consummation of this offering, our nominating and corporate governance committee will consist of Christopher Cruz, Nancy Disman, Sarah Goldsmith-Grover, Jonathan Halkyard and Jared Isaacman, with Jonathan Halkyard serving as chair. We intend to avail ourselves of the “controlled company” exception under the NYSE rules, which exempts us from the requirement that we have a nominating and corporate governance composed entirely of independent directors. Jared Isaacman, Donald Isaacman, Christopher Cruz and Andrew Frey do not qualify as “independent directors” under the NYSE rules. Our board of directors will adopt a written charter for the nominating and corporate governance committee, which will be available on our principal corporate website at www.shift4.com substantially concurrently with the consummation of this offering. The information on any of our websites is deemed not to be incorporated in this prospectus or to be part of this prospectus.

Compensation Committee

Our compensation committee will be responsible for, among other things:

 

   

reviewing and approving, or recommending that the board of directors approve, the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers;

 

   

making recommendations to the board of directors regarding director compensation; and

 

   

reviewing and approving incentive compensation and equity-based plans and arrangements and making grants of cash-based and equity-based awards under such plans.

Upon the consummation of this offering, our compensation committee will consist of Christopher Cruz, Nancy Disman, Andrew Frey, Jonathan Halkyard and Sarah Goldsmith-Grover, with Christopher Cruz serving as chair. We may in the future avail ourselves of the “controlled company” exception under the NYSE rules, which exempts us from the requirement that we have a nominating and corporate governance composed entirely of independent directors. Jared Isaacman, Donald Isaacman, Christopher Cruz and Andrew Frey do not qualify as “independent directors” under the NYSE rules. Our board of directors will adopt a written charter for the nominating and corporate governance committee, which will be available on our principal corporate website at www.shift4.com substantially concurrently with the consummation of this offering. The information on any of our websites is deemed not to be incorporated in this prospectus or to be part of this prospectus.

Risk Oversight

Our audit committee will be responsible for overseeing our risk management process. Our audit committee will focus on our general risk management policies and strategy, the most significant risks facing us, and oversee the implementation of risk mitigation strategies by management. Our board of directors is also apprised of particular risk management matters in connection with its general oversight and approval of corporate matters and significant transactions.

Risk Considerations in our Compensation Program

We conducted an assessment of our compensation policies and practices for our employees and concluded that these policies and practices are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our Company.

 

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Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

None of our executive officers serves as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee (or other committee performing equivalent functions) of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving on our board of directors or compensation committee.

Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct

Prior to the completion of this offering, we will adopt a written code of business conduct and ethics that applies to our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. A copy of the code will be posted on our website, www.shift4.com. In addition, we intend to post on our website all disclosures that are required by law or the NYSE rules concerning any amendments to, or waivers from, any provision of the code. The information on any of our websites is deemed not to be incorporated in this prospectus or to be part of this prospectus.

Director Compensation

None of our directors for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 or any prior fiscal years have received any compensation for their services. In connection with the consummation of this offering, we will implement a policy pursuant to which each non-employee director will receive an annual director fee of $50,000 as well as an additional annual fee of $20,000 for service as the chair of our audit committee and an additional annual fee of $10,000 for service (including as chair) on our audit committee, each earned on a quarterly basis. Each director will also receive an annual restricted stock unit award with a grant date value of $108,300 which will vest in full on the date of our annual shareholder meeting immediately following the date of grant, subject to the nonemployee director continuing in service through such meeting date. The award is further subject to accelerated vesting upon a change in control (as defined in the 2020 Plan).

 

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

This section discusses the material components of the executive compensation program for our executive officers who are named in the “Summary Compensation Table” below. In 2019, our “named executive officers” and their positions were as follows:

 

   

Jared Isaacman, Chief Executive Officer;

 

   

Steven Sommers, Chief Application Architect; and

 

   

Kevin Cronic, Chief System Architect.

This discussion may contain forward-looking statements that are based on our current plans, considerations, expectations and determinations regarding future compensation programs. Actual compensation programs that we adopt following the completion of the initial public offering may differ materially from the currently planned programs summarized in this discussion.

Summary Compensation Table

The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation of our named executive officers for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.

 

Name and Principal Position    Year      Salary ($)      Bonus ($)     All Other
Compensation ($)
    Total ($)  

Jared Isaacman
Chief Executive Officer

     2019        500,000        —         241,215  (2)      741,215  

Steven Sommers
Chief Application Architect

     2019        450,000        13,192  (1)      14,000  (3)      477,192  

Kevin Cronic
Chief System Architect

     2019        450,000        13,192  (1)      14,000  (4)      477,192  

 

(1)

Amounts reflect annual discretionary bonuses in an aggregate amount equal to the amount set forth above.

(2)

Amounts reflect the following payments made by the Company with respect to Mr. J. Isaacman: (a) supplemental life insurance premium payments in an aggregate amount equal to $207,447, (b) automobile lease payments in an aggregate amount of $27,162 and (c) automobile insurance premium payments in an aggregate amount of $6,605.

(3)

Amount reflects a contribution of $14,000 by the Company to the 401(k) Plan.

(4)

Amount reflects a contribution of $14,000 by the Company to the 401(k) Plan.

Elements of the Company’s Executive Compensation Program

For the year ended December 31, 2019, the compensation for each named executive officer generally consisted of a base salary, annual cash bonus (other than for Mr. J. Isaacman), standard employee benefits and a retirement plan, as well as Company contributions to the retirement plan (other than for Mr. J. Isaacman). These elements (and the amounts of compensation and benefits under each element) were selected because we believe they are necessary to help us attract and retain executive talent which is fundamental to our success. Below is a more detailed summary of the current executive compensation program as it relates to our named executive officers.

2019 Salaries

The named executive officers receive a base salary to compensate them for services rendered to our Company. The base salary payable to each named executive officer is intended to provide a fixed component of compensation reflecting the executive’s skill set, experience, role and responsibilities. Each named executive officer’s initial base salary was provided in his employment agreement. The actual base salaries paid to each names executive officer for 2019 are set forth above in the Summary Compensation Table in the column entitled “Salary.”

 

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2019 Bonuses

The actual annual cash bonuses awarded to each named executive officer, other than for Mr. J. Isaacman who is not entitled to a cash bonus, for 2019 performance are set forth above in the Summary Compensation Table in the column entitled “Bonus” and described below under “—Employment Agreements.”

Transaction Bonus

In 2019, Mr. Sommers and Mr. Cronic were both eligible to receive a transaction bonus in the amount of $1,280,000, the payment terms of which are described below under “Steven Sommers and Kevin Cronic”.

Other Elements of Compensation

Retirement Plans

We maintain a 401(k) retirement savings plan, or the 401(k) Plan, for our employees, including our named executive officers, who satisfy certain eligibility requirements. Our named executive officers are eligible to participate in the 401(k) Plan on the same terms as other full-time employees. The Internal Revenue Code allows eligible employees to defer a portion of their compensation, within prescribed limits, on a pre-tax basis through contributions to the 401(k) Plan. Currently, we match contributions made by participants in the 401(k) Plan up to a specified percentage of the employee contributions, and these matching contributions are fully vested as of the date on which the contribution is made. We believe that providing a vehicle for tax-deferred retirement savings though our 401(k) Plan, and making fully vested matching contributions, adds to the overall desirability of our executive compensation package and further incentivizes our employees, including our named executive officers, in accordance with our compensation policies. We do not maintain any defined benefit pension plans or deferred compensation plans for our named executive officers.

Employee Benefits and Perquisites

Health/Welfare Plans. All of our full-time employees, including our named executive officers, are eligible to participate in our health and welfare plans, including:

 

   

medical, dental and vision benefits;

 

   

medical and dependent care flexible spending accounts;

 

   

short-term and long-term disability insurance; and

 

   

life insurance.

In addition, the Company pays automobile leasing payments, and automobile insurance and supplemental life insurance premiums, for the benefit of Mr. J. Isaacman, as set forth in the Summary Compensation Table, above.

We believe the perquisites and other benefits described above are necessary and appropriate to provide a competitive compensation package to our named executive officers.

No Tax Gross-Ups

We do not make gross-up payments to cover our named executive officers’ personal income taxes that may pertain to any of the compensation or perquisites paid or provided by the Company.

 

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Executive Compensation Arrangements

Employment Agreements

Jared Isaacman

On March 28, 2014, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr. J. Isaacman, or the Isaacman Employment Agreement. The Isaacman Employment Agreement was subsequently amended on April 12, 2016, providing for his employment as Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The current term of the Isaacman Employment Agreement is five years from May 31, 2016, with subsequent automatic one-year renewal periods, unless Mr. J. Isaacman provides the Company with written notice of his intent not to renew the Isaacman Employment Agreement.

In 2019, Mr. J. Isaacman’s salary was $500,000. Mr. J. Isaacman is not entitled to any annual cash bonus. The Isaacman Employment Agreement also provides that Mr. J. Isaacman is eligible to participate in all employee benefit programs made available to active employees and for the Company to pay or reimburse certain business expenses, including automobile leases, automobile insurance and premiums for life insurance.

Pursuant to the Isaacman Employment Agreement, upon termination of Mr. J. Isaacman’s employment by the Company with or without Cause (as defined in the Isaacman Employment Agreement) or by Mr. J. Isaacman for any reason, the Company will have no liability to Mr. J. Isaacman except to pay Mr. J. Isaacman any unpaid base salary due and accrued vacation pay up to the date of his termination.

The Isaacman Employment Agreement includes confidentiality and assignment of intellectual property provisions, and certain restrictive covenants, including two-year post-employment non-competition and non-solicitation of employees and customer provisions.

In connection with this offering, the Company will enter into a new employment agreement with Mr. J. Isaacman, or the New Isaacman Employment Agreement, pursuant to which Mr. J. Isaacman will continue to serve as Chief Executive Officer and be elected as a member of our board of directors. The New Isaacman Employment Agreement will become effective upon this offering with a three (3) year term, with subsequent automatic one-year renewals periods, unless the Company or Mr. J. Isaacman provides the other party with written notice of intent not to renew the New Isaacman Employment Agreement.

Pursuant to the New Isaacman Employment Agreement, Mr. J. Isaacman will be entitled to an annual base salary of $50,000. At the discretion of our board of directors, Mr. J. Isaacman will be eligible to receive an annual cash bonus. Mr. J. Isaacman will be entitled to receive annual restricted stock unit awards pursuant to the 2020 Plan that will not be subject to time or performance based vesting unless otherwise required by our compensation committee or our board of directors. The New Isaacman Employment Agreement also provides that Mr. J. Isaacman is eligible to participate in all employee benefit programs made available to active employees and for the Company to pay or reimburse certain business and professional expenses, including automobile leases, automobile insurance and premiums for life insurance.

Pursuant to the New Isaacman Employment Agreement, upon Mr. J. Isaacman’s death or disability, upon termination of Mr. J. Isaacman’s employment by the Company with or without Cause (as defined in the Isaacman Employment Agreement) or by Mr. J. Isaacman for any reason, Mr. J. Isaacman will be entitled to payment of premiums for participation in the health plan pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”) for a period of up to 36 months following his termination date. These COBRA premium payments are the only severance benefits provided under the New Isaacman Employment Agreement. No cash severance payments are provided under the New Isaacman Employment Agreement.

Upon the occurrence of a change in control, all unvested equity awards held by Mr. J. Isaacman shall become fully vested and any awards, such as stock options, subject to exercisability will remain exercisable by Mr. J. Isaacman for up to the later of the exercise date set forth in the applicable award agreement and, if Mr. J. Isaacman’s employment has been terminated, 180 days following the date of termination.

 

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The New Isaacman Employment Agreement includes confidentiality and assignment of intellectual property provisions, and certain restrictive covenants, including one-year post-employment non-competition and non-solicitation of customer provisions. The New Isaacman Employment Agreement also includes a “best pay” provision under Section 280G of the Code, pursuant to which any “parachute payments” that become payable to the executive will either be paid in full or reduced so that such payments are not subject to the excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code, whichever results in the better after-tax treatment to Mr. J. Isaacman.

Steven Sommers and Kevin Cronic

Mr. Sommers currently serves as the Chief Application Architect. Mr. Cronic currently serves as the Chief Systems Architect. Pursuant to the most recent amendment to their employment agreements, the current term of employment ends on November 30, 2022 with the option to renew for an additional two years.

In 2019, Messrs. Sommers’ and Cronic’s annual base salaries were $450,000. Mr. Cronic’s annual base salary may not be decreased without his consent. Messrs. Sommers and Cronic are entitled to an annual increases of up to 10% of their annual base salaries, as determined by the Company’s compensation committee. In 2019, Messrs. Sommers and Cronic also received discretionary annual cash bonuses in the amount of $13,192.

Messrs. Sommers and Cronic are eligible to participate in employee benefit programs, including the Company’s 401(k) Plan, and entitled to reimbursement of reasonable and necessary business expenses.

The Sommers Employment Agreement and Cronic Employment Agreement provide that Messrs. Sommers and Cronic, respectively, are also entitled to a transaction bonus, in the amount of $1,280,000, or the Sommers Transaction Bonus or Cronic Transaction Bonus, respectively, and collectively, the Transaction Bonuses. The Transaction Bonuses are payable on the earliest of the following: (i) the date of a change of control of the Company, (ii) the date of an initial public offering, (iii) the expiration of Messrs. Sommers’ or Cronic’s term of employment and (iv) the date of death, disability or termination without Cause or, only for Mr. Sommers, upon his resignation upon a Company Default. The payment of the Transaction Bonuses are subject to Messrs. Sommers’ and Cronic’s continuous employment with the Company through the applicable payment date (other than for events in clause (iv) above). The Transaction Bonuses are subject to upwards or downwards adjustment based on the difference between the value of the Company at the time of the applicable payment date and the Company’s current value. The percentage upwards or downwards adjustment in the Transaction Bonuses will match the percentage increase or decrease in value of the Company. If the Transaction Bonuses become payable upon the occurrence of an initial public offering, the Company has the right to elect, in its sole discretion, to pay any amount of the Transaction Bonuses that exceeds $1,280,000, due to upwards adjustment, with shares of Class A common stock.

In the event of Messrs. Sommers’ or Cronic’s termination of employment due to death or disability, Messrs. Sommers and Cronic are entitled to receive, in addition to any accrued amounts, their annual base salary for a period of 6 months and the Sommers or Cronic Transaction Bonus, as applicable, pro-rated for the number of full months worked by Messrs. Sommers or Cronic over the current five-year term, which commenced on November 30, 2017.

Pursuant to the Sommers Employment Agreement, upon termination of Mr. Sommers’ employment by the Company without Cause or a resignation by Mr. Sommers upon a Company Default on or before November 30, 2022, Mr. Sommers is entitled to receive, in addition to any accrued amounts, (i) his annual base salary through the end of the employment term and (ii) the Sommers Transaction Bonus. A Company Default is defined in the Sommers Employment Agreement as the Company’s breach of the Sommers Employment Agreement in any material respect and the Company fails to cure or remedy such breach within 30 days after written notice of such breach and request to cure or remedy from Mr. Sommers.

Pursuant to the Cronic Employment Agreement, upon termination of Mr. Cronic’s employment by the Company without Cause on or before November 30, 2022, Mr. Cronic is entitled to receive, in addition to any accrued

 

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amounts (a) his annual base salary at 50% of the rate in effect on the date of termination through the end of the employment term and (b) the Cronic Transaction Bonus. Upon Mr. Cronic’s voluntary resignation for any reason from November 30, 2018 through May 30, 2021, Mr. Cronic is entitled to receive, in addition to any accrued amounts, his annual base salary for a period of 6 months.

In connection with this offering, Messrs. Sommers and Cronic will each receive an award of RSUs with a grant date fair value of $1.87 million which, subject to continued employment, will vest in full on the first anniversary of this offering. In connection with these restricted stock unit awards, each of Messrs. Sommers and Cronic will enter into a restricted stock unit award agreement, pursuant to which they will waive all rights to receive the Transaction Bonuses at any time, including upon the consummation of this offering. These restricted stock unit awards will be made to Messrs. Sommers and Cronic pursuant to the 2020 Plan.

The Sommers Employment Agreement and Cronic Employment Agreement include confidentiality and assignment of intellectual property provisions, and certain restrictive covenants, including three-year post-employment non-competition and non-solicitation of employees and customer and perpetual mutual non-disparagement provisions.

2020 Incentive Award Plan

In connection with the offering, we plan to adopt the 2020 Plan under which we may grant cash and equity-based incentive awards to eligible service providers in order to attract, motivate and retain the talent for which we compete. The material terms of the 2020 Plan are summarized below.

Eligibility and Administration

Our employees, consultants and directors, and employees, consultants and directors of our parents and subsidiaries are eligible to receive awards under the 2020 Plan. The 2020 Plan is administered by our board of directors with respect to awards to non-employee directors and by the compensation committee with respect to other participants, each of which may delegate its duties and responsibilities to committees of our directors and/or officers (referred to collectively as the plan administrator below), subject to certain limitations that may be imposed under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, and/or stock exchange rules, as applicable. The plan administrator has the authority to make all determinations and interpretations under, prescribe all forms for use with, and adopt rules for the administration of, the 2020 Plan, subject to its express terms and conditions. The plan administrator will also set the terms and conditions of all awards under the 2020 Plan, including any vesting and vesting acceleration conditions.

Limitation on Awards and Shares Available

The maximum number of shares of our common stock available for issuance under the 2020 Plan is equal to the sum of (i) 5,750,000 shares of our common stock, (ii) an annual increase on the first day of each year beginning in 2021 and ending in and including 2030, equal to the lesser of (A) 1% of the outstanding shares of all classes of our common stock on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year and (B) such lesser amount as determined by our board of directors; provided, however, no more than 5,750,000 shares may be issued upon the exercise of incentive stock options, or ISOs. The share reserve formula under the 2020 Plan is intended to provide us with the continuing ability to grant equity awards to eligible employees, directors and consultants for the ten-year term of the 2020 Plan.

Awards granted under the 2020 Plan upon the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding equity awards previously granted by an entity in connection with a corporate transaction, such as a merger, combination, consolidation or acquisition of property or stock will not reduce the shares authorized for grant under the 2020 Plan. The maximum grant date fair value of awards granted to any non-employee director pursuant to the 2020 Plan during any calendar year is $500,000.

 

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Awards

The 2020 Plan provides for the grant of stock options, including ISOs, and nonqualified stock options, or NSOs, restricted stock, dividend equivalents, stock payments, RSUs, other incentive awards, SARs, and cash awards. While the 2020 Plan is designed to provide broad flexibility with regard to future efforts to recruit talent and align and reward employees, we currently intend to use RSUs as the exclusive means of shareholder alignment in fiscal year 2020. Certain awards under the 2020 Plan may constitute or provide for a deferral of compensation, subject to Section 409A of the Code, which may impose additional requirements on the terms and conditions of such awards. All awards under the 2020 Plan will be set forth in award agreements, which will detail all terms and conditions of the awards, including any applicable vesting and payment terms and post-termination exercise limitations. Awards other than cash awards generally will be settled in shares of our common stock, but the plan administrator may provide for cash settlement of any award. A brief description of each award type follows.

 

   

Stock Options. Stock options provide for the purchase of shares of our common stock in the future at an exercise price set on the grant date. ISOs, by contrast to NSOs, may provide tax deferral beyond exercise and favorable capital gains tax treatment to their holders if certain holding period and other requirements of the Code are satisfied. The exercise price of a stock option may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the underlying share on the date of grant (or 110% in the case of ISOs granted to certain significant stockholders), except with respect to certain substitute options granted in connection with a corporate transaction. The term of a stock option may not be longer than ten years (or five years in the case of ISOs granted to certain significant stockholders).

 

   

SARs. SARs entitle their holder, upon exercise, to receive from us an amount equal to the appreciation of the shares subject to the award between the grant date and the exercise date. The exercise price of a SAR may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the underlying share on the date of grant (except with respect to certain substitute SARs granted in connection with a corporate transaction) and the term of a SAR may not be longer than ten years.

 

   

Restricted Stock and RSUs. Restricted stock is an award of nontransferable shares of our common stock that remain forfeitable unless and until specified conditions are met, and which may be subject to a purchase price. RSUs are contractual promises to deliver shares of our common stock in the future, which may also remain forfeitable unless and until specified conditions are met. Delivery of the shares underlying RSUs may be deferred under the terms of the award or at the election of the participant, if the plan administrator permits such a deferral.

 

   

Stock Payments, Other Incentive Awards and Cash Awards. Stock payments are awards of fully vested shares of our common stock that may, but need not, be made in lieu of base salary, bonus, fees or other cash compensation otherwise payable to any individual who is eligible to receive awards. Other incentive awards are awards other than those enumerated in this summary that are denominated in, linked to or derived from shares of our common stock or value metrics related to our shares, and may remain forfeitable unless and until specified conditions are met. Cash awards are cash incentive bonuses subject to performance goals.

 

   

Dividend Equivalents. Dividend equivalents represent the right to receive the equivalent value of dividends paid on shares of our common stock and may be granted alone or in tandem with awards other than stock options or SARs. Dividend equivalents are credited as of dividend record dates during the period between the date an award is granted and the date such award vests, is exercised, is distributed or expires, as determined by the plan administrator.

Vesting

Vesting conditions determined by the plan administrator may apply to each award and may include continued service, performance and/or other conditions.

 

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Certain Transactions

The plan administrator has broad discretion to take action under the 2020 Plan, as well as make adjustments to the terms and conditions of existing and future awards, to prevent the dilution or enlargement of intended benefits and facilitate necessary or desirable changes in the event of certain transactions and events affecting our common stock, such as stock dividends, stock splits, mergers, acquisitions, consolidations and other corporate transactions. In addition, in the event of certain non-reciprocal transactions with our stockholders known as “equity restructurings,” the plan administrator will make equitable adjustments to the 2020 Plan and outstanding awards. In the event of a “change in control” of the company (as defined in the 2020 Plan), to the extent that the surviving entity declines to continue, convert, assume or replace outstanding awards, then the plan administrator may provide that all such awards will terminate in exchange for cash or other consideration, or become fully vested and exercisable in connection with the transaction. Upon or in anticipation of a change in control, the plan administrator may cause any outstanding awards to terminate at a specified time in the future and give the participant the right to exercise such awards during a period of time determined by the plan administrator in its sole discretion. Individual award agreements may provide for additional accelerated vesting and payment provisions.

Foreign Participants, Claw-Back Provisions, Transferability, and Participant Payments

The plan administrator may modify award terms, establish subplans and/or adjust other terms and conditions of awards, subject to the share limits described above, in order to facilitate grants of awards subject to the laws and/or stock exchange rules of countries outside of the United States. All awards will be subject to the provisions of any claw-back policy implemented by us to the extent set forth in such claw-back policy and/or in the applicable award agreement. With limited exceptions for estate planning, domestic relations orders, certain beneficiary designations and the laws of descent and distribution, awards under the 2020 Plan are generally non-transferable, and are exercisable only by the participant. With regard to tax withholding, exercise price and purchase price obligations arising in connection with awards under the 2020 Plan, the plan administrator may, in its discretion, accept cash or check, provide for net withholding of shares, allow shares of our common stock that meet specified conditions to be repurchased, allow a “market sell order” or such other consideration as it deems suitable.

Plan Amendment and Termination

Our board of directors may amend or terminate the 2020 Plan at any time; however, except in connection with certain changes in our capital structure, stockholder approval will be required for any amendment that increases the number of shares available under the 2020 Plan. No award may be granted pursuant to the 2020 Plan after the tenth anniversary of the earlier of (i) the date on which our board of directors adopts the 2020 Plan and (ii) the date on which our stockholders approve the Plan.

New Equity Awards

In connection with the offering, we intend to grant approximately 5,122,375 RSUs under the 2020 Plan to certain of our employees, including the named executive officers. In particular, it is anticipated that our named executive officers will, in the aggregate, receive new equity awards with a total grant date value of approximately $3.7 million. With respect to the awards to our named executive officers, such awards will vest over a three year period, in annual equal installments.

While our plan is designed to provide broad flexibility with regard to future efforts to recruit talent and align and reward employees, we currently intend to use RSUs as the exclusive means of shareholder alignment in fiscal year 2020.

 

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The following are summaries of certain provisions of our related party agreements and are qualified in their entirety by reference to all of the provisions of such agreements. Because these descriptions are only summaries of the applicable agreements, they do not necessarily contain all of the information that you may find useful. We therefore urge you to review the agreements in their entirety. Copies of the forms of the agreements have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and are available electronically on the website of the SEC at www.sec.gov.

Related Party Agreements in Effect Prior to this Offering

We have access to aircrafts on a month-to-month basis from our Founder. We incurred expenses for this service in the amount of $0.4 million during each of the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019.

Searchlight and Rook Holdings, Inc. provide us with consulting and managing services on an ongoing basis, for which we accrued a total of $2.0 million during each of the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019.

The Transactions

In connection with the Transactions, we will engage in certain transactions with certain of our directors, executive officers and other persons and entities which are or will become holders of 5% or more of our voting securities upon the consummation of the Transactions. These transactions are described in “Our Organizational Structure.”

We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering (including any net proceeds from any exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) and the concurrent private placement to purchase 20,319,148 LLC Interests (or 22,569,148 LLC Interests if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) directly from Shift4 Payments, LLC, at a price per unit equal to the initial public offering price per share of Class A common stock in this offering less the underwriting discounts and commissions.

Rook Holdings, Inc. Purchase Agreement

On May 31, 2020, we entered into a purchase agreement with Rook, a corporation wholly-owned by our Founder, pursuant to which Rook agreed to purchase, subject to certain conditions, up to $100.0 million of our Class C common stock in a private placement concurrent with, and subject to, the completion of this offering, at a purchase price per share equal to the initial public offering price per share at which our Class A common stock is sold to the public in this offering less underwriting discounts and commissions. The sale of such shares will not be registered under the Act. The closing of this offering is not conditioned upon the closing of the concurrent private placement.

In addition, the lock-up agreement Rook and our Founder have entered into with the underwriters in connection with this transaction will prohibit the sale of any shares of Class C common stock Rook purchases in the concurrent private placement for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus, subject to certain exceptions. See “Shares Eligible for Future Sale—Lock-Up Agreements.”

Tax Receivable Agreement

As described in “Our Organizational Structure,” we intend to use the net proceeds from this offering and the concurrent private placement to purchase LLC Interests directly from Shift4 Payments, LLC. We further expect to acquire certain favorable tax attributes from the Blocker Companies, or the Blocker Attributes, in connection with the Transactions. In addition, we may obtain an increase in our share of the tax basis of the assets of Shift4

 

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Payments, LLC in the future, when (as described below under “—Shift4 LLC Agreement—Agreement in Effect Upon Consummation of this Offering—Common Unit Redemption Right”) a Continuing Equity Owner receives Class A common stock or cash, as applicable, from us in connection with an exercise of such Continuing Equity Owner’s right to have LLC Interests held by such Continuing Equity Owner redeemed by Shift4 Payments, LLC or, at our election, exchanged (which we intend to treat as our direct purchase of LLC Interests from such Continuing Equity Owner for U.S. federal income and other applicable tax purposes, regardless of whether such LLC Interests are surrendered by a Continuing Equity Owner to Shift4 Payments, LLC for redemption or sold to us upon the exercise of our election to acquire such LLC Interests directly) (such basis increases, together with the basis increases in connection with the purchase of LLC Interests directly from certain of the Continuing Equity Owners in the Transactions, the “Basis Adjustments”). Any Basis Adjustment may have the effect of reducing the amounts that we would otherwise pay in the future to various tax authorities. The Basis Adjustments may also decrease gains (or increase losses) on future dispositions of certain assets to the extent tax basis is allocated to those assets.

In connection with the transactions described above, we will enter into a Tax Receivable Agreement with Shift4 Payments, LLC, each of the Continuing Equity Owners and the Blocker Shareholders that will provide for the payment by Shift4 Payments, Inc. to the Continuing Equity Owners and the Blocker Shareholders of 85% of the amount of certain tax benefits, if any, that Shift4 Payments, Inc. actually realizes, or in some circumstances is deemed to realize in its tax reporting, as a result of the transactions described above, including the Blocker Attributes, Basis Adjustments and certain other tax benefits attributable to payments made under the Tax Receivable Agreement. Shift4 Payments, LLC intends to have in effect an election under Section 754 of the Code effective for each taxable year in which a redemption or exchange (including deemed exchange, and including for this purpose the purchase of LLC Interests directly from certain Continuing Equity Owners described above) of LLC Interests for Class A common stock or cash occurs. These tax benefit payments are not conditioned upon one or more of the Continuing Equity Owners maintaining a continued ownership interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC. If a Continuing Equity Owner transfers LLC Interests but does not assign to the transferee of such units its rights under the Tax Receivable Agreement, such Continuing Equity Owner generally will continue to be entitled to receive payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement arising in respect of a subsequent exchange of such LLC Interests. In general, the Continuing Equity Owners’ and Blocker Shareholders’ rights under the Tax Receivable Agreement may be assigned, sold, pledged or otherwise alienated to any person, without our consent, provided such person executes and delivers a joinder to the Tax Receivable Agreement agreeing to succeed to the applicable Continuing Equity Owner’s or Blocker Shareholders’ interest therein.

The actual Basis Adjustments, as well as any amounts paid to the Continuing Equity Owners and the Blocker Shareholders under the Tax Receivable Agreement will vary depending on a number of factors, including:

 

   

the timing of any future redemptions or exchanges—for instance, the increase in any tax deductions will vary depending on the fair value, which may fluctuate over time, of the depreciable or amortizable assets of Shift4 Payments, LLC at the time of each redemption or exchange;

 

   

the price of shares of our Class A common stock at the time of the purchases from the Continuing Equity Owners in connection with this offering and any applicable redemptions or exchanges—the Basis Adjustments, as well as any related increase in any tax deductions, are directly related to the price of shares of our Class A common stock at the time of such purchases or future redemptions or exchanges;

 

   

the extent to which such redemptions or exchanges are taxable—if a redemption or exchange is not taxable for any reason, increased tax deductions will not be available; and

 

   

the amount and timing of our income—the Tax Receivable Agreement generally will require us to pay 85% of the tax benefits as and when those benefits are treated as realized under the terms of the Tax Receivable Agreement. If Shift4 Payments, Inc. does not have sufficient taxable income to realize any of the applicable tax benefits, it generally will not be required (absent a change of control or other circumstances requiring an early termination payment and treating any outstanding LLC Interests held by Continuing Equity Owners as

 

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having been exchanged for Class A common stock for purposes of determining such early termination payment) to make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement for that taxable year because no tax benefits will have been actually realized. However, any tax benefits that do not result in realized tax benefits in a given taxable year will likely generate tax attributes that may be utilized to generate tax benefits in previous or future taxable years. The utilization of any such tax attributes will result in payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement.

For purposes of the Tax Receivable Agreement, cash savings in income tax will be computed by comparing our actual income tax liability to the amount of such taxes that we would have been required to pay had there been no Blocker Attributes or Basis Adjustments, had the Tax Receivable Agreement not been entered into and had there been no tax benefits to us as a result of any payments made under the Tax Receivable Agreement; provided that, for purposes of determining cash savings with respect to state and local income taxes we will use an assumed tax rate. There is no maximum term for the Tax Receivable Agreement; however, the Tax Receivable Agreement may be terminated by us pursuant to an early termination procedure that requires us to pay the Continuing Equity Owners and the Blocker Shareholders an agreed-upon amount equal to the estimated present value of the remaining payments to be made under the agreement (calculated with certain assumptions).

The payment obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement are obligations of Shift4 Payments, Inc. and not of Shift4 Payments, LLC. Although the actual timing and amount of any payments that may be made under the Tax Receivable Agreement will vary, we expect that the payments that we may be required to make to the Continuing Equity Owners and the Blocker Shareholders could be substantial. Any payments made by us to the Continuing Equity Owners and the Blocker Shareholders under the Tax Receivable Agreement will generally reduce the amount of overall cash flow that might have otherwise been available to us or to Shift4 Payments, LLC and, to the extent that we are unable to make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement for any reason, the unpaid amounts will be deferred and will accrue interest until paid by us; provided, however, that nonpayment for a specified period may constitute a material breach of a material obligation under the Tax Receivable Agreement and therefore may accelerate payments due under the Tax Receivable Agreement. We anticipate funding ordinary course payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement from cash flow from operations of our subsidiaries, available cash or available borrowings under our Credit Facilities or any future debt agreements. See “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information.” Decisions made by us in the course of running our business, such as with respect to mergers, asset sales, other forms of business combinations or other changes in control, may influence the timing and amount of payments that are received by a redeeming Continuing Equity Owner or a Blocker Shareholder under the Tax Receivable Agreement. For example, the earlier disposition of assets following an exchange or acquisition transaction will generally accelerate payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement and increase the present value of such payments.

The Tax Receivable Agreement provides that if certain mergers, asset sales, other forms of business combination, or other changes of control were to occur, if we materially breach any of our material obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement or if, at any time, we elect an early termination of the Tax Receivable Agreement, then the Tax Receivable Agreement will terminate and our obligations, or our successor’s obligations, under the Tax Receivable Agreement would accelerate and become due and payable, based on certain assumptions, including an assumption that we would have sufficient taxable income to fully utilize all potential future tax benefits that are subject to the Tax Receivable Agreement. In those circumstances, Continuing Equity Owners would be deemed to exchange any remaining outstanding LLC Interests for Class A common stock and would generally be entitled to payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement resulting from such deemed exchanges.

We may elect to completely terminate the Tax Receivable Agreement early only with the written approval of each of a majority of Shift4 Payments, Inc.’s “independent directors” (within the meaning of Rule 10A-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act and the NYSE rules).

As a result of the foregoing, we could be required to make an immediate cash payment equal to the present value of the anticipated future tax benefits that are the subject of the Tax Receivable Agreement, which payment may

 

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be made significantly in advance of the actual realization, if any, of such future tax benefits. We also could be required to make cash payments to the Continuing Equity Owners and the Blocker Shareholders that are greater than the specified percentage of the actual benefits we ultimately realize in respect of the tax benefits that are subject to the Tax Receivable Agreement. Our obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement could have a substantial negative impact on our liquidity and could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing certain mergers, asset sales, other forms of business combination, or other changes of control. There can be no assurance that we will be able to finance our obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement.

Payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement will generally be based on the tax reporting positions that we determine. We will not be reimbursed for any cash payments previously made to the Continuing Equity Owners and the Blocker Shareholders pursuant to the Tax Receivable Agreement if any tax benefits initially claimed by us are subsequently challenged by a taxing authority and ultimately disallowed. Instead, any excess cash payments made by us to a Continuing Equity Owner or a Blocker Shareholder will be netted against any future cash payments that we might otherwise be required to make under the terms of the Tax Receivable Agreement to such Continuing Equity Owner or such Blocker Shareholder, as applicable. However, a challenge to any tax benefits initially claimed by us may not arise for a number of years following the initial time of such payment or, even if challenged early, such excess cash payment may be greater than the amount of future cash payments that we might otherwise be required to make under the terms of the Tax Receivable Agreement and, as a result, there might not be future cash payments from which to net against. The applicable U.S. federal income tax rules are complex and factual in nature, and there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court will not disagree with our tax reporting positions. As a result, it is possible that we could make cash payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement that are substantially greater than our actual cash tax savings.

We will have full responsibility for, and sole discretion over, all Shift4 Payments, Inc. tax matters, including the filing and amendment of all tax returns and claims for refund and defense of all tax contests, subject to certain participation and approval rights held by Searchlight and Rook.

Under the Tax Receivable Agreement, we are required to provide Searchlight and Rook with a schedule showing the calculation of payments that are due under the Tax Receivable Agreement with respect to each taxable year with respect to which a payment obligation arises within 180 days after filing our U.S. federal income tax return for such taxable year. We will calculate these payments base on information provided by our tax advisors. Payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement will generally be made to the Continuing Equity Owners and the Blocker Shareholders within five business days after this schedule becomes final pursuant to the procedures set forth in the Tax Receivable Agreement, although interest on such payments will begin to accrue at a rate of LIBOR plus 100 basis points (or if LIBOR ceases to be published, a replacement rate with similar characteristics), or the Agreed Rate, from the due date (without extensions) of such tax return. Any late payments that may be made under the Tax Receivable Agreement will continue to accrue interest at a rate equal to the Agreed Rate plus 500 basis points, until such payments are made, generally including any late payments that we may subsequently make because we did not have enough available cash to satisfy our payment obligations at the time at which they originally arose.

Shift4 LLC Agreement

Agreement in Effect Before Consummation of this Offering

Shift4 Payments, LLC , the Continuing Equity Owners and the Former Equity Owner are parties to the Fifth Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Shift4 Payments, LLC (f/k/a Lighthouse Network, LLC), dated as of October 6, 2017, which governs the business operations of Shift4 Payments, LLC and defines the relative rights and privileges associated with the existing units of Shift4 Payments, LLC. We refer to this agreement as the Existing LLC Agreement. Under the Existing LLC Agreement, the board of directors of Shift4 Payments, LLC has the sole and exclusive right and authority to manage and control the business and affairs of Shift4

 

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Payments, LLC, and the day-to-day business operations of Shift4 Payments, LLC are overseen and implemented by officers of Shift4 Payments, LLC. Each of the Continuing Equity Owners and the Former Equity Owner’s rights under the Existing LLC Agreement continue until the effective time of the new Shift4 Payment, LLC operating agreement to be adopted in connection with this offering, as described below, at which time the Continuing Equity Owners will continue as members that hold LLC Interests with the respective rights thereunder.

Agreement in Effect Upon Consummation of this Offering

In connection with the consummation of this offering, we and the Continuing Equity Owners will enter into Shift4 Payments, LLC’s Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, which we refer to as the Shift4 LLC Agreement.

Appointment as Manager. Under the Shift4 LLC Agreement, we will become sole manager of Shift4, LLC. As the sole manager, we will be able to control all of the day-to-day business affairs and decision-making of Shift4 Payments, LLC without the approval of any other member. As such, we, through our officers and directors, will be responsible for all operational and administrative decisions of Shift4 Payments, LLC and the day-to-day management of Shift4 Payments, LLC’s business. Pursuant to the terms of the Shift4 LLC Agreement, we cannot be removed or replaced as the sole manager of Shift4 Payments, LLC except by our resignation or in accordance with the Stockholders Agreement, which may be given at any time by written notice to the members.

Compensation, Fees and Expenses. We will not be entitled to compensation for our services as manager. We will be entitled to reimbursement by Shift4 Payments, LLC for reasonable fees and expenses incurred on behalf of Shift4 Payments, LLC, including all expenses associated with this offering, any subsequent offering of our Class A common stock, being a public company and maintaining our corporate existence.

Distributions. The Shift4 LLC Agreement will require “tax distributions” to be made by Shift4 Payments, LLC to its members, as that term is used in the agreement, except to the extent such distributions would render Shift4 Payments, LLC insolvent or are otherwise prohibited by law or our Credit Facilities or any of our future debt agreements. Tax distributions will be made on a quarterly basis, to each member of Shift4 Payments, LLC, including us, based on such member’s allocable share of the taxable income of Shift4 Payments, LLC and an assumed tax rate that will be determined by us, as described below. For this purpose, Shift4 Payments, Inc.’s allocable share of Shift4 Payments, LLC’s taxable income shall be net of its share of taxable losses of Shift4 Payments, LLC. The assumed tax rate for purposes of determining tax distributions from Shift4 Payments, LLC to its members will be the highest effective marginal combined federal, state, and local tax rate that may potentially apply to any one of Shift4 Payments, LLC’s members, regardless of the actual final tax liability of any such member. The Shift4 LLC Agreement will also allow for cash distributions to be made by Shift4 Payments, LLC (subject to our sole discretion as the sole manager of Shift4 Payments, LLC) to its members on a pro rata basis out of “distributable cash,” as that term is defined in the agreement. We expect Shift4 Payments, LLC may make distributions out of distributable cash periodically and as necessary to enable us to cover our operating expenses and other obligations, including our tax liability and obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement, except to the extent such distributions would render Shift4 Payments, LLC insolvent or are otherwise prohibited by law or our Credit Facilities or any of our future debt agreements.

Transfer Restrictions. The Shift4 LLC Agreement generally does not permit transfers of LLC Interests by members, except for transfers to permitted transferees, transfers pursuant to an exchange or redemption, as described below, permitted pledges, and transfers to persons whom foreclose on such pledged units (subject to certain conditions) and other limited exceptions. The Shift4 LLC Agreement may impose additional restrictions on transfers (including redemptions described below with respect to each common unit) that are necessary or advisable so that Shift4 Payments, LLC is not treated as a “publicly traded partnership” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In the event of a permitted transfer under the Shift4 LLC Agreement, such member will be required to simultaneously transfer shares of Class B common stock to such transferee equal to the number of LLC

 

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Interests that were transferred to such transferee in such permitted transfer. In the event of a foreclosure with respect to pledged units, such pledged units will not be transferable but will be converted into the right to receive an equal number of shares of Class A common stock, subject to the transferee entering into a stockholders agreement with us with respect to such shares of Class A common stock.

The Shift4 LLC Agreement provides that, in the event that a tender offer, share exchange offer, issuer bid, take-over bid, recapitalization or similar transaction with respect to our Class A common stock, each of which we refer to as a Pubco Offer, is approved by our board of directors or otherwise effected or to be effected with the consent or approval of our board of directors, each holder of LLC Interests shall be permitted to participate in such Pubco Offer by delivering a redemption notice, which shall be effective immediately prior to, and contingent upon, the consummation of such Pubco Offer. If a Pubco Offer is proposed by us, then we are required to use our reasonable best efforts expeditiously and in good faith to take all such actions and do all such things as are necessary or desirable to enable and permit the holders of such LLC Interests to participate in such Pubco Offer to the same extent as or on an economically equivalent basis with the holders of shares of Class A common stock, provided that in no event shall any holder of LLC Interests be entitled to receive aggregate consideration for each common unit that is greater than the consideration payable in respect of each share of Class A common stock pursuant to the Pubco Offer.

Except for certain exceptions, any transferee of LLC Interests must assume, by operation of law or executing a joinder to the Shift4 LLC Agreement, all of the obligations of a transferring member with respect to the transferred units, and such transferee shall be bound by any limitations and obligations under the Shift4 LLC Agreement even if the transferee is not admitted as a member of Shift4 Payments, LLC. A member shall remain as a member with all rights and obligations until the transferee is accepted as substitute member in accordance with the Shift4 LLC Agreement.

Recapitalization. The Shift4 LLC Agreement will recapitalize the units currently held by the existing members of Shift4 Payments, LLC into a new single class of LLC Interests. Each common unit generally will entitle the holder to a pro rata share of the net profits and net losses and distributions of Shift4 Payments, LLC.

Maintenance of One-to-one Ratio between Shares of Class A Common Stock and Class C common stock and LLC Interests Owned by the Company, One-to-one Ratio between Shares of Class B Stock and LLC Interests Owned by Searchlight and our Founder. The Shift4 LLC Agreement requires Shift4 Payments, LLC to take all actions with respect to its LLC Interests, including issuances, reclassifications, distributions, divisions or recapitalizations, such that (1) we at all times maintain a ratio of one LLC Interest owned by us, directly or indirectly, for each share of Class A common stock and Class C common stock issued by us, and (2) Shift4 Payments, LLC at all times maintain (a) a one-to-one ratio between the number of shares of Class A common stock and Class C common stock issued by us and the number of LLC Interests owned by us and (b) a one-to-one ratio between the aggregate number of shares of Class B stock owned by Searchlight and our Founder, collectively, and the number of LLC Interests owned by Searchlight and our Founder, collectively. This ratio requirement disregards (1) shares of our Class A common stock under unvested options issued by us, (2) treasury stock and (3) preferred stock or other debt or equity securities (including warrants, options or rights) issued by us that are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Class A common stock or Class C common stock, except to the extent we have contributed the net proceeds from such other securities, including any exercise or purchase price payable upon conversion, exercise or exchange thereof, to the equity capital of Shift4 Payments, LLC. In addition, the Class A common stock and Class C common stock ratio requirement disregards all LLC Interests at any time held by any other person, including the Continuing Equity Owners and the holders of options over LLC Interests. If we issue, transfer or deliver from treasury stock or repurchase shares of Class A common stock or Class C common stock in a transaction not contemplated by the Shift4 LLC Agreement, we as manager have the authority to take all actions such that, after giving effect to all such issuances, transfers, deliveries or repurchases, the number of outstanding LLC Interests we own equals, on a one-for-one basis, the number of outstanding shares of Class A common stock and Class C common stock. If we issue, transfer or deliver from treasury stock or repurchase or redeem any of our preferred stock in a transaction not contemplated

 

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by the Shift4 LLC Agreement, we as manager have the authority to take all actions such that, after giving effect to all such issuances, transfers, deliveries repurchases or redemptions, we hold (in the case of any issuance, transfer or delivery) or cease to hold (in the case of any repurchase or redemption) equity interests in Shift4 Payments, LLC which (in our good faith determination) are in the aggregate substantially equivalent to our preferred stock so issued, transferred, delivered, repurchased or redeemed. Shift4 Payments, LLC is prohibited from undertaking any subdivision (by any split of units, distribution of units, reclassification, recapitalization or similar event) or combination (by reverse split of units, reclassification, recapitalization or similar event) of the LLC Interests that is not accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination of (1) our Class A common stock or Class C common stock to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between the number of LLC Interests owned by us and the number of outstanding shares of our Class A common stock or Class C common stock and (2) our Class B common stock to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between the number of LLC Interests owned by Searchlight and our Founder and the number of outstanding shares of our Class B common stock, as applicable, in each case, subject to exceptions.

Issuance of LLC Interests upon Exercise of Options or Issuance of Other Equity Compensation. Upon the exercise of options issued by us (as opposed to options issued by Shift4 Payments, LLC), or the issuance of other types of equity compensation by us (such as the issuance of restricted or non-restricted stock, payment of bonuses in stock or settlement of stock appreciation rights in stock), we will have the right to acquire from Shift4 Payments, LLC a number of LLC Interests equal to the number of our shares of Class A common stock being issued in connection with the exercise of such options or issuance of other types of equity compensation. When we issue shares of Class A common stock in settlement of stock options granted to persons that are not officers or employees of Shift4 Payments, LLC or its subsidiaries, we will make, or be deemed to make, a capital contribution in Shift4 Payments, LLC equal to the aggregate value of such shares of Class A common stock and Shift4 Payments, LLC will issue to us a number of LLC Interests equal to the number of shares we issued. When we issue shares of Class A common stock in settlement of stock options granted to persons that are officers or employees of Shift4 Payments, LLC or its subsidiaries, then we will be deemed to have sold directly to the person exercising such award a portion of the value of each share of Class A common stock equal to the exercise price per share, and we will be deemed to have sold directly to Shift4 Payments, LLC (or the applicable subsidiary of Shift4 Payments, LLC) the difference between the exercise price and market price per share for each such share of Class A common stock. In cases where we grant other types of equity compensation to employees of Shift4 Payments, LLC or its subsidiaries, on each applicable vesting date we will be deemed to have sold to Shift4 Payments, LLC (or such subsidiary) the number of vested shares at a price equal to the market price per share, Shift4 Payments, LLC (or such subsidiary) will deliver the shares to the applicable person, and we will be deemed to have made a capital contribution in Shift4 Payments, LLC equal to the purchase price for such shares in exchange for an equal number of LLC Interests.

Dissolution. The Shift4 LLC Agreement will provide that the consent of Shift4 Payments, Inc. as the managing member of Shift4 Payments, LLC and members holding a majority of the voting units (but not including units held by us) will be required to voluntarily dissolve Shift4 Payments, LLC. In addition to a voluntary dissolution, Shift4 Payments, LLC will be dissolved upon the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution or other circumstances in accordance with Delaware law. Upon a dissolution event, the proceeds of a liquidation will be distributed in the following order: (1) first, to pay the expenses of winding up Shift4 Payments, LLC; (2) second, to pay debts and liabilities owed to creditors of Shift4 Payments, LLC, other than members; (3) third, to pay debt and liabilities owed to the members; and (4) fourth, to the members pro-rata in accordance with their respective percentage ownership interests in Shift4 Payments, LLC (as determined based on the number of LLC Interests held by a member relative to the aggregate number of all outstanding LLC Interests).

Confidentiality. Each member (other than us) agrees to maintain the confidentiality of Shift4 Payments, LLC’s confidential information. This obligation excludes information independently obtained or developed by the members, information that is in the public domain, was rightfully in the prior possession of the member prior to disclosure by Shift4 Payments, LLC, or otherwise disclosed to a member, in either such case not in violation of a confidentiality obligation of the Shift4 LLC Agreement or approved for release by written authorization of the

 

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Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer or the General Counsel of either Shift4 Payments, Inc. or Shift4 Payments, LLC.

Indemnification. The Shift4 LLC Agreement will provide for indemnification of the manager, members and officers of Shift4 Payments, LLC and their respective subsidiaries or affiliates.

LLC Interest Redemption Right. The Shift4 LLC Agreement will provide a redemption right to the Continuing Equity Owners which will entitle them to have their LLC Interests redeemed for, at our election (determined solely by our independent directors (within the meaning of the rules of the NYSE) who are disinterested), newly-issued shares of our Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis or a cash payment equal to a volume weighted average market price of one share of Class A common stock for each common unit redeemed, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Shift4 LLC Agreement; provided that, at our election (determined solely by our independent directors (within the meaning of the rules of the NYSE) who are disinterested), we may effect a direct exchange by Shift4 Payments, Inc. of such Class A common stock or such cash, as applicable, for such LLC Interests. The Continuing Equity Owners may exercise such redemption right for as long as their LLC Interests remain outstanding. In connection with the exercise of the redemption or exchange of LLC Interests (1) the Continuing Equity Owners will be required to surrender a number of shares of our Class B common stock registered in the name of such redeeming or exchanging Continuing Equity Owner (or its applicable affiliate), which we will cancel for no consideration on a one-for-one basis with the number of LLC Interests so redeemed or exchanged and (2) all redeeming members will surrender LLC Interests to Shift4 Payments, LLC for cancellation.

Each Continuing Equity Owner’s redemption rights will be subject to certain customary limitations, including the expiration of any contractual lock-up period relating to the shares of our Class A common stock that may be applicable to such Continuing Equity Owner and the absence of any liens or encumbrances on such LLC Interests redeemed. Additionally, in the case we elect a cash settlement, such Continuing Equity Owner may rescind its redemption request within a specified period of time. Moreover, in the case of a settlement in Class A common stock, such redemption 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. In the case of a settlement in Class A common stock, such Continuing Equity Owner may also revoke or delay its redemption request if the following conditions exist: (1) any registration statement pursuant to which the resale of the Class A common stock to be registered for such Continuing Equity Owner 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; (2) we failed to cause any related prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement necessary to effect such redemption; (3) we exercised our 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 Continuing Equity Owner to have its Class A common stock registered at or immediately following the consummation of the redemption; (4) such Continuing Equity Owner is in possession of any material non-public information concerning us, the receipt of which results in such Continuing Equity Owner being prohibited or restricted from selling Class A common stock at or immediately following the redemption without disclosure of such information (and we do not permit disclosure); (5) any stop order relating to the registration statement pursuant to which the Class A common stock was to be registered by such Continuing Equity Owner at or immediately following the redemption shall have been issued by the SEC; (6) 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; (7) 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; (8) we shall have failed to comply in all material respects with our obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, and such failure shall have affected the ability of such Continuing Equity Owner to consummate the resale of the Class A common stock to be received upon such redemption pursuant to an effective registration statement; or (9) the redemption date would occur three business days or less prior to, or during, a black-out period.

The Shift4 LLC Agreement will require that in the case of a redemption by a Continuing Equity Owner we contribute cash or shares of our Class A common stock, as applicable, to Shift4 Payments, LLC in exchange for

 

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an amount of newly-issued LLC Interests that will be issued to us equal to the number of LLC Interests redeemed from the Continuing Equity Owner. Shift4 Payments, LLC will then distribute the cash or shares of our Class A common stock, as applicable, to such Continuing Equity Owner to complete the redemption. In the event of an election by a Continuing Equity Owner, we may, at our option, effect a direct exchange by Shift4 Payments, Inc. of cash or our Class A common stock, as applicable, for such LLC Interests in lieu of such a redemption. Whether by redemption or exchange, we are obligated to ensure that at all times the number of LLC Interests that we own equals the aggregate number of our outstanding shares of Class A common stock and Class C common stock (subject to certain exceptions for treasury shares and shares underlying certain convertible or exchangeable securities).

Amendments. In addition to certain other requirements, our consent, as manager, and the consent of a majority of the LLC Interests then outstanding and entitled to vote (excluding LLC Interests held directly or indirectly by us) will generally be required to amend or modify the Shift4 LLC Agreement.

Stockholders Agreement

Pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement, Searchlight will have the right to designate certain of our directors, or the Searchlight Directors, which will be two Searchlight Directors for as long as Searchlight directly or indirectly, beneficially owns, in the aggregate, 25% or more of our Class A common stock (including any shares of Class C common stock beneficially owned by Searchlight) or one Searchlight Director for as long as Searchlight directly or indirectly, beneficially owns, in the aggregate, less than 25% but over 10% of our Class A common stock (including any shares of Class C common stock beneficially owned by Searchlight), in each case, assuming that all outstanding LLC Interests in Shift4 Payments, LLC are redeemed for newly issued shares of our class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, and Rook shall have the right to designate certain of our directors, or the Founder Directors, which will be two Founder Directors for as long as Rook directly or indirectly, beneficially owns, in the aggregate, 25% or more of our Class A common stock (including any shares of Class C common stock beneficially owned by our Founder) or one Founder Director for as long as Searchlight directly or indirectly, beneficially owns, in the aggregate, less than 25% but over 10% of our Class A common stock (including any shares of Class C common stock beneficially owned by our Founder), in each case, assuming that all outstanding LLC Interests are redeemed for newly issued shares of our class A common stock on a one-for-one basis. Each of Searchlight and Rook will also agree to vote, or cause to vote, all of their outstanding shares of our Class A common stock, Class B common stock and Class C common stock at any annual or special meeting of stockholders in which directors are elected, so as to cause the election of the Searchlight Directors and Founder Directors. Additionally, pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement, we shall take all commercially reasonable actions to cause (1) the board of directors to be comprised of at least seven directors or such other number of directors as our board of directors may determine; (2) the individuals designated in accordance with the terms of the Stockholders Agreement to be included in the slate of nominees to be elected to the board of directors at the next annual or special meeting of our stockholders at which directors are to be elected and at each annual meeting of our stockholders thereafter at which a director’s term expires; and (3) the individuals designated in accordance with the terms of the Stockholders Agreement to fill the applicable vacancies on the board of directors. The Stockholders Agreement allows for the board of directors to reject the nomination, appointment or election of a particular director if such nomination, appointment or election would constitute a breach of the board of directors’ fiduciary duties to our stockholders or does not otherwise comply with any requirements of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws or the charter for, or related guidelines of, the board of directors’ nominating and corporate governance committee. See “Management—Composition of our Board of Directors.”

In addition, the Stockholders Agreement provides that for as long as Searchlight or Rook, respectively, beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate, 25% or more of all issued and outstanding shares of our Class A common stock (assuming that all outstanding LLC Interests are redeemed for newly issued shares of our Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis and including any shares of Class C common stock beneficially owned by Searchlight or our Founder), we will not take, and will cause our subsidiaries not to take,

 

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certain actions (whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise) without the prior written approval of Searchlight or Rook, respectively, including, subject to certain exceptions:

 

   

any transaction or series of related transactions, in which any “person” or “group” acquires, directly or indirectly, in excess of fifty percent (50%) of our then outstanding shares of any class of our capital stock or has the direct or indirect power to elect a majority of the members of our Board;

 

   

the reorganization, recapitalization, voluntary bankruptcy, liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of us;

 

   

the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of our property and assets;

 

   

any actions (including, without limitation, any debt recapitalizations, refinancings, amendments, revolver drawings, repayments, and compliance report review) with respect to our debt capitalization in excess of $100.0 million;

 

   

the declaration or payment of any dividends or other distributions by us;

 

   

any buyback, purchase, repurchase, redemption or other acquisition by us of any of our securities;

 

   

the (i) resignation, replacement or removal of the Company as the sole manager of Shift4 Payments LLC or (ii) appointment of any additional person as a manager of Shift4 Payments LLC;

 

   

any acquisition or disposition of our assets where the aggregate consideration for such assets is greater than $25.0 million in any single transaction or series of related transactions;

 

   

the creation of a new class or series of capital stock or equity securities of us;

 

   

any issuance of additional shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Stock, Class C Stock, Preferred Stock or other of our equity securities;

 

   

any amendment or modification of our organizational documents;

 

   

entering into, modifying, amending or terminating any material contracts;

 

   

any new joint venture with a non-affiliate third-party;

 

   

the commencement, settlement or compromise of any litigation, claim, arbitration or other adversarial proceeding, governmental investigation, or proceeding involving an amount in dispute in excess of $500,000;

 

   

any entering into, modifying, amending or terminating any employments, severance, change of control or other agreement or contract with our Chief Executive Officer;

 

   

any hiring and/or termination of our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Strategy Officer, General Counsel, or other executive officer; or

 

   

any increase or decrease of the size of our Board.

The Stockholders Agreement will terminate upon the earlier to occur of (i) each of Searchlight and Rook cease to own any of our Class A common stock, Class B common stock or Class C common stock, (ii) each of Searchlight and Rook cease to have board designation rights under the Stockholders Agreement, or (iii) by unanimous consent of Searchlight and Rook.

Registration Rights Agreement

We intend to enter into a Registration Rights Agreement with certain of the Continuing Equity Owners in connection with this offering. The Registration Rights Agreement will provide Searchlight and Rook Holdings, Inc. with certain “demand” registration rights whereby, at any time after 180 days following our initial public offering and the expiration of any related lock-up period, Searchlight and Rook Holdings, Inc. can require us to register under the Securities Act the offer and sale of shares of Class A common stock issuable to them, at our

 

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election (determined solely by our independent directors (within the meaning of the rules of the NYSE) who are disinterested), upon redemption or exchange of their LLC Interests. The Registration Rights Agreement will also provide for customary “piggyback” registration rights for all parties to the agreement.

Employment Agreements

We intend to enter into an employment agreement with certain of our named executive officers in connection with this offering. See “Executive Compensation.”

Director and Officer Indemnification and Insurance

Prior to the consummation of this offering, we intend to enter into separate indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. We have also purchased directors’ and officers’ liability insurance. See “Description of Capital Stock—Limitations on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors.”

Our Policy Regarding Related Party Transactions

Our board of directors recognizes the fact that transactions with related persons present a heightened risk of conflicts of interests, improper valuation or the perception thereof. Prior to the consummation of this offering, our board of directors will adopt a written policy on transactions with related persons that is in conformity with the requirements for issuers having publicly held common stock that is listed on the NYSE. Under the new policy:

 

   

any related person transaction, and any material amendment or modification to a related person transaction, must be reviewed and approved or ratified by a committee of the board of directors composed solely of independent directors who are disinterested or by the disinterested members of the board of directors; and

 

   

any employment relationship or transaction involving an executive officer and any related compensation must be approved by the compensation committee of the board of directors or recommended by the compensation committee to the board of directors for its approval.

In connection with the review and approval or ratification of a related person transaction:

 

   

management must disclose to the committee or disinterested directors, as applicable, the name of the related person and the basis on which the person is a related person, the material terms of the related person transaction, including the approximate dollar value of the amount involved in the transaction, and all the material facts as to the related person’s direct or indirect interest in, or relationship to, the related person transaction;

 

   

management must advise the committee or disinterested directors, as applicable, as to whether the related person transaction complies with the terms of our agreements governing our material outstanding indebtedness that limit or restrict our ability to enter into a related person transaction;

 

   

management must advise the committee or disinterested directors, as applicable, as to whether the related person transaction will be required to be disclosed in our applicable filings under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, and related rules, and, to the extent required to be disclosed, management must ensure that the related person transaction is disclosed in accordance with the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and related rules; and

 

   

management must advise the committee or disinterested directors, as applicable, as to whether the related person transaction constitutes a “personal loan” for purposes of Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

In addition, the related person transaction policy provides that the committee or disinterested directors, as applicable, in connection with any approval or ratification of a related person transaction involving a non-employee director should consider whether such transaction would compromise the director’s status as an “independent,” “outside,” or “non-employee” director, as applicable, under the rules and regulations of the SEC, the NYSE and the Code.

 

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PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

The following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our Class A common stock, Class B common stock and Class C common stock (1) immediately following the consummation of the Transactions (excluding this offering), as described in “Our Organizational Structure” and (2) as adjusted to give effect to this offering and the concurrent private placement, which we collectively refer to in this section as the Offerings, in each case excluding the 5,122,375 RSUs to be granted in connection with this offering, for:

 

   

each person known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our Class A common stock, Class B common stock or our Class C common stock;

 

   

each of our directors;

 

   

each of our named executive officers; and

 

   

all of our executive officers and directors as a group.

As described in “Our Organizational Structure” and “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions,” each common unit (other than LLC Interests held by us) is redeemable from time to time at each holder’s option for, at our election (determined solely by our independent directors (within the meaning of the rules of the NYSE) who are disinterested), newly-issued shares of our Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis or a cash payment equal to a volume weighted average market price of one share of Class A common stock for each common unit redeemed, in each case, in accordance with the terms of the Shift4 LLC Agreement; provided that, at our election (determined solely by our independent directors (within the meaning of the rules of the NYSE) who are disinterested), we may effect a direct exchange by Shift4 Payments, Inc. of such Class A common stock or such cash, as applicable, for such LLC Interests. The Continuing Equity Owners may exercise such redemption right for as long as their LLC Interests remain outstanding. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Shift4 LLC Agreement.” In connection with this offering, we will issue to each of Searchlight and our Founder, for nominal consideration, one share of Class B common stock for each common unit of Shift4 Payments, LLC each owned, respectively. As a result, the number of shares of Class B common stock listed in the table below correlates to the number of LLC Interests Searchlight and our Founder will own immediately after this offering. Although the number of shares of Class A common stock being offered hereby to the public and the total number of LLC Interests outstanding after the offering will remain fixed regardless of the initial public offering price in this offering, the shares of Class B common stock and Class C common stock held by the beneficial owners set forth in the table below after the consummation of the Transactions will vary, depending on the initial public offering price in this offering. The table below assumes the shares of Class A common stock are offered at $20.00 per share (the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus). See “Our Organizational Structure.”

The number of shares beneficially owned by each stockholder as described in this prospectus is determined under rules issued by the SEC. Under these rules, beneficial ownership includes any shares as to which the individual or entity has sole or shared voting power or investment power. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by an individual or entity and the percentage ownership of that person, shares of common stock subject to options, or other rights, including the redemption right described above with respect to each common unit, held by such person that are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days of the date of this prospectus, are considered outstanding, although these shares are not considered outstanding for purposes of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. The percentage ownership of each individual or entity after giving effect to the Transactions and before this offering and the concurrent private placement is computed on the basis of 1,491,062 shares of our Class A common stock outstanding, 38,373,190 shares of Class B common stock outstanding 15,113,373 shares of Class C common stock outstanding. The percentage ownership of each individual or entity after this offering and the concurrent private placement is computed on the basis of 21,613,437 shares of our Class A common stock outstanding, 38,373,190 shares of Class B common stock outstanding, 20,432,521 shares of our Class C common stock outstanding and shares of Class C common stock outstanding. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of all listed stockholders is 2202 N. Irving St., Allentown, PA 18109.

 

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Each of the stockholders listed has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares beneficially owned by the stockholder unless noted otherwise, subject to community property laws where applicable.

 

    Class A Common Stock Beneficially
Owned(1)
    Class B Common Stock Beneficially
Owned
    Class C Common Stock Beneficially
Owned
    Combined Voting Power(2)  
    After
Giving Effect
to the
Transactions
and Before
the Offerings
    After
Giving Effect
to the
Transactions
and After the
Offerings
(No Exercise
Option)
    After
Giving Effect
to the
Transactions
and After the
Offerings
(With Full
Exercise
Option)
    After
Giving
Effect to the
Transactions and
Before the
Offerings
    After
Giving
Effect to the
Transactions

and After
the Offerings
(No Exercise
Option)
    After
Giving
Effect to the
Transactions

and After
the Offerings
(With Full
Exercise Option)
    After
Giving
Effect to the
Transactions

and Before
the Offerings
    After
Giving
Effect to the
Transactions

and After the
Offerings 

(No Exercise
Option)
    After
Giving Effect to
the Transactions
and After the
Offerings
(With Full
Exercise Option)
    After
Giving
Effect to the
Transactions

and After
the
Offerings
(No Exercise
Option)
    After
Giving
Effect to the
Transactions
and After
the
Offerings
(With Full
Exercise
Option)
 

Name of beneficial owner

  Number     %     Number     %     Number     %     Number     %     Number     %     Number     %     Number     %     Number     %     Number     %     %     %  

5% Stockholders

                                       

Entities affiliated with Searchlight Capital Partners, L.P.(3)

    —         —         —         —         —         —         13,030,711       33.96     13,030,711       34.0     13,030,711       34.0     15,113,373       100.0     15,113,373       74.0     15,113,373       74.0     46.6     46.4

Named Executive Officers, Directors and Director Nominees

                                       

Jared Isaacman(4)

    —         —         —         —         —         —         25,342,479       66.04     25,342,479       66.0     25,342,479       66.0     —         —         5,319,148       26.0     5,319,148       26.0     50.7     50.5

Steven Sommers

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Kevin Cronic

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Donald Isaacman

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Christopher Cruz

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Andrew Frey

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Nancy Disman

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Sarah Goldsmith-Grover

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Jonathan Halkyard

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

All directors, director nominees and executive officers as a group (twelve persons)(4)

    —         —         —         —         —         —         25,342,479       66.04     25,342,479       66.0     25,342,479       66.0     5,319,148       26.0     5,319,148       26.0     5,319,148       26.0     50.7     50.5

 

*

Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1%.

(1)

Each common unit is redeemable from time to time at each holder’s option for, at our election (determined solely by our independent directors (within the meaning of the rules of the NYSE) who are disinterested), newly-issued shares of our Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis or a cash payment equal to a volume weighted average market price of one share of Class A common stock for each common unit redeemed, in each case, in accordance with the terms of the Shift4 LLC Agreement; provided that, at our election (determined solely by our independent directors (within the meaning of the rules of the NYSE) who are disinterested), we may effect a direct exchange by Shift4 Payments, Inc. of such Class A common stock or such cash, as applicable, for such LLC Interests. The Continuing Equity Owners may exercise such redemption right for as long as their LLC Interests remain outstanding. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Shift4 LLC Agreement.” In these tables, beneficial ownership of LLC Interests has been reflected as beneficial ownership of shares of our Class A common stock for which such LLC Interests may be exchanged. When a common unit is exchanged by Searchlight, who holds shares of our Class B common stock, a corresponding share of Class B common stock will be cancelled.

(2)

Represents the percentage of voting power of our Class A common stock, Class B common stock and Class C common stock voting as a single class. Each share of Class A common stock entitles the registered holder to one vote per share, each share of Class B common stock entitles the registered holder thereof to ten votes per share and each share of Class C common stock entitles the registered holder thereof to ten votes per share on all matters presented to stockholders for a vote generally, including the election of directors. The Class A common stock, Class B common stock and Class C common stock will vote as a single class on all matters except as required by law or our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.

(3)

Consists of (i) 60,000 Class A common units held by Searchlight II GWN, L.P. that will be converted into an aggregate 13,030,711 LLC Interests in connection with the Transactions, (ii) 13,030,711 shares of Class B common stock held by Searchlight Capital II, L.P. and Searchlight Capital LL PV, L.P. that will be issued in connection with the Transaction and (iii) 15,113,373 shares of Class C common stock held by Searchlight Capital II, L.P. and Searchlight Capital LL PV, L.P. that will be issued in connection with the Transaction. As members of the board of managers of Searchlight Capital Partners II GP, LLC, which have the power to vote or dispose of the securities indirectly held by Searchlight Capital II, L.P. and Searchlight Capital LL PV, L.P., Erol Uzumeri, Eric Zinterhofer and Oliver Haarmann may be deemed to have shared voting and investment power with respect to such securities. Messrs. Cruz and

 

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  Mr. Frey are each a Managing Director and Partner, respectively, of Searchlight Capital Partners, L.P. Each of Mr. Cruz and Mr. Frey disclaim beneficial ownership of the Class A common stock held by Searchlight Capital II, L.P. and Searchlight Capital LL PV, L.P. The address for the Searchlight entities and persons is 745 Fifth Avenue, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10151.
(4)

Consists of (i) 40,000 Class A common units held by Rook Holdings, Inc. (“Rook”) that will be converted into an aggregate 25,342,479 LLC Interests in connection with the Transactions, (ii) 25,342,479 shares of Class B common stock held by Rook that will be issued in connection with the Transaction and (iii) 5,319,148 shares of Class C common stock held by Rook that will be issued in connection with the concurrent private placement. As the sole stockholder of Rook, Mr. J. Isaacman may be deemed to have sole voting and investment power with respect to such securities. The address for Rook is 2202 N. Irving St., Allentown, PA 18109.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

General

At or prior to the consummation of this offering, we will file an amended and restated certificate of incorporation and we will adopt our amended and restated bylaws. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will authorize capital stock consisting of:

 

   

300,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share;

 

   

100,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share;

 

   

100,000,000 shares of Class C common stock, par value $0.0001 per share; and

 

   

20,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share.

We are selling 15,000,000 shares of Class A common stock in this offering (17,250,000 shares if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of our Class A common stock). All shares of our Class A common stock outstanding upon consummation of this offering will be fully paid and non-assessable. We are issuing 38,373,190 shares of Class B common stock to Searchlight and our Founder and 15,113,373 shares of Class C common stock to Searchlight in connection with the Transactions for nominal consideration. We are also issuing up to 5,319,148 shares of Class C common stock to our Founder in connection with the concurrent private placement.

The following summary describes the material provisions of our capital stock. We urge you to read our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws, which are included as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

Certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws summarized below may be deemed to have an anti-takeover effect and may delay or prevent a tender offer or takeover attempt that a stockholder might consider in its best interest, including those attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares of common stock.

Common Stock

Class A Common Stock

Holders of shares of our Class A common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders.

Holders of shares of our Class A common stock are entitled to receive, on a pro rata basis with shares of Class C common stock, dividends when and if declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available therefor, subject to any statutory or contractual restrictions on the payment of dividends and to any restrictions on the payment of dividends imposed by the terms of any outstanding preferred stock.

Upon our dissolution or liquidation, after payment in full of all amounts required to be paid to creditors and to the holders of preferred stock having liquidation preferences, if any, the holders of shares of our Class A common stock and Class C common stock will be entitled to receive pro rata our remaining assets available for distribution.

Holders of shares of our Class A common stock do not have preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights. There will be no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Class A common stock.

Class B Common Stock

Each share of our Class B common stock entitles its holders to ten votes per share on all matters presented to our stockholders generally.

 

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Shares of Class B common stock will be issued in the future only to the extent necessary to maintain a one-to-one ratio between the number of LLC Interests held by Searchlight and our Founder and the number of shares of Class B common stock issued to the Searchlight and our Founder. Shares of Class B common stock are transferable only together with an equal number of LLC Interests (subject to certain exceptions). Only permitted transferees of LLC Interests held by Searchlight and our Founder will be permitted transferees of Class B common stock. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Shift4 LLC Agreement.”

Holders of shares of our Class B common stock will vote together with holders of our Class A common stock and Class C common stock as a single class on all matters presented to our stockholders for their vote or approval, except for certain amendments to our certificate described below or as otherwise required by applicable law or the certificate.

Holders of our Class B common stock do not have any right to receive dividends or to receive a distribution upon dissolution or liquidation. Additionally, holders of shares of our Class B common stock do not have preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights. There will be no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Class B common stock. Any amendment of our certificate of incorporation that gives holders of our Class B common stock (1) any rights to receive dividends or any other kind of distribution, (2) any right to convert into or be exchanged for Class A common stock or (3) any other economic rights will require, in addition to stockholder approval, the affirmative vote of holders of our Class A common stock voting separately as a class and Class C common stock voting separately as a class.

Upon the consummation of this offering, Searchlight and our Founder will own 38,373,190 shares of our Class B common stock.

Class C Common Stock

Holders of shares of our Class C common stock are entitled to ten votes for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders.

Holders of shares of our Class C common stock are entitled to receive, on a pro rata basis with shares of Class A common stock, dividends when and if declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available therefor, subject to any statutory or contractual restrictions on the payment of dividends and to any restrictions on the payment of dividends imposed by the terms of any outstanding preferred stock.

Upon our dissolution or liquidation, after payment in full of all amounts required to be paid to creditors and to the holders of preferred stock having liquidation preferences, if any, the holders of shares of our Class C common stock and Class A common stock will be entitled to receive pro rata our remaining assets available for distribution.

Holders of shares of our Class C common stock do not have preemptive, subscription or redemption rights. There will be no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Class C common stock.

Shares of Class C common stock can only be held by Searchlight, Rook or their Permitted Transferees. If any such shares are transferred to any other person, they will automatically convert into fully paid and non-assessable shares of Class A common stock on a one-to-one basis.

Upon the consummation of this offering and concurrent private placement, Searchlight and Rook will own 20,432,521 shares of Class C common stock.

Preferred Stock

Upon the consummation of this offering and the effectiveness of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that will become effective immediately prior to the consummation of this offering, the total of our

 

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authorized shares of preferred stock will be 20,000,000 shares. Upon the consummation of this offering, we will have no shares of preferred stock outstanding.

Under the terms of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that will become effective immediately prior to the consummation of this offering, our board of directors is authorized to direct us to issue shares of preferred stock in one or more series without stockholder approval. Our board of directors has the discretion to determine the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions, including voting rights, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption privileges and liquidation preferences, of each series of preferred stock.

The purpose of authorizing our board of directors to issue preferred stock and determine its rights and preferences is to eliminate delays associated with a stockholder vote on specific issuances. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions, future financings and other corporate purposes, could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or could discourage a third party from seeking to acquire, a majority of our outstanding voting stock. Additionally, the issuance of preferred stock may adversely affect the holders of our Class A common stock by restricting dividends on the Class A common stock, diluting the voting power of the Class A common stock or subordinating the liquidation rights of the Class A common stock. As a result of these or other factors, the issuance of preferred stock could have an adverse impact on the market price of our Class A common stock.

Registration Rights

We intend to enter into a Registration Rights Agreement with the Continuing Equity Owners in connection with this offering pursuant to which such parties will have specified rights to require us to register all or a portion of their shares under the Securities Act. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Registration Rights Agreement.”

Forum Selection

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be the sole and exclusive forum for: (1) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf; (2) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers or other employees to us or our stockholders; (3) any action asserting a claim against us, any director or our officers and employees arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws, or as to which the DGCL confers exclusive jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery; or (4) any action asserting a claim against us, any director or our officers or employees that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine; provided that the exclusive forum provisions will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, or to any claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. For instance, the provision would not apply to actions arising under federal securities laws, including suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Act, Exchange Act, or the rules and regulations thereunder. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation further provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation also provides that any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock will be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to these choice of forum provisions. By agreeing to this provision, investors cannot be deemed to have waived our compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. It is possible that a court of law could rule that either or both of the choice of forum provisions contained in our restated certificate of incorporation is inapplicable or unenforceable if it is challenged in a proceeding or otherwise.

 

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Dividends

Declaration and payment of any dividend will be subject to the discretion of our board of directors. The time and amount of dividends will be dependent upon our business prospects, results of operations, financial condition, cash requirements and availability, debt repayment obligations, capital expenditure needs, contractual restrictions, covenants in the agreements governing our current and future indebtedness, industry trends, the provisions of Delaware law affecting the payment of distributions to stockholders and any other factors our board of directors may consider relevant. We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings to fund the development and growth of our business and to repay indebtedness, and therefore do not anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends on our Class A common stock in the foreseeable future. See “Dividend Policy” and “Risk Factors—Risks related to the offering and ownership of our Class A common stock—Because we have no current plans to pay regular cash dividends on our Class A common stock following this offering, you may not receive any return on investment unless you sell your Class A common stock for a price greater than that which you paid for it.”

Anti-Takeover Provisions

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, as they will be in effect immediately prior to the consummation of this offering, will contain provisions that may delay, defer or discourage another party from acquiring control of us. We expect that these provisions, which are summarized below, will discourage coercive takeover practices or inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our board of directors, which we believe may result in an improvement of the terms of any such acquisition in favor of our stockholders. However, they also give our board of directors the power to discourage acquisitions that some stockholders may favor.

Authorized but Unissued Shares

The authorized but unissued shares of our common stock and our preferred stock are available for future issuance without stockholder approval, subject to any limitations imposed by the NYSE rules. These additional shares may be used for a variety of corporate finance transactions, acquisitions and employee benefit plans and, as described under “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Shift4 LLC Agreement—Agreement in Effect Upon Consummation of this Offering—Common Unit Redemption Right,” funding of redemptions of LLC Interests. The existence of authorized but unissued and unreserved common stock and preferred stock could make more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.

Classified Board of Directors

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that our board of directors will be divided into three classes, with the classes as nearly equal in number as possible and each class serving three-year staggered terms. Pursuant to the terms of the Stockholders Agreement, directors designated by each of Rook and Searchlight may only be removed with or without cause by the request of the party entitled to designate such director. In all other cases and at any other time, directors may only be removed from our board of directors for cause by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote. See “Management—Composition of our Board of Directors.” These provisions may have the effect of deferring, delaying or discouraging hostile takeovers, or changes in control of us or our management.

Stockholder Action by Written Consent

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that any action required or permitted to be taken by our stockholders at an annual meeting or special meeting of stockholders may be taken without a

 

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meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a written consent is signed by the holders of our outstanding shares of common stock representing not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize such action at a meeting at which all outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote thereon were present and voted.

Special Meetings of Stockholders

Our amended and restated bylaws will provide that only the chairperson of our board of directors or a majority of our board of directors may call special meetings of our stockholders.

Advance Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations

In addition, our amended and restated bylaws will establish an advance notice procedure for stockholder proposals to be brought before an annual meeting of stockholders, including proposed nominations of candidates for election to our board of directors. In order for any matter to be “properly brought” before a meeting, a stockholder will have to comply with advance notice and duration of ownership requirements and provide us with certain information. Stockholders at an annual meeting may only consider proposals or nominations specified in the notice of meeting or brought before the meeting by or at the direction of our board of directors or by a qualified stockholder of record on the record date for the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has delivered timely written notice in proper form to our secretary of the stockholder’s intention to bring such business before the meeting. These provisions could have the effect of delaying stockholder actions that are favored by the holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities until the next stockholder meeting.

Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws

The Delaware General Corporation Law provides generally that the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote on any matter is required to amend a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, unless a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, as the case may be, requires a greater percentage. Upon consummation of this offering, our bylaws may be amended or repealed by a majority vote of our board of directors or by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes which all our stockholders would be eligible to cast in an election of directors.

Section 203 of the DGCL

We will opt out of Section 203 of the DGCL. However, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will contain provisions that are similar to Section 203. Specifically, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that, subject to certain exceptions, we will not be able to engage in a “business combination” with any “interested stockholder” for three years following the date that the person became an interested stockholder, unless the interested stockholder attained such status with the approval of our board of directors or unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. A “business combination” includes, among other things, a merger or consolidation involving us and the “interested stockholder” and the sale of more than 10% of our assets. In general, an “interested stockholder” is any entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by such entity or person.

However, under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, Searchlight and Rook and any of their respective affiliates will not be deemed to be interested stockholders regardless of the percentage of our outstanding voting stock owned by them, and accordingly will not be subject to such restrictions.

Limitations on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide indemnification for our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law. Prior to

 

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the consummation of this offering, we intend to enter into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers that may, in some cases, be broader than the specific indemnification provisions contained under Delaware law. In addition, as permitted by Delaware law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation includes provisions that eliminate the personal liability of our directors for monetary damages resulting from breaches of certain fiduciary duties as a director. The effect of this provision is to restrict our rights and the rights of our stockholders in derivative suits to recover monetary damages against a director for breach of fiduciary duties as a director.

These provisions may be held not to be enforceable for violations of the federal securities laws of the United States.

Corporate Opportunity Doctrine

Delaware law permits corporations to adopt provisions renouncing any interest or expectancy in certain opportunities that are presented to the corporation or its officers, directors or stockholders. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will, to the maximum extent permitted from time to time by Delaware law, renounce any interest or expectancy that we have in, or right to be offered an opportunity to participate in, specified business opportunities that are from time to time presented to Searchlight, any of our directors who are employees of or affiliated with Searchlight, Rook, any of our directors who are employees of or affiliated with Rook, or any director or stockholder who is not employed by us or our subsidiaries. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, Searchlight, any of our directors who are employees of or affiliated with Searchlight, Rook, any of our directors who are employees of or affiliated with Rook, or any director or stockholder who is not employed by us or our affiliates will not have any duty to refrain from (1) engaging in a corporate opportunity in the same or similar lines of business in which we or our affiliates now engage or propose to engage or (2) otherwise competing with us or our affiliates. In addition, to the fullest extent permitted by law, if Searchlight, any of our directors who are employees of or affiliated with Searchlight, Rook, any of our directors who are employees of or affiliated with Rook, or any director or stockholder who is not employed by us or our subsidiaries acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or other business opportunity which may be a corporate opportunity for itself or himself or its or his affiliates or for us or our affiliates, such person will have no duty to communicate or offer such transaction or business opportunity to us or any of our affiliates and they may take any such opportunity for themselves or offer it to another person or entity, unless such opportunity was expressly offered to them solely in their capacity as a director, executive officer or employee of us or our affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, no potential transaction or business opportunity may be deemed to be a corporate opportunity of the corporation or its subsidiaries unless (1) we or our subsidiaries would be permitted to undertake such transaction or opportunity in accordance with the amended and restated certificate of incorporation, (2) we or our subsidiaries, at such time have sufficient financial resources to undertake such transaction or opportunity, (3) we have an interest or expectancy in such transaction or opportunity and (4) such transaction or opportunity would be in the same or similar line of our or our subsidiaries’ business in which we or our subsidiaries are engaged or a line of business that is reasonably related to, or a reasonable extension of, such line of business. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will not renounce our interest in any business opportunity that is expressly offered to an employee director or employee in his or her capacity as a director or employee of Shift4 Payments, Inc.

Dissenters’ Rights of Appraisal and Payment

Under the DGCL, with certain exceptions, our stockholders will have appraisal rights in connection with a merger or consolidation of Shift4 Payments, Inc. Pursuant to the DGCL, stockholders who properly request and perfect appraisal rights in connection with such merger or consolidation will have the right to receive payment of the fair value of their shares as determined by the Delaware Court of Chancery.

 

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Stockholders’ Derivative Actions

Under the DGCL, any of our stockholders may bring an action in our name to procure a judgment in our favor, also known as a derivative action, provided that the stockholder bringing the action is a holder of our shares at the time of the transaction to which the action relates or such stockholder’s stock thereafter devolved by operation of law.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our Class A common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.

Trading Symbol and Market

We have been approved to list our Class A common stock on the NYSE under the symbol “FOUR.”

 

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DESCRIPTION OF INDEBTEDNESS

Credit Facilities

General

On November 30, 2017, in connection with the acquisition of Shift4 Corporation, Shift4 Payments, LLC entered into a first lien credit agreement, a revolving credit facility and a second lien credit agreement, which provided for the following:

 

   

a $430.0 million term first lien term loan facility, or the First Lien Term Loan Facility;

 

   

a $40.0 million revolving credit facility, or the Revolving Credit Facility; and

 

   

a $130.0 million term second lien term loan facility, or the Second Lien Term Loan Facility.

We collectively refer to these facilities as the Credit Facilities. On April 23, 2019, Shift4 Payments, LLC amended the First Lien Term Loan Facility to, among other things, increase borrowings by $20.0 million and make certain changes to covenants and definitions.

On August 28, 2019, Shift4 Payments, LLC further amended the Revolving Credit Facility to, among other things, increase the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Facility by $50.0 million, and make certain changes to covenants and definitions.

On October 4, 2019, Shift4 Payments, LLC further amended the First Lien Term Loan Facility to, among other things, increase borrowings by $70.0 million, and make certain changes to covenants and definitions.

As of March 31, 2020, we had $509.8 million, $130.0 million, and $89.5 million outstanding on the First Lien Term Loan Facility, Second Lien Term Loan Facility, and Revolving Credit Facility, respectively. The Revolving Credit Facility had no remaining capacity as of March 31, 2020.

We intend to use proceeds of this offering and the concurrent private placement to repay certain existing indebtedness. See “Use of Proceeds.”

Interest Rates and Fees

Borrowings under the First Lien Term Loan Facility are, at the option of Shift4 Payments, LLC, either alternate base rate, or ABR, loans or LIBO Rate loans. Term loans and revolving loans comprising each ABR borrowing under the First Lien Term Loan Facility accrue interest at the ABR plus an applicable rate. The current applicable rate for ABR term loans is 3.50% per annum, and ranges from 3.50% to 3.00% per annum for ABR revolving loans, in each case based upon specified leverage ratios. Term loans and revolving loans comprising each LIBO Rate borrowing bear interest at the LIBO Rate plus an applicable rate. The current applicable rate for LIBO Rate term loans is 4.50% per annum, and ranges from 4.50% to 4.00% per annum for LIBO Rate revolving loans, in each case based upon specified leverage ratios.

Borrowings under the Second Lien Term Loan Facility are, at the option of Shift4 Payments, LLC, either ABR loans or LIBO Rate loans. Loans under the Second Lien Term Loan Facility accrue interest at either the ABR or LIBO Rate, plus an applicable rate. The applicable rate is 7.50% per annum for ABR loans and 8.50% per annum for LIBO Rate loans.

In addition to paying interest on the principal amounts outstanding under the First Lien Term Loan Facility and Second Lien Credit Facility, Shift4 Payments, LLC is required to pay a commitment fee under the Revolving Credit Facility in respect of the unutilized commitments thereunder at a rate ranging from 0.25% per year to 0.50% per year, in each case based upon specified leverage ratios. Shift4 Payments, LLC is also subject to customary letter of credit and agency fees.

 

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Mandatory Prepayments

The first lien credit agreement requires that Shift4 Payments, LLC, following the end of each fiscal year, repay the outstanding principal amount of all term loans under the First Lien Credit Facilities in an aggregate amount equal to (A) 50% of Excess Cash Flow (as defined in the credit agreements) of Shift4 Payments, LLC and its restricted subsidiaries for such fiscal year if the First Lien Leverage Ratio (as defined in the credit agreements), or FLLR. is greater than 4:00:1.00, which percentage is reduced to 25% if the FLLR is less than or equal to 4.00:1.00 and greater than 3.50:1.00, and to 0% if the FLLR is less than or equal to 3.50:1.00, minus (B) at the option of Shift4 Payments, LLC, (x) the aggregate principal amount of any voluntary prepayment, repurchase, redemption or other retirement of First Lien Debt (as defined in the first lien credit agreement), (y) the aggregate principal amount of any voluntary prepayment, repurchase, redemption or other retirement of any Second Lien Debt (as defined in the first lien credit agreement) and (z) (1) the amount of any reduction in the outstanding amount of any First Lien Debt resulting from any assignment permitted or not restricted by the first lien credit agreement and/or (2) to the extent permitted by the terms of the first lien credit agreement, the amount of any reduction in the outstanding amount of any Second Lien Debt that is permitted under the first lien credit agreement, if such total amount exceeds $5 million.

The second lien credit agreement requires that Shift4 Payments, LLC, following the end of each fiscal year, repay the outstanding principal amount of all loans under the Second Lien Credit Facilities in an aggregate amount equal to (A) 50% of Excess Cash Flow of Shift4 Payments, LLC and its restricted subsidiaries for such fiscal year if the FLLR is greater than 4:00:1.00, which percentage is reduced to 25% if the FLLR is less than or equal to 4.00:1.00 and greater than 3.50:1.00, and to 0% if the FLLR is less than or equal to 3.50:1.00, minus (B) at the option of Shift4 Payments, LLC, (x) the aggregate principal amount of any voluntary prepayment, repurchase, redemption or other retirement of any First Lien Obligation (as defined in the second lien credit agreement), (y) the aggregate principal amount of any voluntary prepayment, repurchase, redemption or other retirement of any Second Lien Debt (as defined in the second lien credit agreement) and (z) (1) the amount of any reduction in the outstanding amount of any First Lien Obligation resulting from any assignment permitted or not restricted by the second lien credit agreement and/or (2) the amount of any reduction in the outstanding amount of any Second Lien Debt that is permitted under the second lien credit agreement, if such total amount exceeds $5 million.

Each credit agreement requires Shift4 Payments, LLC to repay amounts outstanding under the Credit Facilities following the receipt of net proceeds from non-ordinary course asset sales or casualty insurance or condemnation proceeds, to the extent the aggregate amount of such proceeds, in each case, exceeds $7,500,000 in any fiscal year. Subject to certain reinvestment rights, Shift4 Payments, LLC must apply 100% of the net proceeds to prepaying the term loans under the Credit Facilities if the FLLR is greater than 4.00:1.00, which percentage is reduced to 50% if the FLLR is less than or equal to 4.00:1.00 and greater than 3.50:1.00, and to 0% if the FLLR is less than or equal to 3.50:1.00.

Each credit agreement requires 100% of the net proceeds from the issuance or incurrence of indebtedness to be applied to prepay the term loans under the Credit Facilities, except to the extent the indebtedness constitutes refinancing indebtedness.

Voluntary Prepayment

Shift4 Payments, LLC may voluntarily prepay outstanding borrowings under the First Lien Term Loan Facility and Second Lien Credit Facility at any time in whole or in part without premium or penalty, subject to the applicable prepayment premium, if any.

Amortization and Final Maturity

The First Lien Term Loan Facility is payable in quarterly installments of $1.30 million per quarter. The remaining unpaid balance on the First Lien Term Loan Facility, together with all accrued and unpaid interest

 

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thereon, is due and payable on or prior to November 30, 2024. Outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility do not amortize and are due and payable on November 30, 2024. The remaining unpaid balance on the Second Lien Credit Facility, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, is due and payable on November 30, 2025.

Guarantees and Security

Shift4 Payments, LLC’s obligations under the Credit Facilities are guaranteed by each of Shift4 Payments, LLC’s subsidiary guarantors. All obligations under the First Lien Credit Facility are secured by, among other things, and in each case subject to certain exceptions: (1) a first-priority pledge of all of the capital stock or other equity interests held by Shift4 Payments, LLC and certain subsidiaries (collectively, the “Grantors”), (2) a first-priority pledge in substantially all of the other tangible and intangible assets of each Grantor and (3) a first-priority pledge in intellectual property collateral owned by Shift4 Payments, LLC, POSitouch, LLC, a Rhode Island limited liability company, Future POS, LLC, a Pennsylvania limited liability company, and Shift4 Corporation, a Nevada corporation. All obligations under the Second Lien Credit Facility are secured by, among other things, and in each case subject to certain exceptions: (1) a second-priority pledge of all of the capital stock or other equity interests held by the Grantors, (2) a second-priority pledge in substantially all of the other tangible and intangible assets of each Grantor and (3) a second-priority pledge in intellectual property collateral owned by Shift4 Payments, LLC, POSitouch, LLC, Future POS, LLC, and Shift4 Corporation.

On November 30, 2017, Shift4 Payments, LLC also entered into an Intercreditor Agreement under which the common equity interests of Shift4 Payments, LLC were pledged to secure its obligations under the first lien credit agreement and the second lien credit agreement.

Covenants and Other Matters

The credit agreements governing the Credit Facilities each contain a number of covenants that, among other things and subject to certain exceptions, restrict Shift4 Payments, LLC and the subsidiary guarantors’ ability to:

 

   

incur indebtedness;

 

   

incur certain liens;

 

   

consolidate, merge or sell or otherwise dispose of assets;

 

   

alter the business conducted by us and our subsidiaries;

 

   

make investments, loans, advances, guarantees and acquisitions;

 

   

enter into sale and leaseback transactions;

 

   

pay dividends or make other distributions on equity interests, or redeem, repurchase or retire equity interests;

 

   

enter into transactions with affiliates;

 

   

enter into agreements restricting the ability to pay dividends;

 

   

redeem, repurchase or refinance other indebtedness; and

 

   

amend or modify governing documents.

In addition, the first lien credit agreement requires Shift4 Payments, LLC to comply with a first lien leverage ratio (not to exceed 6.90:1:00 and in each case, measured on a trailing four-quarter basis). The requirement is only triggered if (a) all revolving loans, (b) letter of credit disbursements that have not been reimbursed within three business days and (c) undrawn letters of credit (other than (i) undrawn letters of credit that have been cash collateralized or backstopped in an amount equal to 100% of the then available face amount thereof and/or

 

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(ii) undrawn letters of credit that have not been cash collateralized or backstopped in an aggregate amount of up to $5,000,000 at any time outstanding) exceeds an amount equal to 35% of the aggregate amount of outstanding revolving credit commitments. The first lien leverage ratio requirement had not been triggered as of March 31, 2020.

The credit agreements also contain certain customary representations and warranties and affirmative covenants, and certain reporting obligations. In addition, the lenders under the Credit Facilities will be permitted to accelerate all outstanding borrowings and other obligations, terminate outstanding commitments and exercise other specified remedies upon the occurrence of certain events of default (subject to certain grace periods and exceptions), which include, among other things, payment defaults, breaches of representations and warranties, covenant defaults, certain cross-defaults and cross-accelerations to other indebtedness, certain events of bankruptcy and insolvency, certain judgments and changes of control. The credit agreements define “change of control” to include, among other things, Jared Isaacman, the officers, director, managers, employees and members of Shift4 Payments, LLC or any of its subsidiaries, and Searchlight and its affiliates ceasing to own and control, directly or indirectly, (1) prior to our initial public offering, at least a majority of the aggregate outstanding voting power of Shift4 Payments, LLC, and (2) after such time, (a) at least 65% of the aggregate outstanding voting power of Shift4 Payments, LLC, and (b) a greater percentage of the voting power of Shift4 Payments, LLC than any other person or group.

The foregoing summary describes the material provisions of the Credit Facilities, but may not contain all information that is important to you. We urge you to read the provisions of the agreements governing the Credit Facilities, which have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

 

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SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

Immediately prior to this offering, there was no public market for our Class A common stock. Future sales of substantial amounts of Class A common stock in the public market (including shares of Class A common stock issuable upon redemption or exchange of LLC Interests of our Continuing Equity Owners), or the perception that such sales may occur, could adversely affect the market price of our Class A common stock. Although we have been approved to have our Class A common stock listed on the NYSE, we cannot assure you that there will be an active public market for our Class A common stock.

Upon the closing of this offering and the concurrent private placement, we will have outstanding an aggregate of 21,613,437 shares of Class A common stock, assuming the issuance of 15,000,000 shares of Class A common stock offered by us in this offering. Of these shares, all shares sold in this offering will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, except for any shares purchased by our “affiliates,” as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, whose sales would be subject to the Rule 144 resale restrictions described below, other than the holding period requirement.

The remaining 1,491,062 shares of Class A common stock will be “restricted securities,” as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act. These restricted securities are eligible for public sale only if they are registered under the Securities Act or if they qualify for an exemption from registration under Rules 144 or 701 under the Securities Act, which are summarized below.

In addition, each common unit held by our Continuing Equity Owners will be redeemable, at the election of each Continuing Equity Owner, for, at our election (determined solely by our independent directors (within the meaning of the rules of the NYSE) who are disinterested), newly-issued shares of our Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis or a cash payment equal to a volume weighted average market price of one share of Class A common stock for each common unit redeemed, in each case, in accordance with the terms of the Shift4 LLC Agreement; provided that, at our election (determined solely by our independent directors (within the meaning of the rules of the NYSE) who are disinterested), we may effect a direct exchange by Shift4 Payments, Inc. of such Class A common stock or such cash, as applicable, for such LLC Interests. The Continuing Equity Owners may exercise such redemption right for as long as their LLC Interests remain outstanding. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Shift4 LLC Agreement.” Upon consummation of this offering, our Continuing Equity Owners will hold 38,373,190 LLC Interests, all of which will be exchangeable for shares of our Class A common stock. The shares of Class A common stock we issue upon such exchanges would be “restricted securities” as defined in Rule 144 unless we register such issuances. However, we will enter into a Registration Rights Agreement with the Continuing Equity Owners that will require us, subject to customary conditions, to register under the Securities Act these shares of Class A common stock. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Registration Rights Agreement.”

Lock-Up Agreements

We, our officers and directors and the Continuing Equity Owners will agree that, without the prior written consent of any two of the Lock-up Release Parties, we and they will not, subject to certain exceptions, during the period ending 180 days after the date of this prospectus:

 

   

offer, sell, contract to sell, loan, pledge, grant any option to purchase, make any short sale or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly or publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, loan, sale, pledge or disposition of any shares of our Class A common stock or Class C common stock, or any options or warrants to purchase any shares of our Class A common stock or Class C common stock, or any securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, shares of our Class A common stock or Class C common stock; or

 

   

enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, all or a portion of the economic consequences of ownership of our Class A common stock or Class C common stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of our Class A common stock or Class C common

 

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stock, whether any transaction described above is to be settled by delivery of our Class A common stock, Class C common stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise.

The restrictions described in the preceding paragraph shall not apply to:

 

   

the Transactions; provided that securities received in connection with the Transactions shall be subject to such lock-up restrictions;

 

   

any securities acquired in the open market; provided that in the case of any such transfer, no filing by any party (donor, donee, transferor or transferee) under the Exchange Act, shall be required or shall be voluntarily made in connection with such transfer (other than a filing on a Form 5 made after the expiration of the lock-up period);

 

   

any transfer or disposition of securities (i) made as a bona fide gift or charitable contribution, or for bona fide estate planning purposes; (ii) if applicable, made to any family member of the party subject to such lock-up restrictions or trust for the direct or indirect benefit of such party or a family member of such party or if such party is a trust, to a trustor, a trustee or a beneficiary of the trust or to the estate of a trustor, trustee or beneficiary of such trust; (iii) if applicable, made to (A) any wholly-owned subsidiary of a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity, (B) limited partners, members, stockholders or holders of similar equity interests in the party subject to such lock-up restrictions (or in each case its nominee or custodian) or (C) another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other business entity (or in each case its nominee or custodian) that is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) of such party, or to any investment fund or other entity controlled or managed by such party or affiliates of such party; (iv) upon death or by will, testamentary document or intestate succession to the legal representative, heir, beneficiary or a member of the immediate family of the party subject to such lock-up restrictions; or (v) to a nominee or custodian of a person or entity to whom a disposition or transfer would be permissible under the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv); provided that in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to clauses (i) through (v), (x) the transferee agrees to be bound in writing by the terms of the lock-up restrictions prior to such transfer, (y) such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value; and (z) no filing by any party (donor, donee, transferor or transferee) under the Exchange Act shall be required or shall be voluntarily made in connection with such transfer (other than a filing on a Form 5 made after the expiration of the lock-up period);

 

   

the establishment of a written trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the transfer of our Class A common stock or Class C common stock, provided that (i) during the lock-up period, no direct or indirect offers, pledges, sales, contracts to sell, sales of any option or contract to purchase, purchases of any option or contract to sell, grants of any option, right or warrant to purchase, loans, or other transfers or disposals of any securities may be effected pursuant to such plan during the lock-up period and (ii) to the extent a public announcement or filing under the Exchange Act, if any, is required of or voluntarily made by or on behalf of the Company or the party subject to such lock-up restrictions regarding the establishment of such plan, such announcement or filing shall include a statement to the effect that no transfer of Class A common stock or Class C common stock may be made under such plan during the lock-up period;

 

   

transfers or sales to the Company in connection with the repurchase of securities granted under any of our stock incentive plans or stock purchase plans, as described in this prospectus, in each case, upon termination of the relationship between the Company and the party subject to such lock-up restrictions; provided that no filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of the underlying shares, or other public announcement reporting, shall be required or shall be voluntarily made during the lock-up period (other than a filing on a Form 5);

 

   

(i) the receipt of securities upon the exercise, vesting or settlement of options, RSUs or other equity awards granted under a stock incentive plan or other equity award plan, as described herein, or warrants to purchase Class A common stock or Class C common stock, insofar as such options or

 

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warrants are outstanding as of the date of this prospectus and are disclosed in this prospectus; or (ii) the transfer of securities to the Company upon a vesting or settlement event of our RSUs or other securities or upon the exercise of options to purchase our securities on a “cashless” or “net exercise” basis to the extent permitted by the instruments representing such options (and any transfer to the Company necessary in respect of such amount needed for the payment of taxes, including estimated taxes and withholding tax and remittance obligations, due as a result of such vesting, settlement or exercise whether by means of a “net settlement” or otherwise) so long as such vesting, settlement, “cashless” exercise or “net exercise” is effected solely by the surrender of outstanding options (or the Class A common stock or Class C common stock issuable upon the exercise thereof) or Class A common stock or Class C common stock to the Company and our cancellation of all or a portion thereof to pay the exercise price and/or withholding tax and remittance obligations in connection with the vesting, settlement or exercise of the restricted stock unit, option or other equity award; provided (A) that the shares received upon vesting, settlement or exercise of the restricted stock unit, option or other equity award are subject to the lock-up restrictions, (B) in the case of clause (ii), the settlement or exercise of any restricted stock unit, option or other equity award on a “cashless” or “net exercise” basis shall only be permitted if such restricted stock unit, option or other equity award would otherwise expire during the lock-up period and (C) that in the case of clauses (i) or (ii), any filing required under Section 16 of the Exchange Act to be made during the lock-up period shall include a statement to the effect that (1) such transaction reflects the circumstances described in (i) or (ii), as the case may be, (2) such transaction was only with the Company and (3) in the case of clause (i), the Class A common stock or Class C common stock received upon exercise or settlement of the option, RSUs or other equity awards is subject to the lock-up restrictions;

 

   

the transfer or disposition of the securities that occurs by operation of law, pursuant to the rules of descent and distribution or pursuant to a qualified domestic order or in connection with a divorce settlement, provided that each transferee shall sign and deliver a lock-up letter with substantially the same restrictions as those listed above, provided further that any associated filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act shall clearly indicate in the footnotes thereto that the filing relates to the circumstances described in this clause;

 

   

in connection with the conversion or reclassification or the outstanding shares of preferred units of Shift4 LLC into Class A common stock in connection with the consummation of this offering, provided such conversion is described in this prospectus and provided further that any such Class A common stock received upon such conversion shall be subject to the lock-up restrictions;

 

   

transfers to the Company upon death or disability, in each case, of the party subject to such lock-up restrictions;

 

   

the transfer of Class A common stock or Class C common stock (or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Shares) pursuant to a bona fide third party tender offer, merger, consolidated or other similar transaction made to all holders of the capital stock of the Company involving a change of control (as defined below) of the Company which occurs after the consummation of this offering, is open to all holders of our capital stock and has been approved by our board of directors; provided that in the event that the tender offer, merger, consolidation or other such transaction is not completed, the Class A common stock or Class C common stock shall remain subject to the lock-up restrictions; and

 

   

(i) any transfer or disposition of securities pursuant to a bona fide loan or pledge (A) pursuant to clause (ii) below or (B) that is in effect on the date hereof and has been disclosed in writing to the Lock-up Release Parties and (ii) the grant and maintenance of a bona fide lien, security interest, pledge or other similar encumbrance (each, a Pledge) of any securities owned by the party subject to such lock-up restrictions to a nationally or internationally recognized financial institution with assets of not less than $10 billion in connection with a loan to such party; provided, however, that (i) the party subject to such lock-up restrictions and its affiliates shall not Pledge securities in excess of 25% of the securities

 

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beneficially owned by such party and its affiliates in the aggregate; (ii) the party subject to such lock-up restrictions or the Company, as the case may be, shall provide the Lock-up Release Parties prior written notice informing them of any public filing, report or announcement made by or on behalf of such party or the Company with respect thereto; and (iii) the applicable institution agrees in writing at or prior to the time of such Pledge that the Company shall receive timely notice of any event of default and shall have the right to cure any event of default by the party subject to such lock-up restrictions in connection with any loan to which the Pledge relates by purchasing any or all securities Pledged at a price equal to 50% of the then-current market value on the date of the event of default (calculated for the Company’s Class A common stock or Class C common stock using the average closing sales price of such Class A common stock of Class C common stock for the fifteen (15) immediately prior trading days, and for the LLC Units of Shift4 LLC, using the average closing sales price of the Company’s Class A common stock or Class C common stock for the fifteen (15) immediately prior trading days multiplied by (100 divided by the Company’s percentage beneficial ownership of Shift4 LLC)), such election by the Company to be shown by written notice to the applicable institution and payment to follow within five (5) business days of notice being received by the Company, provided that in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to a Pledge or any other bona fide loan or pledge pursuant to this clause, the transferee agrees to be bound in writing by the lock-up restrictions prior to such transfer.

For purposes of the foregoing, “change of control” shall mean the consummation of any bona fide third party tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction the result of which is that any “person” (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), or group of persons, other than the Company, becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 of the Exchange Act) of 90% of the total voting power of the voting stock of the Company, occurring after the consummation of the Offering, that has been approved by the board of directors of the Company.

Upon the expiration of the applicable lock-up periods, substantially all of the shares subject to such lock-up restrictions will become eligible for sale, subject to the limitations discussed above.

Rule 144

In general, a person who has beneficially owned our Class A common stock that are restricted shares for at least six months would be entitled to sell such securities, provided that (1) such person is not deemed to have been one of our affiliates at the time of, or at any time during the 90 days preceding, a sale and (2) we are subject to the Exchange Act periodic reporting requirements for at least 90 days before the sale. Persons who have beneficially owned our Class A common stock that are restricted shares for at least six months but who are our affiliates at the time of, or any time during the 90 days preceding, a sale, would be subject to additional restrictions, by which such person would be entitled to sell within any three month period only a number of securities that does not exceed the greater of either of the following:

 

   

1% of the number of our Class A common stock then outstanding; or

 

   

the average weekly trading volume of our Class A common stock on the NYSE during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to the sale; provided, in each case, that we are subject to the Exchange Act periodic reporting requirements for at least 90 days before the sale. Such sales both by affiliates and by non-affiliates must also comply with the manner of sale, current public information and notice provisions of Rule 144 to the extent applicable.

Rule 701

In general, under Rule 701, any of our employees, directors, officers, consultants or advisors who purchases shares from us in connection with a compensatory stock or option plan or other written agreement before the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part is entitled to sell such shares 90 days after such

 

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effective date in reliance on Rule 144. Our affiliates can resell shares in reliance on Rule 144 without having to comply with the holding period requirement, and non-affiliates of the issuer can resell shares in reliance on Rule 144 without having to comply with the current public information and holding period requirements.

The SEC has indicated that Rule 701 will apply to typical stock options granted by an issuer before it becomes subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, along with the shares acquired upon exercise of such options, including exercises after an issuer becomes subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act.

Equity Plans

We intend to file one or more registration statements on Form S-8 under the Securities Act to register the offer and sale of all shares of Class A common stock subject to outstanding stock options and Class A common stock issued or issuable under our 2020 Plan. As of the date of this prospectus, no options to purchase LLC Interests were outstanding and RSUs covering a total of approximately 5,122,375 shares of our Class A common stock are intended to be granted to certain of our directors, executive officers and other employees in connection with this offering.

We expect to file the registration statement covering shares offered pursuant to our 2020 Plan shortly after the date of this prospectus, permitting the resale of such shares by nonaffiliates in the public market without restriction under the Securities Act and the sale by affiliates in the public market subject to compliance with the resale provisions of Rule 144.

Registration Rights

See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Registration Rights Agreement.”

 

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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

FOR NON-U.S. HOLDERS OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK

The following discussion is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below) of the ownership and disposition of our Class A common stock issued pursuant to this offering, but does not purport to be a complete analysis of all potential tax effects. The effects of other U.S. federal tax laws, such as estate and gift tax laws, and any applicable state, local or non-U.S. tax laws are not discussed. This discussion is based on the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, Treasury Regulations promulgated under the Code, judicial decisions, and published rulings and administrative pronouncements of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, in each case in effect as of the date of this prospectus. These authorities may change or be subject to differing interpretations. Any such change or differing interpretation may be applied retroactively in a manner that could adversely affect a Non-U.S. Holder of our Class A common stock. We have not sought and will not seek any rulings from the IRS regarding the matters discussed below. There can be no assurance the IRS or a court will not take a contrary position to that discussed below regarding the tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of our Class A common stock.

This discussion is limited to Non-U.S. Holders that hold our Class A common stock as a “capital asset” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment). This discussion does not address all U.S. federal income tax consequences relevant to a Non-U.S. Holder’s particular circumstances, including the impact of the Medicare contribution tax on net investment income. In addition, it does not address consequences relevant to Non-U.S. Holders subject to special rules, including, without limitation:

 

   

U.S. expatriates and former citizens or long-term residents of the United States;

 

   

persons subject to the alternative minimum tax;

 

   

persons holding our Class A common stock as part of a hedge, straddle or other risk reduction strategy or as part of a conversion transaction or other integrated investment;

 

   

banks, insurance companies, and other financial institutions;

 

   

brokers, dealers or traders in securities;

 

   

“controlled foreign corporations,” “passive foreign investment companies,” and corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax;

 

   

entities or arrangements treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes and other pass-through entities (and investors in such entities);

 

   

tax-exempt organizations or governmental organizations;

 

   

persons deemed to sell our Class A common stock under the constructive sale provisions of the Code;

 

   

persons who hold or receive our Class A common stock pursuant to the exercise of any employee stock option or otherwise as compensation;

 

   

tax-qualified retirement plans;

 

   

“qualified foreign pension funds” as defined in Section 897(l)(2) of the Code and entities all of the interests of which are held by qualified foreign pension funds; and

 

   

persons subject to special tax accounting rules as a result of any item of gross income with respect to the stock being taken into account in an applicable financial statement.

If an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds our Class A common stock, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will depend on the status of the partner, the activities of the partnership and certain determinations made at the partner level. Accordingly, partnerships holding our Class A common stock and the partners in such partnerships should consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences to them.

 

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THIS DISCUSSION IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TAX ADVICE. INVESTORS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE APPLICATION OF THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAWS TO THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATIONS AS WELL AS ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR CLASS A COMMON STOCK ARISING UNDER THE U.S. FEDERAL ESTATE OR GIFT TAX LAWS OR UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY STATE, LOCAL OR NON-U.S. TAXING JURISDICTION OR UNDER ANY APPLICABLE INCOME TAX TREATY.

Definition of a Non-U.S. Holder

For purposes of this discussion, a “Non-U.S. Holder” is any beneficial owner of our Class A common stock that is neither a “U.S. person” nor an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A U.S. person is any person that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is or is treated as any of the following:

 

   

an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;

 

   

a corporation created or organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia;

 

   

an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or

 

   

a trust that (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and the control of one or more “United States persons” (within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code), or (2) has a valid election in effect to be treated as a United States person for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Distributions

Distributions of cash or property on our Class A common stock will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Amounts not treated as dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes will constitute a return of capital and first be applied against and reduce a Non-U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its Class A common stock, but not below zero. Any excess will be treated as capital gain and will be treated as described below under “—Sale or Other Taxable Disposition.”

Subject to the discussion below on effectively connected income, dividends paid to a Non-U.S. Holder of our Class A common stock will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a rate of 30% of the gross amount of the dividends (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty, provided the Non-U.S. Holder furnishes a valid IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or other applicable documentation) certifying qualification for the lower treaty rate). A Non-U.S. Holder that does not timely furnish the required documentation, but that qualifies for a reduced treaty rate, may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding their entitlement to benefits under any applicable income tax treaty.

If dividends paid to a Non-U.S. Holder are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the Non-U.S. Holder maintains a permanent establishment in the United States to which such dividends are attributable), the Non-U.S. Holder will be exempt from the U.S. federal withholding tax described above. To claim the exemption, the Non-U.S. Holder must furnish to the applicable withholding agent a valid IRS Form W-8ECI, certifying that the dividends are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States.

Any such effectively connected dividends will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the regular graduated rates. A Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation also may be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on such effectively connected dividends, as adjusted for certain items. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding any applicable tax treaties that may provide for different rules.

 

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Sale or Other Taxable Disposition

Subject to the discussion below on information reporting, backup withholding and foreign accounts, a Non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any gain realized upon the sale or other taxable disposition of our Class A common stock unless:

 

   

the gain is effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the Non-U.S. Holder maintains a permanent establishment in the United States to which such gain is attributable);

 

   

the Non-U.S. Holder is a nonresident alien individual present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year of the disposition and certain other requirements are met; or

 

   

our Class A common stock constitutes a U.S. real property interest, or USRPI, by reason of our status as a U.S. real property holding corporation, or USRPHC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes at any applicable time within the shorter of the five year period preceding the Non-U.S. Holder’s disposition of or the Non-U.S. Holder’s holding period for, our Class A common stock, or, if required, a non-U.S. Holder fails to obtain an appropriate certification regarding the USRPI status of our Class A common stock.

Gain described in the first bullet point above generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the regular graduated rates. A Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation also may be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on such effectively connected gain, as adjusted for certain items.

Gain described in the second bullet point above will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty), which may be offset by U.S. source capital losses of the Non-U.S. Holder (even though the individual is not considered a resident of the United States), provided the Non-U.S. Holder has timely filed U.S. federal income tax returns with respect to such losses.

With respect to the third bullet point above, we believe we currently are not, and do not anticipate becoming, a USRPHC. Because the determination of whether we are a USRPHC depends, however, on the fair market value of our USRPIs relative to the fair market value of our non-U.S. real property interests and our other business assets, there can be no assurance we currently are not a USRPHC or will not become one in the future. Even if we are or were to become a USRPHC, gain arising from the sale or other taxable disposition by a Non-U.S. Holder of our Class A common stock will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax if our Class A common stock is “regularly traded,” as defined by applicable Treasury Regulations, on an established securities market, and such Non-U.S. Holder owned, actually and constructively, 5% or less of our Class A common stock throughout the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of the sale or other taxable disposition or the Non-U.S. Holder’s holding period.

Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding potentially applicable income tax treaties that may provide for different rules.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

Payments of dividends on our Class A common stock will not be subject to backup withholding, provided the applicable withholding agent does not have actual knowledge or reason to know the holder is a United States person and the holder either certifies its non-U.S. status, such as by furnishing a valid IRS Form W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E or W-8ECI, or other applicable documentation, or otherwise establishes an exemption. However, information returns are required to be filed with the IRS in connection with any dividends on our Class A common stock paid to the Non-U.S. Holder, regardless of whether any tax was actually withheld. In addition, proceeds of the sale or other taxable disposition of our Class A common stock within the United States or conducted through certain U.S.-related brokers generally will not be subject to backup withholding or information reporting, if the applicable withholding agent receives the certification described above and does not

 

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have actual knowledge or reason to know that such holder is a United States person, or the holder otherwise establishes an exemption. Proceeds of a disposition of our Class A common stock conducted through a non-U.S. office of a non-U.S. broker generally will not be subject to backup withholding or information reporting.

Copies of information returns that are filed with the IRS may also be made available under the provisions of an applicable treaty or agreement to the tax authorities of the country in which the Non-U.S. Holder resides or is established.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against a Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

Additional Withholding Tax on Payments Made to Foreign Accounts

Withholding taxes may be imposed under Sections 1471 to 1474 of the Code (such sections commonly referred to as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or FATCA) on certain types of payments made to non-U.S. financial institutions and certain other non-U.S. entities. Specifically, a 30% withholding tax may be imposed on dividends on, or (subject to the proposed Treasury Regulations discussed below) gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of, our Class A common stock paid to a “foreign financial institution” or a “non-financial foreign entity” (each as defined in the Code), unless (1) the foreign financial institution undertakes certain diligence and reporting obligations, (2) the non-financial foreign entity either certifies it does not have any “substantial United States owners” (as defined in the Code) or furnishes identifying information regarding each substantial United States owner, or (3) the foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity otherwise qualifies for an exemption from these rules. Such certification or exemption must typically be evidenced by a Non-U.S. Holder’s delivery of a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN-E. If the payee is a foreign financial institution and is subject to the diligence and reporting requirements in (1) above, it must enter into an agreement with the U.S. Department of the Treasury requiring, among other things, that it undertake to identify accounts held by certain “specified United States persons” or “United States-owned foreign entities” (each as defined in the Code), annually report certain information about such accounts, and withhold 30% on certain payments to non-compliant foreign financial institutions and certain other account holders. Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing FATCA may be subject to different rules.

Under the applicable Treasury Regulations and administrative guidance, withholding under FATCA generally applies to payments of dividends on our Class A common stock. While withholding under FATCA would have applied also to payments of gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of such stock on or after January 1, 2019, recently proposed Treasury Regulations eliminate FATCA withholding on payments of gross proceeds entirely. Taxpayers generally may rely on these proposed Treasury Regulations until final Treasury Regulations are issued.

Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the potential application of withholding under FATCA to their investment in our Class A common stock.

 

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UNDERWRITING (CONFLICTS OF INTEREST)

We will enter into an underwriting agreement with the underwriters named below with respect to the shares being offered. Subject to certain conditions, each underwriter has severally agreed to purchase the number of shares indicated in the following table.                are the representatives of the underwriters.

 

Underwriters

   Number of Shares  

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

                               

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

  

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

  

BofA Securities, Inc.

  

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

  

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

  

Evercore Group L.L.C.

  

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

  

SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc.

  

WR Securities, LLC

  

Citizens Capital Markets, Inc.

  

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

  

TD Securities (USA) LLC

  

Telsey Advisory Group LLC

  
  

 

 

 

Total

     15,000,000  
  

 

 

 

The underwriters are committed to take and pay for all of the shares being offered by the Company, if any are taken, other than the shares covered by the option described below unless and until this option is exercised.

The underwriters have an option to buy up to an additional 2,250,000 shares from the Company to cover sales by the underwriters of a greater number of shares than the total number set forth in the table above. They may exercise that option for 30 days. If any shares are purchased pursuant to this option, the underwriters will severally purchase shares in approximately the same proportion as set forth in the table above.

The following tables show the per share and total underwriting discounts and commissions to be paid to the underwriters by the Company. Such amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase 2,250,000 additional shares.

 

     No Exercise      Full Exercise  

Per Share

   $                        $                    

Underwriting discounts and commissions

     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $        $    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Shares sold by the underwriters to the public will initially be offered at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus. Any shares sold by the underwriters to securities dealers may be sold at a discount of up to $        per share from the initial public offering price. After the initial offering of the shares, the underwriters may change the offering price and the other selling terms. The offering of the shares by the underwriters is subject to receipt and acceptance and subject to the underwriters’ right to reject any order in whole or in part.

Shift4 Payments, Inc., Shift4 Payments, LLC, all of our directors and executive officers and the Continuing Equity Owners have agreed with the underwriters, subject to certain exceptions, not to dispose of or hedge any of their common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of common stock during the period

 

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from the date of this prospectus continuing through the date 180 days after the date of this prospectus, except with the prior written consent of any two of the Lock-up Release Parties. See “Shares Eligible for Future Sale” for a discussion of certain transfer restrictions.

In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell shares of Class A common stock in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of shares than they are required to purchase in the offering, and a short position represents the amount of such sales that have not been covered by subsequent purchases. A “covered short position” is a short position that is not greater than the amount of additional shares for which the underwriters’ option described above may be exercised. The underwriters may cover any covered short position by either exercising their option to purchase additional shares or purchasing shares in the open market. In determining the source of shares to cover the covered short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase additional shares pursuant to the option described above. “Naked” short sales are any short sales that create a short position greater than the amount of additional shares for which the option described above may be exercised. The underwriters must cover any such naked short position by purchasing shares in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the Class A common stock in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of various bids for or purchases of Class A common stock made by the underwriters in the open market prior to the completion of the offering.

The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the underwriters have repurchased shares sold by or for the account of such underwriter in stabilizing or short covering transactions.

Purchases to cover a short position and stabilizing transactions, as well as other purchases by the underwriters for their own accounts, may have the effect of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the Company’s Class A common stock, and together with the imposition of the penalty bid, may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the Class A common stock. As a result, the price of the Class A common stock may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. The underwriters are not required to engage in these activities and may end any of these activities at any time. These transactions may be effected on the NYSE, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

The Company may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. In connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by the Company or borrowed from the Company or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of Class A common stock, and may use securities received from the Company in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of Class A common stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter or will be identified in a post-effective amendment.

The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include sales and trading, commercial and investment banking, advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, market making, brokerage and other financial and non-financial activities and services. Certain of the underwriters and their respective affiliates have provided, and may in the future provide, a variety of these services to the issuer and to persons and entities with relationships with the issuer, for which they received or will receive customary fees and expenses. Further, certain of the underwriters or their respective affiliates are lenders or agents under our Credit Facilities.

 

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In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates, officers, directors and employees may purchase, sell or hold a broad array of investments and actively traded securities, derivatives, loans, commodities, currencies, credit default swaps and other financial instruments for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and trading activities may involve or relate to assets, securities and/or instruments of the issuer (directly, as collateral securing other obligations or otherwise) and/or persons and entities with relationships with the issuer. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may also communicate independent investment recommendations, market color or trading ideas and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such assets, securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they should acquire, long and/or short positions in such assets, securities and instruments.

Conflicts of Interest

Affiliates of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC will receive at least 5% of the net proceeds of this offering in connection with the repayment of borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility. See “Use of Proceeds.” Accordingly, this offering is being made in compliance with the requirements of FINRA Rule 5121. This rule requires, among other things, that a “qualified independent underwriter” has participated in the preparation of, and has exercised the usual standards of “due diligence” with respect to, the registration statement. Citigroup Global Markets Inc. has agreed to act as qualified independent underwriter for this offering and to undertake the legal responsibilities and liabilities of an underwriter under the Securities Act. Citigroup Global Markets Inc. will not receive any additional fees for serving as qualified independent underwriter in connection with this offering. We have agreed to indemnify Citigroup Global Markets Inc. against liabilities incurred in connection with acting as qualified independent underwriter, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Pursuant to FINRA Rule 5121, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC will not confirm sales of our Class A common stock to any account over which it exercises discretionary authority without the prior written approval of the customer.

Selling Restrictions

European Economic Area and the United Kingdom

In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area and the United Kingdom (each, a “Relevant State”), an offer to the public of any Class A common stock may not be made in that Relevant State, except that an offer to the public in that Relevant State of any Class A common stock may be made at any time under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Regulation:

 

  a)

to any legal entity which is a “qualified investor” as defined under the Prospectus Regulation;

 

  b)

to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than “qualified investors” as defined under the Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the representatives for any such offer; or

 

  c)

in any other circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation,

provided that no such offer of Class A common stock shall result in a requirement for the Company or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation or a supplemental prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the Prospectus Regulation and each person who initially acquires any Class A common stock or to whom any offer is made will be deemed to have represented, warranted and agreed to and with each of the underwriters and the Company that it is a qualified investor within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation.

The Company, the underwriters and their affiliates will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representation, warranty and agreement. Notwithstanding the above, a person who is not a “qualified investor” and who has notified the representatives of such fact in writing may, with the prior consent of the representatives, be permitted to acquire Class A common stock in the Offer.

 

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For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to any Class A common stock in any Relevant State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any Class A common stock to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for any Class A common stock, and the expression “Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.

United Kingdom

Each underwriter has represented and agreed that:

 

  a)

it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA)) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of the shares in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to the Company; and

 

  b)

it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the shares in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.

Canada

The securities may be sold in Canada only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions, and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the securities must be made in accordance with an exemption form, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.

Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this offering memorandum (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.

Hong Kong

The shares may not be offered or sold in Hong Kong by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32 of the Laws of Hong Kong), or the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance, or which do not constitute an invitation to the public within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571 of the Laws of Hong Kong), or the Securities and Futures Ordinance, or (ii) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made thereunder, or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance, and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the shares may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to shares which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” in Hong Kong as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made thereunder.

 

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Singapore

This prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the shares may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the shares be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor (as defined under Section 4A of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore, or the SFA) under Section 274 of the SFA, (ii) to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA) pursuant to Section 275(1) of the SFA, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA, in each case subject to conditions set forth in the SFA.

Where the shares are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor, the securities (as defined in Section 239(1) of the SFA) of that corporation shall not be transferable for 6 months after that corporation has acquired the shares under Section 275 of the SFA except: (1) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA), (2) where such transfer arises from an offer in that corporation’s securities pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, (3) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer, (4) where the transfer is by operation of law, (5) as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA, or (6) as specified in Regulation 32 of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Shares and Debentures) Regulations 2005 of Singapore, or Regulation 32.

Where the shares are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an accredited investor, the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferable for 6 months after that trust has acquired the shares under Section 275 of the SFA except: (1) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA), (2) where such transfer arises from an offer that is made on terms that such rights or interest are acquired at a consideration of not less than S$200,000 (or its equivalent in a foreign currency) for each transaction (whether such amount is to be paid for in cash or by exchange of securities or other assets), (3) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer, (4) where the transfer is by operation of law, (5) as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA, or (6) as specified in Regulation 32.

Japan

The securities have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act of Japan (Act No. 25 of 1948, as amended), or the FIEA. The securities may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to or for the benefit of any resident of Japan (including any person resident in Japan or any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan) or to others for reoffering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to or for the benefit of any resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the FIEA and otherwise in compliance with any relevant laws and regulations of Japan.

Switzerland

This document is not intended to constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase or invest in the securities. The securities may not be publicly offered, directly or indirectly, in Switzerland within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act (“FinSA”) and no application has or will be made to admit the securities to trading on any

 

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trading venue (exchange or multilateral trading facility) in Switzerland. Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the securities constitutes a prospectus pursuant to the FinSA, and neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the securities may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

The Company estimates that their share of the total expenses of the offering, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $9,000,000. We have also agreed to reimburse the underwriters for certain of their expenses related to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. in an amount up to $35,000.

Shift4 Payments, Inc. and Shift4 Payments, LLC have agreed to indemnify the several underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the shares of Class A common stock offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Latham & Watkins LLP, New York, New York. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, New York, New York, has acted as counsel for the underwriters in connection with certain legal matters related to this offering.

EXPERTS

The financial statements of Shift4 Payments, LLC as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 and for the years then ended included in this Prospectus have been so included in reliance on the report (which contains an emphasis of matter paragraph relating to the events and conditions from COVID-19, as described in Note 2 to the financial statements) of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

The financial statements of Shift4 Payments, Inc. as of December 31, 2019 and November 5, 2019 included in this Prospectus have been so included in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of Class A common stock offered hereby. This prospectus, which constitutes a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement or the exhibits and schedules filed with the registration statement. For further information about us and the Class A common stock offered hereby, we refer you to the registration statement and the exhibits filed with the registration statement. Statements contained in this prospectus regarding the contents of any contract or any other document that is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement are not necessarily complete, and each such statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the full text of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement.

Upon the closing of this offering, we will be required to file periodic reports, proxy statements, and other information with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act. The SEC also maintains an internet website that contains reports, proxy statements and other information about registrants, like us, that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that site is www.sec.gov. We also maintain a website at www.shift4.com, through which you may access these materials free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Information contained on our website is not a part of this prospectus and the inclusion of our website address in this prospectus is an inactive textual reference only.

 

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INDEX TO AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AS OF AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2018 AND 2019

 

Shift4 Payments, Inc.

  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     F-2  

Balance sheets as of November 5, 2019 and December 31, 2019

     F-3  

Notes to financial statements

     F-4  

Shift4 Payments, LLC and consolidated subsidiaries

  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     F-5  

Consolidated balance sheets

     F-6  

Consolidated statements of operations

     F-7  

Consolidated statements of changes in members’ equity (deficit)

     F-8  

Consolidated statements of cash flows

     F-9  

Notes to consolidated financial statements

     F-10  

INDEX TO UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2019 AND MARCH 31, 2020 AND FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED

MARCH 31, 2019 AND 2020

 

Shift4 Payments, Inc.

  

Balance sheets

     F-40  

Statement of operations

     F-41  

Statement of changes in shareholders’ deficit

     F-42  

Statement of changes in cash flows

     F-43  

Notes to financial statements

     F-44  

Shift4 Payments, LLC and consolidated subsidiaries

  

Condensed consolidated balance sheets

     F-45  

Condensed consolidated statements of operations

     F-46  

Condensed consolidated statements of changes in members’ equity (deficit)

     F-47  

Condensed consolidated statements of cash flows

     F-48  

Notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

     F-49  

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of

Shift4 Payments, Inc.

Opinion on the Financial Statements - Balance Sheets

We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Shift4 Payments, Inc. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2019 and November 5, 2019, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2019 and November 5, 2019 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

March 6, 2020

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2019.

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, INC. BALANCE SHEETS

(dollars in actuals)

 

     As of
November 5, 2019
    As of
December 31, 2019
 

Shareholders’ Equity:

    

Common shares, $0.01 par value, 1,000 shares authorized, 100 shares issued and outstanding

   $ 1     $ 1  

Additional paid-in capital

     99       99  

Common shares receivable

     (100     (100
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Shareholders’ Equity

   $   —       $   —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, INC. NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1: Nature of Business and Basis of Presentation

Nature of Business

Shift4 Payments, Inc., or the Company, was incorporated in Delaware on November 5, 2019. Pursuant to a reorganization into a holding company structure, the Company will be a holding company and its principal asset will be a controlling equity interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC. As the sole managing member of Shift4 Payments, LLC, the Company will operate and control all of the business and affairs of Shift4 Payments, LLC, and through Shift4 Payments, LLC and its subsidiaries, conduct its business.

Basis of Presentation

The balance sheets are presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Separate statements of operations, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows have not been presented because the Company has not engaged in any activities except in connection with its formation.

Note 2: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies—Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the balance sheet. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Note 3: Shareholders’ Equity

On November 5, 2019, the Company was authorized to issue 1,000 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value. On November 5, 2019, the Company issued 100 common shares for $100. The common shares receivable is reflected as a reduction to shareholders’ equity.

Note 4: Commitments and Contingencies

The Company did not have any commitments or contingencies as of November 5, 2019 or December 31, 2019.

Note 5: Subsequent Events

The Company has evaluated subsequent events through March 6, 2020, the date on which the balance sheets were available for issuance.

Subsequent events (unaudited)

The Company has evaluated subsequent events through June 1, 2020, the date on which the balance sheets were available for reissuance.

On May 31, 2020, the Company entered into a purchase agreement with Rook Holdings Inc, or Rook, pursuant to which Rook agreed to purchase, subject to certain conditions, up to $100.0 million of Class C common stock of the Company in a private placement concurrent with, and subject to, the completion of an initial public offering of the Company’s stock. The founder of Shift4 Payments, LLC is the sole stockholder of Rooks Holdings, Inc.

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Members of

Shift4 Payments, LLC

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Shift4 Payments, LLC and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in members’ equity (deficit) and cash flows for the years then ended, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Change in Accounting Principle

As discussed in Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed the manner in which it accounts for revenues from contracts with customers in 2019.

Basis for Opinion

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits of these consolidated financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Emphasis of Matter

As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company’s revenues, which are largely tied to processing volumes in the restaurant and hospitality industries, have been materially impacted by COVID-19. The Company expects a decrease in its payments-based revenue throughout 2020 and early 2021, which are expected to have a material impact on its financial results and liquidity. Management’s evaluation of the events and conditions and management’s plans to mitigate these matters are also described in Note 2.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

March 6, 2020, except with respect to the events and conditions from COVID-19 discussed in Note 2, as to which the date is May 15, 2020

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2016.

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in millions, except share and per share amounts)

 

     As of December 31,  
     2018     2019  

Assets

    

Current assets

    

Cash

   $ 4.8     $ 3.7  

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2.5 in 2019 (2018 - $2.7)

     55.5       78.6  

Contract assets, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2.9 in 2019 (Note 4)

     —         6.8  

Inventory (Note 6)

     5.1       8.5  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets (Note 12)

     4.8       8.8  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     70.2       106.4  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Noncurrent assets

    

Goodwill (Note 7)

     391.8       421.3  

Other intangible assets, net (Note 8)

     230.7       213.2  

Capitalized acquisition costs, net (Note 9)

     36.0       26.4  

Property, plant and equipment, net (Note 10)

     8.6       15.4  

Contract assets, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1.7 in 2019 (Note 4)

     —         3.9  

Other noncurrent assets

     1.4       1.4  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total noncurrent assets

     668.5       681.6  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 738.7     $ 788.0  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities and Members’ Equity

    

Current liabilities

    

Current portion of long-term debt (Note 11)

   $ 4.8     $ 5.3  

Accounts payable

     44.2       58.1  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (Note 12)

     44.2       60.9  

Deferred revenue (Note 4)

     4.6       5.6  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     97.8       129.9  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Noncurrent liabilities

    

Long-term debt (Note 11)

     548.7       635.1  

Deferred tax liability (Note 15)

     4.1       4.1  

Other noncurrent liabilities (Note 5)

     3.7       4.8  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total noncurrent liabilities

     556.5       644.0  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     654.3       773.9  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 19)

    

Redeemable preferred units, $100,000 par value; 430 shares authorized, issued and outstanding (Note 20)

     43.0       43.0  

Members’ equity (Note 21)

    

Class A Common units, $0 par value; 100,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding

     —         —    

Class B Common units, $323 par value; 1,010 shares authorized, issued and outstanding

     0.3       0.3  

Members’ equity

     154.4       149.2  

Retained deficit

     (113.3     (178.4
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total members’ equity (deficit)

     41.4       (28.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity

   $ 738.7     $ 788.0  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in millions, except share and per share amounts)

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2018      2019  

Gross revenue

   $ 560.6      $ 731.4  

Cost of sales

     410.2        552.4  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross profit

     150.4        179.0  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

General and administrative expenses

     83.7        124.4  

Depreciation and amortization expense

     40.4        40.2  

Professional fees

     7.4        10.4  

Advertising and marketing expenses

     6.1        6.3  

Restructuring expenses

     20.1        3.8  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     157.7        185.1  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Loss from operations

     (7.3      (6.1
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other income, net

     0.6        1.0  

Interest expense

     (47.0      (51.5
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Loss before income taxes

     (53.7      (56.6

Income tax benefit (provision)

     3.8        (1.5
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net loss (1)

   $ (49.9    $ (58.1
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net loss per unit—Class A

     

Basic

   $ (545.85    $ (629.50

Diluted

   $ (545.85    $ (629.50

Weighted-average Class A shares used to compute net loss per unit

     

Basic

     100,000        100,000  

Diluted

     100,000        100,000  

 

(1)

Net loss is equal to comprehensive loss.

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN MEMBERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)

(in millions, except units)

 

     Class A
Common Units
     Class B
Common Units
    

Members’

Equity

   

Retained

Deficit

   

Total

 
     Units      Amount      Units      Amount  

Balance at December 31, 2017

     100,000      $ —          1,010      $ 0.3      $ 159.3     $ (63.4   $ 96.2  

Net loss

     —          —          —          —          —         (49.9     (49.9

Capital distributions

     —          —          —          —          (0.2     —         (0.2

Preferred return on redeemable preferred units

     —          —          —          —          (4.7     —         (4.7
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2018

     100,000        —          1,010      $ 0.3      $ 154.4     $ (113.3   $ 41.4  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

     —          —          —          —          —         (58.1     (58.1

Capital distributions

     —          —          —          —          (0.2     —         (0.2

Preferred return on redeemable preferred units

     —          —          —          —          (5.0     —         (5.0

Cumulative effect of ASC 606 adoption

     —          —          —          —          —         (7.0     (7.0
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2019

     100,000      $ —          1,010      $ 0.3      $ 149.2     $ (178.4   $ (28.9
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in millions)

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2018     2019  

Operating activities

    

Net loss

   $ (49.9   $ (58.1

Adjustment to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities

    

Depreciation and amortization

     66.2       63.2  

Amortization of capitalized loan fees

     3.7       4.0  

Deferred income taxes

     (3.8     —    

Provision for bad debts

     2.2       5.5  

Impairment on capitalized software development costs

     —         1.9  

Revaluation of contingent liabilities

     (0.3     15.5  

Other noncash items

     (0.4     (0.4

Change in operating assets and liabilities

    

Accounts receivable

     (16.6     (18.6

Contract assets

     —         (2.4

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     0.6       (2.7

Inventory

     (1.8     (1.7

Accounts payable

     11.1       12.3  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     13.7       7.1  

Deferred revenue

     0.8       1.1  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

     25.5       26.7  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investing activities

    

Acquisition, net

     (1.5     (60.2

Residual commission buyouts

     (3.7     (3.3

Acquisition of property, plant and equipment

     (1.6     (8.2

Capitalized software development costs

     (4.0     (8.4

Customer acquisition costs

     (30.6     (18.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (41.4     (98.8
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Financing activities

    

Proceeds from long-term debt

     —         90.0  

Repayment of long-term debt

     (5.2     (5.2

Proceeds from revolving line of credit

     20.0       91.0  

Repayment of revolving line of credit

     —         (90.0

Payments on contingent liabilities

     (3.2     (3.1

Principal repayments of capital leases

     (0.1     —    

Deferred financing costs

     —         (3.0

Preferred return on preferred stock

     —         (8.5

Capital distributions

     (0.2     (0.2
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

     11.3       71.0  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Change in cash

     (4.6     (1.1

Cash

    

Beginning of year

     9.4       4.8  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of year

   $ 4.8     $ 3.7  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information

    

Cash paid for income taxes

   $ 0.5     $ 0.2  

Cash paid for interest

   $ 35.9     $ 47.2  

Noncash investing activity

    

Capitalized software development costs

   $ —       $ 0.9  

Noncash financing activity

    

Accrued preferred return on redeemable preferred units

   $ 4.7     $ 1.2  

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

1.

Nature of Business and Basis of Presentation

Nature of Business

Shift4 Payments, LLC, or Shift4 or the Company, was founded in 1999 and is a leading provider of integrated payment processing and technology solutions. Through the Shift4 Model, the Company offers software providers a single integration to an end-to-end payments offering, a powerful gateway and a robust suite of technology solutions (including cloud enablement, business intelligence, analytics, and mobile) to enhance the value of their software suites and simplify payment acceptance. The Company provides for its merchants a seamless customer experience at scale, rather than simply acting as one of multiple providers they rely on to operate their businesses. The Shift4 Model is built to serve a range of merchants from small-to-medium-sized businesses to large and complex enterprises across numerous verticals, including lodging, leisure, and food and beverage. This includes the Company’s Harbortouch, Restaurant Manager, POSitouch, and Future POS brands, as well as over 350 additional software integrations in virtually every industry.

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements presented herein include the financial statements of Shift4 Payments, LLC and its wholly owned subsidiaries, MSI Merchant Services Holdings, LLC, Harbortouch Financial, LLC, Harbortouch Lithuania, Future POS, LLC, Restaurant Manager, LLC, POSitouch, LLC, Independent Resources Network, LLC, Merchant-Link, LLC and Shift4 Corporation.

All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

 

2.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Liquidity and Management’s Plan

The unprecedented and rapid spread of COVID-19 as well as the shelter-in place orders, promotion of social distancing measures, restrictions to businesses deemed non-essential, and travel restrictions implemented throughout the United States have significantly impacted the restaurant and hospitality industries. As a result, the Company’s revenues, which are largely tied to processing volumes in these verticals, were materially impacted beginning in the final two weeks of March 2020. The Company expects a decrease in its payments-based revenue throughout 2020 and early 2021 compared to original expectations as a result of known shelter-in-place restrictions and social distancing measures anticipated to continue, which are expected to have a material impact on its financial results and liquidity.

In developing our estimates of the potential impact of COVID-19 on our business we have had to make a number of assumptions most notably related to our processing volume and our expectations for recovery over the remainder of 2020 and into 2021. These assumptions have been factored into our analysis of our liquidity needs and actions that may be necessary to respond to the current environment to manage cash flow and comply with our debt covenant requirements. As a result of this analysis, the Company has taken proactive measures, in addition to drawing the remaining capacity of its Revolving Credit Facility, to reduce costs, preserve adequate liquidity and maintain its financial position. These include limiting discretionary spending across the organization, reducing spending through reprioritizing its capital projects, instituting a company-wide hiring freeze, reducing salaries for management across the organization, furloughing approximately 25% of its workforce in April 2020 and accelerating expense reduction plans related to previous acquisitions.

As of December 31, 2019, the Company had $511.1 million, $130.0 million, and $21.0 million outstanding under the First Lien Term Loan Facility, Second Lien Term Loan Facility, and the Revolving Credit

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

Facility, respectively. In March 2020, the Company drew the remaining $64.5 million available under its Revolving Credit Facility as noted above. Refer to Note 11 for further information on the Company’s debt obligations.

At December 31, 2019, the Company was in compliance with the financial covenants under its debt agreements and we expect to be in compliance for at least the 12 months following reissuance of these consolidated financial statements. While we expect to be in compliance with our debt covenants based on our current estimates, if conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic worsen and processing volumes and our related revenues do not continue to recover in accordance with our current plans discussed above, we may not be able to comply with our financial covenants. If the Company does not remain in compliance with its debt covenants, it would have to seek amendments or waivers to these covenants. The Company may also need to implement further strategies to enhance its liquidity position and ensure it can meet its debt covenants and liquidity needs for at least the next 12 months. These strategies may include, but are not limited to, pursuing financing from the public markets, a capital infusion from its equity holders as well as additional cost savings measures. However, no assurances can be made that such amendments or waiver would be approved by the Company’s lenders and if so at terms acceptable to us, nor can we determine the impact of potential additional costs to obtain an amendment or waiver such as increased interest expense. Generally, if an event of default under its debt agreement occurs, then substantially all of the outstanding debt could become due immediately, which could have a material adverse impact to the Company’s operations and liquidity.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or U.S. GAAP, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Significant estimates inherent in the preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements include estimates of fair value of acquired assets and liabilities through business combinations, fair value of contingent liabilities related to earnout payments and change of control, and allowance for doubtful accounts. Estimates are based on past experience and other considerations reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

Cash

Highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase are considered to be cash equivalents and are stated at cost, which approximates fair value. There were no cash equivalents at December 31, 2018 or 2019.

The Company maintains its cash with high credit quality financial institutions. The total cash balances insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or FDIC, are up to $250 thousand per bank.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable are primarily comprised of amounts due from the Company’s processing partners. The receivables are typically received within 10 business days following the end of the month. In addition, accounts receivable includes amounts due from merchants for point-of-sale software, support services, and other miscellaneous service fees, as well as receivables related to chargeback transactions, as described below. Accounts receivable are stated at the invoice amount.

Disputes between a cardholder and a merchant periodically arise as a result of, among other things, cardholder dissatisfaction with merchandise quality, unsatisfactory merchant services, nondelivery of goods

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

or nonperformance of services. Such disputes may not be resolved in the merchant’s favor. In these cases, the transaction is “charged back” to the merchant, which means the disputed amount is refunded to the cardholder through the acquiring bank and charged to the merchant. If the merchant has inadequate funds, the Company must bear the credit risk for the full amount of the transaction. The Company’s sponsorship bank holds merchant funds that are available to meet merchant chargeback liabilities if the merchant has inadequate funds to meet the obligation. Total merchant funds held at the Company’s sponsorship bank totaled $5.8 and $4.8 as of December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively.

The carrying amount of accounts receivable is reduced by an allowance for doubtful accounts that reflects management’s best estimate of accounts that will not be collected. The allowance for doubtful accounts is primarily comprised of (1) credit risk associated with processing receivables where the credit card or automatic clearing house, or ACH, transaction to settle the customer accounts was rejected and the Company estimates an amount to be uncollectible and (2) transactions disputed by a cardholder in which the Company bears the credit risk.

The allowance is based on current economic trends, historical loss experience, and any current or forecasted risks identified through collection matters. Any change in the assumptions used may result in an additional allowance for doubtful accounts being recognized in the period in which the change occurs. Changes in the allowance related to charge-back receivables are recognized within “Cost of sales” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Changes in the allowance for all other receivables are recognized within “General and administrative expenses” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The change in the Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts was as follows:

 

     December 31,  
     2018      2019  

Beginning balance

   $ 0.5      $ 2.7  

Additions to expense

     2.2        2.8  

Write-offs, net of recoveries and other adjustments

     —          (3.0
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Ending balance

   $ 2.7      $ 2.5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Accounts Payable

Accounts payable are primarily comprised of amounts due to the Company’s processing partners for interchange and processing fees.

Inventory

Inventory represents credit and debit card terminals, point-of-sale systems and electronic cash registers on hand and not in service.

Inventory is recorded at cost, which approximates average cost. Inventory deemed to have costs greater than their respective values are reduced to net realizable value as a loss in the period recognized.

Shipping and Handling Costs

The Company includes shipping and handling costs relating to the delivery of its terminal and point-of-sale systems directly from third-party vendors to the Company and, from the Company to its merchants within “Cost of sales” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company incurred shipping and handling costs of $2.8 for each of the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019.

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

Property, Plant and Equipment, Net

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the asset’s estimated useful life. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the lesser of the estimated life of the leasehold improvement or the remaining lease term. Maintenance and repairs, which do not extend the useful life of the respective assets, are charged to expense as incurred.

 

     Useful life  

Equipment

     3-5  

Capitalized software

     3-5  

Leasehold improvements

     5-10  

Furniture and fixtures

     5  

Vehicles

     5  

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net tangible and intangible assets acquired in a business combination. The Company evaluates goodwill for impairment annually at October 1 and whenever events or circumstances make it more likely than not that impairment may have occurred. The Company has determined that its business comprises one reporting unit. The Company has the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether events or circumstances indicate it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is greater than its carrying amount, in which case a quantitative impairment test is not required.

The quantitative goodwill impairment test is performed using a two-step process. The first step of the process is to compare the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill is not impaired and the second step of the quantitative impairment test is not required. The second step of the quantitative goodwill impairment test compares the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. An impairment loss is recognized for any excess of the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s goodwill over the implied fair value.

Based on its qualitative evaluations, management concluded in both 2018 and 2019 that there was no impairment of goodwill.

Other Intangible Assets, Net

Other intangible assets, net consists of merchant relationships, acquired technology, trademarks and trade names, noncompete agreements, capitalized software development costs, leasehold interests, and residual commission buyouts.

These intangible assets are being amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives which range from two years to 10 years, with the exception of capitalized software development costs. Capitalized software development costs are amortized using the straight-lined method on a product-by-product basis over the estimated useful life of the software. Amortization of capitalized software development costs begins when the product is available for general release. Unamortized capitalized software development costs determined to be in excess of the net realizable value of the product are expensed immediately.

The costs for the development of computer software that will be sold, leased, or otherwise marketed are capitalized when technological feasibility has been established. Technological feasibility generally occurs

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

when all planning, design, coding and testing activities are completed that are necessary to establish that the product can be produced to meet its design specifications, including functions, features and technical performance requirements. The establishment of technological feasibility is an ongoing assessment of judgment by management with respect to certain external factors, including, but not limited to, anticipated future revenues, estimated economic life and changes in technology. Capitalized software development costs include direct labor and related expenses for development for new products and enhancements to existing products. These capitalized costs are subject to an ongoing assessment of recoverability based on anticipated future revenues and changes in software technologies.

Residual commission buyouts represent amounts paid to an independent sales organization, or ISO, to buy out their future residual commission streams. The typical payment to the ISO is comprised of a lump sum payment due immediately and a contingent payment due 14 months following the buyout agreement dependent on attrition rates and/or other financial metrics within the respective merchant portfolios.

Impairment of long-lived assets

We evaluate long-lived assets (including intangible assets) for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of such assets may not be recoverable. An asset is considered impaired when the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset. If impaired, the asset’s carrying value is written down to its fair value. There were no impairments recorded for the year ended December 31, 2018. See Note 3 for information about impairments recorded for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Leases

Leases are classified as either operating or capital, based on the substance of the transaction at inception of the lease. Classification is re-assessed if the terms of the lease are changed.

Leases in which a significant portion of the risks and rewards of ownership are retained by the lessor are classified as operating leases. Payments under an operating lease (net of any incentives received from the lessor) are recognized to “General and administrative expenses” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease. The Company fulfilled its only capital lease obligation during the year ended December 31, 2018.

Revenue Recognition

On January 1, 2019, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Codification 606, or ASC 606: Revenue from Contracts with Customers, using the modified retrospective method applied to all open contracts which were not completed as of January 1, 2019. Results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2019 are presented under ASC 606, while prior period amounts are not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with the Company’s historic revenue recognition methodology under ASC 605: Revenue Recognition. The most significant change under ASC 606 is that under the current contract terms the Company can no longer defer the upfront cost for the Company’s free equipment program to its merchants. See Note 4 for the impact of adoption.

The new revenue recognition guidance provides a single model to determine when and how revenue is recognized. The core principle of the new guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of control of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The Company recognizes

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

revenue using a five-step model resulting in revenue being recognized as performance obligations within a contract have been satisfied. The steps within that model include: (i) identifying the existence of a contract with a customer; (ii) identifying the performance obligations within the contract; (iii) determining the contract’s transaction price; (iv) allocating the transaction price to the contract’s performance obligations; and, (v) recognizing revenue as the contract’s performance obligations are satisfied. Judgment is required to apply the principles-based, five-step model for revenue recognition. Management is required to make certain estimates and assumptions about the Company’s contracts with its customers, including, among others, the nature and extent of its performance obligations, its transaction price amounts and any allocations thereof, the events which constitute satisfaction of its performance obligations, and when control of any promised goods or services is transferred to its customers.

The Company provides its merchants with an end-to-end payments offering that combines its payments platform, including its proprietary gateway and breadth of software integrations, and its suite of technology solutions. The Company primarily earns revenue through volume-based payments and transactions fees, as well as subscription revenue for its software and technology solutions.

Payments-Based Revenue

Payments-based revenue includes fees for payment processing and gateway services. Payment processing service revenue is based on a percentage of payment volume and on a per transaction fee. They may also be based on minimum monthly usage fees.

The Company’s payment processing agreements have an initial term of three years and automatically renew every two years thereafter. The Company satisfies its performance obligations and recognizes transaction fees upon authorization of a transaction by the merchant’s bank. These transaction fees represent the full amount of the fee charged to the merchant, including interchange and payment network costs paid to the card brands pursuant to the transactions the Company facilitates through the network while performing an end-to-end payment obligation.

The Company’s performance obligation is to stand-ready to provide payment processing services for each day during the duration of the payment processing agreement. Providing payment processing services involves multiple promises including: 1) payment processing, 2) gateway services including tokenization and data encryption, 3) risk mitigation, and 4) settlement services. The Company considers each of these promises to be inputs to produce a combined output of providing a fully secured and integrated end-to-end payment processing service to a merchant. Further, the combination of these services is transformative in nature in that the significant integration allows for front-end and back-end risk mitigation, merchant portability, third party software integrations, and enhanced reporting functionality. In addition, the Company applies the right to invoice practical expedient to payment processing services as each performance obligation is recognized over time and the amounts invoiced are reflective of the value transferred to the customer.

Payments-based revenue is recognized on a gross basis as the Company is the principal in the delivery of the payment processing solution to its merchants because it controls the service on its payments platform. The Company also contracts directly with its merchants and has complete pricing latitude on the processing fees charged to its merchants. As such, it bears the credit risk for network fees and transactions charged back to the merchant.

Subscription-Based Revenue

The Company generates revenues from recurring SaaS fees for point-of-sale systems provided to merchants. Point-of-sale SaaS fees are based on the type and quantity of equipment and software deployed to the

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

merchant. SaaS contracts are for a contractual term of three years and are billed ratably over that time period. Annual fees are deferred and recognized as revenue over the respective period the fee covers, which is one year or less.

The Company’s SaaS arrangements include multiple performance obligations with differing patterns of revenue recognition. For such arrangements, the Company allocates revenue to each performance obligation based on its relative standalone selling price. The Company determines standalone selling prices based on the fair value of each product and service.

As part of the SaaS fees, the Company identified the following separate performance obligations under ASC 606:

 

  (1)

Point-of-sale software: The Company provides a “Hybrid Cloud” arrangement which includes on-premise software as well as a cloud component. The on-premise solution interacts with the cloud service to provide an end-to-end integrated solution to the merchant. As the on-premise software and cloud-based service are transformative in nature, they are not distinct performance obligations. The revenue allocated to software from the monthly SaaS fee qualifies as a service and revenue is recognized ratably over time as the performance obligation represents a stand-ready obligation to provide the service.

 

  (2)

Hardware revenue: The Company provides hardware to its merchants that qualify as a sales-type lease. The Company satisfies its performance obligation upon delivery of the hardware to its merchants, at which time the revenue allocated to this performance obligation is recognized.

 

  (3)

Other support services: The Company offers merchants technical support services and warranty for the leased hardware. Technical support services include the promise to provide the merchant with software updates if and when available. The Company also provides the merchant with assurance that its equipment will function in accordance with contract specifications over the lease term. Revenue allocated to this performance obligation is recognized ratably over time as the performance obligation represents a stand-ready obligation to provide the service.

Other Revenue

Other Revenue is generally recognized at a point-in-time and primarily includes revenue derived from software license sales, hardware sales, third party residuals, automated teller machine services, and fees charged for technology support to merchants.

Contract Assets

Hardware revenue allocated from the SaaS contractual term is recognized in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations when the hardware is delivered to the merchant. The Company utilizes its best estimate of selling price when calculating the hardware revenue to be recorded. This performance obligation qualifies for sales type lease accounting. At the time revenue is recognized, a Contract Asset is created in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet representing the present value of minimum lease payments. Accordingly, a portion of the lease payments are recognized as interest income. Such interest income for the year ended December 31, 2019 was $2.2.

The carrying amount of contract assets is reduced by an allowance for doubtful accounts that reflects management’s best estimate of accounts that will not be collected. Changes in the allowance are recognized within “General and administrative expenses” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

The change in the Company’s allowance for contract assets was as follows:

 

     December 31,
2019
 

Beginning balance

   $ —    

Cumulative effect of ASC 606 adoption

     4.7  
  

 

 

 

Beginning balance, adjusted

     4.7  

Additions to expense

     2.8  

Write-offs, net of recoveries and other adjustments

     (2.9
  

 

 

 

Ending balance

   $ 4.6  
  

 

 

 

Capitalized Acquisition Costs

The Company incurs costs to obtain payment processing contracts with customers, primarily in the form of upfront processing bonuses provided to software partners, which consist of independent software vendors and value-added resellers. The Company recognizes as an asset the incremental costs of obtaining a contract with a customer if it expects to recover the costs. Capitalized acquisition costs are amortized ratably over the estimated life of the customer, which is generally three to five years. Amortization of costs to obtain a contract are classified as “Cost of sales” on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Income Taxes

The Company is organized as a limited liability company in accordance with Delaware law. A limited liability company is not subject to tax in accordance with partnership tax rules. Taxable income or loss from Shift4 Payments, LLC is passed through to and included in the taxable income of its members. Accordingly, the consolidated financial statements do not include a provision for federal income taxes on the flow-through taxable income or loss from Shift4 Payments, LLC.

Shift4 Corporation, one of the operating subsidiaries of Shift4 Payments, LLC, is considered a C-Corporation for U.S. federal, state and local income tax purposes. Taxable income or loss from Shift4 Corporation is not passed through to Shift4 Payments, LLC. Instead, it is taxed at the corporate level subject to the prevailing corporate tax rates. A provision for income taxes related to the taxable income of Shift4 Corporation is included in the consolidated financial statements.

For Shift4 Corporation, income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities from a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

The Company records interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in the provision for income taxes in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per unit

Basic earnings (loss) per unit, or EPU, is computed by dividing net income (loss) available to common unitholders by the weighted-average number of LLC Interests outstanding during the period, excluding the

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

effects of any potentially dilutive securities. Diluted EPS gives effect to the potential dilution, if any, that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue LLC Interests were exercised or converted into LLC Interests, using the more dilutive of the two-class method or if-converted method. Diluted EPS excludes potential LLC Interests if their effect is anti-dilutive. If there is a net loss in any period, basic and diluted EPS are computed in the same manner.

The Company computes EPU using the two-class method required for participating securities. The two-class method requires income available to common stockholders for the period to be allocated between LLC Interests and participating securities based upon their respective rights to receive dividends as if all income for the period had been distributed. The Company’s preferred units are participating securities as preferred unit holders have rights to participate in dividends with the common unitholders on a pro-rata basis. As such, the Company applied the two-class method for EPU when computing earnings (loss) per Class A and Class B common unit. These participating securities do not contractually require the holders of such units to participate in the Company’s losses. Therefore, net losses for the periods presented were not allocated to the Company’s participating securities.

Advertising Costs

The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred. Advertising expenses were $1.1 and $1.2 for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively, and included in “Advertising and marketing expenses” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Research and Development Costs

The Company expenses research and development costs as incurred. Research and development expenses, which consists primarily of third-party costs, were $1.6 for both the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019, and included in “General and administrative expenses” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Business Combinations

Upon acquisition of a company, the Company determines if the transaction is a business combination, which is accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting. Under the acquisition method, once control is obtained of a business, the assets acquired, and liabilities assumed, including amounts attributed to noncontrolling interests, are recorded at fair value. The Company uses its best estimates and assumptions to assign fair value to the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date. One of the most significant estimates relates to the determination of the fair value of these assets and liabilities. The determination of the fair values is based on estimates and judgments made by management. The Company’s estimates of fair value are based upon assumptions it believes to be reasonable, but which are inherently uncertain and unpredictable. Measurement period adjustments are reflected at the time identified, up through the conclusion of the measurement period, which is the time at which all information for determination of the values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed is received, and is not to exceed one year from the acquisition date. The Company may record adjustments to the fair value of these tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed, with the corresponding offset to goodwill.

Additionally, uncertain tax positions and tax-related valuation allowances are initially recorded in connection with a business combination as of the acquisition date. The Company continues to collect information and reevaluates these estimates and assumptions periodically and records any adjustments to preliminary estimates to goodwill, provided the Company is within the measurement period. If outside of the measurement period, any subsequent adjustments are recorded to the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

Concentration of Credit Risk

The Company’s merchant processing activity has been facilitated by two vendors. The Company believes that these vendors maintain appropriate backup systems and alternative arrangements to avoid a significant disruption of the processing in the event of an unforeseen event.

A majority of the Company’s revenue is derived from the processing of card transactions. Because the Company is not a “member bank”, in order to process these bank card transactions, the Company has entered into a sponsorship agreement with a member bank. The agreement with the bank sponsor requires, among other things, that the Company abide by the by-laws and regulations of the credit card companies. If the Company breaches the sponsorship agreement, the bank sponsor may terminate the agreement and, under the terms of the agreement, the Company would have 180 days to identify an alternative bank sponsor.

Defined Benefit Plan

A historical acquisition included a frozen defined benefit pension plan with pension obligations. As of December 31, 2019, the defined benefit plan is not material to the Company’s consolidated financial statements. All of the assets under the defined benefit plan have been distributed.

New Accounting Pronouncements

The Company, an emerging growth company, or EGC, has elected to take advantage of the benefits of the extended transition period provided for in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act, for complying with new or revised accounting standards which allows the Company to defer adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies.

Accounting Pronouncements Adopted

In August 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued ASU 2016-15: Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, which is intended to reduce diversity in practice in how certain transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. The eight items that the ASU provides classification guidance on include (1) debt prepayment and extinguishment costs, (2) settlement of zero-coupon debt instruments, (3) contingent consideration payments made after a business combination, (4) proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims, (5) proceeds from the settlement of corporate-owned life insurance policies, including bank-owned life insurance policies, (6) distributions received from equity method investments, (7) beneficial interests in securitization transactions, and (8) separately identifiable cash flows and application of the predominance principle. The Company adopted ASU 2016-15 effective January 1, 2019 and there was no material impact on the Company’s consolidated statements of cash flows upon adoption.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01: Clarifying the Definition of a Business. The objective of the update was to add guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The definition of a business affects many areas of accounting including acquisitions, disposals, goodwill, and consolidation. The Company adopted ASU 2017-01 effective January 1, 2019 and there was no material impact upon adoption.

In May 2014, the FASB, issued ASU 2014-09: Revenue from Contracts with Customers, or ASC 606. This new standard provides guidance on recognizing revenue, including a five-step model to determine when revenue recognition is appropriate. The standard requires that an entity recognizes revenue to depict the

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The amendment also requires enhanced disclosures regarding the nature, amount, and timing of revenues and cash flows from contracts with customers. The FASB has issued several amendments to Topic 606, including further guidance on principal versus agent considerations, clarification on identifying performance obligations and accounting for licenses of intellectual property. The Company adopted ASU 2014-09 effective January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective method. See Revenue Recognition within this note and Note 3 for more information, including the impact of adoption.

Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02: Leases. The new standard requires a lessee to record assets and liabilities on the balance sheet for the rights and obligations arising from leases with terms of more than 12 months. This guidance is effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021. The Company will adopt the new standard on January 1, 2021 using a modified retrospective approach. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-10: Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases, or ASU 2018-10, and ASU 2018-11: Leases (Topic 842) Targeted Improvements, or ASU 2018-11. ASU 2018-10 provides certain amendments that affect narrow aspects of the guidance issued in ASU 2016-02. ASU 2018-11 allows all entities adopting ASU 2016-02 to choose an additional (and optional) transition method of adoption, under which an entity initially applies the new leases standard at the adoption date and recognizes a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. ASU 2018-11 also allows lessors to not separate non-lease components from the associated lease component if certain conditions are met. The Company is evaluating the potential impact that the adoption of this standard will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13: Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326), which changes the impairment model for most financial assets, including accounts receivable, and replaces the existing incurred loss impairment model with an expected loss methodology, which will result in more timely recognition of credit losses. The guidance is effective for the Company for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2022. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the timing and impact of adopting ASU 2016-13 on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04: Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, which removes step 2 of the quantitative goodwill impairment test. Under the amended guidance, a goodwill impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill. The guidance is effective for the Company for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2022, with early adoption permitted for any impairment tests performed after January 1, 2017. The Company is currently assessing the timing and impact of adopting ASU 2017-04 on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13: Fair Value Measurement—Disclosure Framework (Topic 820). The updated guidance improves the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements. The updated guidance is effective for the Company for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for any removed or modified disclosures. The Company is currently assessing the impact of adopting ASU 2018-13 on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement that is a Service Contract. ASU 2018-15 aligns the requirements for

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal use software license). The accounting for the service element of a hosting arrangement that is a service contract is not affected. The guidance is effective for the Company for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2021. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in any interim period. The Company is currently assessing the timing and impact of adopting ASU 2018-15 on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

3.

Merchant Link Acquisition

On August 30, 2019, the Company agreed to purchase 100% of the membership interests of Merchant-Link, LLC for $64.0, subject to certain closing conditions pursuant to the agreement, including adjustments based on estimates of Net Working Capital (as defined in the purchase agreement) and Net Indebtedness (as defined in the purchase agreement) of the business at closing. This acquisition brings a highly complementary customer base, with 80% of the customers using software already integrated on the Company’s gateway. This overlap presents the Company with a substantial opportunity for improved share of wallet and cost efficiencies.

Upon the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in the purchase agreement, the transaction, or Merchant Link Acquisition, closed on August 30, 2019. The purchase was funded with borrowings from the revolving credit facility in August 2019, as discussed further in Note 11. The initial consideration for the Merchant Link Acquisition was $60.2, net of cash acquired.

The Merchant Link Acquisition was accounted for as a business combination using the acquisition method of accounting. The respective purchase price was allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on the estimated fair value at the date of acquisition. The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired was allocated to goodwill and represents the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired, which cannot be individually identified or separately recognized.

The following table summarizes the consideration paid and the fair value assigned to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date. These amounts reflect various preliminary fair value estimates and assumptions, and are subject to change within the measurement period as valuations are finalized. The primary areas of preliminary purchase price allocation subject to change relate to the valuation of accounts receivable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities assumed and residual goodwill.

 

Cash

   $ 3.8  

Accounts receivable

     8.2  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     1.9  

Property, plant and equipment

     2.4  

Inventory

     1.7  

Other intangible assets

     20.4  

Goodwill(a)

     29.5  

Accounts payable

     (1.5

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     (2.1

Deferred revenue

     (0.3
  

 

 

 

Net assets acquired

     64.0  

Less: cash acquired

     (3.8
  

 

 

 

Net cash paid for acquisition

   $ 60.2  
  

 

 

 

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

(a)

Goodwill is not deductible for tax purposes.

In connection with the Merchant Link Acquisition, the Company incurred transaction expenses of $0.4 for the year ended December 31, 2019, which are included in “General and administrative expenses” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. In addition, the Company incurred integration expenses of $3.0 and restructuring expenses of $3.3 for the year ended December 31, 2019, which are included in “General and administrative expenses” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The integration expenses include a write-off of $1.9 of capitalized software development costs for projects initiated at Merchant Link prior to the acquisition that have no further use subsequent to the acquisition and are therefore impaired, $0.8 for incremental equipment provided to customers to migrate to the Shift4 gateway platform, and $0.3 for retention packages to certain Merchant Link employees to maintain business continuity. See Note 5 for more information on the restructuring expenses.

The fair values of intangible assets were estimated using inputs classified as Level 3 and included either an income approach or cost approach. Intangible assets valued under the income approach used either the relief from royalty method (developed technology and trademarks and tradenames) or the multi-period excess earnings method (customer relationships).

The Merchant Link acquisition did not have a material impact on the Company’s reported revenue or net loss for the year ended December 31, 2019. Accordingly, pro forma financial information has not been presented.

 

4.

Revenue

Adoption of ASC 606: Revenue from Contracts with Customers

The Company recorded a net reduction to retained earnings of $7.0 as of January 1, 2019, due to the cumulative impact of adopting ASC 606, primarily as a result of no longer being able to defer the upfront cost for the Company’s free equipment program to its merchants under the current contract terms and recognizing the revenue allocated to this hardware in retained earnings for contracts open as of January 1, 2019.

The effect of adoption of ASC 606 on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of January 1, 2019 is as follows:

 

     As reported      Balance after
adoption of
ASC 606
     Effect of change  

Capitalized acquisition costs, net

   $ 36.0      $ 18.4      $ (17.6

Contract assets, net

     —          11.1        11.1  

Accounts receivable, net

     55.5        54.5        (1.0

Deferred revenue

     4.6        4.1        (0.5

Retained deficit

     (113.3      (120.3      (7.0

The impact of adoption of ASC 606 on the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2019 was as follows:

 

     As reported      Under Legacy
ASC 605
Guidance
     Effect of change  

Gross revenue

   $ 731.4      $ 728.9      $ 2.5  

Cost of sales

   $ 552.4      $ 549.4        3.0  

General and administrative expenses

   $ 124.4      $ 121.6        2.8  

Net loss

   $ (58.1    $ (54.8      (3.3

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

The impact of adoption of ASC 606 on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2019 was as follows:

 

     As reported      Under Legacy
ASC 605
Guidance
     Effect of change  

Capitalized acquisition costs, net

   $ 26.4      $ 47.0      $ (20.6

Contract assets, net

     10.7        —          10.7  

Accounts receivable, net

     78.6        79.5        (0.9

Deferred revenue

     5.6        6.1        (0.5

Retained deficit

     (178.4      (168.1      (10.3

Disaggregated Revenue

Based on similar operational characteristics, the Company’s revenue from contracts with customers is disaggregated as follows:

 

     December 31,  
     2018      2019  

Payments-based revenue

   $ 485.2        643.6  

Subscription-based revenue

     53.6        68.2  

Other revenue

     21.8        19.6  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 560.6      $ 731.4  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Based on similar economic characteristics, the Company’s revenue from contracts with customers is disaggregated as follows:

 

     December 31,  
     2018      2019  

Over-time revenue

   $ 525.5      $ 687.9  

Point-in-time revenue

     35.1        43.5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 560.6      $ 731.4  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Contract Assets

Contract assets were as follows:

 

     December 31,
2019
 

Contract assets, net - beginning of period

   $ —    

Cumulative effect of ASC 606 adoption

     11.1  
  

 

 

 

Contract assets, net - beginning of period, adjusted

     11.1  

Less: Contract assets, net - beginning of period, current

     (6.7
  

 

 

 

Contract assets, net - beginning of period, noncurrent

   $ 4.4  
  

 

 

 

Contract assets, net - end of period

   $ 10.7  

Less: Contract assets, net - end of period, current

     (6.8
  

 

 

 

Contract assets, net - end of period, noncurrent

   $ 3.9  
  

 

 

 

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

Contract Liabilities

The Company charges merchants for various post-contract license support/service fees and annual regulatory compliance fees. These fees typically relate to a period of one year. The Company recognizes the revenue on a straight-line basis over its respective period. As of December 31, 2018 and 2019, the Company had deferred revenue of $4.6 and $5.6, respectively. The change in the contract liabilities year-over-year is primarily the result of a timing difference between payment from the customer and the Company’s satisfaction of each performance obligation.

The Company recognized $9.7 and $11.1 within “Gross Revenue” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for annual service fees and regulatory compliance fees for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively. Of these amounts, $3.5 and $2.8 were included in deferred revenue at the beginning of each respective period.

Transaction Price Allocated to Future Performance Obligations

The transaction price allocated to unsatisfied performance obligations relate to the Company’s SaaS contracts, which have a contractual term of 36 months. These amounts will be converted into revenue in future periods as work is performed, primarily based on the services provided or at delivery and acceptance of products, depending on the applicable accounting method.

The following table reflects the estimated fees to be recognized in the future related to performance obligations that are unsatisfied at the end of the period:

 

2020

   $ 7.6  

2021

     4.5  

2022

     1.5  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 13.6  
  

 

 

 

Capitalized Acquisition Costs, net

As of December 31, 2018, the Company had net capitalized costs to obtain contracts of $36.0 included in “Capitalized acquisition costs, net” in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets, which was comprised of capitalized equipment and deal bonuses. As a result of the adoption of ASC 606, the Company reduced “Capitalized acquisition costs, net” as of January 1, 2019 by $17.6 representing the equipment capitalized under ASC 605 that no longer can be capitalized under ASC 606 under its current contract terms.

As of December 31, 2019, the Company had net capitalized costs to obtain contracts of $26.4 included in “Capitalized acquisition costs, net” in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets representing upfront processing bonuses. See Note 9 for more information on capitalized acquisition costs.

 

5.

Restructuring

2018 Restructuring Activities

During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company recognized $18.3 of restructuring expenses associated with a historical acquisition.

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

2019 Restructuring Activities

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company recognized $3.3 of restructuring expenses associated with the integration of Merchant Link. The expenses were comprised primarily of employee and severance benefits which are to be paid by March 31, 2020.

The following table summarizes the changes in the Company’s restructuring accrual:

 

     2018
Restructuring
Activities
     2019
Restructuring
Activities
     Total  

Balance at December 31, 2017

   $ —        $ —        $ —    

Restructuring accrual

     18.3        —          18.3  

Severance payments

     (1.7      —          (1.7

Incentive payments

     (12.8      —          (12.8

Accretion of interest (a)

     1.8        —          1.8  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2018

   $ 5.6      $ —        $ 5.6  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Restructuring accrual

     —          3.3        3.3  

Severance payments

     (1.9      (1.8      (3.7

Accretion of interest (a)

     0.5        —          0.5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2019

   $ 4.2      $ 1.5      $ 5.7  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a)

Accretion of interest is included within “Restructuring expenses” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The current portion of the restructuring accrual of $1.9 and $2.9 at December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively, is included within “Accrued expenses and other current liabilities” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The long-term portion of the restructuring accrual of $3.7 and $2.8 at December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively, is included within “Other noncurrent liabilities” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Of the $5.7 restructuring accrual outstanding as of December 31, 2019, approximately $3.4 is expected to be paid in 2020, $1.6 in 2021 and $1.6 in 2022, less accreted interest of $0.9.

 

6.

Inventory

Inventory consisted of the following:

 

     December 31,  
     2018      2019  

Point-of-sale systems and components

   $ 4.6      $ 2.6  

Terminal systems and components

     0.5        5.9  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total inventory

   $ 5.1      $ 8.5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

7.

Goodwill

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill were as follows:

 

Balance at December 31, 2017

   $ 390.3  

Measurement period adjustments

     1.5  
  

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2018

   $ 391.8  

Merchant Link acquisition (Note 3)

     29.5  
  

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2019

   $ 421.3  
  

 

 

 

 

8.

Other Intangible Assets, Net

Other intangible assets, net consisted of the following:

 

     Weighted
Average
Amortization
Period
(in years)
     December 31, 2018  
     Carrying
Value
     Accumulated
Amortization
     Net
Carrying
Value
 

Merchant relationships

     7      $ 165.3      $ 56.5      $ 108.8  

Acquired technology

     10        100.1        21.9        78.2  

Trademarks and trade names

     9        54.9        21.4        33.5  

Noncompete agreements

     2        3.9        3.3        0.6  

Capitalized software development costs

     3        4.1        0.4        3.7  

Leasehold interest

     2        0.1        0.1        —    

Residual commission buyouts (a)

     3        11.9        6.0        5.9  
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total intangible assets

      $ 340.3      $ 109.6      $ 230.7  
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     Weighted
Average
Amortization
Period
(in years)
     December 31, 2019  
     Carrying
Value
     Accumulated
Amortization
     Net
Carrying
Value
 

Merchant relationships

     8      $ 176.8      $ 81.1      $ 95.7  

Acquired technology

     10        105.2        32.2        73.0  

Trademarks and trade names

     9        55.5        30.1        25.4  

Noncompete agreements

     2        3.9        3.6        0.3  

Capitalized software development costs

     3        14.9        2.0        12.9  

Leasehold interest

     2        0.1        0.1        —    

Residual commission buyouts (a)

     3        15.7        9.8        5.9  
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total intangible assets

      $ 372.1      $ 158.9      $ 213.2  
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a)

Residual commission buyouts include contingent payments of $2.0 and $2.7 as of December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively.

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

As of December 31, 2019, the estimated amortization expense for intangible assets for each of the five succeeding years and thereafter is as follows:

 

2020

   $ 52.8  

2021

     46.6  

2022

     29.6  

2023

     17.4  

2024

     17.1  

Thereafter

     49.7  
  

 

 

 
   $ 213.2  
  

 

 

 

Amounts charged to expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for amortization of intangible assets were as follows:

 

     December 31,  

Line item

   2018      2019  

Depreciation and amortization expense

   $ 37.5      $ 37.6  

Cost of sales

     10.4        11.7  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 47.9      $ 49.3  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

9.

Capitalized Acquisition Costs, Net

Capitalized acquisition costs, net consisted of the following:

 

     Weighted
Average
Amortization
Period
(in years)
     December 31, 2018  
     Carrying
Value
     Accumulated
Amortization
     Net
Carrying
Value
 

Capitalized equipment

     5      $ 30.2      $ 12.6      $ 17.6  

Capitalized deal bonuses

     4        23.5        5.1        18.4  
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total capitalized acquisition costs

     —        $ 53.7      $ 17.7      $ 36.0  
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     Weighted
Average
Amortization
Period
(in years)
     December 31, 2019  
     Carrying
Value
     Accumulated
Amortization
     Net
Carrying
Value
 

Capitalized deal bonuses

     4      $ 39.2      $ 12.8      $ 26.4  
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total capitalized acquisition costs

     —        $ 39.2      $ 12.8      $ 26.4  
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Amortization expense for capitalized acquisition costs is $14.3 and $10.0 for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively, and is included in “Cost of sales” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

As of December 31, 2019, the estimated future amortization expense for capitalized acquisition costs is as follows:

 

2020

   $ 11.7  

2021

     9.4  

2022

     4.5  

2023

     0.8  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 26.4  
  

 

 

 

 

10.

Property, Plant and Equipment, Net

Property, plant and equipment, net consisted of the following:

 

     December 31,  
     2018      2019  

Equipment

   $ 10.9      $ 13.3  

Capitalized software

     6.6        7.1  

Leasehold improvements

     4.4        11.3  

Furniture and fixtures

     2.1        2.9  

Vehicles

     0.1        0.2  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total property and equipment, gross

     24.1        34.8  

Less: Accumulated depreciation

     (15.5      (19.4
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total property and equipment, net

   $ 8.6      $ 15.4  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Amounts charged to expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for depreciation of property, plant and equipment were as follows:

 

     December 31,  

Line item

   2018      2019  

Depreciation and amortization expense

   $ 2.3      $ 2.4  

Cost of sales

     1.2        1.4  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total depreciation expense

   $ 3.5      $ 3.8  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

11.

Debt

The Company’s outstanding debt consisted of the following:

 

     December 31,  
     2018      2019  

First Lien Term Loan Facility

   $ 425.7      $ 511.1  

Second Lien Term Loan Facility

     130.0        130.0  

Revolving Credit Facility

     20.0        21.0  

Other financing arrangements

     0.6        —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total borrowings

     576.3        662.1  

Less: Current portion of long-term debt

     (4.8      (5.3
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total debt

     571.5        656.8  

Less: Unamortized capitalized loan fees

     (22.8      (21.7
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total long-term debt

   $ 548.7      $ 635.1  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following summarizes the Company’s maturities of its borrowings as of December 31, 2019:

 

2020

   $ 5.3  

2021

     5.2  

2022

     26.2  

2023

     5.2  

2024

     490.2  

Thereafter

     130.0  
  

 

 

 
   $ 662.1  
  

 

 

 

Credit Facilities

On November 30, 2017, the Company borrowed $560.0 of aggregate principal amount of secured term loans comprised of first lien term loans of $430.0 due November 30, 2024, or First Lien Term Loan Facility, and second lien term loans of $130.0 due November 30, 2025, or Second Lien Term Loan Facility. The Company used available incremental capacity to upsize the First Lien Term Loan Facility to $450.0 in April 2019 and to $520.0 in October 2019. Interest with respect to the First Lien Term Loan Facility is payable quarterly in arrears at a rate of LIBOR plus 4.50% per annum (6.427% at December 31, 2019). Interest with respect to the Second Lien Term Loan Facility is payable quarterly in arrears at a rate of LIBOR plus 8.50% per annum (10.427% at December 31, 2019). The interest rate is determined based on the Company’s first lien leverage ratio for the preceding fiscal quarter.

The First Lien Term Loan Facility and Second Lien Term Loan Facility are subject to covenants that, among other things, limit or restrict the Company in creating liens, holding any unpermitted investments or new indebtedness, making any dispositions or restricted payments unless otherwise permitted in the agreement, and making material changes to the business. At December 31, 2018 and 2019, the Company was in compliance with all financial covenants.

Amortization of capitalized financing fees is included in “Interest expense” within the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Amortization expense was $3.7 and $4.0 for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively.

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

Revolving Credit Facility

The First Lien Term Loan Facility, included a revolving credit facility of $40.0, or Revolving Credit Facility, which expires November 30, 2022. In August 2019, the Revolving Credit Facility was increased to a borrowing capacity of $90.0 with incremental borrowings used to partially fund the Merchant Link Acquisition. The Company is subject to certain additional covenants related to the Revolving Credit Facility. The Company was in compliance with these covenants at December 31, 2018 and 2019.

Interest due under the Revolving Credit Facility depends on the type of loan selected but generally is due interest at LIBOR plus an applicable margin ranging from 3.00% to 4.50%.

The Revolving Credit Facility unused commitment fee ranges from 0.25% to 0.50%. The applicable margin and unused commitment fee are determined based on the Company’s first lien net leverage ratio at the previously reported fiscal quarter.

As of December 31, 2018 and 2019, the Company had outstanding borrowings of $20.0 and $21.0, respectively, under the Revolving Credit Facility.

Other Financing Arrangements

As of December 31, 2018, the Company had notes payable of $0.6 outstanding related to various software, device and maintenance renewals for a data center. As of December 31, 2019, an immaterial financing arrangement maturing in February 2020 remained outstanding.

 

12.

Other Consolidated Balance Sheet Components

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

Prepaid expenses and other current assets consisted of the following:

 

     December 31,  
     2018      2019  

Prepaid expenses (a)

   $ 3.8      $ 6.1  

Agent and employee loan receivables

     0.5        0.5  

Deferred IPO-related costs (b)

     —          2.0  

Other current assets

     0.5        0.2  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total prepaid expenses and other current assets

   $ 4.8      $ 8.8  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a)

Prepaid expenses include prepayments related to information technology, rent, insurance, tradeshows and conferences.

 

  (b)

Primarily includes attorney and consulting fees in support of the Company’s anticipated initial public offering. Upon completion, these costs will be offset against the gross proceeds of the initial public offering.

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consisted of the following:

 

     December 31,  
     2018      2019  

Contingent liabilities related to earnout payments and change of control (a)

   $ 19.9      $ 32.3  

Accrued interest

     12.4        9.2  

Residuals payable

     4.0        5.5  

Deferred tenant reimbursement allowance

     —          3.6  

Restructuring accrual

     1.9        2.9  

Other current liabilities

     6.0        7.4  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total accrued expenses and other current liabilities

   $ 44.2      $ 60.9  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a)

Represents contingent liabilities arising from certain past acquisitions. Refer to Note 14 for information on contingent liabilities related to earnout payments and change of control.

 

13.

Loss per Unit

The following summarizes the computation of loss per unit and weighted average units of the Company’s LLC Interests outstanding:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2018      2019  

Numerator:

     

Net loss

   $ (49.9    $ (58.1

Deemed dividend on redeemable preferred units

     (4.7      (5.0

Earnings allocated to participating preferred units

     —          —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to common unitholders - basic and diluted

   $ (54.6    $ (63.1
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Denominator-Class A:

     

Weighted average common units outstanding - basic

     100,000        100,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Weighted average common units outstanding - diluted

     100,000        100,000  

Loss per unit-Class A:

     

Basic

   $ (545.85    $ (629.50

Diluted

   $ (545.85    $ (629.50

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

The weighted average Class A and Class B common units have not been combined in the denominator of basic and diluted earnings (loss) per unit because they do not have equivalent economic rights to share in the losses of the reporting entity. The Company applies the two-class method because its preferred units have rights to participate in dividends with the common unitholders on a pro-rata basis. Preferred units do not have a contractual obligation to share in losses, and therefore, no losses have been allocated to them. Additionally, the following securities were not included in the computation of diluted units outstanding because the effect would be anti-dilutive:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2018      2019  

Anti-dilutive securities excluded from diluted loss per unit:

     

Convertible preferred units

     430        430  

 

14.

Fair Value Measurement

U.S. GAAP defines a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted process in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements).

The Company determines the fair values of its assets and liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in accordance with the hierarchy described below. The following three levels of inputs may be used to measure fair value:

 

   

Level 1—Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

 

   

Level 2—Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities;

 

   

Level 3—Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. Level 3 assets and liabilities include items where the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation.

The Company makes recurring fair value measurements of contingent liabilities arising from certain acquisitions using Level 3 unobservable inputs. These amounts relate to a change of control provision and expected earnout payments related to the number of existing point-of-sale merchants that convert to full acquiring merchants.

The contingent liability related to a change of control was measured on the acquisition date using a Monte Carlo simulation model based on expected possible valuations of the Company upon a change of control and is remeasured at each reporting date due to changes in management’s expectations regarding possible future valuations of the Company, including considerations of changes in results of the Company, guideline public company multiples, and expected volatility.

The contingent liabilities arising from expected earnout payments were measured on the acquisition date using a probability-weighted expected payment model and are remeasured periodically due to changes in management’s estimates of the number of existing point-of-sale merchants that will convert to full acquiring merchants. In determining the fair value of the contingent liabilities, management reviews the current results of the acquired business, along with projected results for the remaining earnout period, to calculate the

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

expected earnout payment to be made using the agreed upon formula as laid out in the respective acquisition agreement. The earnout liabilities are discounted at a rate used of 4.86% and 3.87% as of December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively. As of December 31, 2018, the undiscounted estimated range of outcomes is between $3.5 and $7.5. As of December 31, 2019, the undiscounted estimated range of outcomes is between $1.5 and $2.3.

The fair value of the contingent liabilities is subject to sensitivity based on projected results and changes in the discount rate. Changes in these assumptions could impact the fair value significantly.

Additional information regarding the contingent liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis is presented in the following table:

 

     Fair value as of
December 31,
2018
    Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
     Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
     Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 

Contingent liabilities related to change of control

   $ (14.1     —          —        $ (14.1

Contingent liabilities related to earnout payments

     (5.8     —          —          (5.8
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total contingent liabilities

   $ (19.9   $ —        $ —        $ (19.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     Fair value as of
December 31,
2019
    Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
     Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
     Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 

Contingent liabilities related to change of control

   $ (30.4     —          —        $ (30.4

Contingent liabilities related to earnout payments

     (1.9     —          —          (1.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total contingent liabilities

   $ (32.3   $ —        $ —        $ (32.3
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The contingent liabilities are presented in “Accrued expenses and other current liabilities” within the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The table below provides a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances for the Level 3 contingent liabilities:

 

     December 31,  
     2018      2019  

Beginning balance

   $ (23.4    $ (19.9

Acquisitions and settlements:

     

Payments

     3.2        3.1  

Fair value adjustments

     0.3        (15.5
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Ending balance

   $ (19.9    $ (32.3
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Fair value adjustments are recorded within “General and administrative expenses” within the Consolidated Statements of Operations. There were no transfers into or out of Level 3 during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019.

Other financial instruments not measured at fair value on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2018 and 2019 include cash, accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other current assets, accounts payable, and accrued expenses and other current liabilities as their estimated fair values reasonably

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

approximate their carrying value as reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company’s debt obligations are carried at their face value, which approximates fair value.

 

15.

Income Taxes

The Company’s provision for income taxes consisted of the following:

 

     December 31,  
     2018      2019  

Current income tax provision

     

Federal

   $ —        $ (1.1

State

     —          (0.4
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total current income tax provision

     —          (1.5
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred income tax benefit

     

Federal

     3.7        —    

State

     0.1        —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total deferred income tax benefit

     3.8        —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total income tax benefit (provision)

   $ 3.8      $ (1.5
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The Company’s effective income tax rate differs from the statutory rate as follows:

 

     December 31,  
     2018     2019  

Federal statutory rate

     21.0     21.0

Effect of pass-through entities (LLC loss)

     (14.1 %)      (23.2 %) 

Other

     0.2     (0.5 %) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effective income tax rate

     7.1     (2.7 %) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected tax consequences of temporary differences between the book and tax bases of the Company’s assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are classified as noncurrent on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

The following table outlines the principal components of deferred tax items:

 

     December 31,  
     2018      2019  

Deferred tax assets

     

Tax credit carryforward

   $ 0.5      $ 0.2  

Restructuring accrual

     1.1        1.0  

Net operating loss

     1.1        —    

Other accruals

     0.7        1.5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total deferred tax assets

     3.4        2.7  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred tax liabilities

     

Intangibles

     (6.8      (6.0

Fixed assets

     (0.3      (0.4

Unbilled revenue

     (0.3      (0.2

Other liabilities

     (0.1      (0.2
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total deferred tax liabilities

     (7.5      (6.8
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net deferred tax liability

   $ (4.1    $ (4.1
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Management believes it is more likely than not that the results of future operations and the reversal of deferred tax liabilities will generate sufficient taxable income for the Company to realize deferred tax assets calculated as of December 31, 2019.

For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company had gross federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $5.0. At December 31, 2019, the Company has no federal or state net operating loss carryforwards remaining.

ASC 740, Income taxes, prescribes a model for the recognition and measurement of uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, disclosure and transition. As of December 31, 2019, the Company recorded $0.3 for uncertain tax positions. At December 31, 2018 the Company determined there is no effect on the consolidated financial statements related to uncertain tax positions.

The Company’s income tax filings are subject to audit by various taxing jurisdictions. The statutes of limitations related to the U.S. federal income tax return and most state income tax returns are closed for all tax years up to and including 2015. No U.S. federal, state and local income tax returns are under examination by the respective taxing authorities.

 

16.

Employee Benefit Plan

The Company maintains a defined contribution plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code covering full-time employees who meet minimum age and service requirements. The provisions of the plan include a discretionary corporate contribution. The Company’s expense for discretionary matching contributions, which is included in “General and administrative expenses” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, was $0.6 and $1.2 for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively.

 

17.

Operating Lease Agreements

The Company has leases under noncancellable agreements which expire on various dates through November 30, 2028. In addition, the Company rents a corporate jet from a related party.

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

Total rent expense, which is included in “General and administrative expenses” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, was $4.1 and $4.2 for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively.

The following are the future minimum rental payments required under the operating leases as of December 31, 2019:

 

2020

   $ 4.6  

2021

     3.8  

2022

     3.3  

2023

     2.5  

2024

     2.4  

Thereafter

     6.9  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 23.5  
  

 

 

 

 

18.

Related Party Transactions

The Company has access to aircrafts on a month-to-month basis from a shareholder of the Company. Total expense for this service, which is included in “General and administrative expenses” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, was $0.4 for each of the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019.

The Company incurred management fees to its respective shareholders, which is included in “Professional fees” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, of $2.0 for each of the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019. The Company had $2.0 and $0.5 in management fees outstanding as of December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively, included within “Accounts payable” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

19.

Commitments and Contingencies

From time to time, the Company may become involved in various lawsuits and legal proceedings, which arise, in the ordinary course of business. However, litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties, and an adverse result in these, or other matters, may arise from time to time that may harm our business. The Company is currently not aware of any such legal proceedings or claims that the Company believes will have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition or operating results.

Effective March 2016, the Company’s board of directors approved a means by which key employees of the Company may be given an opportunity to earn a bonus as a result of a Change of Control, defined as a merger, consolidation, exchange, conveyance, or sale of the Company, or an initial public offering pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, or the qualifying transaction. Upon the consummation of a qualifying transaction, the participants shall become entitled to receive a cash bonus payment or equity, at the Company’s discretion, calculated in accordance with the terms outlined in their respective Employment Agreements. The cash bonuses are subject to adjustment based on the Company’s value at the time of the qualifying transaction and are measured based on fair value, estimated in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation.

As of December 31, 2018 and 2019, the Company did not deem a qualifying transaction probable and thus, no amounts have been recorded in the financial statements.

 

20.

Redeemable Preferred Units

As of December 31, 2018 and 2019, the Company has 430 shares of non-convertible, Redeemable Preferred units (with a stated value at $100,000 per unit) authorized, issued and outstanding. As of December 31, 2018 and 2019, the Redeemable Preferred units have a carrying value and liquidation value of $43.0.

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

The Redeemable Preferred units earn a preferred dividend, which may be paid in cash or preferred units at a rate of 10.50% per annum, compounded quarterly. Any unpaid accumulated dividends are required to be paid prior to any other membership interest. The principal of the Redeemable Preferred units is payable only after all Common Unit holders are paid in full. The dividend is limited to $5.0 each calendar year. See Note 21 for a discussion of the Company’s liquidation preference.

Holders of Redeemable Preferred units are not entitled to vote on any matters of the Company’s affairs and have no preemptive rights. Redeemable Preferred units may be redeemed in cash, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, at a redemption price equal to the stated value of the unit. In the event of the sale of the Company or qualified public offering (i.e., initial public offering with aggregate offering prices in excess of $150.0), each Redeemable Preferred unit shall be mandatorily redeemable at a redemption price equal to the stated value per unit (subject to the prior discharge of and full satisfaction of loans and the First Lien Term Loan Facility and Second Lien Term Loan Facility). As such, the Redeemable Preferred units are classified in temporary equity as they represent a contingently redeemable security. Redeemable Preferred units may not be transferred at any time, without prior consent of the Company.

During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019, $4.7 and $5.0 of preferred dividends were accrued and recognized as a reduction of “Members’ Equity,” respectively. Total cumulative accrued but unpaid dividends as of December 31, 2018 and 2019 were $4.7 and $1.2, respectively, and are recorded in “Accrued expenses and other current liabilities” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

21.

Members’ Equity

The Company has two classes of noncertified, non-convertible common units authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2019: Class A Common units and Class B Common units.

As of December 31, 2019, the Company is authorized to issue 100,000 Class A Common units, and as of December 31, 2019, 60,000 units are issued and outstanding to Searchlight II GWN, L.P., or SCP or SCP Common Units, and 40,000 units are issued and outstanding to Rook Holdings, Inc., or Rook or Rook Common Units, a wholly owned corporation of which the Company’s current Chief Executive Officer is the sole stockholder.

Prior to May 31, 2021, Class A Common units are non-transferrable, except in the event the Company’s current Chief Executive Officer is terminated for a reason other than for cause or resignation; all Class A Common units (but not less than all) held by Rook can be transferred. Members holding Class A Common units are entitled to one vote per unit.

As of December 31, 2019, the Company has 1,010 Class B Common units authorized, issued and outstanding. Members holding Class B Common units are not entitled to vote on any matters of the Company and are not entitled to any distributions until aggregate distributions to holders of Class A Common units exceed $565.2, after which holders of Class B Common units are entitled to 1.11% of distributions to holders of Class A Common units and Class B Common units up to $655.0, after which holders of Class B Common units share in distributions with holders of Class A Common units on a pro rata basis. In addition, if aggregate distributions to holders of Class A Common units exceed $565.2, holders of Class B Common units are entitled to a special distribution of $9.0, divided on a pro rata basis.

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

Liquidation

In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company’s affairs, after payment of the Company’s debts and liabilities, and after paying any accumulated preferred dividends, any assets available for distribution will be paid as follows:

i.    To holders of the Class A Common units on a pro-rata basis, until their respective invested capital balance is equal to zero;

ii.    To holders of the Redeemable Preferred units with respect to the excess, if any, of the stated value of $100,000 per unit over cumulative preferred dividends;

iii.    To holders of the SCP Common Units until such holders receive the greater of an internal rate of return of 22.50% or 2.75 times the invested capital associated with the SCP Common Units;

iv.    85% to holders of the Rook Common Units, on a pro rata basis, and 15% to holders of the SCP Common Units, on a pro rata basis until holders of the Rook Common Units have received the greater of an internal rate of return of 22.50% or 2.75 times the Class A invested capital associated with the Rook Common Units;

v.    To holders of the Class A Common units pro rata basis, provided that the Class A Common unit ownership interest of each holder of Rook Common Units shall be increased by 6.3% of the holder’s pro rata share of Rook Common Units and the Class A Common unit ownership interest of each holder of SCP Common Units shall be decreased by 6.3% of the holder’s pro rata share of SCP Common Units.

Any distributions to holders of Class B Common units in a liquidation after payment of the Company’s debts and liabilities, and after paying any accumulated preferred dividends, are subject to the terms related to distributions to holders of Class B Common units stated above.

 

22.

Segments

Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise for which discrete financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the Chief Operating Decision Maker, or CODM, for the purposes of allocating resources and evaluating financial performance. The Company’s CODM is the chief executive officer, who reviews financial information on a consolidated level for purposes of allocating resources and evaluating financial performance, and as such, the Company’s operations constitute one operating segment and one reportable segment.

No single customer accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s revenue during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019. The Company’s operations are concentrated in the United States.

The following table summarizes gross revenue by revenue type:

 

     December 31,  
     2018      2019  

Payments-based revenue

   $ 485.2      $ 643.6  

Subscription and other revenues

     75.4        87.8  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total gross revenue

     560.6        731.4  

Less: network fees

     307.9        425.9  

Less: Other costs of sales

     102.3        126.5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross profit

   $ 150.4      $ 179.0  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

23.

Subsequent Events

The Company has evaluated subsequent events through March 6, 2020, which represents the date the consolidated financial statements were available to be issued and through May 15, 2020 with respect to the events and conditions from COVID-19 discussed in Note 2.

On March 5, 2020, the Company increased borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility to $89.5.

Subsequent events (unaudited)

The Company has evaluated subsequent events through June 1, 2020, which represents the date the consolidated financial statements were available to be reissued.

On May 31, 2020, the Company amended a month-to-month service agreement with a shareholder of the Company.

 

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Table of Contents

SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, INC. BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited) (dollars in actuals)

 

     December 31,
2019
    March 31,
2020
 

Assets

    

Current assets

    

Cash

   $ —       $ 16,995  

Other current asset

     —         12,980  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     —         29,975  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ —       $ 29,975  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

    

Payable to Shift4 Payments, LLC (Note 3)

   $ —       $ 30,000  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     —         30,000  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity (deficit)

    

Common shares, $0.01 par value, 1,000 shares authorized, 100 shares issued and outstanding

     1       1  

Additional paid-in-capital

     99       99  

Common shares receivable

     (100     (100

Retained deficit

     —         (25
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity (deficit)

     —         (25
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity

   $ —       $ 29,975  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, INC. STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited) (dollars in actuals)

 

     Three months ended  
     March 31, 2020  

General and administrative expenses

   $ 25  
  

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     25  
  

 

 

 

Net loss (1)

   $ (25
  

 

 

 

(1) Net loss is equal to comprehensive loss.

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, INC. STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT

(Unaudited) (dollars in actuals)

 

     Common shares      Additional
paid-in-capital
     Common
shares
receivable
    Retained
deficit
    Total  
     Units      Amount  

Balance at December 31, 2019

     100      $ 1      $ 99      $ (100   $ —       $ —    

Net loss

     —          —          —          —         (25     (25
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at March 31, 2020

     100      $ 1      $ 99      $ (100   $ (25   $ (25
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, INC. STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited) (dollars in actuals)

 

     Three months ended  
     March 31, 2020  

Operating activities

  

Net loss

   $ (25

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities

  

Other current asset

     (12,980

Payable to Shift4 Payments, LLC

     30,000  
  

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

     16,995  
  

 

 

 

Change in cash

     16,995  

Cash

  

Beginning of period

     —    
  

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 16,995  
  

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, INC. NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1.

Nature of Business and Basis of Presentation

Nature of Business

Shift4 Payments, Inc., or the Company, was incorporated in Delaware on November 5, 2019. Pursuant to a reorganization into a holding company structure, the Company will be a holding company and its principal asset will be a controlling equity interest in Shift4 Payments, LLC. As the sole managing member of Shift4 Payments, LLC, the Company will operate and control all of the business and affairs of Shift4 Payments, LLC, and through Shift4 Payments, LLC and its subsidiaries, conduct its business.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying interim financial statements are presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission for interim financial information.

 

2.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the balance sheet. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash

Highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase are considered to be cash equivalents and are stated at cost, which approximates fair value. There were no cash equivalents at December 31, 2019 or March 31, 2020.

The Company maintains its cash with high credit quality financial institutions. The total cash balances insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or FDIC, are up to $250 thousand per bank.

 

3.

Payable to Shift4 Payments, LLC

As of March 31, 2020, the Company had a payable to Shift4 Payments, LLC of $30,000, representing a cash transaction between two entities.

 

4.

Shareholders’ Equity (Deficit)

On November 5, 2019, the Company was authorized to issue 1,000 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value. On November 5, 2019, the Company issued 100 common shares for $100. The common shares receivable is reflected as a reduction to shareholders’ equity (deficit).

 

5.

Commitments and Contingencies

The Company did not have any commitments or contingencies as of December 31, 2019 or March 31, 2020.

 

6.

Subsequent Events

The Company has evaluated subsequent events through May 15, 2020, the date on which the financial statements were available for issuance and through June 1, 2020, which represents the date the condensed consolidated financial statements were available to be reissued.

On May 31, 2020, the Company entered into a purchase agreement with Rook Holdings Inc, or Rook, pursuant to which Rook agreed to purchase, subject to certain conditions, up to $100.0 million of Class C common stock of the Company in a private placement concurrent with, and subject to, the completion of an initial public offering of the Company’s stock. The founder of Shift4 Payments, LLC is the sole stockholder of Rooks Holdings, Inc.

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited) (in millions, except share and per share amounts)

 

     December 31,
2019
    March 31,
2020
 

Assets

    

Current assets

    

Cash

   $ 3.7     $ 70.2  

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2.7 in 2020 (2019 - $2.5)

     78.6       67.5  

Contract assets, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2.9 in 2020 (2019 - $2.9)

     6.8       6.8  

Inventory (Note 5)

     8.5       8.8  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets (Note 11)

     8.8       12.7  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     106.4       166.0  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Noncurrent assets

    

Goodwill (Note 6)

     421.3       422.0  

Other intangible assets, net (Note 7)

     213.2       202.7  

Capitalized acquisition costs, net (Note 8)

     26.4       28.7  

Property, plant and equipment, net (Note 9)

     15.4       15.4  

Contract assets, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1.5 in 2020 (2019 - $1.7)

     3.9       3.5  

Other noncurrent assets

     1.4       2.5  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total noncurrent assets

     681.6       674.8  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 788.0     $ 840.8  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities and Members’ Equity

    

Current liabilities

    

Current portion of long-term debt (Note 10)

   $ 5.3     $ 5.2  

Accounts payable

     58.1       55.4  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (Note 11)

     60.9       50.9  

Deferred revenue (Note 3)

     5.6       10.3  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     129.9       121.8  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Noncurrent liabilities

    

Long-term debt (Note 10)

     635.1       703.4  

Deferred tax liability

     4.1       3.4  

Other noncurrent liabilities (Note 4)

     4.8       4.6  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total noncurrent liabilities

     644.0       711.4  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     773.9       833.2  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 18)

    

Redeemable preferred units, $100,000 par value; 430 shares authorized, issued and outstanding (Note 19)

     43.0       43.0  

Members’ equity (Note 20)

    

Class A Common units, $0 par value; 100,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding

     —         —    

Class B Common units, $323 par value; 1,010 shares authorized, issued and outstanding

     0.3       0.3  

Members’ equity

     149.2       147.9  

Retained deficit

     (178.4     (183.6
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total members’ deficit

     (28.9     (35.4
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity

   $ 788.0     $ 840.8  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited) (in millions, except share and per share amounts)

 

     Three months ended
March 31,
 
     2019     2020  

Gross revenue

   $ 155.0     $ 199.4  

Cost of sales

     116.4       154.9  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     38.6       44.5  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

General and administrative expenses

     26.5       22.3  

Depreciation and amortization expense

     9.8       10.5  

Professional fees

     1.8       1.7  

Advertising and marketing expenses

     1.4       1.3  

Restructuring expenses

     0.2       0.2  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     39.7       36.0  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Loss) income from operations

     (1.1     8.5  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other income (expense), net

     0.2       (0.1

Interest expense

     (12.5     (13.3
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss before income taxes

     (13.4     (4.9

Income tax provision

     (0.1     (0.3
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss (1)

   $ (13.5   $ (5.2
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per unit—Class A

    

Basic

   $ (147.80   $ (63.67

Diluted

   $ (147.80   $ (63.67

Weighted-average Class A shares used to compute net loss per unit

    

Basic

     100,000       100,000  

Diluted

     100,000       100,000  

 

(1)

Net loss is equal to comprehensive loss.

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN MEMBERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)

(Unaudited) (in millions, except units)

 

     Class A Common Units      Class B Common Units     

Members’

Equity

   

Retained

Deficit

    Total  
     Units      Amount      Units      Amount  

Balance at December 31, 2018

     100,000      $ —          1,010      $ 0.3      $ 154.4     $ (113.3   $ 41.4  

Net loss

     —          —          —          —          —         (13.5     (13.5

Preferred return on redeemable preferred units

     —          —          —          —          (1.2     —         (1.2

Cumulative effect of ASC 606 adoption

     —          —          —          —          —         (7.0     (7.0
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at March 31, 2019

     100,000      $ —          1,010      $ 0.3      $ 153.2     $ (133.8   $ 19.7  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     Class A Common Units      Class B Common Units     

Members’

Equity

   

Retained

Deficit

    Total  
     Units      Amount      Units      Amount  

Balance at December 31, 2019

     100,000      $ —          1,010      $ 0.3      $ 149.2     $ (178.4   $ (28.9

Net loss

     —          —          —          —          —         (5.2     (5.2

Capital distributions

     —          —          —          —          (0.1     —         (0.1

Preferred return on redeemable preferred units

     —          —          —          —          (1.2     —         (1.2
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at March 31, 2020

     100,000      $ —          1,010      $ 0.3      $ 147.9     $ (183.6   $ (35.4
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited) (in millions)

 

     Three months
ended March 31,
 
     2019     2020  

Operating activities

    

Net loss

   $ (13.5   $ (5.2

Adjustment to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities

    

Depreciation and amortization

     14.9       17.7  

Amortization of capitalized loan fees

     0.9       1.1  

Deferred income taxes

     0.1       (0.6

Provision for bad debts

     1.2       1.6  

Revaluation of contingent liabilities

     4.1       (8.5

Other noncash items

     (0.1     —    

Change in operating assets and liabilities

    

Accounts receivable

     (7.3     9.6  

Contract assets

     (0.9     (0.3

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     (1.3     (3.2

Inventory

     0.2       (0.3

Accounts payable

     3.9       (4.7

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     4.1       (2.2

Deferred revenue

     4.1       4.7  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

     10.4       9.7  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investing activities

    

Residual commission buyouts

     (0.4     (0.4

Acquisition of property, plant and equipment

     (2.0     (1.4

Capitalized software development costs

     (1.0     (2.2

Customer acquisition costs

     (3.7     (5.6
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (7.1     (9.6
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Financing activities

    

Proceeds from revolving line of credit

     —         68.5  

Repayment of long-term debt

     (1.3     (1.3

Payments on contingent liabilities

     (0.9     (0.7

Capital distributions

     —         (0.1
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

     (2.2     66.4  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Change in cash

     1.1       66.5  

Cash

    

Beginning of period

     4.8       3.7  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 5.9     $ 70.2  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information

    

Cash paid for interest

   $ 11.7     $ 12.2  

Noncash operating activities

    

Prepaid information technology costs

   $ —       $ 1.5  

Deferred IPO-related costs

   $ —       $ 0.4  

Noncash financing activity

    

Accrued preferred return on redeemable preferred units

   $ 1.2     $ 2.3  

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

1.

Nature of Business, Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Business

Shift4 Payments, LLC, or Shift4 or the Company, was founded in 1999 and is a leading provider of integrated payment processing and technology solutions. Through the Shift4 Model, the Company offers software providers a single integration to an end-to-end payments offering, a powerful gateway and a robust suite of technology solutions (including cloud enablement, business intelligence, analytics, and mobile) to enhance the value of their software suites and simplify payment acceptance. The Company provides for its merchants a seamless customer experience at scale, rather than simply acting as one of multiple providers they rely on to operate their businesses. The Shift4 Model is built to serve a range of merchants from small-to-medium-sized businesses to large and complex enterprises across numerous verticals, including lodging, leisure, and food and beverage. This includes the Company’s Harbortouch, Restaurant Manager, POSitouch, and Future POS brands, as well as over 350 additional software integrations in virtually every industry.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company are unaudited. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or U.S. GAAP, and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission for interim financial information. As such, these financial statements do not include all information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. The December 31, 2019 Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet was derived from audited financial statements as of that date, but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements.

The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments of a normal recurring nature considered necessary to state fairly the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. The interim results for the three months ended March 31, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2020, or for any other future annual or interim period.

The consolidated financial statements presented herein include the financial statements of Shift4 Payments, LLC and its wholly owned subsidiaries, MSI Merchant Services Holdings, LLC, Harbortouch Financial, LLC, Harbortouch Lithuania, Future POS, LLC, Restaurant Manager, LLC, POSitouch, LLC, Independent Resources Network, LLC, S4-ML Holdings, LLC and Shift4 Corporation.

Liquidity and Management’s Plan

The unprecedented and rapid spread of COVID-19 as well as the shelter-in place orders, promotion of social distancing measures, restrictions to businesses deemed non-essential, and travel restrictions implemented throughout the United States have significantly impacted the restaurant and hospitality industries. As a result, the Company’s revenues, which are largely tied to processing volumes in these verticals, were materially impacted beginning in the final two weeks of March 2020. The Company expects a decrease in its payments-based revenue throughout 2020 and early 2021 compared to original expectations as a result of known shelter-in-place restrictions and social distancing measures anticipated to continue, which are expected to have a material impact on its financial results and liquidity.

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

In developing our estimates of the potential impact of COVID-19 on our business we have had to make a number of assumptions most notably related to our processing volume and our expectations for recovery over the remainder of 2020 and into 2021. These assumptions have been factored into our analysis of our liquidity needs and actions that may be necessary to respond to the current environment to manage cash flow and comply with our debt covenant requirements. As a result of this analysis, the Company has taken proactive measures, in addition to drawing the remaining capacity of its Revolving Credit Facility, to reduce costs, preserve adequate liquidity and maintain its financial position. These include limiting discretionary spending across the organization, reducing spending through reprioritizing its capital projects, instituting a company-wide hiring freeze, reducing salaries for management across the organization, furloughing approximately 25% of its workforce in April 2020 and accelerating expense reduction plans related to previous acquisitions.

As of March 31, 2020, the Company had $509.8 million, $130.0 million, and $89.5 million outstanding under the First Lien Term Loan Facility, Second Lien Term Loan Facility, and the Revolving Credit Facility, respectively. In March 2020, the Company drew the remaining $64.5 million available under its Revolving Credit Facility as noted above. Refer to Note 10 for further information on the Company’s debt obligations.

At March 31, 2020, the Company was in compliance with the financial covenants under its debt agreements and we expect to be in compliance for at least the 12 months following issuance of these condensed consolidated financial statements. While we expect to be in compliance with our debt covenants based on our current estimates, if conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic worsen and processing volumes and our related revenues do not continue to recover in accordance with our current plans discussed above, we may not be able to comply with our financial covenants. If the Company does not remain in compliance with its debt covenants, it would have to seek amendments or waivers to these covenants. The Company may also need to implement further strategies to enhance its liquidity position and ensure it can meet its debt covenants and liquidity needs for at least the next 12 months. These strategies may include, but are not limited to, pursuing financing from the public markets, a capital infusion from its equity holders as well as additional cost savings measures. However, no assurances can be made that such amendments or waiver would be approved by the Company’s lenders and if so at terms acceptable to us, nor can we determine the impact of potential additional costs to obtain an amendment or waiver such as increased interest expense. Generally, if an event of default under its debt agreement occurs, then substantially all of the outstanding debt could become due immediately, which could have a material adverse impact to the Company’s operations and liquidity.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Significant estimates inherent in the preparation of the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include estimates of fair value of acquired assets and liabilities through business combinations, fair value of contingent liabilities related to earnout payments and change of control, and allowance for doubtful accounts. Estimates are based on past experience and other considerations reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

Additionally, the full impact of COVID-19 is unknown and cannot be reasonably estimated. However, the Company has made accounting estimates based on the facts and circumstances available as of the reporting date. To the extent there are differences between these estimates and actual results, the consolidated financial statements may be materially affected.

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

Significant Accounting Policies

There have been no material changes to the Company’s significant accounting policies during the three months ended March 31, 2020 as compared to the significant accounting policies described in the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

The Company, an emerging growth company, or EGC, has elected to take advantage of the benefits of the extended transition period provided for in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act, for complying with new or revised accounting standards which allows the Company to defer adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies.

Accounting Pronouncements Adopted

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13: Fair Value Measurement—Disclosure Framework (Topic 820). The updated guidance improves the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements. The Company adopted ASU 2016-15 effective January 1, 2020 and there was no significant impact on the Company’s disclosures upon adoption.

Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02: Leases. The new standard requires a lessee to record assets and liabilities on the balance sheet for the rights and obligations arising from leases with terms of more than 12 months. As a result of amendments made in May 2020, this guidance is effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021 and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022. The Company will adopt the new standard on January 1, 2022 using a modified retrospective approach. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-10: Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases, or ASU 2018-10, and ASU 2018-11: Leases (Topic 842) Targeted Improvements, or ASU 2018-11. ASU 2018-10 provides certain amendments that affect narrow aspects of the guidance issued in ASU 2016-02. ASU 2018-11 allows all entities adopting ASU 2016-02 to choose an additional (and optional) transition method of adoption, under which an entity initially applies the new leases standard at the adoption date and recognizes a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. ASU 2018-11 also allows lessors to not separate non-lease components from the associated lease component if certain conditions are met. The Company is evaluating the potential impact that the adoption of this standard will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13: Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326), which changes the impairment model for most financial assets, including accounts receivable, and replaces the existing incurred loss impairment model with an expected loss methodology, which will result in more timely recognition of credit losses. The guidance is effective for the Company for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2022. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the timing and impact of adopting ASU 2016-13 on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04: Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, which removes step 2 of the quantitative goodwill impairment test. Under the amended guidance, a goodwill impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill. The guidance is effective for the Company for

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2022, with early adoption permitted for any impairment tests performed after January 1, 2017. The Company is currently assessing the timing and impact of adopting ASU 2017-04 on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement that is a Service Contract. ASU 2018-15 aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal use software license). The accounting for the service element of a hosting arrangement that is a service contract is not affected. The guidance is effective for the Company for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2021. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in any interim period. The Company is currently assessing the timing and impact of adopting ASU 2018-15 on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

2.

Merchant Link Acquisition

We completed the acquisition of Merchant-Link, LLC, or Merchant Link Acquisition, in August 2019 by acquiring 100% of the membership interests for $64.0, with initial consideration of $60.2, net of cash acquired. This acquisition brought a highly complementary customer base, with 80% of the customers using software already integrated on the Company’s gateway. This overlap presented the Company with a substantial opportunity for improved share of wallet and cost efficiencies.

The Merchant Link Acquisition was accounted for as a business combination using the acquisition method of accounting. The respective purchase price was allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on the estimated fair value at the date of acquisition. The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired was allocated to goodwill and represents the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired, which cannot be individually identified or separately recognized.

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

The following table summarizes the consideration paid and the fair value assigned to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date. These amounts reflect various preliminary fair value estimates and assumptions, and are subject to change within the measurement period as valuations are finalized. The primary areas of preliminary purchase price allocation subject to change relate to the valuation of accounts receivable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities assumed and residual goodwill. In the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company made a measurement period adjustment of $(0.7) to accounts receivable with a corresponding increase to goodwill to reflect facts and circumstances in existence as of the effective date of the acquisition.

 

Cash

   $ 3.8  

Accounts receivable

     7.5  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     1.9  

Property, plant and equipment

     2.4  

Inventory

     1.7  

Other intangible assets

     20.4  

Goodwill (a)

     30.2  

Accounts payable

     (1.5

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     (2.1

Deferred revenue

     (0.3
  

 

 

 

Net assets acquired

     64.0  

Less: cash acquired

     (3.8
  

 

 

 

Net cash paid for acquisition

   $ 60.2  
  

 

 

 

 

  (a)

Goodwill is not deductible for tax purposes.

The Merchant Link acquisition did not have a material impact on the Company’s reported revenue or net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2020. Accordingly, pro forma financial information has not been presented.

 

3.

Revenue

Adoption of ASC 606: Revenue from Contracts with Customers

The Company recorded a net reduction to retained earnings of $7.0 as of January 1, 2019, due to the cumulative impact of adopting ASC 606, primarily as a result of no longer being able to defer the upfront cost for the Company’s free equipment program to its merchants under the current contract terms and recognizing the revenue allocated to this hardware in retained earnings for contracts open as of January 1, 2019.

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

Disaggregated Revenue

Based on similar operational characteristics, the Company’s revenue from contracts with customers is disaggregated as follows:

 

     Three months ended
March 31,
 
     2019      2020  

Payments-based revenue

   $ 134.0        176.4  

Subscription-based revenue

     16.4        17.6  

Other revenue

     4.6        5.4  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 155.0      $ 199.4  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Based on similar economic characteristics, the Company’s revenue from contracts with customers is disaggregated as follows:

 

     Three months ended
March 31,
 
     2019      2020  

Over-time revenue

   $ 143.6      $ 188.8  

Point-in-time revenue

     11.4        10.6  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 155.0      $ 199.4  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Contract Liabilities

The Company charges merchants for various post-contract license support/service fees and annual regulatory compliance fees. These fees typically relate to a period of one year. The Company recognizes the revenue on a straight-line basis over its respective period. As of December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020, the Company had deferred revenue of $5.6 and $10.3, respectively. The change in the contract liabilities is primarily the result of a timing difference between payment from the customer and the Company’s satisfaction of each performance obligation.

The Company recognized $2.9 and $3.5 within “Gross Revenue” in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for annual service fees and regulatory compliance fees for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively. Of these amounts, $1.4 and $1.6 were included in deferred revenue at the beginning of each respective period.

Transaction Price Allocated to Future Performance Obligations

The transaction price allocated to unsatisfied performance obligations relate to the Company’s SaaS contracts, which have a contractual term of 36 months. These amounts will be converted into revenue in future periods as work is performed, primarily based on the services provided or at delivery and acceptance of products, depending on the applicable accounting method.

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

The following table reflects the estimated fees to be recognized in the future related to performance obligations that are unsatisfied at the end of the period:

 

2020 (remaining nine months)

   $ 8.3  

2021

     4.6  

2022

     1.8  

2023

     0.1  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 14.8  
  

 

 

 

Capitalized Acquisition Costs, net

As of December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020, the Company had net capitalized costs to obtain contracts of $26.4 and $28.7, respectively, included in “Capitalized acquisition costs, net” in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets representing upfront processing bonuses. See Note 8 for more information on capitalized acquisition costs.

 

4.

Restructuring

The following table summarizes the changes in the Company’s restructuring accrual:

 

     2018 Restructuring
Activities
     2019 Restructuring
Activities
     Total  

Balance at December 31, 2019

   $ 4.2      $ 1.5      $ 5.7  

Severance payments

     (0.5      (1.1      (1.6

Accretion of interest (a)

     0.1               0.1  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance at March 31, 2020

   $ 3.8      $ 0.4      $ 4.2  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a)

Accretion of interest is included within “Restructuring expenses” in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

During the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2020, the Company recognized $0.2 and $0.1, respectively, of accreted interest related to restructuring activities associated with a historical acquisition.

The current portion of the restructuring accrual of $2.9 and $1.4 at December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020, respectively, is included within “Accrued expenses and other current liabilities” on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The long-term portion of the restructuring accrual of $2.8 at both December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020, is included within “Other noncurrent liabilities” on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Of the $4.2 restructuring accrual outstanding as of March 31, 2020, approximately $1.7 is expected to be paid in 2020, $1.6 in 2021 and $1.6 in 2022, less accreted interest of $0.7.

 

5.

Inventory

Inventory consisted of the following:

 

     December 31,
2019
     March 31,
2020
 

Point-of-sale systems and components

   $ 2.6      $ 1.9  

Terminal systems and components

     5.9        6.9  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total inventory

   $ 8.5      $ 8.8  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

6.

Goodwill

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill were as follows:

 

Balance at December 31, 2019

   $ 421.3  

Measurement period adjustment (Note 2)

     0.7  
  

 

 

 

Balance at March 31, 2020

   $ 422.0  
  

 

 

 

 

7.

Other Intangible Assets, Net

Other intangible assets, net consisted of the following:

 

    Weighted
Average
Amortization
Period

(in years)
    December 31, 2019  
    Carrying Value     Accumulated
Amortization
    Net Carrying Value  

Merchant relationships

    8     $ 176.8     $ 81.1     $ 95.7  

Acquired technology

    10       105.2       32.2       73.0  

Trademarks and trade names

    9       55.5       30.1       25.4  

Noncompete agreements

    2       3.9       3.6       0.3  

Capitalized software development costs

    3       14.9       2.0       12.9  

Leasehold interest

    2       0.1       0.1        

Residual commission buyouts (a)

    3       15.7       9.8       5.9  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total intangible assets

    $ 372.1     $ 158.9     $ 213.2  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

    Weighted
Average

Amortization
Period

(in years)
    March 31, 2020  
    Carrying Value     Accumulated
Amortization
    Net Carrying Value  

Merchant relationships

    8     $ 176.8     $ 87.4     $ 89.4  

Acquired technology

    10       105.1       34.8       70.3  

Trademarks and trade names

    9       55.5       32.3       23.2  

Noncompete agreements

    2       3.9       3.7       0.2  

Capitalized software development costs

    3       17.0       2.9       14.1  

Leasehold interest

    2       0.1       0.1       —    

Residual commission buyouts (a)

    3       16.2       10.7       5.5  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total intangible assets

    $ 374.6     $ 171.9     $ 202.7  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  (a)

Residual commission buyouts include contingent payments of $2.7 and $2.8 as of December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020, respectively.

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

As of March 31, 2020, the estimated amortization expense for intangible assets for each of the five succeeding years and thereafter is as follows:

 

2020 (remaining nine months)

   $ 39.0  

2021

     47.2  

2022

     30.3  

2023

     19.4  

2024

     17.1  

Thereafter

     49.7  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 202.7  
  

 

 

 

Amounts charged to expense in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for amortization of intangible assets were as follows:

 

     Three months ended
March 31,
 

Line item

   2019      2020  

Depreciation and amortization expense

   $ 9.3      $ 9.5  

Cost of sales

     2.8        3.5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 12.1      $ 13.0  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

8.

Capitalized Acquisition Costs, Net

Capitalized acquisition costs, net were $26.4 and $28.7 at December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020. This consists of capitalized deal bonuses with a gross carrying value of $39.2 and $44.2 and accumulated amortization of $12.8 and $15.5 at December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020, respectively.

Amortization expense for capitalized acquisition costs is $2.1 and $3.3 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively, and is included in “Cost of sales” in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

As of March 31, 2020, the estimated future amortization expense for capitalized acquisition costs is as follows:

 

2020 (remaining nine months)

   $ 10.3  

2021

     11.2  

2022

     6.3  

2023

     0.9  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 28.7  
  

 

 

 

 

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(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

9.

Property, Plant and Equipment, Net

Property, plant and equipment, net consisted of the following:

 

     December 31,
2019
     March 31,
2020
 

Equipment

   $ 13.3      $ 14.2  

Capitalized software

     7.1        7.2  

Leasehold improvements

     11.3        11.6  

Furniture and fixtures

     2.9        3.0  

Vehicles

     0.2        0.2  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total property and equipment, gross

     34.8        36.2  

Less: Accumulated depreciation

     (19.4      (20.8
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total property and equipment, net

   $ 15.4      $ 15.4  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Amounts charged to expense in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for depreciation of property, plant and equipment were as follows:

 

     Three months ended
March 31,
 

Line item

   2019      2020  

Depreciation and amortization expense

   $ 0.4      $ 1.0  

Cost of sales

     0.3        0.4  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total depreciation expense

   $ 0.7      $ 1.4  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

10.

Debt

The Company’s outstanding debt consisted of the following:

 

     December 31,
2019
     March 31,
2020
 

First Lien Term Loan Facility

   $ 511.1      $ 509.8  

Second Lien Term Loan Facility

     130.0        130.0  

Revolving Credit Facility

     21.0        89.5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total borrowings

     662.1        729.3  

Less: Current portion of long-term debt

     (5.3      (5.2
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total debt

     656.8        724.1  

Less: Unamortized capitalized loan fees

     (21.7      (20.7
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total long-term debt

   $ 635.1      $ 703.4  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

The following summarizes the Company’s maturities of its borrowings as of March 31, 2020:

 

2020 (remaining nine months)

   $ 4.0  

2021

     5.2  

2022

     94.7  

2023

     5.2  

2024

     490.2  

Thereafter

     130.0  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 729.3  
  

 

 

 

Credit Facilities

On November 30, 2017, the Company borrowed $560.0 of aggregate principal amount of secured term loans comprised of first lien term loans of $430.0 due November 30, 2024, or First Lien Term Loan Facility, and second lien term loans of $130.0 due November 30, 2025, or Second Lien Term Loan Facility. The Company used available incremental capacity to upsize the First Lien Term Loan Facility to $450.0 in April 2019 and to $520.0 in October 2019. Interest with respect to the First Lien Term Loan Facility is payable quarterly in arrears at a rate of LIBOR plus 4.50% per annum (6.277% at March 31, 2020). Interest with respect to the Second Lien Term Loan Facility is payable quarterly in arrears at a rate of LIBOR plus 8.50% per annum (10.277% at March 31, 2020). The interest rate is determined based on the Company’s first lien leverage ratio for the preceding fiscal quarter.

The First Lien Term Loan Facility and Second Lien Term Loan Facility are subject to covenants that, among other things, limit or restrict the Company in creating liens, holding any unpermitted investments or new indebtedness, making any dispositions or restricted payments unless otherwise permitted in the agreement, and making material changes to the business. At December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020, the Company was in compliance with all financial covenants.

Amortization of capitalized financing fees is included in “Interest expense” within the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. Amortization expense was $0.9 and $1.1 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively.

Revolving Credit Facility

The First Lien Term Loan Facility included a revolving credit facility of $40.0, or Revolving Credit Facility, which expires November 30, 2022. In August 2019, the Revolving Credit Facility was increased to a borrowing capacity of $90.0 with incremental borrowings used to partially fund the Merchant Link Acquisition. The Company is subject to certain additional covenants related to the Revolving Credit Facility. The Company was in compliance with these covenants at December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020.

Interest due under the Revolving Credit Facility depends on the type of loan selected but generally is due interest at LIBOR plus an applicable margin ranging from 3.00% to 4.50%.

The Revolving Credit Facility unused commitment fee ranges from 0.25% to 0.50%. The applicable margin and unused commitment fee are determined based on the Company’s first lien net leverage ratio at the previously reported fiscal quarter.

As of December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020, the Company had outstanding borrowings of $21.0 and $89.5, respectively, under the Revolving Credit Facility. In January 2020, the Company drew $4.0 million under the Revolving Credit Facility for general corporate purposes. In March 2020, to preserve adequate

 

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(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

liquidity and strengthen its financial position during the uncertain times amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company drew the remaining $64.5 million available in the Revolving Credit Facility.

 

11.

Other Consolidated Balance Sheet Components

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

Prepaid expenses and other current assets consisted of the following:

 

     December 31,
2019
     March 31,
2020
 

Prepaid expenses (a)

   $ 6.1      $ 6.6  

Agent and employee loan receivables

     0.5        0.6  

Deferred IPO-related costs (b)

     2.0        5.3  

Other current assets

     0.2        0.2  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total prepaid expenses and other current assets

   $ 8.8      $ 12.7  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a)

Prepaid expenses include prepayments related to information technology, rent, insurance, tradeshows and conferences.

 

  (b)

Primarily includes attorney and consulting fees in support of the Company’s anticipated initial public offering. Upon completion, these costs will be offset against the gross proceeds of the initial public offering.

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consisted of the following:

 

     December 31,
2019
     March 31,
2020
 

Contingent liabilities related to earnout payments and change of control (a)

   $ 32.3      $ 21.4  

Accrued interest

     9.2        10.3  

Residuals payable

     5.5        4.8  

Deferred tenant reimbursement allowance

     3.6        3.5  

Restructuring accrual

     2.9        1.4  

Accrued payroll

     2.3        3.6  

Other current liabilities

     5.1        5.9  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total accrued expenses and other current liabilities

   $ 60.9      $ 50.9  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a)

Represents contingent liabilities arising from certain past acquisitions. Refer to Note 13 for information on contingent liabilities related to earnout payments and change of control.

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

12.

Loss per Unit

The following summarizes the computation of loss per unit and weighted average units of the Company’s LLC Interests outstanding:

 

     Three months ended
March 31,
 
     2019      2020  

Numerator:

     

Net loss

   $ (13.5    $ (5.2

Deemed dividend on redeemable preferred units

     (1.2      (1.2

Earnings allocated to participating preferred units

     —          —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to common unitholders—basic and diluted

   $ (14.7    $ (6.4
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Denominator-Class A:

     

Weighted average common units outstanding—basic

     100,000        100,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Weighted average common units outstanding—diluted

     100,000        100,000  

Loss per unit-Class A:

     

Basic

   $ (147.80    $ (63.67

Diluted

   $ (147.80    $ (63.67

The weighted average Class A and Class B common units have not been combined in the denominator of basic and diluted loss per unit because they do not have equivalent economic rights to share in the losses of the reporting entity. The Company applies the two-class method because its preferred units have rights to participate in dividends with the common unitholders on a pro-rata basis. Preferred units do not have a contractual obligation to share in losses, and therefore, no losses have been allocated to them. Additionally, the following securities were not included in the computation of diluted units outstanding because the effect would be anti-dilutive:

 

     Three months ended
March 31,
 
     2019      2020  

Anti-dilutive securities excluded from diluted loss per unit:

     

Convertible preferred units

     430        430  

 

13.

Fair Value Measurement

U.S. GAAP defines a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted process in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements).

The Company determines the fair values of its assets and liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in accordance with the hierarchy described below. The following three levels of inputs may be used to measure fair value:

 

   

Level 1—Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

 

   

Level 2—Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities;

 

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(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

   

Level 3—Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. Level 3 assets and liabilities include items where the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation.

The Company makes recurring fair value measurements of contingent liabilities arising from certain acquisitions using Level 3 unobservable inputs. These amounts relate to a change of control provision and expected earnout payments related to the number of existing point-of-sale merchants that convert to full acquiring merchants.

The contingent liability related to a change of control was measured on the acquisition date using a Monte Carlo simulation model based on expected possible valuations of the Company upon a change of control and is remeasured at each reporting date due to changes in management’s expectations regarding possible future valuations of the Company, including considerations of changes in results of the Company, guideline public company multiples, and expected volatility.

The contingent liabilities arising from expected earnout payments were measured on the acquisition date using a probability-weighted expected payment model and are remeasured periodically due to changes in management’s estimates of the number of existing point-of-sale merchants that will convert to full acquiring merchants. In determining the fair value of the contingent liabilities, management reviews the current results of the acquired business, along with projected results for the remaining earnout period, to calculate the expected earnout payment to be made using the agreed upon formula as laid out in the respective acquisition agreement. The earnout liabilities are discounted at a rate used of 3.87% and 4.45% as of December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020, respectively. As of December 31, 2019, the undiscounted estimated range of outcomes is between $1.5 and $2.3. As of March 31, 2020, the undiscounted estimated range of outcomes is between $1.1 and $1.7.

The fair value of the contingent liabilities is subject to sensitivity based on projected results and changes in the discount rate. Changes in these assumptions could impact the fair value significantly.

Additional information regarding the contingent liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis is presented in the following table:

 

     Fair value as of
December 31,

2019
     Quoted
Prices in
Active Markets
for Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
     Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
     Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 

Contingent liabilities related to change of control (a)

   $ (30.4      —          —        $ (30.4

Contingent liabilities related to earnout payments (a)

     (1.9      —          —          (1.9
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total contingent liabilities

   $ (32.3    $ —        $ —        $ (32.3
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

     Fair value as of
March 31,
2020
     Quoted
Prices in
Active Markets
for Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
     Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
     Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 

Contingent liabilities related to change of control (a)

   $ (20.0      —          —        $ (20.0

Contingent liabilities related to deferred compensation arrangements (b)

     (1.7      —          —          (1.7

Contingent liabilities related to earnout payments (a)

     (1.4      —          —          (1.4
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total contingent liabilities

   $ (23.1    $ —        $ —        $ (23.1
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a)

Included in “Accrued expenses and other current liabilities” on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

  (b)

During the three months ended March 31, 2020, certain employment compensation agreements were amended. Consequently, previously recorded deferred compensation liabilities of $1.9 million associated with these agreements, included within “Other noncurrent liabilities” on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2019, were derecognized and new liabilities of $1.7 million were recognized at fair value within “Other noncurrent liabilities” on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2020.

The table below provides a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances for the Level 3 contingent liabilities:

 

     Three months ended
March 31,
 
     2019      2020  

Balance at beginning of period

   $ (19.9    $ (32.3

Additions (a)

     —          (1.7

Payments

     0.9        0.7  

Fair value adjustments

     (4.1      10.2  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance at end of period

   $ (23.1    $ (23.1
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a)

Represents fair value of amended employment compensation agreements.

Fair value adjustments are recorded within “General and administrative expenses” within the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. There were no transfers into or out of Level 3 during the three months ended March 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020.

Other financial instruments not measured at fair value on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020 include cash, accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other current assets, accounts payable, and accrued expenses and other current liabilities as their estimated fair values reasonably approximate their carrying value as reported on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company’s debt obligations are carried at their face value, which approximates fair value.

 

14.

Income Taxes

During the three months ended March 31, 2019, the Company recorded $0.1 of income tax expense, which represented an effective tax rate of 0.8%. During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company recorded income tax expense of $0.3, which represented an effective tax rate of 6.12%.

Management believes it is more likely than not that the results of future operations and the reversal of deferred tax liabilities will generate sufficient taxable income for the Company to realize deferred tax assets calculated as of December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020.

 

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(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

ASC 740, Income taxes, prescribes a model for the recognition and measurement of uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, disclosure and transition. As of December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020, the Company recorded $0.3 and $0.4 for uncertain tax positions, respectively.

The Company’s income tax filings are subject to audit by various taxing jurisdictions. The statutes of limitations related to the U.S. federal income tax return and most state income tax returns are closed for all tax years up to and including 2016. No U.S. federal, state and local income tax returns are under examination by the respective taxing authorities.

 

15.

Employee Benefit Plan

The Company maintains a defined contribution plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code covering full-time employees who meet minimum age and service requirements. The provisions of the plan include a discretionary corporate contribution. The Company’s expense for discretionary matching contributions, which is included in “General and administrative expenses” in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, was $0.2 and $0.3 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively.

 

16.

Operating Lease Agreements

The Company has leases under noncancellable agreements which expire on various dates through November 30, 2028. In addition, the Company rents a corporate jet from a related party.

Total rent expense, which is included in “General and administrative expenses” in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, was $0.5 and $1.7 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively.

The following are the future minimum rental payments required under the operating leases as of March 31, 2020:

 

2020 (remaining nine months)

   $ 3.5  

2021

     3.9  

2022

     3.2  

2023

     2.3  

2024

     2.3  

Thereafter

     6.2  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 21.4  
  

 

 

 

 

17.

Related Party Transactions

The Company has access to aircrafts on a month-to-month basis from a shareholder of the Company. Total expense for this service, which is included in “General and administrative expenses” in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, was $0.1 for both the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2020.

The Company incurred management fees to its respective shareholders, which are included in “Professional fees” in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, of $0.5 for both the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2020. The Company had $0.5 and $1.0 in management fees outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020, respectively, included within “Accounts payable” in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

18.

Commitments and Contingencies

From time to time, the Company may become involved in various lawsuits and legal proceedings, which arise, in the ordinary course of business. However, litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties, and an adverse result in these, or other matters, may arise from time to time that may harm our business. The Company is currently not aware of any such legal proceedings or claims that the Company believes will have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or operating results.

Effective March 2016, the Company’s board of directors approved a means by which key employees of the Company may be given an opportunity to earn a bonus as a result of a Change of Control, defined as a merger, consolidation, exchange, conveyance, or sale of the Company, or an initial public offering pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, or the qualifying transaction. Upon the consummation of a qualifying transaction, the participants shall become entitled to receive a cash bonus payment or equity, at the Company’s discretion, calculated in accordance with the terms outlined in their respective Employment Agreements. The cash bonuses are subject to adjustment based on the Company’s value at the time of the qualifying transaction and are measured based on fair value, estimated in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation.

As of December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020, the Company did not deem a qualifying transaction probable and thus, no amounts have been recorded in the financial statements.

 

19.

Redeemable Preferred Units

As of December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020, the Company has 430 shares of non-convertible, Redeemable Preferred units (with a stated value at $100,000 per unit) authorized, issued and outstanding. As of December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020, the Redeemable Preferred units have a carrying value and liquidation value of $43.0.

The Redeemable Preferred units earn a preferred dividend, which may be paid in cash or preferred units at a rate of 10.50% per annum, compounded quarterly. Any unpaid accumulated dividends are required to be paid prior to any other membership interest. The principal of the Redeemable Preferred units is payable only after all Common Unit holders are paid in full. The dividend is limited to $5.0 each calendar year. See Note 20 for a discussion of the Company’s liquidation preference.

Holders of Redeemable Preferred units are not entitled to vote on any matters of the Company’s affairs and have no preemptive rights. Redeemable Preferred units may be redeemed in cash, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, at a redemption price equal to the stated value of the unit. In the event of the sale of the Company or qualified public offering (i.e., initial public offering with aggregate offering prices in excess of $150.0), each Redeemable Preferred unit shall be mandatorily redeemable at a redemption price equal to the stated value per unit (subject to the prior discharge of and full satisfaction of loans and the First Lien Term Loan Facility and Second Lien Term Loan Facility). As such, the Redeemable Preferred units are classified in temporary equity as they represent a contingently redeemable security. Redeemable Preferred units may not be transferred at any time, without prior consent of the Company.

During both the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2020, $1.2 of preferred dividends were accrued and recognized as a reduction of “Members’ Equity.” Total cumulative accrued but unpaid dividends as of December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020 were $1.2 and $2.3, respectively, and are recorded in “Accrued expenses and other current liabilities” on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

20.

Members’ Equity

The Company has two classes of noncertified, non-convertible common units authorized, issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2020: Class A Common units and Class B Common units.

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

As of March 31, 2020, the Company is authorized to issue 100,000 Class A Common units, and as of March 31, 2020, 60,000 units are issued and outstanding to Searchlight II GWN, L.P., or SCP or SCP Common Units, and 40,000 units are issued and outstanding to Rook Holdings, Inc., or Rook or Rook Common Units, a wholly owned corporation of which the Company’s current Chief Executive Officer is the sole stockholder.

Prior to May 31, 2021, Class A Common units are non-transferrable, except in the event the Company’s current Chief Executive Officer is terminated for a reason other than for cause or resignation; all Class A Common units (but not less than all) held by Rook can be transferred. Members holding Class A Common units are entitled to one vote per unit.

As of March 31, 2020, the Company has 1,010 Class B Common units authorized, issued and outstanding. Members holding Class B Common units are not entitled to vote on any matters of the Company and are not entitled to any distributions until aggregate distributions to holders of Class A Common units exceed $565.2, after which holders of Class B Common units are entitled to 1.11% of distributions to holders of Class A Common units and Class B Common units up to $655.0, after which holders of Class B Common units share in distributions with holders of Class A Common units on a pro rata basis. In addition, if aggregate distributions to holders of Class A Common units exceed $565.2, holders of Class B Common units are entitled to a special distribution of $9.0, divided on a pro rata basis.

Liquidation

In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company’s affairs, after payment of the Company’s debts and liabilities, and after paying any accumulated preferred dividends, any assets available for distribution will be paid as follows:

i.    To holders of the Class A Common units on a pro-rata basis, until their respective invested capital balance is equal to zero;

ii.    To holders of the Redeemable Preferred units with respect to the excess, if any, of the stated value of $100,000 per unit over cumulative preferred dividends;

iii.    To holders of the SCP Common Units until such holders receive the greater of an internal rate of return of 22.50% or 2.75 times the invested capital associated with the SCP Common Units;

iv.    85% to holders of the Rook Common Units, on a pro rata basis, and 15% to holders of the SCP Common Units, on a pro rata basis until holders of the Rook Common Units have received the greater of an internal rate of return of 22.50% or 2.75 times the Class A invested capital associated with the Rook Common Units;

v.    To holders of the Class A Common units pro rata basis, provided that the Class A Common unit ownership interest of each holder of Rook Common Units shall be increased by 6.3% of the holder’s pro rata share of Rook Common Units and the Class A Common unit ownership interest of each holder of SCP Common Units shall be decreased by 6.3% of the holder’s pro rata share of SCP Common Units.

Any distributions to holders of Class B Common units in a liquidation after payment of the Company’s debts and liabilities, and after paying any accumulated preferred dividends, are subject to the terms related to distributions to holders of Class B Common units stated above.

 

21.

Segments

Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise for which discrete financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the Chief Operating Decision Maker, or CODM, for the purposes of

 

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SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in millions, except share, unit, per unit and merchant count amounts)

 

allocating resources and evaluating financial performance. The Company’s CODM is the chief executive officer, who reviews financial information on a consolidated level for purposes of allocating resources and evaluating financial performance, and as such, the Company’s operations constitute one operating segment and one reportable segment.

No single customer accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s revenue during the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2020. The Company’s operations are concentrated in the United States.

The following table summarizes gross revenue by revenue type:

 

     Three months ended
March 31,
 
     2019      2020  

Payments-based revenue

   $ 134.0      $ 176.4  

Subscription and other revenues

     21.0        23.0  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total gross revenue

     155.0        199.4  

Less: network fees

     88.7        120.3  

Less: Other costs of sales

     27.7        34.6  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross profit

   $ 38.6      $ 44.5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

22.

Subsequent Events

The Company has evaluated subsequent events through May 15, 2020, which represents the date the condensed consolidated financial statements were available to be issued and through June 1, 2020, which represents the date the condensed consolidated financial statements were available to be reissued.

On May 31, 2020, the Company amended a month-to-month service agreement with a shareholder of the Company.

 

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            Shares

 

 

LOGO

 

Shift4 Payments, Inc.

Class A Common Stock

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

Citigroup

Credit Suisse

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

(listed in alphabetical order)

 

 

BofA Securities

Morgan Stanley

RBC Capital Markets

Evercore ISI

Raymond James

SunTrust Robinson Humphrey

Wolfe Capital Markets and Advisory

Citizens Capital Markets

Scotiabank

TD Securities

Telsey Advisory Group

                    , 2020

 

 

 


Table of Contents

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS

Item 13. Other expenses of issuance and distribution.

The following table sets forth all fees and expenses, other than the underwriting discounts and commissions payable solely by Shift4 Payments, Inc. in connection with the offer and sale of the securities being registered. All amounts shown are estimated except for the SEC registration fee, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., or FINRA, filing fee and the NYSE listing fee.

 

SEC registration fee

   $ 47,020  

FINRA filing fee

   $ 54,838  

NYSE listing fee

     295,000  

Printing and engraving expenses

     475,000  

Legal fees and expenses

     3,797,000  

Accounting fees and expenses

     4,300,000  

Blue sky qualification fees and expenses

     5,000  

Transfer agent fees and expenses

     6,500  

Miscellaneous fees and expenses

     19,642  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 9,000,000  
  

 

 

 

Item 14. Indemnification of directors and officers.

Section 102 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware permits a corporation to eliminate the personal liability of directors of a corporation to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except where the director breached his duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in intentional misconduct or knowingly violated a law, authorized the payment of a dividend or approved a stock repurchase in violation of Delaware corporate law or obtained an improper personal benefit. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that no director of Shift4 Payments, Inc. shall be personally liable to it or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director, notwithstanding any provision of law imposing such liability, except to the extent that the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware prohibits the elimination or limitation of liability of directors for breaches of fiduciary duty.

Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware provides that a corporation has the power to indemnify a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, or a person serving at the request of the corporation for another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise in related capacities against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with an action, suit or proceeding to which he was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, ending or completed action, suit or proceeding by reason of such position, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, in any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful, except that, in the case of actions brought by or in the right of the corporation, no indemnification shall be made with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or other adjudicating court determines that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all of the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

 

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Upon consummation of this offering, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws will provide indemnification for our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. We will indemnify each person who was or is a party or threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of us) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was, or has agreed to become, a director or officer, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at our request as a director, officer, partner, employee or trustee of, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (all such persons being referred to as an “Indemnitee”), or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action, suit or proceeding and any appeal therefrom, if such Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, our best interests, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, he or she had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws will provide that we will indemnify any Indemnitee who was or is a party to an action or suit by or in the right of us to procure a judgment in our favor by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee is or was, or has agreed to become, a director or officer, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at our request as a director, officer, partner, employee or trustee of, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) and, to the extent permitted by law, amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, and any appeal therefrom, if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, our best interests, except that no indemnification shall be made with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to us, unless a court determines that, despite such adjudication but in view of all of the circumstances, he or she is entitled to indemnification of such expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any Indemnitee has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, he or she will be indemnified by us against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith. Expenses must be advanced to an Indemnitee under certain circumstances.

Prior to the consummation of this offering, we intend to enter into separate indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. Each indemnification agreement will provide, among other things, for indemnification to the fullest extent permitted by law and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws against any and all expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement of any claim. The indemnification agreements will provide for the advancement or payment of all expenses to the indemnitee and for the reimbursement to us if it is found that such indemnitee is not entitled to such indemnification under applicable law and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws.

We maintain a general liability insurance policy that covers certain liabilities of directors and officers of our corporation arising out of claims based on acts or omissions in their capacities as directors or officers.

In any underwriting agreement we enter into in connection with the sale of Class A common stock being registered hereby, the underwriters will agree to indemnify, under certain conditions, us, our directors, our officers and persons who control us within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, against certain liabilities.

Item 15. Recent sales of unregistered securities.

On November 5, 2019, Shift4 Payments, Inc. agreed to issue 100 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, which will be redeemed upon the consummation of this offering, to Shift4 Payments, LLC in exchange for $1.00. The issuance was exempt from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, as a transaction by an issuer not involving any public offering.

 

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Item 16. Exhibits and financial statements.

 

(a)

Exhibits

The following documents are filed as exhibits to this registration statement.

 

Exhibit
No.

    
  1.1    Form of Underwriting Agreement.
  3.1*    Certificate of Incorporation of Shift4 Payments, Inc., as in effect prior to the consummation of this offering.
  3.2    Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Shift4 Payments, Inc., to be in effect upon the consummation of this offering.
  3.3*    Bylaws of Shift4 Payments, Inc., as in effect prior to the consummation of this offering.
  3.4    Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of Shift4 Payments, Inc. to be in effect upon the consummation of this offering.
  4.1    Specimen Stock Certificate evidencing the shares of Class A common stock.
  5.1    Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP.
10.1    Form of Tax Receivable Agreement, to be effective upon the consummation of this offering.
10.2    Form of LLC Agreement of Shift4 Payments, LLC, to be effective upon the consummation of this offering.
10.3    Form of Stockholders Agreement, to be effective upon the consummation of this offering.
10.4    Form of Registration Rights Agreement, to be effective upon the consummation of this offering.
10.5*    First Lien Credit Agreement, dated as of November  30, 2017, among Shift4 Payments, LLC (f/k/a Lighthouse Network LLC), as borrower, any holder of the borrower’s Class  A common units and subsidiaries of the borrower identified therein, as guarantors, Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, as Administrative Agent and Co-Issuing Bank, Citizens Bank, National Association and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch as Co-Issuing Banks, the lenders from time to time party thereto and Webster Bank, National Association as Syndication Agent.
10.6*    First Amendment to First Lien Credit Agreement, dated as of April  23, 2019, among Shift4 Payments, LLC, as borrower, Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, as Administrative Agent and Additional Term Lender.
10.7*    Second Amendment to First Lien Credit Agreement, dated as of August 28, 2019, among Shift4 Payments, LLC, as borrower, any holder of the borrower’s Class A common units and subsidiaries of the borrower identified therein, as guarantors, Citizens Bank, National Association and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch as Co-Issuing Banks, Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, as Administrative Agent and Co-Issuing Bank and Goldman Sachs Bank USA and Credit Suisse as 2019 Incremental Revolving Lenders.
10.8*    Third Amendment to First Lien Credit Agreement, dated as of October  4, 2019, among Shift4 Payments, LLC, as borrower, any holder of the borrower’s Class  A common units and subsidiaries of the borrower identified therein, as guarantors, Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, as Administrative Agent and Additional Term Lender.
10.9*    Second Lien Credit Agreement, dated as of November  30, 2017, among Shift4 Payments, LLC (f/k/a Lighthouse Network, LLC), as borrower, any holder of the borrower’s Class  A common units and subsidiaries of the borrower identified therein, as guarantors, Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, as Administrative Agent and the lenders from time to time party thereto.

 

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Exhibit
No.

   
10.10#   2020 Incentive Award Plan.
10.11#   Restricted Stock Unit Award Grant Notice and Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (No Continued Employment).
10.12#   Restricted Stock Unit Award Grant Notice and Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (Continued Employment).
10.13*#   Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement, by and between Harbortouch Payments, LLC and Jared Isaacman.
10.14*#   Employment Agreement, by and between Shift4 Corporation and Kevin J. Cronic, dated November 30, 2017.
10.15*#   Letter Agreement, by and between Shift4 Payments, LLC and Kevin J. Cronic, dated February 7, 2020.
10.16*#   Employment Agreement, by and between Shift4 Corporation and Steven M. Sommers, dated November 30, 2017.
10.17*#   Letter Agreement, by and between Shift4 Payments, LLC and Steven M. Sommers, dated January 30, 2020.
10.18#   Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy.
10.19#   Form of Indemnification Agreement for Executive Officers and Directors.
10.20   Purchase Agreement, by and between Shift4 Payments, Inc. and Rook Holdings, Inc., dated May 31, 2020.
10.21#   Employment Agreement, by and between Shift4 Payments, Inc. and Jared Isaacman.
21.1*   List of Subsidiaries of Shift4 Payments, Inc.
23.1   Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, as to Shift4 Payments, Inc.
23.2   Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, as to Shift4 Payments, LLC.
23.3   Consent of Latham & Watkins LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1*   Power of Attorney.
99.1*  

Consent of Nancy Disman to be listed as a director nominee.

99.2*   Consent of Sarah Goldsmith-Grover to be listed as a director nominee.
99.3*   Consent of Jonathan Halkyard to be listed as a director nominee.

 

*

Previously filed

#

Indicates management contract or compensatory plan

Item 17. Undertakings.

 

(a)

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriters at the closing specified in the underwriting agreement certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriters to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.

 

(b)

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of Shift4 Payments, Inc. pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, Shift4 Payments, Inc. has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by Shift4 Payments, Inc. of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of Shift4 Payments, Inc. in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, Shift4 Payments, Inc. will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction, the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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(c)

The undersigned hereby further undertakes that:

 

  (1)

For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by Shift4 Payments, Inc. pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

 

  (2)

For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Shift4 Payments, Inc. has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Allentown, state of Pennsylvania, on this 1st day of June, 2020.

 

Shift4 Payments, Inc.
By:  

/s/ Jared Isaacman

 

Jared Isaacman

Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities set forth opposite their names and on the date indicated above.

 

Signature      Title   Date

/s/ Jared Isaacman

      
Jared Isaacman     

Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

  June 1, 2020

/s/ Bradley Herring

      
Bradley Herring      Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)   June 1, 2020

*

      
Donald Isaacman      Director   June 1, 2020

*

      
Christopher Cruz      Director   June 1, 2020

*

      
Andrew Frey      Director   June 1, 2020

 

*By:  

/s/ Bradley Herring

  Bradley Herring
  Attorney-in-fact

 

II-6

Exhibit 1.1

Shift4 Payments, Inc.

[•] Shares of Class A Common Stock

 

 

Underwriting Agreement

[•], 2020

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC,

    As representatives (the “Representatives”) of the several Underwriters

      named in Schedule I hereto,

c/o Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

388 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10013

c/o Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10010-3629

c/o Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC,

200 West Street,

New York, New York 10282.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Shift4 Payments, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated in this agreement (this “Agreement”), to issue and sell to the Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the “Underwriters”) an aggregate of [•] shares and, at the election of the Underwriters, up to [•] additional shares of Class A common stock (“Class A Common Stock”) of the Company. The aggregate of [•] shares of Class A Common Stock to be sold by the Company is herein called the “Firm Shares” and the aggregate of [•] additional shares of Class A Common Stock to be sold by the Company is herein called the “Optional Shares.” The Firm Shares and the Optional Shares that the Underwriters elect to purchase pursuant to Section 2 hereof are herein collectively called the “Shares.”

In connection with the offering contemplated by this Agreement, the “Transactions,” including, for the avoidance of doubt, the “concurrent private placement” (as such terms are defined in the Registration Statement and the Preliminary Prospectus (each as defined below)), other than the offering and the use of proceeds therefrom were or will be effected, pursuant to which the Company will become the sole managing member of Shift4 Corporation, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Shift4 LLC”), and will operate and control all of the business and affairs of Shift4 LLC and, through Shift4 LLC and its subsidiaries, conduct its business. The Company and Shift4 LLC are collectively referred to herein as the “Shift4 Parties.”


1. (a) Each Shift4 Party, jointly and severally, represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the Underwriters that:

(i) A registration statement on Form S–1 (File No. 333-238307) (the “Initial Registration Statement”) in respect of the Shares , including a related preliminary prospectus or prospectuses, has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”); the Initial Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, each in the form heretofore delivered to you, have been declared effective by the Commission in such form and is not proposed to be amended; other than a registration statement, if any, increasing the size of the offering (a “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement”), filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), which became effective upon filing, no other document with respect to the Initial Registration Statement has been filed with the Commission; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Initial Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment thereto or the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and the Shares all have been or will be duly registered under the Act pursuant to the Registration Statement (any preliminary prospectus or prospectuses included in the Initial Registration Statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Act is hereinafter called a “Preliminary Prospectus”; the various parts of the Initial Registration Statement and the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, including all exhibits thereto and including the information contained in the form of final prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof and deemed by virtue of Rule 430A under the Act to be part of the Initial Registration Statement at the time it was declared effective, each as amended at the time such part of the Initial Registration Statement became effective or such part of the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, became or hereafter becomes effective, are hereinafter collectively called the “Registration Statement”; the Preliminary Prospectus relating to the Shares that was included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to the Applicable Time (as defined in Section 1(a)(iii) hereof) is hereinafter called the “Pricing Prospectus”; such final prospectus, in the form first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act and which discloses the public offering price and other final terms of the Shares and otherwise satisfies Section 10(a) of the Act, is hereinafter called the “Prospectus”; any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Act is hereinafter called a “Section 5(d) Communication”; and any Section 5(d) Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Act is hereinafter called a “Section 5(d) Writing”; and any “issuer free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 433 under the Act relating to the Shares in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g) is hereinafter called an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”);

(ii) (A) No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and (B) each Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information (as defined in Section 9(b) of this Agreement);

(iii) For the purposes of this Agreement, the “Applicable Time” is [•]:[•] [a.m.] [p.m.] (Eastern time) on the date of this Agreement; the Pricing Prospectus, as supplemented by the information listed on Schedule II(c) hereto, taken together (collectively, the “Pricing Disclosure Package”), as of the Applicable

 

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Time, did not, and as of each Time of Delivery (as defined in Section 4(a) of this Agreement) will not, include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and each Section 5(d) Writing does not conflict with the information then contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and each Section 5(d) Writing, as supplemented by and taken together with the Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, did not, and as of each Time of Delivery, will not, include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information;

(iv) The Registration Statement conforms, and the Prospectus and any further amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus will conform, in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and do not and will not, as of the applicable effective date as to each part of the Registration Statement, as of the applicable filing date as to the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, and as of each Time of Delivery, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information;

(v) Neither Shift4 Party nor any of its respective subsidiaries has, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the Pricing Prospectus, (i) sustained any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court, arbitrator or governmental or regulatory action, order or decree or (ii) entered into any transaction or agreement (whether or not in the ordinary course of business) that is material to the Shift4 Parties and their subsidiaries taken as a whole or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the Shift4 Parties and their subsidiaries taken as a whole, in each case otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus; and, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Pricing Prospectus, there has not been (x) any change in the capital stock (other than as a result of (i) the exercise, if any, of stock options or the award, if any, of stock options or restricted stock in the ordinary course of business pursuant to the Company’s equity compensation plans that are described in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus or (ii) the issuance, if any, of stock upon conversion of Company securities as described in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus), long-term debt of the Shift4 Parties and their respective subsidiaries or (y) any Material Adverse Effect (as defined below); as used in this Agreement, “Material Adverse Effect” shall mean any material adverse change or effect in or affecting (i) the business, properties, general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity, prospects or results of operations of the Shift4 Parties and their respective subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus, or (ii) the ability of the Shift4 Parties to perform their respective obligations under this Agreement, including the issuance and sale of the Shares, or to consummate the transactions contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, including the Transactions;

(vi) The Shift4 Parties and their respective subsidiaries do not own any real property; the Shift4 Parties and their respective subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all personal property owned by them which is material to the business of the Shift4 Parties, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except such as are described in the Pricing Prospectus or such as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed

 

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to be made of such property by the Shift4 Parties and their respective subsidiaries; and any real property and buildings held under lease by the Shift4 Parties and their respective subsidiaries are held by them under, to the Company’s knowledge, valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not material and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Shift4 Parties and their respective subsidiaries;

(vii) Each of the Shift4 Parties and each of their respective subsidiaries has been (i) duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, with power and authority (corporate and other) to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Pricing Prospectus and (ii) duly qualified as a foreign corporation or other business organization for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties or conducts any business so as to require such qualification; except, in the case of this clause (ii), where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect;

(viii) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Pricing Prospectus, immediately after giving effect to the Transactions (including the issuance of the Firm Shares and the use of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Pricing Prospectus), the Company would have an issued share capital as set forth under the pro forma as adjusted column of the capitalization table in the section of the Pricing Prospectus entitled “Capitalization,” and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and conform to the description of the Securities contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and all of the issued and outstanding equity interests of Shift4 LLC and each subsidiary of the Shift4 Parties have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and all of the issued and outstanding equity interests of each subsidiary of the Shift4 Parties are owned directly or indirectly by the Shift4 Parties, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims, except for such liens or encumbrances described in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus;

(ix) The Shares have been duly and validly authorized; when the Shares have been delivered and paid for in accordance with this Agreement on each Time of Delivery, such Shares will have been, duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, will conform to the information in the Pricing Disclosure Package and to the description of such Shares contained in the Prospectus; the stockholders of the Company have no preemptive rights with respect to the Shares; and none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been issued in violation of any preemptive or similar rights of any security holder of the Company; except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no outstanding (A) securities or obligations of the Company convertible into or exchangeable for any capital stock of the Company, (B) warrants, rights or options to subscribe for or purchase from the Company any such capital stock or any such convertible or exchangeable securities or obligations or (C) obligations of the Company to issue or sell any shares of capital stock, any such convertible or exchangeable securities or obligations or any such warrants, rights or options; and the Company has not, directly or indirectly, offered or sold any of the Shares by means of any “prospectus” (within the meaning of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder) or used any “prospectus” or made any offer (within the meaning of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder) in connection with the offer or sale of the Shares, in each case other than the Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus

(x) The issue and sale of the Shares and the compliance by the Shift4 Parties with this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement and the Pricing Prospectus, including the Transactions, will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default or a Debt Repayment Triggering Event (as defined below) under, or

 

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result in the imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of either Shift4 Party or any of its respective subsidiaries pursuant to, (A) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Shift4 Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries are a party or by which the Shift4 Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries are bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Shift4 Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries are subject, (B) the certificate of incorporation or by-laws (or other applicable organizational document) of the Shift4 Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries, or (C) any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over either Shift4 Party or any of its respective subsidiaries or any of their properties, except in the case of clauses (A) and (C) for such defaults, breaches, or violations that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is required for the issue and sale of the Shares or the consummation by the Shift4 Parties of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Transactions, except such as have been obtained under the Act, the approval by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) of the underwriting terms and arrangements and such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters; a “Debt Repayment Triggering Event” means any event or condition that gives, or with the giving of notice or lapse of time would give, the holder of any note, debenture, or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by either Shift4 Party or any of its respective subsidiaries;

(xi) Neither Shift4 Party nor any of its respective subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its certificate of incorporation or by-laws (or other applicable organizational document), (ii) in violation of any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory agency or body having jurisdiction over the Shift4 Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries or any of their properties, or (iii) in default (or with the giving of notice or lapse of time would be in default) in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound except in the case of the foregoing clauses (ii) and (iii), for such violations or defaults as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(xii) The statements set forth in the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the headings “Description of Capital Stock”, “ Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations for Non-U.S. Holders of Class A Common Stock”, and “Underwriting”, insofar as such statements purport to summarize legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings discussed therein, are accurate and complete in all material respects;

(xiii) Other than as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which either Shift4 Party or any of their respective subsidiaries, or to the Shift4 Parties’ knowledge, any officer or director of the Shift4 Parties is a party or of which any property or assets of the Shift4 Parties, or any of their respective subsidiaries or, to the Shift4 Parties’ knowledge, any officer or director of the Shift4 Parties is the subject which, if determined adversely to either Shift4 Party or any of its respective subsidiaries (or such officer or director), would individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect or would materially and adversely affect the ability of either of the Shift4 Parties to perform its obligations under this agreement; and, to the Shift4 Parties’ knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or others;

 

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(xiv) Each Shift4 Party is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will not be required to register as an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;

(xv) At the time of filing the Initial Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or any offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) under the Act) of the Shares, and at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act;

(xvi) PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and Shift4 LLC and its subsidiaries, are independent public accountants as required by the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder;

(xvii) Each Shift4 Party and its subsidiaries maintains a system of internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), including, but not limited to, disclosure controls and procedures, internal controls over accounting matters and financial reporting, an internal audit function and legal and regulatory compliance controls (collectively, “Internal Controls”) that (i) complies with the requirements of the Exchange Act, as applicable, (ii) has been designed by the Shift4 Parties’ principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or under their supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and (iii) is sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets, (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences; and any Shift4 Party’s internal control over financial reporting is effective and each Shift4 Party is not aware of any significant deficiencies, material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting;

(xviii) Since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the Pricing Prospectus, there has been no change in the Internal Controls that has materially and adversely affected, or is reasonably likely to materially and adversely affect, the Internal Controls;

(xix) The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act applicable to the Shift4 Parties; such disclosure controls and procedures have been designed to ensure that material information relating to each Shift4 Party and its subsidiaries is made known to such Shift4 Party’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer by others within those entities; and such disclosure controls and procedures are effective;

(xx) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each Shift4 Party;

(xxi) No Unlawful Payments. Neither the Company, nor any of its subsidiaries, directors or officers or, to the knowledge of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, any agent, employee, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or of any of its subsidiaries or affiliates has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense

 

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relating to political activity, (ii) taken or will take any action in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization or approval of the payment or giving of money, property, gifts or anything else of value, directly or indirectly, to any government official, including any officer or employee of a government or government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any per-son acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office to influence official action or secure an improper advantage, (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or any applicable law or regulation implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, or committed an offence under the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom or any other applicable antibribery or anti-corruption law; or (iv) made, offered, agreed, requested or taken an act in furtherance of any unlawful bribe or other unlawful benefit, including, without limitation, any rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful or improper payment or benefit, to any Government Official or other person or entity. The Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with applicable anti-corruption laws and have instituted and maintain, and will continue to maintain, policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with all applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws;

(xxii) Compliance with Anti-Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with all applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970, as amended by Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), and the applicable anti-money laundering, anti-terrorist financing and “know your customer” statutes, rules and regulations of all jurisdictions to which the Company and its subsidiaries are subject, and the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental or regulatory agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or its subsidiaries, threatened.

(xxiii) Economic Sanctions. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor any director or officer, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, or any of its subsidiaries, any employee, agent, affiliate or representative of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, is an individual or entity (“Person”) that is, or is owned or controlled by a Person that is: the subject or target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. government (including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State and including, without limitation, the designation as a “specially designated national” or “blocked person”), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, the Swiss Secretariat of Economic Affairs or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor is the Company or any of its subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or target of Sanctions including, without limitation, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria and Crimea (each a “Sanctioned Country”); and the Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person: (i) to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or with any Person or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject or target of any Sanctions; (ii) to fund or facilitate any activities or business in any Sanction Country; or in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any Person (including any Person participating in the offering, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise). For the past five years, the Company and its subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in, are not now knowingly engaged in, and will not engage in, any dealings or transactions with any Person, or in any country or territory, that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject or target of any Sanctions;

 

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(xxiv) The financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, together with the related schedules and notes, present fairly in all material respects the financial position of Shift4 LLC and the Company and its subsidiaries at the dates indicated and the statement of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its subsidiaries for the periods specified; said financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved. The supporting schedules, if any, present fairly in all material respects and in accordance with GAAP the information required to be stated therein. The selected financial data and the summary financial information included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus present fairly the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements included therein. Except as included therein, no historical or pro forma financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus under the Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. All disclosures contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply in all material respects with Regulation G of the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K of the Act, to the extent applicable;

(xxv) From the time of initial confidential submission of a registration statement relating to the Shares with the Commission (or, if earlier, the first date on which a Section 5(d) Communication was made) through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company” as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Act (an “Emerging Growth Company”);

(xxvi) Neither Shift4 Party nor any affiliate of the Shift4 Parties has taken, nor will either Shift4 Party nor any affiliate of the Shift4 Parties take, directly or indirectly, any action that is designed, or would be expected, to cause or result in, or which constitutes, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Shift4 Parties to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares or to result in a violation of Regulation M under the Exchange Act;

(xxvii) Any third-party statistical and market-related data included in a Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any Section 5(d) Communication is based on or derived from sources that the Shift4 Parties believe to be reliable and accurate;

(xxviii) The Shift4 Parties have taken all necessary actions to ensure that, upon the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the Company will be in compliance with all provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act that are then in effect and with which the Company is required to comply as of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and is actively taking steps to ensure that it will be in compliance with other provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act not currently in effect, upon the effectiveness of such provisions, or which will become applicable to the Company at all times after the effectiveness of the Registration Statement;

(xxix) The Shift4 Parties and each of their respective subsidiaries have filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns required to be filed through the date of this Agreement, subject to permitted extensions, and have paid all taxes required to be paid thereon (except (a) taxes currently being contested in good faith and for which reserves required by GAAP have been created in the financial statements of the Shift4 Parties or (b) where failure to file or pay would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect), and no material tax deficiency has been, or could reasonably be expected to be, asserted against the Shift4 Parties and any of their respective subsidiaries that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

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(xxx) The Shift4 Parties and each of their respective subsidiaries possess, and are in compliance with the terms of, all applicable certificates, authorizations, franchises, licenses and permits issued by applicable federal, state, local or foreign regulatory bodies (collectively, “Licenses”) necessary or material to the conduct of the business now conducted or proposed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus to be conducted by them, except where failure to so possess or be in compliance would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Shift4 Parties and each of their respective subsidiaries have not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any Licenses that, in each case, if determined adversely to the Shift4 Parties and each of their respective subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(xxxi) No labor disturbance by or dispute with the employees of the Shift4 Parties or their subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Shift4 Parties, is imminent that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(xxxii) The Shift4 Parties and their respective subsidiaries take commercially reasonable actions to protect the security, integrity and continuous operation of the material software, code, systems, networks, websites, databases and other information technology assets and equipment used in their businesses (and the data stored therein or processed thereby) (the “IT Assets”). Such IT Assets are adequate for, and operate and perform in all material respects as required in connection with the operation of the business of the Shift4 Parties and their respective subsidiaries as currently conducted, free and clear of all material bugs, errors, defects, Trojan horses, time bombs, malware and other corruptants and there have been no violations, breaches, instances of unauthorized access to or outages of same (other than those that were resolved without material cost or liability or the duty to notify any person). The business of the Shift4 Parties and their respective subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in material compliance with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, directives, judgments, orders, industry standards and self-regulatory frameworks (including but not limited to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) concerning the processing, privacy or security of data (including personally identifiable information, sensitive, confidential and regulated data) (collectively, “Privacy Requirements”). No action, suit, investigation, inquiry or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving either Shift4 Party or any of its respective subsidiaries with respect to any Privacy Requirement is pending or, to the knowledge of either Shift4 Party or any of its respective subsidiaries, threatened by any person, and the Shift4 Parties and their respective subsidiaries have taken commercially reasonable actions to prepare to comply with all material pending Privacy Requirements;

(xxxiii) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (i) the Shift4 Parties and their respective subsidiaries own or have the rights to use all trademarks, trade names, patent rights, copyrights, domain names, trade secrets, inventions, know-how and other intellectual property rights, whether or not subject to registrations or applications for registration (collectively, “Intellectual Property Rights”) necessary for or used in the conduct of their businesses; (ii) neither the Shift4 Parties nor their respective subsidiaries is infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating any Intellectual Property Rights of any third party; (iii) there is no pending or, to the knowledge of either Shift4 Party or any of its respective subsidiaries, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the Shift4 Parties’ or any of their respective subsidiaries’ rights in or to any of their Intellectual Property Rights; (iv) there is no pending or threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by

 

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others challenging the validity, enforceability or scope of any Intellectual Property Rights owned by the Shift4 Parties or any of their subsidiaries; and (v) there is no pending or, to the knowledge of either Shift4 Party or any of its respective subsidiaries, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others that the Shift4 Parties or any of their subsidiaries infringes, misappropriates or otherwise violates any Intellectual Property Rights of others;

(xxxiv) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between either Shift4 Party and any person granting such person the right to require the Company to file a registration statement under the Act with respect to any securities of the Company owned or to be owned by such person or to require the Company to include such securities in the securities registered pursuant to a Registration Statement or in any securities being registered pursuant to any other registration statement filed by the Company under the Act (collectively, “registration rights”), and any person to whom either Shift4 Party has granted registration rights has agreed not to exercise such rights until after the expiration of the Lock-Up Period referred to in Section 5(e) hereof;

(xxxv) The Shift4 Parties (a) has not alone engaged in any Section 5(d) Communication and (b) has not authorized anyone other than the Representatives to engage in Section 5(d) Communication; the Shift4 Parties reconfirm that the Representatives have been authorized to act on the Company’s behalf in undertaking any Section 5(d) Communication; and the Shift4 Parties has not presented to any potential investors or otherwise distributed any Section 5(d) Communication;

(xxxvi) The Company has insurance covering its properties, operations, personnel and businesses, including business interruption insurance, which insurance is in amounts and insures against such losses and risks as are adequate to protect the Company and its business; and the Company (i) has not received notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that capital improvements or other expenditures are required or necessary to be made in order to continue such insurance or (ii) does not have any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage at reasonable cost from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business; and

(xxxvii) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (a) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries (i) is or has been in violation of any foreign, federal, state or local statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order, decree, decision, ordinance, code or other legally binding requirement (including common law) relating to the pollution, protection or restoration of the environment, wildlife, or natural resources; human health or safety, or the generation, use, handling, transportation, treatment, storage, discharge, disposal or release of, or exposure to, any Hazardous Substance (as defined below) (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), (ii) is conducting or funding, in whole or in part, any investigation, remediation, monitoring or other corrective action pursuant to any Environmental Law, including to address any actual or suspected Hazardous Substance, (iii) has received notice of, or is subject to any action, suit, claim or proceeding alleging, any actual or potential liability under, or violation of, any Environmental Law, including with respect to any Hazardous Substance, (iv) is party to any order, decree or agreement that imposes any obligation or liability under any Environmental Law, or (v) is or has been in violation of, or has failed to obtain and maintain, any permit, license, authorization, identification number or other approval required under applicable Environmental Laws; (b) to the knowledge of the Company and its subsidiaries, there are no facts or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to result in any violation of or liability under any Environmental Law, including with respect to any Hazardous Substance, except in the case of clause (a) and (b) above, for such matters as would not individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries (i) is subject to any pending or threatened

 

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administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigations or proceedings relating to any Environmental Law against the Company or any of its subsidiaries, nor does the Company or any of its subsidiaries know any such proceeding is contemplated, (ii) is aware of any material effect on the capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position of the Company and its subsidiaries resulting from compliance with Environmental Laws, or (iii) anticipates any material capital expenditures relating to any Environmental Laws. For purposes of this subsection, “Hazardous Substance” means (A) any pollutant, contaminant, petroleum and petroleum products, by-products or breakdown products, radioactive materials, asbestos, asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls or toxic mold, and (B) any other toxic, radioactive, ignitable, corrosive, reactive or otherwise hazardous chemical, material, waste or substance.

2. On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, (a) the Company agrees to issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price per share of $[•], the number of Firm Shares (to be adjusted by you so as to eliminate fractional shares) determined by multiplying the aggregate number of Firm Shares to be sold by the Company by a fraction, the numerator of which is the aggregate number of Firm Shares to be purchased by such Underwriter as set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto and the denominator of which is the aggregate number of Firm Shares to be purchased by all of the Underwriters from the Company hereunder and (b) in the event and to the extent that the Underwriters shall exercise the election to purchase Optional Shares as provided below, the Company agrees to issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at the purchase price per share set forth in clause (a) of this Section 2 (provided that the purchase price per Optional Share shall be reduced by an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Firm Shares but not payable on the Optional Shares), that portion of the number of Optional Shares as to which such election shall have been exercised (to be adjusted by you so as to eliminate fractional shares) determined by multiplying such number of Optional Shares by a fraction, the numerator of which is the maximum number of Optional Shares which such Underwriter is entitled to purchase as set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto and the denominator of which is the maximum number of Optional Shares that all of the Underwriters are entitled to purchase hereunder.

The Company hereby grants to the Underwriters the right to purchase at their election up to [•] Optional Shares, at the purchase price per share set forth in the paragraph above, for the sole purpose of covering sales of shares in excess of the number of Firm Shares (provided that the purchase price per Optional Share shall be reduced by an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Firm Shares but not payable on the Optional Shares). Any such election to purchase Optional Shares may be exercised only by written notice from you to the Company, given within a period of 30 calendar days after the date of this Agreement and setting forth the aggregate number of Optional Shares to be purchased and the date on which such Optional Shares are to be delivered, as determined by you but in no event earlier than the First Time of Delivery (as defined in Section 4 hereof) or, unless you and the Company otherwise agree in writing, earlier than two or later than ten business days after the date of such notice. The right to purchase the Optional Shares or any portion thereof may be exercised from time to time and to the extent not previously exercised may be surrendered and terminated at any time upon notice by the Representatives to the Company.

3. Upon the authorization by you of the release of the Firm Shares, the several Underwriters propose to offer the Firm Shares for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus.

4. (a) The Shares to be purchased by each Underwriter hereunder, in definitive or book-entry form, and in such authorized denominations and registered in such names as the Representatives may request upon at least forty-eight hours’ prior notice to the Company, shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Company to the Representatives, through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), for the account of such

 

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Underwriter, against payment by or on behalf of such Underwriter of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of Federal (same-day) funds to the accounts specified by the Company and the Custodian to the Representatives at least forty-eight hours in advance. The Company will cause the certificates, if any, representing the Shares to be made available for checking and packaging at least twenty-four hours prior to the Time of Delivery (as defined below) with respect thereto at the office of DTC or its designated custodian (the “Designated Office”). The time and date of such delivery and payment shall be, with respect to the Firm Shares, 9:30 a.m., New York time, on [•], 2020 or such other time and date as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing, and, with respect to the Optional Shares, 9:30 a.m., New York time, on the date specified by the Representatives in each written notice given by the Representatives of the Underwriters’ election to purchase such Optional Shares, or such other time and date as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing. Such time and date for delivery of the Firm Shares is herein called the “First Time of Delivery”, each such time and date for delivery of the Optional Shares, if not the First Time of Delivery, is herein called the “Second Time of Delivery,” and each such time and date for delivery is herein called a “Time of Delivery.”

(b) The documents to be delivered at each Time of Delivery by or on behalf of the parties hereto pursuant to Section 8 hereof, including the cross receipt for the Shares and any additional documents requested by the Underwriters will be delivered at the offices of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP: 425 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017 (the “Closing Location”), and the Shares will be delivered at the Designated Office, all at such Time of Delivery. A meeting will be held at the Closing Location at [ 🌑 ] p.m., New York City time, on the New York Business Day next preceding such Time of Delivery, at which meeting the final drafts of the documents to be delivered pursuant to the preceding sentence will be available for review by the parties hereto. For the purposes of this Section 4, “New York Business Day” shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in New York City are generally authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

5. Each of the Company and, for purposes of Sections 5(e), 5(l) and 5(m) only, Shift4 LLC agrees with each of the Underwriters:

(a) To prepare the Prospectus in a form approved by you and to file such Prospectus pursuant to and in Rule 424(b) under the Act not later than the Commission’s close of business on the second business day following the execution and delivery of this Agreement, or, if applicable, such earlier time as may be required by Rule 430A(a)(3) under the Act; to make no further amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus prior to the last Time of Delivery which shall be disapproved by you promptly after reasonable notice thereof; to advise you of any proposal to amend or supplement at any time the Registration Statement or any Preliminary Prospectus and shall not effect such amendment or supplementation without your consent; to advise you, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus has been filed and to furnish you with copies thereof; to file promptly all material required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act; to advise you, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or other prospectus in respect of the Shares, of the suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or for additional information; and, in the event of the issuance of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or other prospectus relating to the Shares or suspending any such qualification, to promptly use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order;

(b) To arrange for the qualification of the Shares for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives designate and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution; provided, however, that, the Company shall not be required to qualify or register as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified, file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or take any action that would subject it to taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not presently subject to taxation;

 

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(c) Prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the New York Business Day next succeeding the date of this Agreement (or such later time and date as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon) and from time to time, to furnish the Underwriters with written and electronic copies of the Prospectus and all amendments and supplements to such documents, in each case in such quantities as you may reasonably request; and, if the delivery of a prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) is required at any time prior to the expiration of nine months after the time of issue of the Prospectus in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares and if at such time any event shall have occurred as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary during such same period to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to comply with the Act, to notify you and upon your request to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter and to any dealer (whose name and address the Underwriters shall furnish to the Company in connection with such request) in securities as many written and electronic copies as you may from time to time reasonably request of an amended Prospectus or a supplement to the Prospectus which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance; and in case any Underwriter is required to deliver a prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) in connection with sales of any of the Shares at any time nine months or more after the time of issue of the Prospectus, upon your request but at the expense of such Underwriter, to prepare and deliver to such Underwriter as many written and electronic copies as you may request of an amended or supplemented Prospectus complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act;

(d) To make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable (which may be satisfied by filing with the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”)), but in any event not later than sixteen months after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c) under the Act), an earnings statement of the Company and its subsidiaries, if any, (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Act, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158);

(e) (i) During the period beginning from the date hereof and continuing to and including the date 180 days after the date of the Prospectus (the “Lock-Up Period”), not to, directly or indirectly: (i) offer, sell, issue, loan, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option to purchase, make any short sale or otherwise transfer or dispose of or file with or confidentially submit to the Commission a registration statement under the Act relating to, any securities of the Company or Shift4 LLC that are substantially similar to the Class A Common Stock or common units of Shift4 LLC (the “LLC Units” and, together with the Class A Common Stock, the “Securities”), including but not limited to any options or warrants to purchase Securities or any securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, Securities or any such substantially similar securities, or publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge, disposition or filing or (ii) enter into any swap, hedge or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Securities or any such other securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Securities or such other securities, in cash or otherwise (other than the Shares to be sold hereunder or pursuant to the Company’s equity compensation plans existing on, or upon the conversion or exchange of convertible or exchangeable securities outstanding as of, the date of this Agreement or in connection with the exchange of Class B Stock or Class C Stock, and the equivalent number of LLC Units for Class A Common Stock in accordance with the terms of the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Shift4 LLC), without the prior written consent of at least two of the Representatives; provided, however, the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to (a) the Shares to be sold hereunder; (b) the concurrent private placement; (c) the

 

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grant of awards to purchase or the issuance by the Company of shares or any securities (including without limitation, options, restricted stock or restricted stock units) convertible into, or exercisable for, Class A Common Stock pursuant to the Company’s equity compensation plans disclosed in the Pricing Prospectus; (d) the filing of a registration statement on Form S-8 in connection with the registration of securities granted or to be granted under the Company’s equity compensation plans that are described in the Pricing Prospectus; and (e) the issuance of up to 7.5% of the outstanding shares of the Company in connection with the acquisition of the assets of, or a majority or controlling portion of the equity of, or a joint venture with another entity in connection with its acquisition by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of such entity; provided that each recipient of shares issued or sold pursuant to clause (e) above executes and delivers to the Representatives prior to such issuance or sale (as the case may be) a lock-up agreement having substantially the same terms as the lock-up agreements described in Section 8(h) of this Agreement for the remainder of the Lock-Up Period, including, without limitation, entering stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar on such share capital, which the Company agrees it will not waive or amend without the written consent of at least two of the Representatives; provided, however, that the Company agrees to (x) request any written consent for a waiver or an amendment under this section 5(e) from each of the Representatives substantially concurrently and (y) provide notice of any consent for a waiver or amendment, as applicable, to each of the Representatives reasonably promptly following receipt of such consent and, in any case, prior to the occurrence of the transaction for which such waiver or amendment, as applicable, was sought.

(ii) If the Representatives, in their sole discretion, agree to release or waive the restrictions in lock-up letters pursuant to Section Section 8(i) hereof, in each case for an officer or director of the Shift4 Parties (including any person who is named in the Registration Statement to become a director of the Company at a future date), and provide the Shift4 Parties with notice of the impending release or waiver at least three business days before the effective date of the release or waiver, the Shift4 Parties agree to announce the impending release or waiver by a press release substantially in the form of Annex I hereto through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver;

(f) To furnish to its stockholders as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year an annual report (including a balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders ‘ equity and cash flows of the Shift4 Parties and their consolidated subsidiaries certified by independent public accountants) and, as soon as practicable after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year (beginning with the fiscal quarter ending after the effective date of the Registration Statement), to make available to its stockholders consolidated summary financial information of the Shift4 Parties and their subsidiaries for such quarter in reasonable detail; provided that no report or other information need to be furnished pursuant to this Section 5(f) to the extent that it is available on EDGAR;

(g) During a period of two years from the effective date of the Registration Statement, to furnish to you copies of all reports, definitive proxy statements or other communications (financial or other) furnished to stockholders, and to deliver to you (i) as soon as they are available, copies of any reports, definitive proxy statements and financial statements furnished to or filed with the Commission or any national securities exchange on which any class of securities of the Company is listed; and (ii) such additional information concerning the business and financial condition of the Company as you may from time to time reasonably request (such financial statements to be on a consolidated basis to the extent the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries are consolidated in reports furnished to its stockholders generally or to the Commission); provided that no report, communication or other information need to be furnished pursuant to this section 5(g) to the extent that it is available on EDGAR;

(h) To use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement in the manner specified in the Pricing Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”;

(i) To use its best efforts to list for trading, subject to official notice of issuance, the Shares on The New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”);

 

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(j) To file with the Commission such information on Form 10-Q or Form 10-K as may be required by Rule 463 under the Act;

(k) If the Company elects to rely upon Rule 462(b), the Company shall file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in compliance with Rule 462(b) by 10:00 p.m., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement, and the Company shall at the time of filing either pay to the Commission the filing fee for the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or give irrevocable instructions for the payment of such fee pursuant to Rule 3a(c) of the Commission’s Informal and Other Procedures (16 CFR 202.3a);

(l) To refrain from taking, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares;

(m) Upon request of any Underwriter, to furnish, or cause to be furnished, to such Underwriter an electronic version of the Shift4 Parties’ trademarks, servicemarks and corporate logo for use on the website, if any, operated by such Underwriter for the purpose of facilitating the on-line offering of the Shares (the “License”); provided, however, that the License shall be used solely for the purpose described above, is granted without any fee and may not be assigned or transferred; and

(n) To promptly notify you if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the later of (i) completion of the distribution of the Shares within the meaning of the Act and (ii) the completion of the Lock-Up Period.

6. (a) The Company represents and agrees that, without the prior consent of the Representatives, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act; and each Underwriter represents and agrees that, without the prior consent of the Company and the Representatives, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute a free writing prospectus required to be filed with the Commission; any such free writing prospectus the use of which has been consented to by the Company and the Representatives is listed on Schedule II(a) hereto;

(b) The Company has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 under the Act applicable to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, including timely filing with the Commission or retention where required and legending; and the Company represents that it has satisfied and agrees that it will satisfy the conditions under Rule 433 under the Act to avoid a requirement to file with the Commission any electronic road show;

(c) The Company agrees that if at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Section 5(d) Writing any event occurred or occurs as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Section 5(d) Writing would conflict with the information in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then prevailing, not misleading, the Company will give prompt notice thereof to the Representatives and, if requested by the Representatives, will prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, Section 5(d) Writing or other document which will correct such conflict, statement or omission; provided, however, that this covenant shall not apply to any statements or omissions in an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information;

(d) The Company represents and agrees that (i) it has not engaged in, or authorized any other person to engage in, any Section 5(d) Communications, other than Section 5(d) Communications with the prior consent of the Representatives with entities that are qualified institutional buyers as defined in Rule 144A under the Act or institutions that are accredited investors as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Act; and (ii) it has not distributed, or

 

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authorized any other person to distribute, any Section 5(d) Writings, other than those distributed with the prior consent of the Representatives that are listed on Schedule II(d) hereto; and the Company reconfirms that the Underwriters have been authorized to act on its behalf in engaging in Section 5(d) Communications; and

(e) Each Underwriter represents and agrees that any Section 5(d) Communications undertaken by it were with entities that such Underwriter reasonably believes are qualified institutional buyers as defined in Rule 144A under the Act or institutions that are accredited investors as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Act.

7. The Shift4 Parties covenant and agree with the several Underwriters that (a) the Shift4 Parties will, jointly and severally, pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Shift4 Parties’ counsel and accountants in connection with the registration of the Shares under the Act and all other expenses in connection with the preparation, printing, reproduction and filing of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Section 5(d) Writing, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers; (ii) the cost of printing or producing any Agreement among Underwriters, this Agreement, the Blue Sky Memorandum, closing documents (including any compilations thereof) and any other documents in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Shares; (iii) all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Shares for offering and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 5(b) hereof, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky survey; (iv) all fees and expenses in connection with listing the Shares on the Exchange; (v) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with, any required review by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) of the terms of the sale of the Shares; (vi) the cost of preparing stock certificates, if applicable; (vii) the cost and charges of any transfer agent or registrar, (viii) any transfer taxes payable, (ix) all of the Company’s (but not the Underwriters’) travel expenses in connection with any “roadshow” presentation to investors, including 50% of the cost of any chartered plane, chartered jet or other chartered aircraft used in connection with any “roadshow” presentation to investors; and (x) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section; provided that the aggregate amount payable by the Company pursuant to subsections (iii) and (v) (excluding filing fees and disbursements) shall not exceed $35,000. It is understood, however, that, except as provided in this Section, and Sections 9 and 12 hereof, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees of their counsel, stock transfer taxes on resale of any of the Shares by them, and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.

8. The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder, as to the Shares to be delivered at each Time of Delivery, shall be subject, in their discretion, to the condition that all representations and warranties and other statements of the Shift4 Parties herein are, at and as of the Applicable Time and such Time of Delivery, true and correct, the condition that the Shift4 Parties shall have performed all of their obligations hereunder theretofore to be performed, and the following additional conditions:

(a) The Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by the rules and regulations under the Act and in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof; all material required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act shall have been filed with the Commission within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by Rule 433; if the Company has elected to rely upon Rule 462(b) under the Act, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall have become effective by 10:00 p.m., New York time, on the date of this Agreement; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened or, to the knowledge of the Shift4 Parties or the Representatives, contemplated by the Commission; no stop order suspending or preventing the use of the Pricing Prospectus, Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been initiated or threatened or, to the knowledge of the Shift4 Parties or the Representatives, contemplated by the Commission; and all requests for additional information on the part of the Commission shall have been complied with to your reasonable satisfaction;

 

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(b) Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, shall have furnished to you such written opinion and negative assurance letter, dated such Time of Delivery, in form and substance satisfactory to you, and such counsel shall have received such papers and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters;

(c) Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Shift4 Parties, shall have furnished to you their written opinion and negative assurance letter, dated such Time of Delivery, in form and substance satisfactory to you.

(d) On the date of the Prospectus at a time prior to the execution of this Agreement, at 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on the effective date of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement filed subsequent to the date of this Agreement and also at each Time of Delivery, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP shall have furnished to you a letter or letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof, confirming that they are a registered public accounting firm and independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Laws and in form and substance satisfactory to you, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (except that, in any letter dated at a Time of Delivery, the specified “cut-off” date referred to in the comfort letters shall be a date no more than three business days prior to such Time of Delivery);

(e) (i) Neither Shift4 Party nor any of its respective subsidiaries shall have sustained, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the Pricing Prospectus, any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor disturbance or dispute or court, arbitrator or governmental or regulatory action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus, and (ii) since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Pricing Prospectus, there shall not have been any change in the capital stock (other than as a result of (i) the exercise, if any, of stock options or the award, if any, of stock options or restricted stock in the ordinary course of business pursuant to the Company’s equity compensation plans that are described in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus or (ii) the issuance, if any, of stock upon conversion of Company securities as described in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus) or long-term debt of the Shift4 Parties and their respective subsidiaries or any change or effect in or affecting (x) the business, properties, general affairs, financial position, stockholders’ equity, prospects or results of operations of the Shift4 Parties and their respective subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, or (y) the ability of the Shift4 Parties to perform their obligations under this Agreement, including the issuance and sale of the Shares, or to consummate the transactions contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, including the Transactions, the effect of which, in any such case described in clause (i) or (ii), is in your judgment so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Shares being delivered at such Time of Delivery on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus;

(f) On or after the Applicable Time (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded the Company’s indebtedness by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act, and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating of any of the Company’s indebtedness (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading;

 

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(g) On or after the Applicable Time there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) a suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally on the Exchange, or any setting of minimum or maximum prices for trading on such exchange; (ii) a suspension or material limitation in trading in the Company’s securities on the Exchange; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities declared by either Federal or New York State authorities or a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States; (iv) any change in U.S. or international financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls the effect of which is such as to make it, in your judgment, impractical to market or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Shares, whether in the primary market or in respect of dealings in the secondary market; (v) any attack on, outbreak or escalation of hostilities or act of terrorism involving the United States or the declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war or (vi) the occurrence of any other calamity, emergency or crisis or any change in financial, political or economic conditions in the United States or elsewhere, if the effect of any such event specified in clause (v) or (vi) in your judgment makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Shares being delivered at such Time of Delivery on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus;

(h) The Shares to be sold at such Time of Delivery shall have been duly listed, subject to official notice of issuance, on the Exchange;

(i) The Shift4 Parties shall have obtained and delivered to the Underwriters executed copies of an agreement from each director, officer and equityholder of the Shift4 Parties listed on Schedule III hereto, substantially to the effect set forth in Annex II hereto in form and substance satisfactory to you;

(j) The Shift4 Parties shall have complied with the provisions of Section 5(c) hereof with respect to the furnishing of prospectuses on the New York Business Day next succeeding the date of this Agreement;

(k) The Shift4 Parties shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to you at such Time of Delivery certificates of officers of the Shift4 Parties satisfactory to you stating that: the representations and warranties of the Shift4 Parties in this Agreement are true and correct; and the Shift4 Parties have complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to such Time of Delivery; and, in the case of the Shift4 Parties, that no stop order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or, to the best of their knowledge and after reasonable investigation, are contemplated by the Commission; and as to the matters set forth in subsections (a) and (e) of this Section 8;

(l) The Transactions (other than the sale of the Shares and use of proceeds therefrom) shall have been consummated as described in the Prospectus; and

(m) On or before the date of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have received a certificate satisfying the beneficial ownership due diligence requirements of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) from the Shift4 Parties in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, along with such additional supporting documentation as the Representatives have requested in connection with the verification of the foregoing certificate.

9. (a) The Shift4 Parties will, jointly and severally, indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and its partners, members, directors, officers, employees, agents, affiliates and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each an “Indemnified Party”) against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Indemnified Party may become subject, under the Act, the Exchange Act, other federal or state statutory law or regulation or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any part of any Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “roadshow” as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Act (a “roadshow”), or any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act or any Section 5(d) Writing, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein

 

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a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse each Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Shift4 Parties shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Section 5(d) Writing, in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.

(b) Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, will indemnify and hold harmless each Shift4 Party, each of its directors and each of its officers who signs a Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each, an “Underwriter Indemnified Party”) against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which such Underwriter Indemnified Party may become subject, under the Act, the Exchange Act, or other federal or state statutory law or regulation or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or any roadshow, or any Section 5(d) Writing, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or any roadshow, or any Section 5(d) Writing, in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information; and will reimburse such Underwriter Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred. As used in this Agreement with respect to an Underwriter and an applicable document, “Underwriter Information” shall mean the written information furnished to the Shift4 Parties by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein; it being understood and agreed upon that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the following information in the Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: the concession and reallowance figures appearing in the [•] paragraph under the caption “Underwriting”, and the information contained in the [•] paragraph under the caption “Underwriting”.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section 9 or Section 11 hereof of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; provided that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under the preceding paragraphs of this Section 9 or Section 11 hereof except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided further that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under the preceding paragraphs of this Section 9 or Section 11 hereof. In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying

 

19


party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the written consent of the indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 9 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Shift4 Parties on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Shares. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Shift4 Parties on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Shift4 Parties on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Shift4 Parties bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Shift4 Parties on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Shift4 Parties and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection (e) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this subsection (e). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this subsection (e) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (e), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations in this subsection (e) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.

(e) The obligations of the Shift4 Parties under this Section 9 shall be in addition to any liability which the Shift4 Parties may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each employee, officer and director of each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act and each broker-dealer or other affiliate of any Underwriter; and the obligations of the Underwriters under this Section 9 shall be in addition to any liability which the respective Underwriters may otherwise have

 

20


and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer and director of the Shift4 Parties (including any person who, with his or her consent, is named in the Registration Statement as about to become a director of the Company) and to each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act.

10. (a) If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase the Shares that it has agreed to purchase hereunder at a Time of Delivery, you may in your discretion arrange for you or another party or other parties to purchase such Shares on the terms contained herein. If within thirty-six hours after such default by any Underwriter you do not arrange for the purchase of such Shares, then the Shift4 Parties shall be entitled to a further period of thirty-six hours within which to procure another party or other parties satisfactory to you to purchase such Shares on such terms. In the event that, within the respective prescribed periods, you notify the Shift4 Parties that you have so arranged for the purchase of such Shares, or a Shift4 Party notifies you that it has so arranged for the purchase of such Shares, you or the Shift4 Parties shall have the right to postpone such Time of Delivery for a period of not more than seven days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any other documents or arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which in your opinion may thereby be made necessary. The term “Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall include any person substituted under this Section with like effect as if such person had originally been a party to this Agreement with respect to such Shares.

(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by you and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate number of such Shares which remains unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate number of all the Shares to be purchased at such Time of Delivery, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the number of Shares which such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder at such Time of Delivery and, in addition, to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase its pro rata share (based on the number of Shares which such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder) of the Shares of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by you and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate number of such Shares which remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate number of all of the Shares to be purchased at such Time of Delivery, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in subsection (b) above to require non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then this Agreement (or, with respect to a Second Time of Delivery, the obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and of the Company to sell the Optional Shares) shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Shift4 Parties, except for the expenses to be borne by the Shift4 Parties and the Underwriters as provided in Section 7 hereof and the indemnity and contribution agreements in Section 9 hereof; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

11. The Company hereby confirms that at its request Citigroup Global Markets Inc. has without compensation acted as “qualified independent underwriter” (in such capacity, the “QIU”) within the meaning of Rule 5121 of FINRA in connection with the offering of the Shares. The Company will indemnify and hold harmless the QIU, its directors, officers, employees and agents and each person, if any, who controls the QIU within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which the QIU may become subject, under the Act, the Exchange Act, other federal or state statutory law or regulation or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon the QIU’s acting (or alleged failing to act) as such “qualified independent underwriter” and will reimburse the QIU for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the QIU in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred.

 

21


12. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Shift4 Parties and the several Underwriters, as set forth in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any controlling person of any Underwriter, or the Shift4 Parties, or any officer or director or controlling person of the Shift4 Parties, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Shares.

13. If this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 10 hereof, the Shift4 Parties shall not then be under any liability to any Underwriter except as provided in Sections 7, 9 and 11 hereof; but, if for any other reason [(other than those set forth in clauses (i), (iii), (iv), (v) or (vi) of Section 8(g))] any Shares are not delivered by or on behalf of the Shift4 Parties as provided herein, the Shift4 Parties will, jointly and severally, reimburse the Underwriters through you for all out-of-pocket expenses approved in writing by you, including reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in making preparations for the purchase, sale and delivery of the Shares not so delivered, but the Shift4 Parties shall then be under no further liability to any Underwriter except as provided in Sections 7, 9 and 11 hereof.

14. In all dealings hereunder, the Representatives shall act on behalf of each of the Underwriters, and the parties hereto shall be entitled to act and rely upon any statement, request, notice or agreement on behalf of any Underwriter made or given by you jointly.

In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Shift4 Parties, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.

All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to Citigroup Global Markets Inc., 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York, 10013, Attention: [•], Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Eleven Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010, Attention: [•] and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, Attention: Registration Department; if to the Shift4 Parties shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to the address of Shift4 LLC set forth on the cover of the Registration Statement, Attention: Secretary; and if to any stockholder that has delivered a lock-up letter described in Section 8(i) hereof shall be delivered or sent by mail to his or her respective address provided in his or her respective lock-up agreement or such other address as such stockholder provides in writing to the Shift4 Parties; provided, however, that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 9(d) hereof shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to such Underwriter at its address set forth in its Underwriters’ Questionnaire or telex constituting such Questionnaire, which address will be supplied to the Shift4 Parties by you on request; provided further that notices under subsection 5(e) shall be in writing, and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to you at Citigroup Global Markets Inc., 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York, 10013, Attention: [•], Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Eleven Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010, Attention: [•] and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, Attention: Control Room. Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect upon receipt thereof.

15. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure solely to the benefit of, the Underwriters and the Shift4 Parties and, to the extent provided in Sections 9, 11 and 12 hereof, each broker dealer or other affiliate of any Underwriter, the officers and directors of the Shift4 Parties (including any person who, with his or her consent,

 

22


is named in the Registration Statement as about to become a director of the Company) and each person who controls the Shift4 Parties or any Underwriter, and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement. No purchaser of any of the Shares from any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of such purchase.

16. Time shall be of the essence of this Agreement. As used herein, the term “business day” shall mean any day when the Commission’s office in Washington, D.C. is open for business.

17. The Shift4 Parties acknowledge and agree that (i) the purchase and sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Shift4 Parties, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other, (ii) in connection therewith and with the process leading to such transaction each Underwriter is acting solely as a principal and not the agent or fiduciary of any Shift4 Party, (iii) no Underwriter has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of any Shift4 Party with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising any Shift4 Party on other matters) or any other obligation to any Shift4 Party except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement and (iv) each of the Shift4 Parties has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate. Each Shift4 Party agrees that it will not claim that the Underwriters, or any of them, has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owes a fiduciary or similar duty to any Shift4 Party, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.

18. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Shift4 Parties and the Underwriters, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

19. This Agreement and any transaction contemplated by this Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related thereto shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to principles of conflict of laws that would results in the application of any other law than the laws of the State of New York. The Shift4 Parties agree that any suit or proceeding arising in respect of this Agreement or any transaction contemplated by this Agreement will be tried exclusively in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York or, if that court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, in any state court located in The City and County of New York and the Shift4 Parties agree to submit to the jurisdiction of, and to venue in, such courts.

20. Each Shift4 Party and each of the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

21. This Agreement may be executed by any one or more of the parties hereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Agreement or any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, and the parties hereto consent to conduct the transactions contemplated hereunder by electronic means.

22. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Shift4 Parties are authorized to disclose to any persons the U.S. federal and state income tax treatment and tax structure of the potential transaction and all materials of any kind (including tax opinions and other tax analyses) provided to the Shift4 Parties relating to that treatment and structure, without the Underwriters imposing any limitation of any kind. However, any information relating to the tax treatment and tax structure shall remain confidential (and the foregoing sentence shall not apply) to the extent necessary to enable any person to comply with securities laws. For this purpose, “tax structure” is limited to any facts that may be relevant to that treatment.

 

23


23. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.

(a) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

(b) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

(c) As used in this Section 23:

“BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).

“Covered Entity” means any of the following:

(i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);

(ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

(iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us counterparts hereof, and upon the acceptance hereof by you, on behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance hereof shall constitute a binding agreement among each of the Underwriters and each of the Shift4 Parties in accordance with its terms.

 

24


Very truly yours,
Shift4 Payments, Inc.
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
Shift4 Payments, LLC
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

Accepted as of the date hereof
[•], 2020
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
    On behalf of each of the Underwriters

 

25


SCHEDULE I

 

Underwriter

   Total Number of
Firm Shares to
be Purchased
     Number of Optional
Shares to be
Purchased if
Maximum Option
Exercised
 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

     

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

     

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

     

BofA Securities, Inc.

     

Citizens Capital Markets, Inc.

     

Evercore Group L.L.C.

     

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

     

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

     

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

     

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

     

SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc.

     

TD Securities (USA) LLC

     

Telsey Advisory Group LLC

     

Wolfe Capital Markets and Advisory

     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

26


SCHEDULE II

 

(a)

Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses not included in the Pricing Disclosure Package

[Electronic Roadshow dated [•]]

 

(b)

Additional documents incorporated by reference

[None]

 

(c)

Information other than the Pricing Prospectus that comprise the Pricing Disclosure Package

The initial public offering price per share for the Shares is $ [•]

The number of Shares purchased by the Underwriters is [•].

 

(d)

Section 5(d) Writings

[•]


SCHEDULE III

 

Name of Stockholder

[        ]


ANNEX I

[FORM OF PRESS RELEASE]

Shift4 Payments, Inc.

[Date]

Shift4 Payments, Inc. (“Company”) announced today that Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, the lead book-running managers in the recent public sale of [•] shares of the Company’s common stock, is [waiving] [releasing] a lock-up restriction with respect to [•] shares of the Company’s common stock held by [certain officers or directors] [an officer or director] of the Company. The [waiver] [release] will take effect on [•], 2020, and the shares may be sold on or after such date.

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


ANNEX II

Form of Lock-Up Agreement

[    ], 2020

Shift4 Payments, Inc.

2202 N. Irving St.

Allentown, Pennsylvania 18109

Citigroup Global Markets, Inc.

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

 

c/o

Citigroup Global Markets, Inc.

383 Greenwich Street

New York, NY 10013

 

c/o

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York, NY    10010-3629

 

c/o

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

200 West Street

New York, NY 10282-2198

Ladies and Gentlemen:

As an inducement to the underwriters to execute the Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”), pursuant to which an offering (the “Offering”) will be made that is intended to result in the establishment of a public market for Class A common stock (the “Class A Shares”) of Shift4 Payments, Inc., and any successor (by merger or otherwise) thereto, (the “Company”), and for other good and valuable consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby agrees that during the period specified below (the “Lock-Up Period”), the undersigned will not, and will not cause or direct any of its affiliates to, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option to purchase, lend or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any common stock of the Company (“Common Shares”), or any options or warrants to purchase any Common Shares, or any or securities convertible into, exchangeable or exercisable for or that represent the right to receive any Common Shares (including, for the avoidance of doubt, common units (the “LLC Units” and, together with the Common Shares, the “Securities”) of Shift4 Payments, LLC (“Shift4 LLC”)) (such options, warrants or other securities, other than the Securities, collectively, “Derivative Instruments”), enter into a transaction which would have the same effect, or enter into any swap, hedge or other arrangement (including, without limitation, any short sale or the purchase or sale of, or entry into, any put or call option, or combination thereof, forward, swap or any other derivative transaction or instrument, however described or defined) which is designed to or which reasonably could be expected to lead to or result in a sale, loan, pledge or other disposition (whether by the undersigned or someone other than the undersigned) or that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Securities or Derivative Instruments, whether any such aforementioned transaction or arrangement (or instrument provided for thereunder) is to be settled by delivery of Securities or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, or publicly disclose the intention to make any such offer, loan, sale, pledge or disposition, or to enter into any such transaction, swap, hedge or other arrangement, without, in each case, the prior written consent of at least two of Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC.

In addition, the undersigned agrees that, without the prior written consent of at least two of Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, it will not, during the Lock-Up Period, make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any Securities or any Derivative Instruments. The undersigned represents and warrants that the undersigned is not, and has not caused or directed any of its affiliates to be or become, currently a party to any agreement or arrangement that provides for, is designed to or which reasonably could be expected to lead to or result in any of the foregoing during the Lock-Up Period. Any Securities received upon exercise of options granted to the undersigned will also be subject to this Lock-Up Agreement.


In the event the undersigned seeks the prior written consent of any of Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC or Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC pursuant to this Lock-Up Agreement, the undersigned agrees to (i) request any written consent from each of Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC substantially currently and (y) provide notice of any consent to each of Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC reasonably promptly following receipt of such consent and, in any case, prior to the occurrence of the transaction for which such consent was sought.

The foregoing restrictions shall not apply to:

(a) the Transactions (as defined in the final prospectus relating to the Offering (the “Prospectus”)); provided that any Securities received in connection with the Transactions shall be subject to the terms of this Lock-Up Agreement;

(b) any Securities acquired by the undersigned in the open market; provided that in the case of any transfer pursuant to this clause (b), no filing by any party (donor, donee, transferor or transferee) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), shall be required or shall be voluntarily made in connection with such transfer (other than a filing on a Form 5 made after the expiration of the Lock-Up Period);

(c) any transfer or disposition of Securities (i) made as a bona fide gift or charitable contribution, or for bona fide estate planning purposes; (ii) if the undersigned is a natural person, to any family member of the undersigned or trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or a family member of the undersigned or if the undersigned is a trust, to a trustor, a trustee or a beneficiary of the trust or to the estate of a trustor, trustee or beneficiary of such trust; (iii) if the undersigned is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity, made to (A) any wholly-owned subsidiary of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity, (B) limited partners, members, stockholders or holders of similar equity interests in the undersigned (or in each case its nominee or custodian) or (C) another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other business entity (or in each case its nominee or custodian) that is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) of the undersigned, or to any investment fund or other entity controlled or managed by the undersigned or affiliates of the undersigned; (iv) upon death or by will, testamentary document or intestate succession to the legal representative, heir, beneficiary or a member of the immediate family of the undersigned; or (v) to a nominee or custodian of a person or entity to whom a disposition or transfer would be permissible under clauses (c)(i) through (c)(iv); provided that in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to clause (c)(i) through (c)(v), (x) the transferee agrees to be bound in writing by the terms of this Lock-Up Agreement prior to such transfer, (y) such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value; and (z) no filing by any party (donor, donee, transferor or transferee) under the Exchange Act shall be required or shall be voluntarily made in connection with such transfer (other than a filing on a Form 5 made after the expiration of the Lock-Up Period);

(d) the establishment of a written trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the transfer of shares of Common Shares, provided that (i) during the Lock-Up Period, no direct or indirect offers, pledges, sales, contracts to sell, sales of any option or contract to purchase, purchases of any option or contract to sell, grants of any option, right or warrant to purchase, loans, or other transfers or disposals of any Securities or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Securities may be effected pursuant to such plan during the Lock-Up Period and (ii) to the extent a public announcement or filing under the Exchange Act, if any, is required of or voluntarily made by or on behalf of the undersigned or the Company regarding the establishment of such plan, such announcement or filing shall include a statement to the effect that no transfer of Common Shares may be made under such plan during the Lock-Up Period;

(e) transfers or sales to the Company in connection with the repurchase of Securities granted under any stock incentive plan or stock purchase plan of the Company, which plan is described in the Prospectus, in each case, upon termination of the undersigned’s relationship with the Company; provided that no filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of the underlying shares, or other public announcement reporting, shall be required or shall be voluntarily made during the Lock-Up Period (other than a filing on a Form 5);

 

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(f) (i) the receipt by the undersigned from the Company of Securities upon the exercise, vesting or settlement of options, restricted stock units or other equity awards granted under a stock incentive plan or other equity award plan, which plan is described in the Prospectus, or warrants to purchase Common Shares, insofar as such options or warrants are outstanding as of the date of the Prospectus and are disclosed in the Prospectus; or (ii) the transfer of Securities to the Company upon a vesting or settlement event of the Company’s restricted stock units or other securities or upon the exercise of options to purchase the Company’s securities on a “cashless” or “net exercise” basis to the extent permitted by the instruments representing such options (and any transfer to the Company necessary in respect of such amount needed for the payment of taxes, including estimated taxes and withholding tax and remittance obligations, due as a result of such vesting, settlement or exercise whether by means of a “net settlement” or otherwise) so long as such vesting, settlement, “cashless” exercise or “net exercise” is effected solely by the surrender of outstanding options (or the Common Shares issuable upon the exercise thereof) or Common Shares to the Company and the Company’s cancellation of all or a portion thereof to pay the exercise price and/or withholding tax and remittance obligations in connection with the vesting, settlement or exercise of the restricted stock unit, option or other equity award; provided (A) that the shares received upon vesting, settlement or exercise of the restricted stock unit, option or other equity award are subject to this Lock-Up Agreement, (B) in the case of clause (f)(ii), the settlement or exercise of any restricted stock unit, option or other equity award on a “cashless” or “net exercise” basis shall only be permitted if such restricted stock unit, option or other equity award would otherwise expire during the Lock-Up Period and (C) that in the case of clauses (f)(i) or (f)(ii), any filing required under Section 16 of the Exchange Act to be made during the Lock-Up Period shall include a statement to the effect that (1) such transaction reflects the circumstances described in (f)(i) or (f)(ii), as the case may be, (2) such transaction was only with the Company and (3) in the case of clause (f)(i), the Common Shares received upon exercise or settlement of the option, restricted stock units or other equity awards are subject to this Lock-Up Agreement;

(g) the transfer or disposition of the undersigned’s Securities that occurs by operation of law, pursuant to the rules of descent and distribution or pursuant to a qualified domestic order or in connection with a divorce settlement, provided that each transferee shall sign and deliver a lock-up letter substantially in the form of this letter, provided further that any associated filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act shall clearly indicate in the footnotes thereto that the filing relates to the circumstances described in this clause (g);

(h) in connection with the conversion or reclassification or the outstanding shares of preferred units of Shift4 LLC into Common Shares in connection with the consummation of the Offering, provided such conversion is described in the Prospectus and provided further that any such Common Shares received upon such conversion shall be subject to the terms of this Lock-Up Agreement;

(i) transfers to the Company upon death or disability, in each case, of the undersigned;

(j) the transfer of Common Shares (or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Shares) pursuant to a bona fide third party tender offer, merger, consolidated or other similar transaction made to all holders of the capital stock of the Company involving a change of control (as defined below) of the Company which occurs after the consummation of the Offering, is open to all holders of the Company’s capital stock and has been approved by the board of directors of the Company; provided that in the event that the tender offer, merger, consolidation or other such transaction is not completed, the Common Shares owned by the undersigned shall remain subject to the restrictions contained in this Lock-Up Agreement; and

(k) (i) any transfer or disposition of Securities pursuant to a bona fide loan or pledge (A) pursuant to clause (k)(ii) below or (B) that is in effect on the date hereof and has been disclosed in writing to Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and (ii) the grant and maintenance of a bona fide lien, security interest, pledge or other similar encumbrance (each, a “Pledge”) of any Securities owned by the undersigned to a nationally or internationally recognized financial institution with assets of not less than $10 billion (an “Institution”) in connection with a loan to the undersigned; provided, however, that (i) the undersigned and its affiliates shall not Pledge Securities in excess of 25% of the Securities beneficially owned by the undersigned and its affiliates in the aggregate; (ii) the undersigned or the Company, as the case may be, shall provide Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC prior written notice informing them of any public filing, report or announcement made by or on behalf of the undersigned or the Company with respect thereto; and (iii) the Institution agrees in writing at or prior to the time of such Pledge that the Company shall receive timely notice of any event of default and shall have the right to cure any event of default by the undersigned in connection with any loan to which the Pledge relates by purchasing any or all Securities Pledged at a price equal to

 

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50% of the then-current market value on the date of the event of default (calculated for the Company’s Common Shares using the average closing sales price of such Common Shares for the fifteen (15) immediately prior trading days, and for the LLC Units of Shift4 LLC, using the average closing sales price of the Company’s Common Shares for the fifteen (15) immediately prior trading days multiplied by (100 divided by the Company’s percentage beneficial ownership of Shift4 LLC)), such election by the Company to be shown by written notice to the Institution and payment to follow within five (5) business days of notice being received by the Company, provided that in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to a Pledge or any other bona fide loan or pledge pursuant to this clause (k), the transferee agrees to be bound in writing by the terms of this Lock-Up Agreement prior to such transfer.

For purposes of this Lock-Up Agreement, a “family member” shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage, domestic partnership or adoption, not more remote than first cousin, and “change of control” shall mean the consummation of any bona fide third party tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction the result of which is that any “person” (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), or group of persons, other than the Company, becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 of the Exchange Act) of 90% of the total voting power of the voting stock of the Company, occurring after the consummation of the Offering, that has been approved by the board of directors of the Company.

If the undersigned is not a natural person, the undersigned represents and warrants that no single natural person, entity or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), other than a natural person, entity or “group” (as described above) that has executed a Lock-Up Agreement in substantially the same form as this Lock-Up Agreement, beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the common equity interests, or 50% or more of the voting power, in the undersigned.

The Lock-Up Period will commence on the date of this Lock-Up Agreement and continue and include the date that is 180 days after the public offering date set forth on the Prospectus (the “Public Offering Date”) pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, to which you are or expect to become parties.

In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company and its transfer agent and registrar are hereby authorized by the undersigned to decline to make any transfer of Securities if such transfer would constitute a violation or breach of this Lock-Up Agreement.

If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, the undersigned further agrees that the foregoing restrictions in this Lock-Up Agreement shall be equally applicable to any issuer-directed Securities the undersigned may purchase in connection with the above-referenced offering.

If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, (i) Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC agree that, at least three business days before the effective date of any release or waiver of the foregoing restrictions in connection with a transfer of Securities, Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC will notify the Company of the impending release or waiver, and (ii) the Company has agreed in the Underwriting Agreement to announce the impending release or waiver by press release through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver. Any release or waiver granted by any two of Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC hereunder to any such officer or director shall only be effective two business days after the publication date of such press release. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if (a) the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer not for consideration and (b) the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this Lock-Up Agreement to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of the transfer.

The undersigned understands that the Company and the underwriters are relying upon this Lock-Up Agreement in proceeding toward consummation of the Offering. This Lock-Up Agreement is irrevocable and shall be binding on the undersigned and the successors, heirs, personal representatives and assigns of the undersigned. This Lock-Up Agreement shall lapse and become null and void if the Public Offering Date shall not have occurred on or before July 31, 2020. This Lock-Up Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

[Signature page follows]

 

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Very truly yours,

 

IF AN INDIVIDUAL:      IF AN ENTITY:
By:  

 

    

 

  (duly authorized signature)      (please print complete name of entity)
Name:  

 

     By:  

 

  (please print full name)        (duly authorized signature)
                        Name:  

 

         (please print full name)
Address:      Address:

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

[Signature page to Lock-Up Agreement]

Exhibit 3.2

AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, INC.

Shift4 Payments, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, hereby certifies as follows:

1. The original Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on November 5, 2019 (the “Certificate of Incorporation”).

2. The Corporation is filing this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, which restates, integrates and further amends the Certificate of Incorporation, as heretofore amended (the “Original Certificate”), and which was duly adopted by all necessary action of the board of directors of the Corporation and the stockholders of the Corporation in accordance with the provisions of Sections 242, 245 and 228 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

3. The text of the Original Certificate is hereby amended and restated in its entirety by this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to read in full as follows:

ARTICLE I.

The name of the corporation is Shift4 Payments, Inc. (the “Corporation”).

ARTICLE II.

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

ARTICLE III.

The nature of the business of the Corporation and the objects or purposes to be transacted, promoted or carried on by the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), including, without limitation, (i) investing in securities of Shift4 Payments, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, or any successor entities thereto (“Shift4 LLC”) and any of its subsidiaries, (ii) exercising all rights, powers, privileges and other incidents of ownership or possession with respect to the Corporation’s assets, including managing, holding, selling and disposing of such assets and (iii) engaging in any other activities incidental or ancillary thereto.


ARTICLE IV.

Section 4.1 Authorized Stock. The total number of shares of all classes of stock that the Corporation is authorized to issue is five-hundred and twenty million (520,000,000), consisting of:

(a) three-hundred million (300,000,000) shares of Class A common stock, with a par value of $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”);

(b) one-hundred million (100,000,000) shares of Class B stock, with a par value of $0.0001 per share (the “Class B Stock”);

(c) one-hundred million (100,000,000) shares of Class C common stock, with a par value of $0.0001 per share (the “Class C Common Stock”); and

(d) twenty million (20,000,000) shares of preferred stock, with a par value of $0.0001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”).

Section 4.2 Preferred Stock. The board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) is authorized, subject to any limitations prescribed by law or by that certain stockholders agreement, dated as of [ ● ], 2020, by and among the Corporation and the other Persons party thereto (as it may be amended from time to time in accordance with its terms, the “Stockholders Agreement”) (for so long as it remains in effect), to provide, out of the unissued shares of Preferred Stock, for the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series, and by filing a certificate pursuant to the applicable law of the State of Delaware (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 series and to fix the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions 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 and purchase fund provisions), the redemption price or prices, restrictions on the issuance of shares of such series, the dissolution preferences and the rights in respect of any distribution of assets of any wholly unissued series of Preferred Stock and the number of shares constituting any such series, and the designation thereof, or any of them and to increase or decrease the number of shares of any series so created (except where otherwise provided in the Preferred Stock Designation), subsequent to the issue of that series but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding. In case the authorized number of shares of any 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 series. There shall be no limitation or restriction on any variation between any of the different series of Preferred Stock as to the designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof; and the several 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 by a committee of the Board of Directors, providing for the issuance of the various series of Preferred Stock.

 

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Section 4.3 Number of Authorized Shares. Subject to any limitations prescribed by the Stockholders Agreement, the number of authorized shares of any of the Class A Common Stock, Class B 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 shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Stock, Class C Common Stock or Preferred Stock, or of any 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 242(b)(2) of the DGCL.

Section 4.4 Class A Common Stock, Class B Stock and Class C Common Stock. The powers, preferences and rights of the Class A Common Stock, the Class B Stock and the Class C Common Stock, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof are as follows:

(a) Voting Rights. Except as otherwise required by law,

(i) Each share of Class A Common Stock shall entitle the record holder thereof as of the applicable record date to one (1) vote per share in person or by proxy on all matters submitted to a vote of the holders of Class A Common Stock, whether voting separately as a class or otherwise.

(ii) Each share of Class B Stock shall entitle the record holder thereof as of the applicable record date to ten (10) votes per share in person or by proxy on all matters submitted to a vote of the holders of Class B Stock, whether voting separately as a class or otherwise.

(iii) Each share of Class C Common Stock shall entitle the record holder thereof as of the applicable record date to ten (10) votes per share in person or by proxy on all matters submitted to a vote of the holders of Class C Common Stock, whether voting separately as a class or otherwise.

(iv) Except as otherwise required in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”), the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Stock and Class C Common Stock shall vote together as a single class (or, if any holders of shares of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote together with the holders of Class A Common Stock, Class B Stock and Class C Common Stock, as a single class with such holders of Preferred Stock) on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.

(b) Dividends and Distributions. Subject to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock or any class or series of stock having a preference over or the right to participate with the Class A Common Stock and Class C Common Stock with respect to the payment of dividends, dividends may be declared and paid on the Class A Common Stock and Class C Common Stock out of the assets or funds 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 may not be declared or paid (x) on the Class A Common Stock unless a dividend of the same amount per share and same type of cash or property (or combination thereof) per share is concurrently declared or paid on the Class C Common Stock or (y) on the Class C Common Stock unless a dividend of the same amount per

 

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share and same type of cash or property (or combination thereof) per share is concurrently declared or paid on the Class A Common Stock; provided, however, in the event any dividend is declared or paid in-kind in shares of Class A Common Stock or shares Class C Common Stock, as applicable, then the holders of Class A Common Stock will be entitled to receive such dividends only in the form of shares of Class A Common Stock and the holders of Class C Common Stock will be entitled to receive such dividend only in the form of shares of Class C Common Stock (provided, any such dividend shall be required to be declared and paid at the same rate on the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock as it is on the outstanding shares of Class C Common Stock). Other than in connection with a dividend declared by the Board of Directors in connection with a “poison pill” or similar stockholder rights plan, dividends shall not be declared or paid on the Class B Stock and the holders of shares of Class B Stock shall have no right to receive dividends in respect of such shares of Class B Stock.

(c) Liquidation Rights. In the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation and after making provisions for preferential and other amounts, if any, to which the holders 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 and Class C Common Stock with respect to payments in liquidation shall be entitled, the remaining assets and funds of the Corporation available for distribution shall be divided among and paid ratably to the holders of all outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class C Common Stock in proportion to the number of shares held by each such stockholder. Without limiting the rights of the holders of Class B Stock to have their Common Units (as defined below) redeemed or exchanged in accordance with Article XI of the LLC Agreement (as defined below), the holders of shares of Class B Stock shall be entitled to receive $[0.0001] per share in any liquidation, dissolution or winding up, and upon receiving such amount, the holders of shares of Class B Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to receive any other assets or funds of the Corporation. A consolidation, reorganization or merger of the Corporation with any other Person or Persons (as defined below), 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 Section 4.4(c).

(d) Class B Stock.

(i) From and after the effectiveness of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “Effective Time”), (x) shares of Class B Stock may be issued only to, and registered only in the name of, the Existing Owners and their respective Permitted Transferees (as defined below) in accordance with Section 4.5 (including all subsequent Permitted Transferees) (the Existing Owners together with such persons, collectively, the “Permitted Class B Owners”) and (y) the aggregate number of shares of Class B Stock at any time registered in the name of each such Permitted Class B Owner must be equal to the aggregate number of Common Units held of record at such time by such Permitted Class B Owner under the LLC Agreement (as defined below); provided, however, that with respect to shares of Class B Stock held by any Permitted Class B Owner that is a Searchlight Related Party (a “Permitted Searchlight Class B Owner”), the requirement described in the foregoing clause (y) shall be satisfied so long as the aggregate number of shares of Class B Stock at any time registered in the name of all Permitted Searchlight Class B Owners

 

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is equal to the aggregate number of Common Units held of record at such time by all Permitted Searchlight Class B Owners (the requirement described in this proviso, the “SL Collective Registered Owner Requirement”). As used in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, (A) “Existing Owner” means each of the holders of Common Units (other than the Corporation) of Shift4 LLC, as set forth on Schedule A hereto (B) “Common Unit” means a membership interest in Shift4 LLC, authorized and issued under the Sixth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Shift4 LLC, dated as of the date hereof, as such agreement may be further amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (the “LLC Agreement”), and constituting a “Common Unit” as defined in such LLC Agreement and (C) “Permitted Transferee” means (1) the Corporation and any of its subsidiaries and (2) any Affiliate (as defined below) of the respective transferor.

(ii) The Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, undertake all necessary and appropriate action within its control (A) except in the case of the Permitted Searchlight Class B Owners, to ensure that the number of shares of Class B Stock issued by the Corporation at any time to, or otherwise held of record by, any Permitted Class B Owner shall be equal to the aggregate number of Common Units held of record by such Permitted Class B Owner in accordance with the terms of the LLC Agreement and (B) in the case of the Permitted Searchlight Class B Owners, to ensure that the SL Collective Registered Owner Requirement is satisfied.

(iii) In the event that there is a merger, consolidation or Change of Control (as defined below) of the Corporation that was approved by the Board of Directors prior to such merger, consolidation or Change of Control, without limiting the rights of the holders of Class B Stock to have their Common Units redeemed or exchanged in accordance with Article XI of the LLC Agreement, then the holders of shares of Class B Stock shall not be entitled to receive more than $0.0001 per share of Class B Stock, whether in the form of consideration for such shares or in the form of a distribution of the proceeds of a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation with respect to such shares.

(e) Class C Common Stock. From and after the Effective Time, shares of Class C Common Stock may be issued only to, and registered only in the name of the Persons set forth on Schedule B hereto (the “Initial Class C Holders”) and their respective Permitted Transferees in accordance with Section 4.5 (including all subsequent Permitted Transferees) (the Initial Class C Holders together with such persons, collectively, the “Permitted Class C Owners”).

Section 4.5 Transfer of Class B Stock and Class C Common Stock.

(a) A holder of Class B Stock may surrender shares of such Class B Stock, as applicable, to the Corporation for cancellation for no consideration at any time. Following the surrender, or other acquisition, of any shares of Class B Stock to or by the Corporation, the Corporation will take all actions necessary to cancel and retire such shares and such shares shall not be re-issued by the Corporation.

 

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(b) Except as set forth in Section 4.5(a), a holder of Class B Stock may Transfer shares of Class B Stock only to a Permitted Transferee of such holder, and only if (i) except in the case of a Transfer by a Permitted Searchlight Class B Owner, such holder also simultaneously Transfers an equal number of such holder’s Common Units to such Permitted Transferee in compliance with the LLC Agreement or (ii) in the case of a Transfer by a Permitted Searchlight Class B Owner, so long as the SL Collective Registered Owner Requirement remains satisfied immediately following consummation of such Transfer. The Transfer restrictions described in this Section 4.5(b) are referred to as the “Restrictions”.

(c) If a holder of Class C Common Stock Transfers shares of Class C Common Stock to a Permitted Transferee of such holder, such shares shall remain shares of Class C Common Stock upon consummation of such Transfer. If a holder of Class C Common Stock Transfers shares of Class C Common Stock to any Person that is not a Permitted Transferee of such holder, such shares shall automatically convert into shares of Class A Common Stock, on a one-for-one basis, upon consummation of such Transfer, in accordance with Section 4.5(e).

(d) Any purported Transfer of shares of Class B Stock in violation of the Restrictions shall be null and void. If, notwithstanding the Restrictions, a Person, voluntarily or involuntarily (including by way of a foreclosure), purportedly becomes or attempts to become, the purported owner (the “Purported Owner”) of shares of Class B Stock in violation of the Restrictions, then the Purported Owner shall not obtain any rights in, to or with respect to such shares of Class B Stock (the “Class B Restricted Shares”), and the purported Transfer of the Class B Restricted Shares to the Purported Owner shall not be recognized by the Corporation, the Corporation’s transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”) or the Secretary of the Corporation and each Class B Restricted Share shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, automatically, without any further action on the part of the Corporation, the holder thereof or any other party, lose all voting rights as set forth herein and become a non-voting share.

(e) If, any holder of shares of Class C Common Stock, voluntarily or involuntarily (including by way of a foreclosure), purportedly Transfers, or attempts to Transfer, any such shares of Class C Common Stock to any Person that is not a Permitted Transferee of such holder, upon consummation of such Transfer, such shares of Class C Common Stock shall be automatically converted into an equal number of shares of Class A Common Stock and the purported transferee of such shares of Class C Common Stock shall not obtain any rights in, to or with respect to such shares of Class C Common Stock (the “Class C Restricted Shares”) (other than rights in, to or with respect to the shares of Class A Common Stock into which such Class C Restricted Shares are converted), and the purported Transfer of such Class C Restricted Shares shall not be recognized by the Corporation, the Transfer Agent or the Secretary of the Corporation (other than to the extent necessary to recognize the ownership by the transferee of the shares of Class A Common Stock into which such Class C Restricted Shares are converted).

 

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(f) Upon a determination by the Corporation that a Person has attempted or may attempt to Transfer or to acquire Class B Restricted Shares in violation of the Restrictions, the Corporation may take such action as it deems necessary or advisable to refuse to give effect to such Transfer or acquisition on the books and records of the Corporation, including without limitation to cause the Transfer Agent or the Secretary of the Corporation, as applicable, to not record the Purported Owner as the record owner of the Class B Restricted Shares and to institute proceedings to enjoin or rescind any such Transfer or acquisition. Upon a determination by the Corporation that a Person has attempted or may attempt to Transfer shares of Class C Common Stock to a Person that is not a Permitted Transferee of such holder, the Corporation may take such action as it deems advisable to refuse to give effect to such Transfer or acquisition on the books and records of the Corporation, including without limitation to cause the Transfer Agent or the Secretary of the Corporation, as applicable, to not record the purported transferee as the record owner of the Class C Restricted Shares, and to institute proceedings to enjoin or rescind any such Transfer or acquisition (in each case, other than to the extent necessary to recognize the ownership by the transferee of the shares of Class A Common Stock in which such Class C Restricted Shares are converted).

(g) 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 not inconsistent with the provisions of this Section 4.5 for determining whether any Transfer or acquisition of shares of Class B Stock would violate the Restrictions, or whether any Transfer or acquisition of shares of Class C Common Stock is being made to a Person that is not a Permitted Transferee of the transferor, and for the orderly application, administration and implementation of the provisions of this Section 4.5. Any such procedures and regulations shall be kept on file with the Secretary of the Corporation and with the Transfer Agent and shall be made available for inspection by and, upon written request shall be mailed to, any requesting holders of shares of Class B Stock and/or Class C Common Stock.

(h) As used in this Section 4.5, the term “Transfer”, as it relates to the shares of Class B Stock and Class C Common Stock, shall not be deemed to include any bona fide pledge or collateralization by a holder thereof to a financial institution in connection with any bona fide loan or debt transaction, but such term shall include any foreclosure on such shares by such financial institution following or in connection with any such pledge or collateralization.

Section 4.6 Certificates. All certificates or book entries representing shares of Class B Stock and/or Class C Common Stock 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 CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF THE CORPORATION (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).

 

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Section 4.7 Fractions. Class A Common Stock, Class B Stock and Class C Common Stock may be issued and, to the extent permitted hereby, Transferred in fractions of a share which shall entitle the holder to exercise fractional voting rights and to have the benefit of all other rights of holders of Class A Common Stock, Class B Stock and Class C Common Stock, as applicable. Subject to the Restrictions and the other provisions of Section 4.5, holders of shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B 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 this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, all references to Class A Common Stock, Class B Stock and 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 such Class A Common Stock, Class B Stock or Class C Common Stock.

Section 4.8 Amendment.

Except as otherwise required by law, holders of Class A Common Stock, Class B Stock and Class C Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation).

ARTICLE V.

The Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued shares or other securities at least as many shares or other securities equal to the number of Common Units held by the holders of Common Units (other than the Corporation and any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation).

ARTICLE VI.

Subject to the Stockholders Agreement (for so long as it remains in effect), the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to adopt, amend and repeal the bylaws of the Corporation (the “Bylaws”).

ARTICLE VII.

Section 7.1 Ballot. Elections of directors (each such director, in such capacity, a “Director”) need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws shall so provide.

Section 7.2 Number and Terms of the Board of Directors. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors under specified circumstances, the number of Directors shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by a majority of the Whole Board of Directors; provided, that for as long as the Stockholders Agreement is in effect, the number of Directors shall never be less than the aggregate number of Directors that the parties to the Stockholders Agreement are entitled to designate from time to time pursuant to Section 1 thereof. For purposes of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the term “Whole Board of Directors” shall mean the total number of authorized directors (from time to time) whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships.

 

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Section 7.3 Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies. Except as otherwise required by law and subject to the Stockholders Agreement (for so long as it remains in effect) and the separate rights of the holders of any 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, disqualification, removal from office or other cause shall be filled only by a majority vote of the Directors then in office, though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining Director entitled to vote thereon, and not by the stockholders. Subject to the Stockholders Agreement (for so long as it remains in effect), 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 or her successor shall be elected and qualified.

Section 7.4 Removal for Cause. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, for as long as this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides for a classified Board of Directors, any Director, or the entire Board of Directors, may otherwise be removed only for cause by an affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of all the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, at a meeting duly called for that purpose; provided, however, that the directors appointed pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement may be removed with or without cause in accordance with the terms thereof and the requirements of the DGCL.

Section 7.5 Classified Board. Subject to the Stockholders Agreement, at the Effective Time, the Directors shall be classified, with respect to the time for which they shall hold their respective offices, by dividing them into three (3) classes, with each Director then in office to be designated as a Class I Director, a Class II Director or a Class III Director, with each class to be apportioned as nearly equal in number as possible. Directors shall be assigned to each class in accordance with a resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors. The initial Class I Directors shall serve for a term expiring at the first annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation following the Effective Time; the initial Class II Directors shall serve for a term expiring at the second annual meeting of stockholders following the Effective Time; and the initial Class III Directors shall serve for a term expiring at the third annual meeting of stockholders following the Effective Time. At each annual meeting of stockholders beginning with the first annual meeting of stockholders following the Effective Time, the successors of the class of Directors whose term expires at that meeting shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the third annual meeting of stockholders to be held following their election, with each Director in each such class to hold office until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, subject to such Director’s earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with Section 7.4 of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Subject to the Stockholders Agreement (for so long as it remains in effect), the Board of Directors is authorized to assign each Director already in office at the Effective Time, as well as each Director elected or appointed to a newly created directorship due to an increase in the size of the Board of Directors, to Class I, Class II or Class III; provided, that the class assignments for the initial directors designated for nomination and elected to the Board of Directors pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement shall be as set forth in Section 3 of the Stockholders Agreement. Without limitation to the rights of the stockholders party to the Stockholders Agreement, the provisions of this Section 7.5 are subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock to elect directors and such directors need not serve classified terms.

 

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Section 7.6 Notice. 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 VIII.

Any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders 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 (1) signed by the holders of outstanding shares of the relevant class(es) or series of stock of the Corporation representing not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares of stock of the Corporation then issued and outstanding entitled to vote thereon were present and voted, and (2) delivered to the Corporation in accordance with applicable law.

ARTICLE IX.

Subject to the Stockholders Agreement (for so long as it remains in effect), the Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute, and all rights conferred upon stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation; provided, that any amendment (including by merger, consolidation or otherwise) to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation that gives holders of the Class B Stock (i) any rights to receive dividends or any other kind of distribution, (ii) any right to convert into or be exchanged for Class A Common Stock or (iii) any other economic rights shall, in addition to the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation entitled to vote, also require the affirmative vote of a majority of shares of Class A Common Stock voting separately as a class and the affirmative vote of a majority of shares of Class C Common Stock voting separately as a class. If any provision or provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any Person 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 this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other Persons and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

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ARTICLE X.

The Corporation is authorized to indemnify, and to advance expenses to, each current or former Director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 of the DGCL as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended. To the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware as it exists on the date hereof or as it may hereafter be amended, no Director shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of his or her fiduciary duties as a director. No amendment to, or modification or repeal of, this Article X 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.

ARTICLE XI.

Section 11.1 Corporate Opportunity.

(a) To the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware and in accordance with Section 122(17) of the DGCL, (i) 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 (1) Searchlight, any Directors who are employees of or Affiliates of Searchlight (other than any such Director who is also an employee of the Corporation or its subsidiaries), (2) Rook, any Directors who are employees of or Affiliates of Rook (other than any such Director who is also an employee of the Corporation or its subsidiaries), or (3) any Director or stockholder who is not employed by the Corporation or its subsidiaries (each such Person, an “Exempt Person”); (ii) no Exempt Person will have any duty to refrain from (1) 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 (2) otherwise competing, directly or indirectly, with the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries; and (iii) if any Exempt Person acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or other business opportunity which may be a corporate opportunity both for such Exempt Person or any of his or her respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and for the Corporation or its subsidiaries, on the other hand, such Exempt Person shall have no duty to communicate or offer such transaction or business opportunity to the Corporation or its subsidiaries and such Exempt Person may take any and all such transactions or opportunities for itself or offer such transactions or opportunities to any other Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the preceding sentence of this Section 11.1(a) shall not apply to any potential transaction or business opportunity that is expressly offered to a Director, executive officer or employee of the Corporation or its subsidiaries, solely in his or her capacity as a Director, executive officer or employee of the Corporation or its subsidiaries.

(b) To the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware, no potential transaction or business opportunity may be deemed to be a corporate opportunity of the Corporation or its subsidiaries unless (i) the Corporation or its subsidiaries would be permitted to undertake such transaction or opportunity in accordance with this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, (ii) the Corporation or its subsidiaries at such time have sufficient financial resources to undertake such transaction or opportunity, (iii) the Corporation or its subsidiaries have an interest or expectancy in such transaction or opportunity and (iv) such transaction or opportunity would be in the same or similar line of business in which the Corporation or its subsidiaries are then engaged or a line of business that is reasonably related to, or a reasonable extension of, such line of business.

 

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Section 11.2 Liability. To the fullest extent permitted by law, no stockholder and no Director will be liable to the Corporation or its subsidiaries or stockholders for breach of any duty solely by reason of any activities or omissions of the types referred to in this Article XI, except to the extent such actions or omissions are in breach of this Article XI.

ARTICLE XII.

Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, (a) (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 or stockholder of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, creditors or other constituents, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or as to which the DGCL confers exclusive jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Court of Chancery”), or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine, be exclusively brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, if such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction thereof, the federal district court of the State of Delaware; and (b) the federal district courts of the United States (the “Federal Courts”) shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. If any provision or provisions of this Article XII 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 this Article XII (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Article XII 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. If any action, the subject matter of which is within the scope of the first sentence of this Article XII, is filed in a court other than the Court of Chancery or the Federal Courts, as applicable, (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery or the Federal Courts, as applicable, in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the first sentence of this Article XII and (ii) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article XII.

ARTICLE XIII.

Section 13.1 Section 203 of the DGCL. The Corporation expressly elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL and the restrictions and limitations set forth therein.

Section 13.2 Interested Stockholder Transactions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Corporation shall not engage in any Business Combination (as defined below) at any point in time at which the Corporation’s Class A Common Stock, Class B Stock or Class C Common Stock is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act with any Interested Stockholder (as defined below) for a period of three (3) years following the time that such stockholder became an Interested Stockholder, unless:

 

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

(b) at or subsequent to such time that such stockholder became an Interested Stockholder, the Business Combination is approved by the Board of Directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation which is not owned by such Interested Stockholder.

Section 13.3 Definitions. As used in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the following terms shall have the following meaning:

(a) “Affiliate” means a Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, another Person;

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

(c) “Business Combination” means (i) any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation with the Interested Stockholder or (ii) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, Transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions), except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation, to or with the Interested Stockholder, whether as part of a dissolution or otherwise, of assets of the Corporation or of any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which assets have an aggregate market value equal to ten percent (10%) or more of either the aggregate market value of all the assets of the Corporation determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation.

(d) “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, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person and its subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) becomes the “beneficial owner” (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Stock, Class C Common Stock, Preferred Stock and/or any other class or classes of capital stock of the Corporation (if any) representing in the aggregate more than fifty percent (50%) of the

 

13


voting power of all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote; (2) the stockholders of the Corporation approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation or there is consummated a transaction or series of related transactions for the sale, lease, exchange or other disposition, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets (including a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of Shift4 LLC); (3) there is consummated a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with any other corporation or entity, and, immediately after the consummation of such merger or consolidation, the voting securities of the Corporation immediately prior to such merger or consolidation do not continue to represent, or are not converted into, voting securities representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the Person resulting from such merger or consolidation or, if the surviving company is a subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof; or (4) the Corporation ceases to be the sole managing member of Shift4 LLC; provided, however, that a “Change of Control” shall not be deemed to have occurred by virtue of the consummation of any transaction or series of related transactions immediately following which (a) the beneficial owners of the Class A Common Stock, Class B Stock, Class C Common Stock, Preferred Stock and/or any other class or classes of capital 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 or (b) in the case of the foregoing clauses (1) or (3), either the Rook Related Parties or the Searchlight Related Parties are the “beneficial owner” (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Stock, Class C Common Stock, Preferred Stock and/or any other class or classes of capital stock of the Corporation (if any) representing in the aggregate more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote (or, in the case of a transaction described in the foregoing clause (3), more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Person resulting from such merger of consolidation or, if the surviving company is a subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof).

(e) “Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and any successor to such statute, rules or regulations.

(f) “Interested Stockholder” means any Person (other than the Corporation and any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation) that (i) is the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation that are entitled to vote, or (ii) is an Affiliate of the Corporation and was the beneficial owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation that are entitled to vote at any time within the three-year period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be determined whether such Person is an Interested Stockholder, and the Affiliates and Associates of such Person. Notwithstanding anything in this Article XIII to the contrary, the term “Interested Stockholder” shall not include: (x) the Searchlight Related Parties or any of their Affiliates or Associates, including any investment funds managed, directly or indirectly, by Searchlight or any other Person with whom any of the foregoing are acting as a group or in

 

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concert for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of shares of capital stock of the Corporation (y) the Rook Related Parties or any of their Affiliates or Associates, including any investment funds managed, directly or indirectly, by Rook or any other Person with whom any of the foregoing are acting as a group or in concert for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of shares of capital stock of the Corporation, or (z) any Person who acquires voting stock of the Corporation directly from a Searchlight Related Party or a Rook Related Party with prior approval of the Board of Directors, and excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any Person who acquires voting stock of the Corporation through a broker’s transaction executed on any securities exchange or other over-the-counter market or pursuant to an underwritten public offering.

(g) “Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, unincorporated association or other entity.

(h) “Rook” means Rook Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

(i) “Rook Related Parties” means Rook and its Affiliates.

(j) “Searchlight” means Searchlight II GWN, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

(k) “Searchlight Related Parties” means Searchlight and its Affiliates.

(l) “Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and any successor to such statute, rules or regulations.

(m) “Transfer” (and, with a correlative meaning, “Transferring”) means any sale, transfer, assignment, redemption 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 shares of capital of stock of the Corporation or (b) any equity or other interest (legal or beneficial) in any stockholder if substantially all of the assets of such stockholder consist solely of shares of capital stock of the Corporation.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be signed on this [ ● ], 2020.

 

SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, INC.
By:  

             

Name:
Title:


SCHEDULE A

ISSUANCE OF CLASS B STOCK

 

1.

Searchlight Capital II, L.P., a Cayman Islands company

 

2.

Rook Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation


SCHEDULE B

INITIAL CLASS C HOLDERS

 

1.

Searchlight Capital II, L.P., a Cayman Islands company

 

2.

Searchlight Capital II PV, L.P., a Cayman Islands company

 

3.

Rook Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation

Exhibit 3.4

 

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

OF

SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, INC.

Dated as of [🌑], 2020

 

 

 

 

1


CONTENTS

 

     Page  

Article I. Meetings of Stockholders

     1  

Section 1.01

     Place of Meetings      1  

Section 1.02

     Annual Meetings      1  

Section 1.03

     Special Meetings      1  

Section 1.04

     Notice of Meetings      1  

Section 1.05

     Adjournments      2  

Section 1.06

     Quorum      2  

Section 1.07

     Organization      3  

Section 1.08

     Voting; Proxies      3  

Section 1.09

     Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record      3  

Section 1.10

     List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote      4  

Section 1.11

     Action by Written Consent of Stockholders      5  

Section 1.12

     Inspectors of Election      5  

Section 1.13

     Conduct of Meetings      6  

Section 1.14

     Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations      6  

Section 1.15

     Advance Notice Procedures for Nominations of Directors      10  

Article II. Board of Directors

     13  

Section 2.01

     Number; Tenure; Qualifications      13  

Section 2.02

     Election; Resignation; Removal; Vacancies      14  

Section 2.03

     Regular Meetings      14  

Section 2.04

     Special Meetings      14  

Section 2.05

     Telephonic Meetings Permitted      14  

Section 2.06

     Quorum; Vote Required for Action      14  

Section 2.07

     Organization      15  

Section 2.08

     Action by Unanimous Consent of Directors      15  

Section 2.09

     Compensation of Directors      15  

Section 2.10

     Chairperson      15  

Article III. Committees

     15  

Section 3.01

     Committees      15  

Section 3.02

     Committee Rules      16  

Article IV. Officers

     16  

Section 4.01

     Officers      16  

Section 4.02

     Removal, Resignation and Vacancies      16  

Section 4.03

     Chief Executive Officer      16  

Section 4.04

     Chief Financial Officer      17  

Section 4.05

     Chief Operating Officer      17  

Section 4.06

     General Counsel      17  


Section 4.07

     President      17  

Section 4.08

     Senior Vice President and Vice President      17  

Section 4.09

     Treasurer      18  

Section 4.10

     Controller      18  

Section 4.11

     Secretary      18  

Section 4.12

     Appointing Attorneys and Agents; Voting Securities of Other Entities      18  

Section 4.13

     Additional Matters      18  

Article V. Stock

     18  

Section 5.01

     Certificates      18  

Section 5.02

     Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Stock Certificates; Issuance of New Certificates      19  

Article VI. Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses

     19  

Section 6.01

     Right to Indemnification      19  

Section 6.02

     Advancement of Expenses      19  

Section 6.03

     Claims      20  

Section 6.04

     Non-exclusivity of Rights      20  

Section 6.05

     Other Sources      20  

Section 6.06

     Amendment or Repeal      20  

Section 6.07

     Other Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses      20  

Article VII. Miscellaneous

     21  

Section 7.01

     Fiscal Year      21  

Section 7.02

     Seal      21  

Section 7.03

     Manner of Notice      21  

Section 7.04

     Waiver of Notice of Meetings of Stockholders, Directors and Committees      21  

Section 7.05

     Form of Records      22  

Section 7.06

     Amendment of Bylaws      22  

 

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ARTICLE I.

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

Section 1.01 Place of Meetings. Meetings of stockholders of Shift4 Payments, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”; and such stockholders, the “Stockholders”), may be held at any place, within or without the State of Delaware, as may be designated by or in the manner determined by the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”). In the absence of such designation, meetings of Stockholders shall be held at the principal executive office of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that a meeting of Stockholders shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication authorized by and in accordance with Section 211(a) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).

Section 1.02 Annual Meetings. The annual meeting of Stockholders shall be held for the election of directors at such date and time as may be designated by or in the manner determined by resolution of the Board of Directors from time to time. Any other business as may be properly brought before the annual meeting may be transacted at the annual meeting. The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any annual meeting of Stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors.

Section 1.03 Special Meetings. Special meetings of Stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called only by (w) the chairperson of the Board of Directors (the “Chairperson”), (x) pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board of Directors or (y) for so long as the Rook Related Parties (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation) beneficially own, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate, twenty-five percent (25%) or more in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, the Rook Related Parties and (z) for so long as the Searchlight Related Parties (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation) beneficially own, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate, twenty-five percent (25%) or more in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, the Searchlight Related Parties. Other than as provided in the foregoing clauses (y) and (z) of the immediately preceding sentence, Stockholders shall not be entitled to call special meetings of Stockholders. For purposes of these bylaws of the Corporation (these “Bylaws”), the term “Whole Board of Directors” shall mean the total number of authorized directors whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships. Special meetings validly called in accordance with this Section 1.03 of may be held at such date and time as specified in the applicable notice. Notice of every special meeting shall state the purpose or purposes of the meeting, and the business transacted at any special meeting of Stockholders shall be limited to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice. The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any special meeting of Stockholders previously scheduled by the Chairperson or Board of Directors.

Section 1.04 Notice of Meetings. Whenever Stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a notice of the meeting shall be given that shall state the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, the means of remote communications, if any, by which Stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, the record date for determining the Stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different from the record date for Stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting) and, in the case


of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Unless otherwise required by law, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, effective as of [ 🌑 ], 2020 (as the same may be further amended, restated, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Certificate of Incorporation”) or these Bylaws, the notice of any meeting shall be given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each Stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting as of the record date for determining the Stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the Stockholder at such Stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation.

Section 1.05 Adjournments. Any meeting of Stockholders, annual or special, may be adjourned from time to time by the chairperson of the meeting (or by the Stockholders in accordance with Section 1.06) to reconvene at the same or some other place, if any, and the same or some other time, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time and place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which Stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each Stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If after the adjournment a new record date for determination of Stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors shall fix a new record date for determining Stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting in accordance with Section 1.09(a) of these Bylaws, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each Stockholder of record entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting as of the record date fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the Stockholder at such Stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation.

Section 1.06 Quorum. At any meeting of the Stockholders, the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation (“Stock”) entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or by remote communication, if applicable, or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for all purposes, unless or except to the extent that the presence of a larger number may be required by law, the rules of any stock exchange upon which the Corporation’s securities are listed, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws. In the absence of a quorum, then either (i) the chairperson of the meeting or (ii) if the Board of Directors so determines, the Stockholders by the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital Stock entitled to vote thereon, present in person, or by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time in the manner provided in Section 1.05 of these Bylaws until a quorum is present or represented. Where a separate vote by a class or classes or series of Stock is required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of a majority of voting power of the shares of such class or classes or series of Stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote on such matter, present in person, or by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to the vote on such matter. A quorum, once established at a meeting, shall not be broken by the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum.

 

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Section 1.07 Organization. Meetings of Stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairperson or by such other officer or director of the Corporation as designated by the Board of Directors or the Chairperson, or in the absence of such person or designation, by a chairperson chosen at the meeting by the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of Stock present or represented at the meeting and entitled to vote at the meeting (provided there is a quorum). The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence the chairperson of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

Section 1.08 Voting; Proxies. Each Stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of Stockholders shall be entitled to the number of votes, if any, for each share of Stock held of record by such Stockholder which has voting power upon the matter in question that is set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation. Each Stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of Stockholders or express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting (if permitted by the Certificate of Incorporation) may authorize another person or persons to act for such Stockholder by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A proxy may be authorized by an instrument in writing or by a transmission permitted by law filed in accordance with the procedure established for the meeting. A proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A Stockholder may revoke any proxy which is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person (or by means of remote communication, if applicable) or by delivering to the Secretary a revocation of the proxy or a new proxy bearing a later date. Voting at meetings of Stockholders need not be by written ballot. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, at all meetings of Stockholders for the election of directors at which a quorum is present a plurality of the votes cast shall be sufficient to elect directors. No holder of shares of Stock shall have the right to cumulate votes. All other elections and questions presented to the Stockholders at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be decided by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of votes cast (excluding abstentions and broker non-votes) on such matter, unless a different or minimum vote is required by the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, or applicable law or pursuant to any regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities in which case such different or minimum vote shall be the applicable vote on the matter.

Section 1.09 Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record.

(a) In order that the Corporation may determine the Stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of Stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall, unless otherwise required by law, not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If the Board of Directors so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the Stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board of Directors determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining Stockholders entitled to notice of 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

 

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which the meeting is held. A determination of Stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of Stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for determination of Stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for Stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of Stockholders entitled to vote in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.09(a) at the adjourned meeting.

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

(c) Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, in order that the Corporation may determine the Stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than ten (10) days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If no record date for determining Stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting is fixed by the Board of Directors, (i) when no prior action of the Board of Directors is required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the record date for such purpose shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation in accordance with applicable law and (ii) if prior action by the Board of Directors is required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the record date for such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

Section 1.10 List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote. The Corporation shall prepare, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of Stockholders, a complete list of the Stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (provided, however, if the record date for determining the Stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten (10) days before the date of the meeting, the list shall reflect the Stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth (10th) day before the meeting date), arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each Stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each Stockholder as of the record date (or such other date). Such list shall be open to the examination of any Stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting or (ii) during ordinary business hours at the principal place of business of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then a list of Stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof and may be examined by any Stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the

 

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examination of any Stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting. Except as otherwise provided by law, the “stock ledger” shall be the only evidence as to who are the Stockholders entitled to examine the list of Stockholders required by this Section 1.10 or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of Stockholders. For purposes of these Bylaws, the term “stock ledger” means one or more records administered by or on behalf of the Corporation in which the names of all of the Corporation’s Stockholders of record, the address and number of shares registered in the name of each such Stockholder, and all issuances and transfers of stock of the Corporation are recorded in accordance with Section 224 of the DGCL.

Section 1.11 Action by Written Consent of Stockholders. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of Stockholders 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 class(es) or series of Stock representing not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares of Stock then issued and outstanding (other than treasury Stock) entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and are delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in Delaware, its principal place of business, or to an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of Stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested.

Section 1.12 Inspectors of Election. The Corporation may, and shall if required by law, in advance of any meeting of Stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors of election, who may be employees of the Corporation, to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof and to make a written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. In the event that no inspector so appointed or designated is able to act at a meeting of Stockholders, the person presiding at the meeting may, and to the extent required by law, shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath to execute faithfully the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. Any report or certificate made by the inspectors of election is prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein. The inspector or inspectors so appointed or designated shall (i) ascertain the number of shares of Stock outstanding and the voting power of each such share, (ii) determine the shares of Stock represented at the meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots, (iii) count all votes and ballots, (iv) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors, and (v) certify their determination of the number of shares of Stock represented at the meeting and such inspectors’ count of all votes and ballots. Such certification and report shall specify such other information as may be required by law. In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots cast at any meeting of Stockholders, the inspectors may consider such information as is permitted by applicable law. No person who is a candidate for an office at an election may serve as an inspector at such election.

 

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Section 1.13 Conduct of Meetings. The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the Stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting by the person presiding over the meeting designated in accordance with Section 1.07 of these Bylaws. After the polls close, no ballots, proxies or votes or any revocations or changes thereto may be accepted. The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of Stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the person presiding over any meeting of Stockholders shall have the right and authority to convene and (for any or no reason) to recess and/or adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such presiding person, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the presiding person of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to Stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the presiding person of the meeting shall determine; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. The presiding person at any meeting of Stockholders, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a matter or business was not properly brought before the meeting and if such presiding person should so determine, such presiding person shall so declare to the meeting and any such matter or business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted or considered. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the person presiding over the meeting, meetings of Stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

Section 1.14 Advance Notice Procedures for Business Brought before a Meeting. This Section 1.14 shall apply to any business that may be brought before an annual meeting of Stockholders other than nominations for election to the Board of Directors at such a meeting, which shall be governed by Section 1.15 of these Bylaws. Stockholders seeking to nominate Persons for election to the Board of Directors must comply with Section 1.15 of these Bylaws, and this Section 1.14 shall not be applicable to nominations for election to the Board of Directors except as expressly provided in Section 1.15 of these Bylaws.

(a) At an annual meeting of the Stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting, business must be (a) specified in a notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (b) if not specified in a notice of meeting, otherwise brought before the meeting by the Board of Directors or the chairperson of the meeting, or (c) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a Stockholder present in Person who (A)(1) was a Stockholder of record of the Corporation both at the time of giving the notice provided for in this Section 1.14 and at the time of the meeting, (2) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (3) has complied with this Section 1.14 or (B) 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. The foregoing clause (c) shall be the exclusive means for a Stockholder to propose business to be brought before an annual

 

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meeting of the Stockholders. The only matters that may be brought before a special meeting are the matters specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the Person calling the meeting pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation and Section 1.03 of these Bylaws. For purposes of these Bylaws, “Person” shall mean any individual, general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust, business trust, joint stock company, joint venture, unincorporated association, cooperative or association or any other legal entity or organization of whatever nature, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity. For purposes of this Section 1.14 and Section 1.15 of these Bylaws, “present in Person” shall mean that the Stockholder proposing that the business be brought before the annual meeting or special meeting of the Corporation, as applicable, or, if the proposing Stockholder is not an individual, a qualified representative of such proposing Stockholder, appear at such annual meeting, and a “qualified representative” of such proposing Stockholder shall be, if such proposing Stockholder is (x) a general or limited partnership, any general partner or Person who functions as a general partner of the general or limited partnership or who controls the general or limited partnership, (y) a corporation or a limited liability company, any officer or Person who functions as an officer of the corporation or limited liability company or any officer, director, general partner or Person who functions as an officer, director or general partner of any entity ultimately in control of the corporation or limited liability company or (z) a trust, any trustee of such trust.

(b) Without qualification, for business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a Stockholder, the Stockholder must (a) provide Timely Notice (as defined below) thereof in writing and in proper form to the Secretary of the Corporation and (b) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 1.14. To be timely, a Stockholder’s notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the one-year anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that if the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than sixty (60) days after such anniversary date, notice by the Stockholder to be timely must be so delivered, or mailed and received, not later than the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or, if later, the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting was first made (such notice within such time periods, “Timely Notice”). In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of Timely Notice as described above.

(c) To be in proper form for purposes of this Section 1.14, a Stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth:

(i) As to each Proposing Person (as defined below), (A) the name and address of such Proposing Person (including, if applicable, the name and address that appear on the Corporation’s books and records); and (B) the number of shares of each class or series of Stock of the Corporation that are, directly or indirectly, owned of record or beneficially owned (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) by such Proposing Person, except that such Proposing Person shall in all events be deemed to beneficially own any shares of any class or series of Stock of the Corporation as to which such Proposing Person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (A) and (B) are referred to as “Stockholder Information”);

 

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(ii) As to each Proposing Person, (A) the full notional amount of any securities that, directly or indirectly, underlie any “derivative security” (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(c) under the Exchange Act) that constitutes a “call equivalent position” (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(b) under the Exchange Act) (“Synthetic Equity Position”) and that is, directly or indirectly, held or maintained by such Proposing Person with respect to any shares of any class or series of Stock of the Corporation; provided that, for the purposes of the definition of “Synthetic Equity Position,” the term “derivative security” shall also include any security or instrument that would not otherwise constitute a “derivative security” as a result of any feature that would make any conversion, exercise or similar right or privilege of such security or instrument becoming determinable only at some future date or upon the happening of a future occurrence, in which case the determination of the amount of securities into which such security or instrument would be convertible or exercisable shall be made assuming that such security or instrument is immediately convertible or exercisable at the time of such determination; and, provided, further, that any Proposing Person satisfying the requirements of Rule 13d-1(b)(1) under the Exchange Act (other than a Proposing Person that so satisfies Rule 13d-1(b)(1) under the Exchange Act solely by reason of Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E)) shall not be deemed to hold or maintain the notional amount of any securities that underlie a Synthetic Equity Position held by such Proposing Person as a hedge with respect to a bona fide derivatives trade or position of such Proposing Person arising in the ordinary course of such Proposing Person’s business as a derivatives dealer, (B) any rights to dividends on the shares of any class or series of Stock of the Corporation owned beneficially by such Proposing Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, (C) any material pending or threatened legal proceeding in which such Proposing Person is a party or material participant involving the Corporation or any of its officers or directors, or any affiliate of the Corporation, (D) any other material relationship between such Proposing Person, on the one hand, and the Corporation or any affiliate of the Corporation, on the other hand, (E) any direct or indirect material interest in any material contract or agreement of such Proposing Person with the Corporation or any affiliate of the Corporation (including, in any such case, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement) and (F) any other information relating to such Proposing Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies or consents by such Proposing Person in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (A) through (F) are referred to as “Disclosable Interests”); provided, however, that Disclosable Interests shall not include any such disclosures with respect to the ordinary course business activities of any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who is a Proposing Person solely as a result of being the Stockholder directed to prepare and submit the notice required by these Bylaws on behalf of a beneficial owner; and

 

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(iii) As to each item of business that the Stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting, (A) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting and any material interest in such business of each Proposing Person, (B) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration), (C) a reasonably detailed description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings (x) between or among any of the Proposing Persons or (y) between or among any Proposing Person and any other Person or entity (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such Stockholder and (D) 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 solicitations of proxies in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that the disclosures required by this Section 1.14(c) shall not include any disclosures with respect to any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who is a Proposing Person solely as a result of being the Stockholder directed to prepare and submit the notice required by these Bylaws on behalf of a beneficial owner.

(d) For purposes of this Section 1.14, the term “Proposing Person shall mean (a) the Stockholder providing the notice of business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting, (b) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the notice of the business proposed to be brought before the annual meeting is made, (c) any participant (as defined in paragraphs (a)(ii)-(vi) of Instruction 3 to Item 4 of Schedule 14A) with such Stockholder in such solicitation.

(e) A Proposing Person shall update and supplement its notice to the Corporation of its intent to propose business at an annual meeting, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 1.14 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).

(f) Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at an annual meeting that is not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 1.14. The presiding officer of the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine that the business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 1.14, and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare to the meeting and any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.

(g) In addition to the requirements of this Section 1.14 with respect to any business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting, each Proposing Person shall comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to any such business. Nothing in this Section 1.14 shall be deemed to affect the rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.

 

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(h) For purposes of these Bylaws, “public disclosure” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by a national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

Section 1.15 Advance Notice Procedures for Nominations of Directors.

(a) Nominations of any person for election to the Board of Directors at an annual meeting or at a special meeting (but only if the election of directors is a matter specified in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the person calling such special meeting) may be made at such meeting only (a) subject to the Stockholders Agreement (as defined below), by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, including by any committee or Persons authorized to do so by the Board of Directors or these Bylaws, or (b) by a Stockholder present in Person (as defined in Section 1.14) (1) who was a Stockholder of record of the Corporation both at the time of giving the notice provided for in this Section 1.15 and at the time of the meeting, (2) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (3) has complied with this Section 1.15 as to such notice and nomination. The foregoing clause (b) shall be the exclusive means for a Stockholder to make any nomination of a person or persons for election to the Board of Directors at any annual meeting or special meeting of Stockholders.

(b)

(i) Without qualification, for a Stockholder to make any nomination of a person or persons for election to the Board of Directors at an annual meeting, the Stockholder must (a) provide Timely Notice (as defined in Section 1.14(b) of these Bylaws) thereof in writing and in proper form to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, (b) provide the information, agreements and questionnaires with respect to such Stockholder and its candidate for nomination as required by this Section 1.15, and (c) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 1.15.

(ii) Without qualification, if the election of directors is a matter specified in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the person calling a special meeting, then for a Stockholder to make any nomination of a person or persons for election to the Board of Directors at a special meeting, the Stockholder must (a) provide timely notice thereof in writing and in proper form to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, (b) provide the information, agreements and questionnaires with respect to such Stockholder and its candidate for nomination required by this Section 1.15, and (c) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 1.15. To be timely for purposes of this Section 1.15(b)(ii), a Stockholder’s notice for nominations to be made at a special meeting must be delivered to, or mailed to and received by the Secretary of the Corporation not earlier than the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting or, if later, the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public disclosure (as defined in Section 1.14(h)) of the date of such special meeting was first made.

 

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(iii) In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or special meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of a Stockholder’s notice as described above.

(iv) In no event may a Nominating Person (as defined below) provide notice under this Section 1.15 or otherwise with respect to a greater number of director candidates than are subject to election by Stockholders at the applicable meeting. If the Corporation shall, subsequent to such notice, increase the number of directors subject to election at the meeting, such notice as to any additional nominees shall be due on the later of (i) the conclusion of the time period for Timely Notice (with respect to an annual meeting), (ii) the date set forth in Section 1.15(b)(ii) (with respect to a special meeting) or (iii) the tenth (10th) day following the date of public disclosure (as defined in Section 1.14(h)) of such increase.

(c) To be in proper form for purposes of this Section 1.15, a Stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth:

(i) As to each Nominating Person, the Stockholder Information (as defined in Section 1.14(c)(i) of these Bylaws) except that for purposes of this Section 1.15, the term “Nominating Person” shall be substituted for the term “Proposing Person” in all places it appears in Section 1.14(c)(i);

(ii) As to each Nominating Person, any Disclosable Interests (as defined in Section 1.14(c)(ii), except that for purposes of this Section 1.15 the term “Nominating Person” shall be substituted for the term “Proposing Person” in all places it appears in Section 1.14(c)(ii) and the disclosure with respect to the business to be brought before the meeting in Section 1.14(c)(iii) shall be made with respect to nomination of each person for election as a director at the meeting); and

(iii) As to each candidate whom a Nominating Person proposes to nominate for election as a director, (A) all information with respect to such candidate for nomination that would be required to be set forth in a Stockholder’s notice pursuant to this Section 1.15 if such candidate for nomination were a Nominating Person, (B) all information relating to such candidate for nomination that is required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14(a) under the Exchange Act (including such candidate’s written consent to being named in the Corporation’s proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected), (C) a description of any direct or indirect material interest in any material contract or agreement between or among any Nominating Person, on the one hand, and each candidate for nomination or any other participants in such solicitation, on the other hand, including, without limitation, all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 under Regulation S-K if such Nominating Person were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the candidate for nomination were a director or executive officer of such registrant (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (A) through (C) are referred to as “Nominee Information”), and (D) a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement as provided in Section 1.15(f).

 

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(d) For purposes of this Section 1.15, the term “Nominating Person shall mean (a) the Stockholder providing the notice of the nomination proposed to be made at the meeting, (b) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the notice of the nomination proposed to be made at the meeting is made and (c) any other participant in such solicitation.

(e) A Stockholder providing notice of any nomination proposed to be made at a meeting shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 1.15 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).

(f) To be eligible to be a candidate for election as a director of the Corporation at an annual or special meeting, a candidate must be nominated in the manner prescribed in this Section 1.15 and the candidate for nomination, whether nominated by the Board of Directors or by a Stockholder of record, must have previously delivered (in accordance with the time period prescribed for delivery in a notice to such candidate given by or on behalf of the Board of Directors), to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, (a) a completed written questionnaire (in the form provided by the Corporation) with respect to the background, qualifications, stock ownership and independence of such candidate for nomination and (b) a written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Corporation) that such candidate for nomination (A) 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 of the Corporation that has not been disclosed therein and (B) 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 all directors and in effect during such candidate’s term in office as a director (and, if requested by any candidate for nomination, the Secretary of the Corporation shall provide to such candidate for nomination all such policies and guidelines then in effect).

 

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(g) The Board of Directors may also require any proposed candidate for nomination as a director to furnish such other information 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.

(h) In addition to the requirements of this Section 1.15 with respect to any nomination proposed to be made at a meeting, each Nominating Person shall comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to any such nominations.

(i) No candidate shall be eligible for nomination as a director of the Corporation unless such candidate for nomination and the Nominating Person seeking to place such candidate’s name in nomination has complied with this Section 1.15, as applicable. The presiding officer at the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine that a nomination was not properly made in accordance with this Section 1.15, and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare such determination to the meeting, the defective nomination shall be disregarded and any ballots cast for the candidate in question (but in the case of any form of ballot listing other qualified nominees, only the ballots case for the nominee in question) shall be void and of no force or effect.

(j) Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, no candidate for nomination shall be eligible to be seated as a director of the Corporation unless nominated and elected in accordance with this Section 1.15.

(k) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 1.15 to the contrary, the requirements of this Section 1.15 shall not apply to a stockholder exercising its rights to designate persons for nomination for election to the Board of Directors in accordance with the provisions of the Stockholders Agreement.

ARTICLE II.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 2.01 Number; Tenure; Qualifications. Subject to the Certificate of Incorporation, the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors and that certain stockholders agreement, dated as of [🌑], 2020, by and among the Corporation and the other persons party thereto (as may be amended from time to time, the “Stockholders Agreement”), the total number of directors constituting the entire Board of Directors shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board of Directors. The directors shall be classified in the manner provided in the Certificate of Incorporation. Each director shall hold office until such time as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation. Directors need not be Stockholders to be qualified for election or service as a director of the Corporation.

 

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Section 2.02 Election; Resignation; Removal; Vacancies. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of Stockholders by such Stockholders that have the right to vote on such election. Any director may resign at any time upon written or electronic notice to the Corporation. Such resignation shall be effective upon delivery unless otherwise specified. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock and in accordance with the provisions of the Stockholders Agreement, directors of the Corporation may be removed only as expressly provided in the Certificate of Incorporation. Except as otherwise required by law and subject to and in accordance with the provisions of the Stockholders Agreement and the rights of the holders of any 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, disqualification, removal from office or other cause shall be filled only by a majority vote of the directors then in office, 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 or her successor shall be elected and qualified.

Section 2.03 Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at such places, if any, within or without the State of Delaware, and at such times as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. A notice of regular meetings shall not be required.

Section 2.04 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairperson, the Chief Executive Officer or a majority of the directors then in office and shall be held at such time, date and place, if any, within or without the State of Delaware as he or she or they shall fix. Notice to directors of the date, place and time of any special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be given to each director by the Secretary or by the officer or one of the directors calling the meeting. Notice may be given in person, by United States first-class mail, or by e-mail, telephone, telecopier, facsimile or other means of electronic transmission. If the notice is delivered in person, by e-mail, telephone, telecopier, facsimile or other means of electronic transmission, it shall be delivered or sent at least twenty-four (24) hours before the time of holding of the meeting. If the notice is sent by mail, it shall be deposited in the United States mail at least four (4) days before the time of the holding of the meeting.

Section 2.05 Telephonic Meetings Permitted. Members of the Board of Directors may participate in any meetings of the Board of Directors thereof by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this Section 2.05 shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

Section 2.06 Quorum; Vote Required for Action. At all meetings of the Board of Directors a majority of the Whole Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; provided that, solely for the purposes of filling vacancies pursuant to Section 2.02 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. The affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present at any meeting of the Board of Directors at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors, except as may be otherwise specifically required by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.

 

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Section 2.07 Organization. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be presided over by the Chairperson, or in his or her absence by the person whom the Chairperson shall designate, or in the absence of the foregoing persons by a chairperson chosen at the meeting by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present at the meeting. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence the chairperson of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

Section 2.08 Action by Unanimous Consent of Directors. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission. Thereafter, the writing or writings or electronic transmissions shall be filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or such committee in accordance with applicable law.

Section 2.09 Compensation of Directors. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation of directors. 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. Members of special or standing committees may be allowed compensation for attending committee meetings. Any director of the Corporation may decline any or all such compensation payable to such director in his or her discretion.

Section 2.10 Chairperson. Subject to the Stockholders Agreement, the Board of Directors may appoint from its members a Chairperson of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, from time to time appoint one or more vice chairpersons (each, a “Vice Chairperson”) each of whom as such shall report directly to the Chairperson.

ARTICLE III.

COMMITTEES

Section 3.01 Committees. Subject to the Stockholders Agreement, with the affirmative vote of a majority of the Whole Board of Directors, the Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of such committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of any committee, the member or members thereof present at any 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 the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent permitted by law and to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, or the resolution of the Board of Directors

 

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designating the committee, a committee may create one or more subcommittees, each subcommittee to consist of one or more members of the committee, and delegate to a subcommittee any or all of the powers and authority of the committee. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, or the resolution of the Board of Directors designating the committee (or resolution of the committee designating the subcommittee, if applicable), a majority of the directors then serving on a committee or subcommittee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the vote of a majority of the members of the committee or subcommittee present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the committee or subcommittee. Special meetings of any committee of the Board of Directors may be held at any time or place, if any, within or without the State of Delaware whenever called by the Chairperson of such committee or a majority of the members of such committee.

Section 3.02 Committee Minutes. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board of Directors when required.

Section 3.03 Committee Rules. Unless the Board of Directors otherwise provides, each committee designated by the Board of Directors may make, alter and repeal rules for the conduct of its business. In the absence of such rules each committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board of Directors conducts its business pursuant to Article II of these Bylaws.

ARTICLE IV.

OFFICERS

Section 4.01 Officers. The officers of the Corporation shall be a Chief Executive Officer and a Secretary. The Corporation may also have, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, a Chairperson of the Board of Directors (subject to the requirement of the Stockholders Agreement), a Vice Chairperson of the Board of Directors, a President, a Chief Financial Officer, a Treasurer, one (1) or more Assistant Secretaries, and any such other officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws. Each officer of the Corporation shall hold office for such term as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. No officer need be a Stockholder or director of the Corporation.

Section 4.02 Appointment of Officers. The Board of Directors shall appoint the officers of the Corporation, except such officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.03 of these Bylaws.

Section 4.03 Subordinate Officer. The Board of Directors may appoint, or empower the Chief Executive Officer or other officers to appoint, such other officers and agents as the business of the Corporation may require. Each of such officers and agents shall hold office for such period, have such authority, and perform such duties as are provided in these Bylaws or as the Board of Directors (or its designees) may from time to time determine.

 

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Section 4.04 Removal and Resignation of Officers. Any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by an affirmative vote of the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors or, except in the case of an officer chosen by the Board of Directors, by any officer upon whom such power of removal may be conferred by the Board of Directors. Any officer may resign at any time by giving notice in writing or by electronic transmission to the Corporation. Any resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of that notice or at any later time specified in that notice. Unless otherwise specified in the notice of resignation, the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. If a resignation is made effective at a later date and the Corporation accepts the future effective date, the Board of Directors may fill the pending vacancy before the effective date if the Board of Directors provides that the successor shall not take office until the effective date. Any resignation is without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the Corporation under any contract to which the officer is a party.

Section 4.05 Vacancies in Offices. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation shall be filled by the Board of Directors or as provided in Section 4.03.

Section 4.06 Chief Executive Officer. Subject to such supervisory powers, if any, as may be given by the Board of Directors to the Chairperson, if any, the Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”) (if such an officer is appointed) shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, have general supervision, direction, and control of the business and the officers of the Corporation. He or she shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and, in the absence or nonexistence of a Chairperson, at all meetings of the Board of Directors at which he or she is present and shall have the general powers and duties of management usually vested in the office of chief executive officer of a corporation and shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or these Bylaws.

Section 4.07 President. The Board of Directors may, but is not obligated to, appoint a President. Subject to such supervisory powers, if any, as may be given by the Board of Directors to the Chairperson (if any) or the CEO, the President, if appointed, shall have general supervision, direction, and control of the business and other officers of the Corporation. He or she shall have the general powers and duties of management usually vested in the office of president of a corporation and such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or these Bylaws.

Section 4.08 Secretary. The Secretary shall keep or cause to be kept, at the principal executive office of the Corporation or such other place as the Board of Directors may direct, a book of minutes of all meetings and actions of directors, committees of directors, and stockholders. The minutes shall show the time and place of each meeting, the names of those present at directors’ meetings or committee meetings, the number of shares present or represented at stockholders’ meetings, and the proceedings thereof. The Secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, at the principal executive office of the Corporation or at the office of the Corporation’s transfer agent or registrar, as determined by resolution of the Board of Directors, a share register, or a duplicate share register, showing the names of all stockholders and their addresses, the number and classes of shares held by each, the number and date of certificates evidencing such shares, and the number and date of cancellation of every certificate surrendered for cancellation. The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors required to be given by law or by these Bylaws. He or she shall keep the seal of the Corporation, if one be adopted, in safe custody and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or by these Bylaws.

 

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Section 4.09 Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer (the “CFO”) shall be the Treasurer and shall keep and maintain, or cause to be kept and maintained, adequate and correct books and records of accounts of the properties and business transactions of the Corporation, including accounts of its assets, liabilities, receipts, disbursements, gains, losses, capital retained earnings, and shares. The books of account shall at all reasonable times be open to inspection by any director. The CFO shall deposit all moneys and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the Corporation with such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors. He or she shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors, shall render to the President, if any is appointed, the CEO, or the directors, upon request, an account of all his or her transactions as CFO and of the financial condition of the Corporation, and shall have other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or these Bylaws.

Section 4.10 Representation of Shares of Other Entities. Unless otherwise directed by the Board of Directors, the CEO (or any other person authorized by the Board of Directors or the CEO is authorized to vote), represent and exercise on behalf of the Corporation all rights incident to any and all shares, securities or interests of any other corporation or entity standing in the name of the Corporation. The authority granted herein may be exercised either by such person directly or by any other person authorized to do so by proxy or power of attorney duly executed by such person having the authority.

Section 4.11 Authority and Duties of Officers. All officers of the Corporation shall respectively have such powers and authority and shall perform such duties in the management of the business of the Corporation as may be provided herein or designated from time to time by the Board of Directors and, to the extent not so provided, as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the control of the Board of Directors.

Section 4.12 Compensation. The compensation of the officers of the Corporation for their services as such shall be fixed from time to time by or at the direction of the Board of Directors. An officer of the Corporation shall not be prevented from receiving compensation by reason of the fact that he or she is also a director of the Corporation.

ARTICLE V.

STOCK

Section 5.01 Certificates. The shares of Stock shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of Stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Every holder of Stock represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate, in such form as may be prescribed by law and by the Board of Directors, representing the number of shares held by such holder registered in certificate form. Each such certificate shall be signed in a manner that complies with Section 158 of the DGCL.

 

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Section 5.02 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Stock Certificates; Issuance of New Certificates. The Corporation may issue a new certificate for shares of Stock in the place of any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Corporation may require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner’s legal representative, to give the Corporation 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 such new certificate. The Board of Directors may establish regulations, rules or procedures concerning the proof required for adequately alleging the loss, theft or destruction of any Stock certificate and concerning the giving of a satisfactory bond or bonds of indemnity.

ARTICLE VI.

INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES

Section 6.01 Right to Indemnification. The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law (including as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), any person (a “Covered Person”) who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (any such action, suit or proceeding, a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred by such Covered Person. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 6.03 of these Bylaws, the Corporation shall be required to indemnify a Covered Person in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such Covered Person only if the commencement of such proceeding (or part thereof) by the Covered Person was authorized in the specific case by the Board of Directors.

Section 6.02 Indemnification of Others. The Corporation shall have the power (but not the obligation) to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any employee or agent of the Corporation who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she, or a Person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was an employee or agent of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses reasonably incurred by such Person in connection with any such proceeding.

 

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Section 6.03 Advancement of Expenses. The Corporation shall to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by a Covered Person in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition, provided, however, that, to the extent required by law, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the Covered Person to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that the Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article VI or otherwise.

Section 6.04 Claims. If a claim for indemnification under this Article VI (following the final disposition of such proceeding) is not paid in full within sixty (60) days after the Corporation has received a written claim therefor by the Covered Person, or if a claim for any advancement of expenses under this Article VI is not paid in full within thirty (30) days after the Corporation has received a written statement or statements requesting such amounts to be advanced, the Covered Person shall thereupon (but not before) be entitled to file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim. If successful in whole or in part, the Covered Person shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim to the fullest extent permitted by law. In any such action, the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the Covered Person is not entitled to the requested indemnification or advancement of expenses under applicable law.

Section 6.05 Non-exclusivity of Rights. The rights conferred on any Covered Person by this Article VI shall not be exclusive of any other rights which such Covered Person may have or hereafter acquires under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, agreement, vote of Stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

Section 6.06 Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any Person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit entity against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability under the provisions of the DGCL.

Section 6.07 Other Sources. The Corporation’s obligation, if any, to indemnify or to advance expenses to any Covered Person who was or is serving at its request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity shall be reduced by any amount such Covered Person may collect as indemnification or advancement of expenses from such other corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit enterprise.

Section 6.08 Continuation of Indemnification. The rights to indemnification and to advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article VI shall continue as to a Person who has ceased to be a director or officer of the Corporation and shall inure to the benefit of the estate, heirs, executors, administrators, legatees and distributees of such Person.

Section 6.09 Amendment or Repeal. Any right to indemnification or to advancement of expenses of any Covered Person arising hereunder shall not be eliminated or impaired by an amendment to or repeal of these Bylaws or an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation after the occurrence of the act or omission that is the subject of the proceeding for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought.

 

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Section 6.10 Other Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses. This Article VI shall not limit the right of the Corporation, to the extent and in the manner permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than Covered Persons when and as authorized by appropriate corporate action.

ARTICLE VII.

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 7.01 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors.

Section 7.02 Execution of Corporate Contracts and Instruments. The Board of Directors, except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, may authorize any officer or officers, or agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation; such authority may be general or confined to specific instances. Unless so authorized or ratified by the Board of Directors or within the agency power of an officer, no officer, agent or employee shall have any power or authority to bind the Corporation by any contract or engagement or to pledge its credit or to render it liable for any purpose or for any amount.

Section 7.03 Dividends. The Board of Directors, subject to any restrictions contained in either (i) the DGCL or (ii) the Certificate of Incorporation, may declare and pay dividends upon the shares of its capital Stock. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of the Corporation’s capital Stock. The Board of Directors may set apart out of any of the funds of the Corporation available for dividends a reserve or reserves for any proper purpose and may abolish any such reserve. Such purposes shall include but not be limited to equalizing dividends, repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, and meeting contingencies.

Section 7.04 Registered Stockholders. The Corporation: (i) shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a Person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends and to vote as such owner; and (ii) shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of another Person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of the State of Delaware.

Section 7.05 Corporate Seal. The Corporation may adopt a corporate seal, which shall be adopted and which may be altered by the Board of Directors. The Corporation may use the corporate seal by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or in any other manner reproduced.

Section 7.06 Construction; Definitions. Unless the context requires otherwise, the general provisions, rules of construction and definitions in the DGCL shall govern the construction of these Bylaws. Without limiting the generality of this provision, the singular number includes the plural and the plural number includes the singular.

 

21


Section 7.07 Manner of Notice.

(a) Notice by Electronic Transmission. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to Stockholders pursuant to the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any notice to Stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission in the manner permitted by law.

(b) Notice to Stockholders Sharing an Address. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to Stockholders, and except as prohibited by applicable law, any notice to Stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws shall be effective if given by a single written notice to Stockholders who share an address if consented to by the Stockholders at that address to whom such notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the Stockholder by written notice to the Corporation. Any Stockholder who fails to object in writing to the Corporation, within sixty (60) days of having been given written notice by the Corporation of its intention to send the single notice permitted under this Section 7.07, shall be deemed to have consented to receiving such single written notice.

Section 7.08 Waiver of Notice of Meetings of Stockholders, Directors and Committees. A written waiver of any notice, signed by the person entitled to notice, or waiver by electronic transmission by such person, whether given before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the Stockholders, Board of Directors, or committee or subcommittee of the Board of Directors need be specified in a waiver of notice.

Section 7.09 Form of Records. Any records maintained by or on behalf of the Corporation in the regular course of its business, including its stock ledger, books of account, and minute books, may be kept on, or by means of, or be in the form of, any information storage device, method or one or more electronic networks or databases, provided that the records so kept can be converted into clearly legible paper form within a reasonable time, and the stock ledger is maintained in accordance with applicable law.

Section 7.10 Amendment of Bylaws. Except as otherwise provided by the DGCL or the Certificate of Incorporation, and subject to the Stockholders Agreement, these Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed, and new bylaws made, only by the affirmative vote of (a) a majority of the Whole Board of Directors or (b) the affirmative vote of the Stockholders of at least a majority of the voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of Stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class.

*     *     *

 

22

Exhibit 4.1

LOGO

Shift4 Payments, Inc. SHARES CLASS A COMMON STOCK INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITION SCUSIP 000000 00 0THIS CERTIFIES THAT: is the owner of FULLY PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE SHARES OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK, $0.0001 PAR VALUE PER SHARE, OFSHIFT4 PAYMENTS, INC. until transferable countersigned on the books by the of Transfer the Corporation Agent and in registered person or by by the duly Registrar. authorized attorney upon surrender of the certificate properly endorsed. This certificate is not valid WITNESS the facsimile seal of the Corporation and the facsimile signatures of its duly authorized officers. Dated: COUNTERSIGNED AND REGISTERED: AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER TRUST& COMPANY, LLC (Brooklyn, NY) TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR BY: AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERGENERAL COUNSEL AND CORPORATE SECRETARY


THE CORPORATION WILL FURNISH WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH SHAREHOLDER WHO SO REQUESTS, A SUMMARY OF THE POWERS, DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES AND RELATIVE, PARTICIPATING, OPTIONAL OR OTHER SPECIAL RIGHTS OF EACH CLASS OF STOCK OF THE CORPORATION AND THE QUALIFICATIONS, LIMITATIONS OR RESTRICTIONS OF SUCH PREFERENCES AND RIGHTS, AND THE VARIATIONS IN RIGHTS, PREFERENCES AND LIMITATIONS DETERMINED FOR EACH SERIES, WHICH ARE FIXED BY THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF THE CORPORATION, AS AMENDED, AND THE RESOLUTIONS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CORPORATION, AND THE AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO DETERMINE VARIATIONS FOR FUTURE SERIES. SUCH REQUEST MAY BE MADE TO THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE CORPORATION OR TO THE TRANSFER AGENT. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MAY REQUIRE THE OWNER OF A LOST OR DESTROYED STOCK CERTIFICATE, OR HIS LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES, TO GIVE THE CORPORATION A BOND TO INDEMNIFY IT AND ITS TRANSFER AGENTS AND REGISTRARS AGAINST ANY CLAIM THAT MAY BE MADE AGAINST THEM ON ACCOUNT OF THE ALLEGED LOSS OR DESTRUCTION OF ANY SUCH CERTIFICATE.

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

TEN COM     as tenants in common     UNIF GIFT MIN ACT   —                        Custodian                           
TEN ENT     as tenants by the entireties       (Cust)     (Minor)
JT TEN     as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common       under Uniform Gifts to Minors
        Act                                                                  
          (State)  

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

For value received,                                                                                   hereby sell, assign and transfer unto

 

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

 

    

    

    

 

    

 

PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

   Shares

of the common stock represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint

 

 

   Attorney

to transfer the said stock on the books of the within named Corporation with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated                                                              

 

    

 

              NOTICE:    THE SIGNATURE TO THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE CERTIFICATE, IN EVERY PARTICULAR, WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT, OR ANY CHANGE WHATSOEVER.
SIGNATURE(S) GUARANTEED:     

 

    

    
THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM), PURSUANT TO SEC RULE 17Ad-15.     

Exhibit 5.1

 

  53rd at Third
  885 Third Avenue
  New York, New York 10022-4834
  Tel: +1.212.906.1200 Fax: +1.212.751.4864
LOGO  

www.lw.com

 

  FIRM / AFFILIATE OFFICES
  Beijing    Moscow
  Boston    Munich
  Brussels    New York
  Century City    Orange County
June 1, 2020   Chicago    Paris
  Dubai    Riyadh
Shift4 Payments, Inc.   Düsseldorf    San Diego
2202 N. Irving Street   Frankfurt    San Francisco
Allentown, PA 18109   Hamburg    Seoul
  Hong Kong    Shanghai
  Houston    Silicon Valley
  London    Singapore

Re:  Registration Statement No. 333-238307;

  Los Angeles    Tokyo

15,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share

  Madrid    Washington, D.C.
  Milan   

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special counsel to Shift4 Payments, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the proposed issuance of up to 15,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, which are being offered by the Company (the “Shares”). The Shares are included in a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on May 15, 2020 (Registration No. 333-238307, as amended, the “Registration Statement”). The term “Shares” shall include any additional shares of common stock registered by the Company pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Act in connection with the offering contemplated by the Registration Statement. This opinion is being furnished in connection with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act, and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement or related Prospectus, other than as expressly stated herein with respect to the issue of the Shares.

As such counsel, we have examined such matters of fact and questions of law as we have considered appropriate for purposes of this letter. With your consent, we have relied upon certificates and other assurances of officers of the Company and others as to factual matters without having independently verified such factual matters. We are opining herein as to General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, and we express no opinion with respect to any other laws.

Subject to the foregoing and the other matters set forth herein, it is our opinion that, as of the date hereof, upon the proper filing of the amended and restated certificate of incorporation of the Company, substantially in the form most recently filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, with the Secretary of State of Delaware and when such Shares shall have been duly registered on the books of the transfer agent and registrar therefor in the name or on behalf of the purchasers and have been issued by the Company against payment therefor (not less than par value) in the circumstances contemplated by the form of underwriting agreement most recently filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, the issue and sale of the Shares will have been


June 1, 2020

Page 2

 

LOGO

 

duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company, and the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. In rendering the foregoing opinion, we have assumed that the Company will comply with all applicable notice requirements regarding uncertificated shares provided in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

This opinion is for your benefit in connection with the Registration Statement and may be relied upon by you and by persons entitled to rely upon it pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Act. We consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm in the Prospectus under the heading “Legal Matters.” We further consent to the incorporation by reference of this letter and consent into any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) with respect to the Shares. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ Latham & Watkins LLP

Exhibit 10.1

 

 

 

TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

by and among

SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, INC.

SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC

the several TRA HOLDERS (as defined herein)

and

OTHER TRA HOLDERS

FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO

Dated as of [•], 2020

 

 

 


CONTENTS

 

         Page  

Article I. DEFINITIONS

     2  

Section 1.1

  Definitions      2  

Section 1.2

  Rules of Construction      11  

Article II. DETERMINATION OF REALIZED TAX BENEFIT

     12  

Section 2.1

  Basis Adjustments; the LLC 754 Election      12  

Section 2.2

  IPO Date Attribute Schedule      13  

Section 2.3

  Basis Schedules      13  

Section 2.4

  Tax Benefit Schedules      13  

Section 2.5

  Procedures; Amendments      14  

Article III. TAX BENEFIT PAYMENTS

     15  

Section 3.1

  Timing and Amount of Tax Benefit Payments      15  

Section 3.2

  No Duplicative Payments      18  

Section 3.3

  Pro-Ration of Payments as Between the TRA Holders      19  

Section 3.4

  Optional Estimated Tax Benefit Payment Procedure      19  

Article IV. TERMINATION

     20  

Section 4.1

  Early Termination of Agreement; Breach of Agreement      20  

Section 4.2

  Early Termination Notice      22  

Section 4.3

  Payment Upon Early Termination      23  

Article V. SUBORDINATION AND LATE PAYMENTS

     23  

Section 5.1

  Subordination      23  

Section 5.2

  Late Payments by the Corporation      23  

Article VI. TAX MATTERS; CONSISTENCY; COOPERATION

     23  

Section 6.1

  Participation in the Corporation’s and the LLC’s Tax Matters      23  

Section 6.2

  Consistency      24  

Section 6.3

  Cooperation      24  

Article VII. MISCELLANEOUS

     25  

Section 7.1

  Notices      25  

Section 7.2

  Counterparts      26  

Section 7.3

  Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries      26  

Section 7.4

  Governing Law      26  

 

i


Section 7.5

  Severability      26  

Section 7.6

  Assignments; Amendments; Successors; No Waiver      27  

Section 7.7

  Titles and Subtitles      27  

Section 7.8

  Resolution of Disputes      28  

Section 7.9

  Reconciliation      28  

Section 7.10

  Withholding      29  

Section 7.11

  Admission of the Corporation into a Consolidated Group; Transfers of Corporate Assets      30  

Section 7.12

  Confidentiality      30  

Section 7.13

  Change in Law      31  

Section 7.14

  Interest Rate Limitation      31  

Section 7.15

  Independent Nature of Rights and Obligations      32  
Exhibits         
Exhibit A   -   Form of Joinder Agreement   
Exhibit B   Estimated IPO Date Attribute Schedule   

 

ii


TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

This TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT (as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Agreement”), dated as of [●], 2020, is hereby entered into by and among Shift4 Payments, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), Shift4 Payments, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “LLC”), and each of the Non-Blocker TRA Holders and the Blocker TRA Holders (each as defined below) from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “TRA Holders”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the respective meanings set forth in Section 1.01.

RECITALS

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

WHEREAS, each of the members of the LLC other than the Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries (such members who are parties hereto, and their respective assignees who become parties hereto by satisfying the Joinder Requirement, the “Non-Blocker TRA Holders”) owns (or, in the case of such other Persons, will own) limited liability company interests in the LLC (the “Units”);

WHEREAS, exclusive of the Over-Allotment Option (as defined below), the Corporation will issue [●] shares of its Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 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 use a portion of the net proceeds from the IPO to purchase newly-issued Units directly from the LLC, which proceeds will be used by the LLC for [●] and for general company purposes;

WHEREAS, the Corporation may issue additional Class A Common Stock in connection with the IPO as a result of the exercise by the underwriters of their over-allotment option (the “Over-Allotment Option”) and, if the Over-Allotment Option is in fact exercised in whole or in part, any additional net proceeds received by the Corporation will be used by the Corporation to acquire additional newly-issued Units directly from the LLC, which proceeds will be used by the LLC for [●] and for general company purposes;

WHEREAS, in connection with the IPO, Searchlight Capital II, L.P., a Cayman limited partnership (“SC II TRA Holder”) and Searchlight Capital II PV, L.P., a Cayman limited partnership (“SC II PV TRA Holder” and together with SC II TRA Holder and their respective assignees who become parties hereto by satisfying the Joinder Requirement, the “Blocker TRA Holders”) will enter into certain reorganization transactions with the Corporation and its Subsidiaries (the “Reorganization Transactions”), and as a result of such transactions, the Corporation will obtain or be entitled to certain Tax benefits as further described herein;

 

1


WHEREAS, on and after the date hereof, pursuant to the LLC Agreement, each Non-Blocker TRA Holder has the right from time to time to require the LLC to redeem (a “Redemption”) all or a portion of such Non-Blocker TRA Holder’s Units for cash or, at the Corporation’s election, Class A Common Stock; provided that, at the election of the Corporation in its sole discretion, the Corporation may effect a direct exchange (a “Direct Exchange”) of such cash or shares of Class A Common Stock for such Units;

WHEREAS, the LLC and any direct or indirect Subsidiary (owned through a chain of pass-through entities) of the LLC that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes (together with the LLC and any direct or indirect Subsidiary (owned through a chain of pass-through entities) of the LLC that is treated as a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the “LLC Group”) will have in effect an election under Section 754 of the Code (as defined herein) for the Taxable Year (as defined herein) in which any Exchange (as defined below) occurs, which election should result in an adjustment to the Corporation’s share of the tax basis of the assets owned by the LLC 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 a result of the Reorganization Transactions and the Exchanges and the receipt of 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).

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

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. If LIBOR ceases to be published in accordance with the definition thereof, the Corporation and the LLC shall work together in good faith to select an Agreed Rate with similar characteristics that gives due consideration to the prevailing market conventions for determining rates of interest in the United States at such time.

Agreement” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

Amended Schedule” is defined in Section 2.5(b) of this Agreement.

 

2


Assumed State and Local Tax Rate” means the tax rate equal to the sum of the products of (x) the Corporation’s income tax apportionment factor for each state and local jurisdiction in which the Corporation files income or franchise tax returns for the relevant Taxable Year and (y) the highest corporate income and franchise tax rate for each such state and local jurisdiction in which the Corporation files income tax returns for each relevant Taxable Year.

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

Audit Committee” means the audit committee of the Board.

Bankruptcy Code” is defined in Section 4.1(c) of this Agreement.

Basis Adjustment” means the increase or decrease to the tax basis of, or the Corporation’s share of, the tax basis of the Reference Assets (i) under Section 734(b), 743(b) and 754 of the Code and, in each case, the comparable sections of U.S. state and local tax law (in situations where, following an Exchange, the LLC 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, the LLC 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 payment 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.

Basis Schedule” is defined in Section 2.3 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.

Blocker Attributes” means (i) any net operating losses, capital losses, disallowed interest expense carryforwards under Section 163(j) of the Code (and any comparable section of U.S. state and local tax law) and credit carryforwards of a Blocker Entity relating to taxable periods ending on or prior to the IPO Date and (ii) the tax basis of any Reference Asset resulting from any adjustment under Section 743(b) of the Code (and any comparable section of U.S. state and local tax law) attributable to Units acquired by a Blocker Entity prior to the IPO Date.

Blocker Entities” means SC II Blocker and SC II PV Blocker.

Blocker TRA Holders” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

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.

 

3


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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor provisions thereto (the “Exchange Act”), but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person and its Subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan, and excluding the Permitted Transferees) becomes the “beneficial owner” (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Stock, Class C Common Stock, preferred stock and/or any other class or classes of capital stock of the Corporation (if any) representing in the aggregate more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote;

(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 all or substantially all of the assets of the LLC) (which assets, for the avoidance of doubt, include the equity interests of the Corporation’s Subsidiaries);

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

(4) the Corporation ceases to be the sole managing member of the LLC.

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 (a) the record holders of the Class A Common Stock, Class B Stock, Class C Common Stock, preferred stock and/or any other class or classes of capital stock of the Corporation (if any) 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 or (b) in the case of the foregoing clauses (1) or (3), either the Rook Related Parties or the Searchlight Related Parties are the “beneficial owner” (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Stock, Class C Common Stock, preferred stock and/or any other class or classes of capital stock of the Corporation (if any) representing in the aggregate more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote (or, in the case of a transaction described in the foregoing clause (3), more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Person resulting from such merger or consolidation or, if the surviving company is a Subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof).

 

4


Class A Common Stock” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

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

Class C Common Stock” means the shares of Class C common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Corporation.

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

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 other agreement.

Corporation” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

Covered Person” is defined in Section 7.17 of this Agreement.

Covered Tax Benefit” is defined in Section 3.3(a) of 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 and any interest related thereto.

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

Default Rate” means the Agreed Rate 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 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.

 

5


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

Early Termination Rate” means the lesser of (i) 6.5% and (ii) 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.

Estimated IPO Date Attribute Schedule” is defined in Section 2.2.

Estimated Tax Benefit Payment” is defined in Section 3.4 of this Agreement.

Exchange” means any Direct Exchange or Redemption.

Exchange Date” means the date of any Exchange.

Expert” is defined in Section 7.9 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.

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, as in effect from time to time; provided, however, that if the Corporation notifies the TRA Holders that the Corporation requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change in GAAP or in the application thereof occurring after the date of this Agreement (including through the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards and applicable accounting requirements set by the International Accounting Standards Board or any successor thereto (the “IFRS”)), on the operation of such provision (or if the TRA Holders notify the Corporation that they request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof (including through the adoption of IFRS), then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith.

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 the Taxable Year, (ii) excluding the effect of any and all Blocker Attributes for the Taxable Year and (iii) excluding any deduction attributable to Imputed Interest, Actual Interest Amounts or Default Rate Interest for the Taxable Year; provided, that for purposes determining the Hypothetical Tax Liability, the combined tax rate for U.S. state and local Covered Taxes (but not, for the avoidance of doubt, federal Covered Taxes) shall be the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate. For the avoidance of doubt, (i) the Hypothetical Tax Liability shall be determined without taking into account the carryover or carryback of any tax item attributable to Imputed

 

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Interest, Actual Interest Amounts, Default Rate Interest, Blocker Attributes or a Basis Adjustment (or portions thereof); and (ii) the calculation of the Hypothetical Tax Liability shall take into account the federal benefit received by the Corporation with respect to state and local jurisdiction income taxes (with such benefit taking into account the Corporation’s marginal U.S. federal income tax rate for the relevant Taxable Year, the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate, and the deductibility, if any, of state and local jurisdiction income taxes).

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 Exchange Act 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.

IPO Date” means the closing date of the IPO.

IPO Date Attribute Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 of 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 for each month (or portion thereof) during any period, an interest rate per annum equal to the rate per annum reported, on the date two Business Days prior to the first Business Day of such month, as published on the applicable Bloomberg screen page (or other commercially available source providing quotations of LIBOR) for London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits for such month (or portion thereof).

LLC” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

LLC Agreement” means that certain Sixth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the LLC, dated as of the date hereof, as such agreement may be further amended, restated, supplemented and/or otherwise modified from time to time.

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

Market Value” means the Common Unit Redemption Price, as defined in the LLC Agreement, determined as of an Early Termination Date.

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

 

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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.

Non-Blocker TRA Holders” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

Objection Notice” is defined in Section 2.5(a)(i) of this Agreement.

Over-Allotment Option” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

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.

Permitted Transfer” means the transfer of Units by a holder of Units to any transferee as permitted by the LLC Agreement.

Permitted Transferee” means a holder of Units pursuant to a Permitted Transfer.

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 TRA Holder) (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 2.5(a) of this Agreement.

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

Reference Asset” means any tangible or intangible asset of any member of the LLC Group or any of their respective successors or assigns, 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.

Reorganization Transactions” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

Rook” means Rook Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its Permitted Transferees.

 

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Rook Related Parties” means Rook Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its Affiliates.

SC II Blocker” SC II GWN Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

SC II PV Blocker” SC II PV GWN Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

SC II PV TRA Holder” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

SC II TRA Holder” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

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

Searchlight” means Searchlight II GWN, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, or such other Person as designated by Searchlight, SC II PV TRA Holder, SC II TRA Holder, or their respective assignees who become parties hereto by satisfying the Joinder Requirement.

Searchlight Related Parties” means Searchlight II GWN, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and its Affiliates.

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

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

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

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

Tax Benefit Schedule” is defined in Section 2.4(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 IPO Date.

 

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Taxing Authority” means 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.

TRA Holders” is defined in the preamble to 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.

True-Up” is defined in Section 3.4 of this Agreement.

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

Units” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

Valuation Assumptions” means, 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, Blocker Attributes described in clause (ii) of the definition thereof 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;

(2) the U.S. federal 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 and the combined U.S. state and local income tax rates (but not, for the avoidance of doubt, federal income tax rates) for each such Taxable Year shall be the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate for the Taxable Year that includes the Early Termination Effective Date;

(3) all taxable income of the Corporation will be subject to the maximum applicable tax rates for each Covered Tax throughout the relevant period; provided, that the combined tax rate for U.S. state and local income taxes (but not, for the avoidance of doubt, federal income tax) shall be the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate, and, for the avoidance of doubt, the applicable calculations shall take into account the federal benefit received by the Corporation with respect to state and local jurisdiction income taxes (with such benefit taking into account the Corporation’s applicable marginal U.S. federal income tax rate, the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate, and the deductibility, if any, of state and local jurisdiction income taxes);

 

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(4) any loss carryovers or carrybacks generated by any Basis Adjustment, Blocker Attributes described in clause (ii) of the definition thereof or Imputed Interest (including such Basis Adjustment and Imputed Interest generated as a result of payments under this Agreement) and available as of the Early Termination Effective Date, and any Blocker Attributes described in clause (i) of the definition thereof that have not been previously utilized in determining a Tax Benefit Payment as of the Early Termination Effective Date, will be used by the Corporation on a pro rata basis over a fifteen-year period beginning on the Early Termination Effective Date (provided that, in any year that a Blocker Entity or the Corporation is prevented from fully utilizing net operating losses pursuant to Section 382 of the Code, or any successor provision, the amount utilized for purposes of this provision shall not exceed the amount that would otherwise be utilizable under Section 382 of the Code, or any successor provision);

(5) any non-amortizable assets (other than Subsidiary Stock) will be disposed of on the earlier of (i) the fifteenth anniversary of the applicable Basis Adjustment (or, if such Basis Adjustment occurred more than fifteen years before the Early Termination Effective Date, the Early Termination Effective Date), (ii) in the case of any Blocker Attributes described in clause (ii) of the definition thereof, the fifteenth anniversary of IPO Date (or, if the IPO Date is more than fifteen years before the Early Termination Effective Date, the Early Termination Effective Date) and (iii) the fifteenth anniversary of 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 TRA Holder has Units that have not been Exchanged, then such Units shall be deemed to be Exchanged for the Market Value that would be received by such TRA Holder if such Units had been Exchanged on the Early Termination Effective Date, and such TRA Holder shall be deemed to receive the amount of cash such TRA Holder 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.

(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.

 

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(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 LLC 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; the LLC 754 Election.

(a) Basis Adjustments. The Parties acknowledge and agree that (A) each Direct Exchange shall give rise to Basis Adjustments and (B) each Redemption using cash or Class A Common Stock contributed to the LLC by the Corporation shall be treated as a direct purchase of Units by the Corporation from the applicable TRA Holder pursuant to Section 707(a)(2)(B) of the Code that shall give rise to Basis Adjustments. For the avoidance of doubt, payments made under this Agreement shall not be treated as resulting in a Basis Adjustment to the extent that such payments are treated as deductible interest for U.S. federal income tax purposes or as other than consideration for Units for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

(b) Section 754 Election. In its capacity as the sole managing member of the LLC, the Corporation will ensure that, on and after the date hereof and continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, the LLC and each other member of the LLC Group that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes 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).

 

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Section 2.2 IPO Date Attribute Schedule. An estimated schedule (the “Estimated IPO Date Attribute Schedule”) of (a) the Blocker Attributes of each of the Blocker Entities as of December 31, 2019 and as of the IPO Date, (b) the period (or periods) over which the tax basis of any Reference Asset that is a Blocker Attribute is amortizable and/or depreciable and (c) any applicable limitations on the use of the Blocker Attributes for tax purposes (including under Section 382 of the Code) is set forth on Exhibit B to this Agreement. Within one hundred and eighty (180) calendar days after the filing of the U.S. federal income Tax Return of each Blocker Entity for the short Taxable Year including the Reorganization Transactions, the Corporation shall update the Estimated IPO Date Attribute Schedule to reflect the actual Blocker Attributes reflected on such Tax Returns and shall deliver such updated schedule (the “IPO Date Attribute Schedule”) to Searchlight and Rook. The IPO Date Attribute Schedule will become final and binding on the Parties pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 2.5(a) and may be amended by the Parties pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 2.5(b).

Section 2.3 Basis Schedules. Within one hundred and eighty (180) 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 Searchlight and Rook a schedule (the “Basis Schedule”) that shows, in reasonable detail as necessary in order to understand the calculations performed under this Agreement: (a) the Basis Adjustments with respect to the Reference Assets as a result of the relevant Exchanges effected in such Taxable Year and (b) 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 2.5(a) and may be amended by the Parties pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 2.5(b).

Section 2.4 Tax Benefit Schedules.

(a) Tax Benefit Schedule. Within one hundred and eighty (180) 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 Searchlight and Rook 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 2.5(a), and may be amended by the Parties pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 2.5(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 liability of the Corporation for Covered Taxes for such Taxable Year attributable to the Basis Adjustments, Blocker Attributes, Imputed Interest, Actual Interest Amounts, and Default Rate Interest as determined using a “with and without” methodology described in Section 2.5(a). Carryovers or carrybacks of any Tax item attributable to any Basis Adjustment, Blocker Attribute, Imputed Interest, Actual Interest Amounts, and Default Rate Interest shall be considered to be subject to the rules of the Code and the Treasury Regulations or the appropriate provisions of U.S. state or local tax law, as applicable, governing the use,

 

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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, Blocker Attributes, Imputed Interest, Actual Interest Amounts, and Default Rate 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 (i) all Tax Benefit Payments attributable to an Exchange will to the extent permitted by applicable law (A) be treated as subsequent upward purchase price adjustments that give rise to further Basis Adjustments for the Corporation and (B) have the effect of creating additional Basis Adjustments for the Corporation in the year of payment, and (ii) as a result, such additional Basis Adjustments will be incorporated into the current Taxable Year continuing until any incremental current Taxable Year benefits equal an immaterial amount.

Section 2.5 Procedures; Amendments.

(a) Procedures. Each time the Corporation delivers an applicable Schedule to Searchlight or Rook, as applicable, under this Agreement, including any Amended Schedule delivered pursuant to Section 2.5(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 reasonably requested by Searchlight or Rook, as applicable, that are reasonably necessary in order to understand the calculations that were relevant for purposes of preparing the Schedule; and (y) allow Searchlight and Rook, as applicable, and their advisors to have reasonable access to the appropriate representatives, as determined by the Corporation or as reasonably requested by Searchlight or Rook, as applicable, at the Corporation 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 Searchlight or Rook, as applicable, provides a reasonably detailed presentation of the calculation of the actual liability of the Corporation for Covered Taxes (the “with” calculation) and the Hypothetical Tax Liability of the Corporation (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 Searchlight and Rook, as applicable, first received the applicable Schedule or amendment thereto unless:

(i) Searchlight or Rook, as applicable, within thirty (30) calendar days after receiving the applicable Schedule or amendment thereto, provides the Corporation with written notice of a material objection to such Schedule that is made in good faith and that sets forth in reasonable detail Searchlight’s or Rook’s, as applicable, material objection (an “Objection Notice”) or

 

 

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(ii) each of Searchlight and Rook, as applicable, 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 each of Searchlight and Rook, as applicable, is received by the Corporation.

In the event that Searchlight or Rook, as applicable, 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 Searchlight or Rook, as applicable, shall employ the reconciliation procedures as described in Section 7.9 of this Agreement (the “Reconciliation Procedures”).

(b) Amended Schedule. The applicable Schedule for any Taxable Year may be amended from time to time by the Corporation: (i) in connection with a Determination affecting such Schedule; (ii) to correct material inaccuracies in the Schedule identified as a result of the receipt of additional factual information relating to a Taxable Year after the date the Schedule was originally provided to Searchlight and Rook, as applicable; (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. Except as provided in Sections 3.4, and subject to Sections 3.2 and 3.3, within five (5) Business Days following the date on which each Tax Benefit Schedule that is required to be delivered by the Corporation to Searchlight and Rook, as applicable, pursuant to Section 2.4(a) of this Agreement becomes final in accordance with Section 2.5(a) of this Agreement, the Corporation shall pay to each relevant TRA Holder 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 TRA Holder or as otherwise agreed by the Corporation and such TRA Holder. For the avoidance of doubt, the TRA Holders shall not be required under any circumstances to return any portion of any Tax Benefit Payment previously paid by the Corporation to the TRA Holders (including any portion of any Estimated Tax Benefit Payment or any Early Termination Payment). For purposes of this Agreement, and also for the avoidance of doubt, no Tax Benefit Payment shall be required to be calculated or made in respect of any estimated tax payments, including, without limitation, any estimated U.S. federal income tax payments.

 

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

(i) Attributable. A Net Tax Benefit is “Attributable” to a (A) Non-Blocker TRA Holder to the extent that it is derived from any Basis Adjustment, Imputed Interest, Actual Interest Amount or Default Rate Interest that is attributable to an Exchange undertaken by or with respect to such TRA Holder, (B) SC II TRA Holder to the extent that it is derived from any Blocker Attributes, Imputed Interest, Actual Interest Amount or default Rate Interest that is attributable to SC II Blocker or the Reorganization Transactions in respect of SC II Blocker and (C) to SC II PV TRA Holder to the extent that it is derived from any Blocker Attributes, Imputed Interest, Actual Interest or Default Rate Interest that is attributable to SC II PV Blocker or the Reorganization Transactions in respect of SC II PV Blocker.

(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 as of the end of such Taxable Year over (y) the aggregate amount of all Tax Benefit Payments previously made under this Section 3.1 (excluding payments of Actual Interest Amounts). 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, no TRA Holder shall be required to return any portion of any Tax Benefit Payment previously made by the Corporation to such TRA Holder.

(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 liability of the Corporation for Covered Taxes; provided, that for purposes of determining the Hypothetical Tax Liability and actual liability of the Corporation for Covered Taxes, the Corporation shall use the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate for purposes of determining such liabilities for all state and local Covered Taxes. For the avoidance of doubt, the calculation of the Hypothetical Tax Liability and the actual liability of the Corporation for Covered Taxes shall take into account the federal benefit received by the Corporation with respect to state and local jurisdiction income taxes (with such benefit taking into account the Corporation’s marginal U.S. federal income tax rate for the relevant Taxable Year, the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate, and the deductibility, if any, of state and local jurisdiction income taxes). If all or a portion of the actual liability for such Covered Taxes for the Taxable Year arises as a result of an audit 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.

 

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(v) Realized Tax Detriment. The “Realized Tax Detriment” for a Taxable Year equals the excess, if any, of the actual liability of the Corporation for Covered Taxes over the Hypothetical Tax Liability for such Taxable Year; provided, that for purposes of determining the Hypothetical Tax Liability and actual liability of the Corporation for Covered Taxes, the Corporation shall use the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate for purposes of determining such liabilities for all state and local Covered Taxes. For the avoidance of doubt, the calculation of the Hypothetical Tax Liability and the actual liability of the Corporation for Covered Taxes shall take into account the federal benefit received by the Corporation with respect to state and local jurisdiction income taxes (with such benefit taking into account the Corporation’s marginal U.S. federal income tax rate for the relevant Taxable Year, the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate, and the deductibility, if any, of state and local jurisdiction income taxes). If all or a portion of the actual liability for such Covered Taxes for the Taxable Year arises as a result of an audit 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 parties acknowledge that 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, as applicable, apply to cause a portion of any Net Tax Benefit payable by the Corporation to a TRA Holder 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 TRA Holder 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.

(vii) Actual Interest Amount. Subject to Section 3.4, the “Actual Interest Amount” calculated in respect of the Net Tax Benefit (including previously accrued Imputed Interest) for a Taxable Year, will equal an amount equal to 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 TRA Holder on or before the Final Payment Date as determined pursuant to Section 3.1(a). For the avoidance of doubt, any deduction for any Actual Interest Amount as determined with respect to any Net Tax Benefit payable by the Corporation to a TRA Holder 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.

(viii) 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 TRA Holder 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 Actual Interest Amounts) 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

 

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makes such Tax Benefit Payment to such TRA Holder. For the avoidance of doubt, any deduction for any Default Rate Interest with respect to any Net Tax Benefit payable by the Corporation to a TRA Holder 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.

(ix) The Corporation and the TRA Holders 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. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, with respect to each Exchange by any TRA Holder, if such TRA Holder notifies the Corporation in writing of a stated maximum selling price (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation 15A.453-1(c)(2)) to be applied with respect to such Exchange, the amount of the initial consideration received in connection with such Exchange and the aggregate Tax Benefit Payments to such TRA Holder in respect of such Exchange (other than amounts accounted for as interest under the Code) shall not exceed such stated maximum selling price.

(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 and, if required under applicable law, through the Final Payment Date for a Tax Benefit Payment as determined pursuant to Section 3.1(a));

(ii) second, 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 Final Payment Date for a Tax Benefit Payment as determined pursuant to Section 3.1(a)); and

(iii) third, 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 the relevant Tax Benefit Payment to a TRA Holder).

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.

 

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Section 3.3 Pro-Ration of Payments as Between the TRA Holders.

(a) Insufficient Taxable Income. Notwithstanding anything in Section 3.1(b) to the contrary, if the aggregate potential depreciation, amortization or other Tax benefit in respect of the Basis Adjustments, Blocker Attributes, Imputed Interest, Actual Interest Amounts, and Default Rate Interest for purposes of determining the Corporation’s liability for Covered Taxes (the “Covered Tax Benefit”) 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 TRA Holders 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 in a particular Taxable Year (with $50 of such Covered Tax Benefits being attributable to TRA Holder 1 and $150 of such Covered Tax Benefits being attributable to TRA Holder 2), such that TRA Holder 1 would have potentially been entitled to a Tax Benefit Payment of $42.50 and TRA Holder 2 would have been entitled to a Tax Benefit Payment of $127.50 if the Corporation had $200 of actual 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 TRA Holder 1 and $75 of the aggregate $100 actual Covered Tax benefit for the Corporation would be allocated to TRA Holder 2, such that TRA Holder 1 would receive a Tax Benefit Payment of $21.25 and TRA Holder 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 TRA Holder pro rata in proportion to the amount of such Tax Benefit Payments, without favoring one obligation over the other, and (ii) no Tax Benefit Payment shall be made in respect of any Taxable Year until all Tax Benefit Payments to all TRA Holders in respect of all prior Taxable Years have been made in full.

Section 3.4 Optional Estimated Tax Benefit Payment Procedure. As long as the Corporation is current in respect of its payment obligations owed to each TRA Holder pursuant to this Agreement and there are no delinquent Tax Benefit Payments (including interest thereon) outstanding in respect of prior Taxable Years for any TRA Holder, the Corporation may, at any time on or after the due date (without extensions) for filing the U.S. federal income Tax Return of the Corporation for a Taxable Year and at the Corporation’s option, in its sole discretion, make one or more estimated payments to the TRA Holders in respect of any anticipated amounts to be owed with respect to a Taxable Year to the TRA Holders pursuant to Section 3.1 of this Agreement (any such estimated payments referred to as an “Estimated Tax Benefit Payment”); provided that any Estimated Tax Benefit Payment made to a TRA Holder pursuant to this Section 3.4 is matched by a proportionately equal Estimated Tax Benefit Payment to all other TRA Holders then entitled to a Tax Benefit Payment. Any Estimated Tax Benefit Payment made under this Section 3.4 shall be paid by the Corporation to the TRA Holders and applied against the final amount of any Tax Benefit Payment to be made pursuant to Section 3.1. The payment of an Estimated Tax Benefit Payment by the Corporation to the TRA Holders pursuant to this Section 3.4 shall also terminate the obligation of the Corporation to make payment of any Actual Interest Amount that might have otherwise accrued with respect to the proportionate amount of the Tax Benefit Payment that is being paid in advance of the applicable Tax Benefit Schedule being finalized pursuant to Section 2.5. Upon the making of any Estimated Tax Benefit Payment

 

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pursuant to this Section 3.4, the amount of such Estimated Tax Benefit Payment shall first be applied to any estimated Actual Interest Amount, then to Imputed Interest, and then applied to the remaining residual amount of the Tax Benefit Payment to be made pursuant to Section 3.1. In determining the final amount of any Tax Benefit Payment to be made pursuant to Section 3.1, and for purposes of finalizing the Tax Benefit Schedule pursuant to Section 2.5, the amount of any Estimated Tax Benefit Payments that may have been made with respect to the Taxable Year shall be increased, if the finally determined Tax Benefit Payment for a Taxable Year exceeds the Estimated Tax Benefit Payments made for such Taxable Year, with such increase being paid by the Corporation to the TRA Holders along with an appropriate Actual Interest Amount in respect of the amount of such increase (a “True-Up”). If the Estimated Tax Benefit Payment to a TRA Holder for a Taxable Year exceeds the finally determined Tax Benefit Payment to the TRA Holder for such Taxable Year, such excess, along with an appropriate Actual Interest Amount in respect of such excess (being charged by the Corporation to the TRA Holder), shall be applied to reduce the amount of any subsequent future Tax Benefit Payments (including Estimated Tax Benefit Payments, if any) to be paid by the Corporation to such TRA Holder. As of the date on which any Estimated Tax Benefit Payments are made, and as of the date on which any True-Up is made, all such payments shall be made in the same manner and subject to the same terms and conditions as otherwise contemplated by Section 3.1 and all other applicable terms of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, as is the case with Tax Benefit Payments made by the Corporation to the TRA Holders pursuant to Section 3.1, the amount of any Estimated Tax Benefit Payments made pursuant to this Section 3.4 that are attributable to an Exchange shall also be treated, in part, as subsequent upward purchase price adjustments that give rise to Basis Adjustments in the Taxable Year of payment to the extent permitted by applicable law and as of the date on which such payments are made.

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 TRA Holders pursuant to this Agreement by paying to the TRA Holders the Early Termination Payment; provided that Early Termination Payments may be made pursuant to this Section 4.1(a) only if made to all TRA Holders 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’s 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.

 

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(b) Acceleration Upon Change of Control. In the event of a Change of Control, all obligations of the Corporation 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 TRA Holders 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 mutandis.

(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 Title 11 of the United States Code (11 U.S.C. § 101 et seq.) (the “Bankruptcy Code”) or otherwise, then all obligations of the Corporation hereunder shall be accelerated and become immediately due and payable upon notice of acceleration from a TRA Holder (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 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 (except to the extent included in the Early Termination Payment). 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 TRA Holder shall still be entitled to enforce all of its rights otherwise available under this Agreement, excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, 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 ninety (90) 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 ninety (90) 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 ninety (90) days of the relevant Final Payment Date to the extent

 

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that the Corporation has insufficient funds or cannot make such payment as a result of obligations imposed in connection with the Senior Obligations or under applicable law, and cannot obtain sufficient funds to make such payments by taking commercially reasonable actions; 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); and further provided that such payment obligation shall nonetheless accrue for the benefit of the TRA Holders and the Corporation shall make such payment at the first opportunity that it has sufficient funds and is otherwise able to make such payment.

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 Searchlight and Rook a notice of the Corporation’s decision to exercise such right (an “Early Termination Notice”). Upon delivery of the Early Termination Notice or the occurrence of an event described in Section 4.1(b) or (c), the Corporation shall deliver a schedule (the “Early Termination Schedule”) showing in reasonable detail the calculation of the Early Termination Payment. The Corporation shall also (x) deliver to Searchlight and Rook supporting schedules and work papers reasonably requested by Searchlight or Rook, as applicable, that are reasonably necessary in order to understand the calculations that were relevant for purposes of preparing the Early Termination Schedule; and (y) allow Searchlight and Rook and their advisors to have reasonable access to the appropriate representatives, as determined by the Corporation or as reasonably requested by Searchlight or Rook, at the Corporation 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 Searchlight and Rook received such Early Termination Schedule unless:

(i) Searchlight or Rook within thirty (30) calendar days after receiving the Early Termination Schedule, provides the Corporation with notice of a material objection to such Early Termination Schedule made in good faith and setting forth in reasonable detail Searchlight or Rook’s, as applicable, material objection (a “Termination Objection Notice”); or

(ii) each of Searchlight and Rook 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 Searchlight and Rook is received by the Corporation.

In the event that Searchlight or Rook 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 Searchlight or Rook, as applicable, shall employ the Reconciliation Procedures. The date on which the Early Termination Schedule becomes final in accordance with this Section 4.2 shall be the “Early Termination Reference Date.”

 

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Section 4.3 Payment Upon Early Termination.

(a) Timing of Payment. Within five (5) Business Days after the Early Termination Reference Date, the Corporation shall pay to each TRA Holder an amount equal to the Early Termination Payment for such TRA Holder. 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 such TRA Holder or as otherwise agreed by the Corporation and such TRA Holder.

(b) Amount of Payment. The “Early Termination Payment” payable to a TRA Holder 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 TRA Holder, beginning from the Early Termination Effective Date and using the Valuation Assumptions.

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 TRA Holders 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 or unsecured 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 TRA Holders 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. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the amount of all or any portion of any Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment not made to the TRA Holders when due under the terms of this Agreement, whether as a result of Section 5.1 and the terms of the Senior Obligations or otherwise, shall be payable together with any interest thereon, computed at the Default Rate and commencing from the Final Payment Date on which such Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment was first due and payable to the date of actual payment.

ARTICLE VI.

TAX MATTERS; CONSISTENCY; COOPERATION

Section 6.1 Participation in the Corporations and the LLCs Tax Matters. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Corporation shall have full responsibility for, and sole discretion over, all tax matters concerning the Corporation and the LLC, including without limitation the preparation, filing or amending of any Tax Return and defending, contesting or settling any issue pertaining to taxes; provided, however, that if Searchlight or Rook owns (or would own upon an

 

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Exchange of all outstanding Units) at least ten percent (10%) of the Class A Common Stock, the Corporation shall not settle any issue pertaining to Covered Taxes that is reasonably expected to materially adversely affect the TRA Holders’ rights and obligations under this Agreement without the consent of Searchlight and Rook, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed. If Searchlight or Rook fails to respond to any notice with respect to the settlement of any such issue within fifteen (15) days of its receipt of the applicable notice, Searchlight or Rook, as applicable, shall be deemed to have consented to the proposed settlement or other disposition. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall notify Searchlight and Rook of, and keep them reasonably informed with respect to, the portion of any tax audit of the Corporation or the LLC, or any of the LLC’s Subsidiaries, the outcome of which is reasonably expected to materially affect the Tax Benefit Payments payable to such TRA Holders under this Agreement, and Searchlight and Rook, as applicable, 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. To the extent there is a conflict between this Agreement and the LLC Agreement as it relates to tax matters concerning Covered Taxes and the Corporation and the LLC, including preparation, filing or amending of any Tax Return and defending, contesting or settling any issue pertaining to taxes, this Agreement shall control; provided, however, that to the extent there is a conflict between this Agreement and Sections 5.05 and 9.02 of the LLC Agreement, Sections 5.05 and 9.02 of the LLC Agreement shall control.

Section 6.2 Consistency. Except as otherwise required by law, 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 the LLC on their respective Tax Returns. Each TRA Holder 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 TRA Holders under this Agreement.

Section 6.3 Cooperation.

(a) Each TRA Holder, on the one hand, and the Corporation, on the other hand, shall (i) furnish to the other in a timely manner such information, documents and other materials as the other may reasonably request for purposes of making any determination or computation necessary or appropriate under or with respect to this Agreement, preparing any Tax Return or contesting or defending any audit, examination or controversy with any Taxing Authority, or estimating any future Tax Benefit Payments hereunder, (ii) make itself available to the other and its representatives to provide explanations of documents and materials and such other information as may be reasonably requested in connection with any of the matters described in clause (i) above, and (iii) reasonably cooperate in connection with any such matter. Upon the request of any TRA Holder, the Corporation shall cooperate in taking any action reasonably requested by such TRA Holder in connection with its tax or financial reporting and/or the consummation of any assignment or transfer of any of its rights and/or obligations under this Agreement, including without limitation, providing any information or executing any documentation.

 

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(b) The requesting Party shall reimburse the other Party for any reasonable and documented out-of-pocket third party costs and expenses incurred by such other Party 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:

Shift4 Payments, Inc.

2202 N. Irving St.

Allentown, PA 18109

Telephone: (888) 276-2108

Attn: Jordan Frankel, General Counsel and EVP, Legal

E-mail:

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

Latham & Watkins LLP

885 Third Avenue

New York, NY 10022

Attn: Marc Jaffe and Ian Schuman

Facsimile: (212) 751-4864

E-mail:

If to Searchlight:

Searchlight Capital Partners, L.P.

745 5th Avenue, 27th Floor

New York, New York 10151

 

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

[___________]

[___________]

[___________]

If to Rook:

Rook Holdings, Inc.

2202 N. Irving St.

Allentown, PA 18109

Attn: Jared Isaacman

E-mail:

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

Kane Kessler, P.C.

Attn: Mitchell Hollander and Robert Lawrence

Facsimile:

E-mail:

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 Delaware, without regard to the conflicts of laws principles thereof that would mandate the application of the laws of another jurisdiction.

Section 7.5 Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any law or public policy, all other terms and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any Party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the Parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

 

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Section 7.6 Assignments; Amendments; Successors; No Waiver.

(a) Assignment. Each TRA Holder 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; provided such Person executes and delivers a Joinder agreeing to succeed to the applicable portion of such TRA Holder’s interest in this Agreement and to become a Party for all purposes of this Agreement (the “Joinder Requirement”). For the avoidance of doubt, if a TRA Holder transfers Units in accordance with the terms of the LLC Agreement but does not assign to the transferee of such Units its rights under this Agreement with respect to such transferred Units, such TRA Holder shall continue to be entitled to receive the Tax Benefit Payments arising in respect of a subsequent Exchange of such Units (and any such transferred Units shall be separately identified, so as to facilitate the determination of Tax Benefit Payments hereunder). The Corporation may not assign any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement to any Person (other than 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) without the prior written consent of each of the TRA Holders (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 each of a majority of the Independent Directors, Searchlight and Rook (which approval of Searchlight and Rook shall not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), in which case such amendment shall be permitted. 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. Except as provided in Section 7.6(a), 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.

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.

 

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Section 7.8 Resolution of Disputes.

(a) Except for Reconciliation Disputes subject to Section 7.9, any and all disputes which cannot be settled amicably, 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 Administered Arbitration (the “Rules”) by three arbitrators, of which the Corporation shall appoint one arbitrator and the TRA Holders party to such Dispute shall appoint one arbitrator in accordance with the “screened” appointment procedure provided in 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 New York, New York.

(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) 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.

(d) 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).

(e) In the event the parties are unable to agree whether a dispute between them is a Reconciliation Dispute subject to the dispute resolution procedure set forth in Section 7.9 or a Dispute subject to the dispute resolution procedure set forth in this Section 7.8, such disagreement shall be decided and resolved in accordance with the procedure set forth in this Section 7.8.

Section 7.9 Reconciliation. In the event that the Corporation and any TRA Holder 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 2.5, 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”),

 

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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 TRA Holder agree otherwise, the Expert shall not, and the firm that employs the Expert shall not, have any material relationship with the Corporation or such TRA Holder 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 TRA Holder 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 TRA Holders shall bear their own costs and expenses of such proceeding, unless (i) the Expert adopts the TRA Holder’s position, in which case the Corporation shall reimburse the TRA Holder for any reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses in such proceeding (including for the avoidance of doubt any costs and expenses incurred by the TRA Holder relating to the engagement of the Expert or amending any applicable Tax Return), or (ii) the Expert adopts the Corporation’s position, in which case the TRA Holder shall reimburse the Corporation for any reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses in such proceeding (including for the avoidance of doubt costs and expenses incurred by the Corporation relating to the engagement of the Expert or amending any applicable Tax Return). 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 TRA Holders and may be entered and enforced in any court having competent jurisdiction.

Section 7.10 Withholding. The Corporation and its affiliates and representatives shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any payment that is payable to any TRA Holder pursuant to or with respect 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, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid by the Corporation to the relevant TRA Holder. Each TRA Holder 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.

 

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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 the Corporation, its successor in interest or any member of a group described in Section 7.11(a) or any member of the LLC Group transfers one or more Reference 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 Reference Asset in a fully taxable transaction on the date of such transfer. The consideration deemed to be received by such entity shall be equal to the fair market value of the contributed Reference Asset as determined by a valuation expert selected by the Corporation plus, without duplication, (i) the amount of debt to which any such Reference Assets is subject, in the case of a transfer of an encumbered Reference Asset or (ii) the amount of debt allocated to any such Reference Asset, in the case of a contribution of a partnership interest. For purposes of this Section 7.11, 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. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, if the Corporation, its successor in interest or any member of a group described in Section 7.11(a), transfers its assets pursuant to a transaction that qualifies as a “reorganization” (within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code) in which such entity does not survive or pursuant to any other transaction to which Section 381(a) of the Code applies (other than any such reorganization or any such other transaction, in each case, pursuant to which such entity transfers assets to a corporation with which the Corporation, its successor in interest or any member of the group described in Section 7.11(a) (other than any such member being transferred in such reorganization or other transaction) does not file a consolidated Tax Return pursuant to Section 1501 of the Code), the transfer will not cause such entity to be treated as having transferred any assets to a corporation (or a Person classified as a corporation for U.S. income tax purposes) pursuant to this Section 7.11(b).

Section 7.12 Confidentiality. Each TRA Holder and its assignees acknowledges and agrees that the information of the Corporation and its Affiliates is confidential and, except in the course of, and to the extent reasonably required in connection with, performing any duties as necessary for the Corporation and its Affiliates or as required by law or legal process (in which case, the TRA Holder shall provide prompt written notice of such requirement to the Corporation) 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 or confidential information, acquired pursuant to this Agreement, of the Corporation and its Affiliates and successors, whether learned by any TRA Holder heretofore or hereafter. This Section 7.12 shall

 

30


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 TRA Holder in violation of this Agreement) or is generally known to the business community, (ii) the disclosure of information to the extent necessary for a TRA Holder to prosecute or defend claims arising under or relating to this Agreement, and (iii) the disclosure of information to the extent necessary for a TRA Holder 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. If a TRA Holder 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, as a result of or, in connection with an actual or proposed change in law, a TRA Holder 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 TRA Holder (or direct or indirect equity holders in such TRA Holder) in connection with any Exchange to be treated as ordinary income (other than with respect to so called hot assets, as described in Section 751(a) of the Code) 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 TRA Holder or any direct or indirect owner of such TRA Holder, then at the written election of such TRA Holder in its sole discretion (in an instrument signed by such TRA Holder and delivered to the Corporation) and to the extent specified therein by such TRA Holder, this Agreement shall cease to have further effect and shall not apply to an Exchange with respect to such TRA Holder occurring after a date specified by such TRA Holder, or may be amended by the Parties in a manner reasonably determined by such TRA Holder, provided that such amendment shall not result in an increase in or acceleration of 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 TRA Holder hereunder shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable law (the “Maximum Rate”). If any TRA Holder shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the Tax Benefit Payment, Estimated 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 TRA Holder exceeds the Maximum Rate, such TRA Holder 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

 

31


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 TRA Holder hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is the intention of the Parties to conform strictly to any applicable usury laws.

Section 7.15 Independent Nature of Rights and Obligations. The rights and obligations of each TRA Holder hereunder are several and not joint with the rights and obligations of any other Person. A TRA Holder shall not be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Person hereunder, nor shall a TRA Holder have the right to enforce the rights or obligations of any other Person hereunder (other than the Corporation). The obligations of a TRA Holder 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 TRA Holder pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the TRA Holders acting as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the TRA Holders are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such rights or obligations or the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Corporation acknowledges that the TRA Holders 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 LLC Agreement. This Agreement shall be treated as part of the LLC Agreement as described in Section 761(c) of the Code and Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(h) and 1.761-1(c) of the Treasury Regulations.

[Signature Page Follows This Page]

 

32


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

                                                                                                                                         CORPORATION:

 

 

SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, INC.

 

By:

 

                              

 

Name:

 
 

Title:

 

[Signature Page to Tax Receivable Agreement]


                                                                                                                                         THE LLC:

 

SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC

By:

 

                          

Name:

 

Title:

 

[Signature Page to Tax Receivable Agreement]


TRA HOLDER:

By:

Name:

Title:

[Signature Page to Tax Receivable Agreement]


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 [ 🌑 ], 2020 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Tax Receivable Agreement”) by and among Shift4 Payments, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), Shift4 Payments, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “LLC”), each of the TRA Holders 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. Upon the execution of this Joinder by the undersigned and delivery hereof to the Corporation, the undersigned hereby is and hereafter will be a TRA Holder under the Tax Receivable Agreement and a Party thereto, with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities of a TRA Holder 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.

2. 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.

3. 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:

 


Acknowledged and agreed as of the date first set forth above:

SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, INC.

By:                                                                      

Name:

Title:


Exhibit B

ESTIMATED IPO DATE ATTRIBUTE SCHEDULE

[    ]

Exhibit 10.2

 

 

 

SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC

SIXTH AMENDED AND RESTATED

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

Dated as of [ • ], 2020

 

 

THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INTERESTS REPRESENTED BY THIS SIXTH AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNDER ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS. SUCH LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INTERESTS MAY NOT BE 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 SUBSTANTIAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY SET FORTH HEREIN.

 

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

Article I. DEFINITIONS

     2  

Article II. ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS

     14  

Section 2.01

  Formation of Company      14  

Section 2.02

  Sixth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement      14  

Section 2.03

  Name      14  

Section 2.04

  Purpose; Powers      14  

Section 2.05

  Principal Office; Registered Office      14  

Section 2.06

  Term      14  

Section 2.07

  No State-Law Partnership      14  

Article III. MEMBERS; UNITS; CAPITALIZATION

     15  

Section 3.01

  Members      15  

Section 3.02

  Units      15  

Section 3.03

  Recapitalization; the Corporation’s Capital Contribution; the Corporation’s Purchase of Common Units; Member Distributions      16  

Section 3.04

  Authorization and Issuance of Additional Units      17  

Section 3.05

  Repurchase or Redemption of shares of Class A Common Stock      18  

Section 3.06

  Certificates Representing Units; Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates; Registration and Transfer of Units      18  

Section 3.07

  Negative Capital Accounts      19  

Section 3.08

  No Withdrawal      19  

Section 3.09

  Loans From Members      19  

Section 3.10

  Corporate Stock Option Plans and Equity Plans      19  

Section 3.11

  Dividend Reinvestment Plan, Cash Option Purchase Plan, Stock Incentive Plan or Other Plan      22  

Article IV. DISTRIBUTIONS

     22  

Section 4.01

  Distributions      22  

Article V. CAPITAL ACCOUNTS; ALLOCATIONS; TAX MATTERS

     24  

Section 5.01

  Capital Accounts      24  

Section 5.02

  Allocations      25  

Section 5.03

  Regulatory Allocations      25  

Section 5.04

  Final Allocations      27  

Section 5.05

  Tax Allocations      27  

Section 5.06

  Indemnification and Reimbursement for Payments on Behalf of a Member      28  

 

ii


Article VI. MANAGEMENT

     28  

Section 6.01

  Authority of Manager      28  

Section 6.02

  Actions of the Manager      29  

Section 6.03

  Resignation; No Removal      29  

Section 6.04

  Vacancies      30  

Section 6.05

  Transactions Between the Company and the Manager      30  

Section 6.06

  Reimbursement for Expenses      30  

Section 6.07

  Delegation of Authority      31  

Section 6.08

  Limitation of Liability of Manager      31  

Section 6.09

  Investment Company Act      32  

Article VII. RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS AND MANAGER

     32  

Section 7.01

  Limitation of Liability and Duties of Members      32  

Section 7.02

  Lack of Authority      33  

Section 7.03

  No Right of Partition      33  

Section 7.04

  Indemnification      33  

Section 7.05

  Inspection Rights      34  

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

     35  

Section 8.01

  Records and Accounting      35  

Section 8.02

  Fiscal Year      35  

Article IX. TAX MATTERS

     35  

Section 9.01

  Preparation of Tax Returns      35  

Section 9.02

  Tax Elections      36  

Section 9.03

  Tax Controversies      36  

Article X. RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF UNITS; PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS

     37  

Section 10.01

  Transfers by Members      37  

Section 10.02

  Permitted Transfers      37  

Section 10.03

  Restricted Units Legend      38  

Section 10.04

  Transfer      39  

Section 10.05

  Assignee’s Rights      39  

Section 10.06

  Assignor’s Rights and Obligations      39  

Section 10.07

  Overriding Provisions      39  

Section 10.08

  Spousal Consent      40  

Section 10.09

  Tender Offers and Other Events with respect to the Corporation      41  

Article XI. REDEMPTION AND EXCHANGE RIGHTS

     42  

Section 11.01

  Redemption Right of a Member      42  

Section 11.02

  Election and Contribution of the Corporation      45  

 

iii


Section 11.03

  Exchange Right of the Corporation      45  

Section 11.04

  Reservation of shares of Class A Common Stock; Listing; Certificate of the Corporation      47  

Section 11.05

  Effect of Exercise of Redemption or Direct Exchange      47  

Section 11.06

  Tax Treatment      47  

Article XII. ADMISSION OF MEMBERS

     47  

Section 12.01

  Substituted Members      47  

Section 12.02

  Additional Members      47  

Article XIII. WITHDRAWAL AND RESIGNATION; TERMINATION OF RIGHTS

     48  

Section 13.01

  Withdrawal and Resignation of Members      48  

Article XIV. DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

     48  

Section 14.01

  Dissolution      48  

Section 14.02

  Winding up and Termination      49  

Section 14.03

  Deferment; Distribution in Kind      49  

Section 14.04

  Cancellation of Certificate      50  

Section 14.05

  Reasonable Time for Winding Up      50  

Section 14.06

  Return of Capital      50  

Article XV. GENERAL PROVISIONS

     50  

Section 15.01

  Power of Attorney      50  

Section 15.02

  Confidentiality      51  

Section 15.03

  Amendments      52  

Section 15.04

  Title to Company Assets      53  

Section 15.05

  Addresses and Notices      53  

Section 15.06

  Binding Effect; Intended Beneficiaries      53  

Section 15.07

  Creditors      53  

Section 15.08

  Waiver      54  

Section 15.09

  Counterparts      54  

Section 15.10

  Applicable Law      54  

Section 15.11

  Severability      54  

Section 15.12

  Further Action      54  

Section 15.13

  Delivery by Electronic Transmission      55  

Section 15.14

  Right of Offset      55  

Section 15.15

  Entire Agreement      55  

Section 15.16

  Remedies      55  

Section 15.17

  Descriptive Headings; Interpretation      55  

 

Schedules      
Schedule 1    –      Schedule of Pre-IPO Members
Schedule 2    –      Schedule of Members

 

iv


Exhibits      
Exhibit A    –      Form of Joinder Agreement
Exhibit B-1    –      Form of Agreement and Consent of Spouse
Exhibit B-2    –      Form of Spouse’s Confirmation of Separate Property

 

v


SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC

SIXTH AMENDED AND RESTATED

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

This SIXTH AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT (as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Agreement”), dated as of [ • ], 2020 (the “Effective Date”), is entered into by and among Shift4 Payments, LLC (f/k/a Lighthouse Network, LLC), a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), Shift4 Payments, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), and each of the other Members (as defined herein).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, unless the context otherwise requires, capitalized terms used herein have the respective meaning ascribed to them in Article I;

WHEREAS, the Company was formed as a limited liability company with the name “Lighthouse Network, LLC”, pursuant to and in accordance with the Delaware Act by the filing of the Certificate with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware pursuant to Section 18-201 of the Delaware Act on March 25, 2014;

WHEREAS, prior to the IPO, the Company was governed by that certain Fifth Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of the Company, dated as of October 6, 2017 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, together with all schedules, exhibits and annexes thereto, the “Initial LLC Agreement”), which the parties listed on Schedule 1 hereto executed in their capacity as members (including pursuant to consents and joinders thereto) (collectively, the “Pre-IPO Members”);

WHEREAS, in connection with the IPO, the Company was a party to a series of reorganization transactions (the “Reorganization”) with the Corporation and various other parties pursuant to which, among other matters, the Company became a direct Subsidiary of the Corporation and the Corporation was admitted as a Pre-IPO Member;

WHEREAS, in connection with the IPO, the Company, the Corporation and the Pre-IPO Members desire to convert the Original Units into Common Units (the “Recapitalization”) as provided herein;

WHEREAS, immediately following the Recapitalization, and as part of the Reorganization, pursuant to a Contribution Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the “FPOS Contribution Agreement”) by and between FPOS Holding Co., Inc., a Pre-IPO Member (“FPOS”), and the Corporation, FPOS is contributing all of its Common Units to the Corporation in exchange for shares of Class A Common Stock, and as a result of such contribution and exchange, FPOS has ceased to have any rights hereunder, whether as a Pre-IPO Member, Member or otherwise;


WHEREAS, except for 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 the IPO Common Unit Subscription Agreement;

WHEREAS, the Corporation may issue additional shares of Class A Common Stock in connection with the IPO as a result of the exercise by the underwriters of their over-allotment option (the “Over-Allotment Option”) and, if the Over-Allotment Option is exercised in whole or in part, any additional net proceeds (the “Over-Allotment Option Net Proceeds”) shall be used by the Corporation to purchase additional newly issued Common Units from the Company pursuant to the IPO Common Unit Subscription Agreement; and

WHEREAS, in connection with the foregoing matters, the Company and the Members desire to amend and restate the Initial LLC Agreement as of the Effective Date to reflect, among other things, (a) the Recapitalization, (b) the addition of the Corporation as a Member and its designation as sole Manager of the Company and (c) the other rights and obligations of the Members as provided and agreed upon in the terms of this Agreement as of the Effective Date, at which time the Initial LLC Agreement shall be superseded entirely by this Agreement and shall be of no further force or effect.

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, the Corporation and the other Members, each intending to be legally bound, each hereby agrees 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.

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).

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

 

2


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, “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). For the avoidance of doubt, Affiliates of the Rook Holdings, Inc. shall include any of the following to the extent created in connection with the estate-planning purposes of Jared Isaacman: (a) a trust under which the distribution of Common Units may be made only to beneficiaries who are Jared Isaacman, his spouse or his lineal descendants or (b) a charitable remainder trust, the income from which will be paid to Jared Isaacman during his life.

Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Approving Members” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.05.

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

Assumed Tax Liability” means, with respect to any Member, an amount equal to the excess of (i) the product of (A) the Distribution Tax Rate multiplied by (B) the estimated or actual cumulative taxable income or gain of the Company, as determined for federal income tax purposes, allocated to such Member for full or partial Fiscal Years commencing on or after [January 1, 2020], less prior losses of the Company allocated to such Member for full or partial Fiscal Years commencing on or after [January 1, 2020], in each case, as determined by the Manager over (ii) the sum of (A) the cumulative Tax Distributions made to such Member after the closing date of the IPO pursuant to Sections 4.01(b)(i), 4.01(b)(ii) and 4.01(b)(iii) and (B) distributions made to such Member (or such Member’s predecessor) pursuant to Section 7.2 of the Initial LLC Agreement with respect to taxable income or gain of the Company allocated for the Fiscal Year commencing on [January 1, 2020], including such distributions made pursuant to Section 4.01(b)(v); provided that, in the case of each Member, such Assumed Tax Liability shall take into account any Code Section 704(c) allocations (including “reverse” 704(c) allocations) to the Member and any adjustments under Code Section 734(b) or Code Section 743(b) attributable to such Member; provided, further, that in the case of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries, such Assumed Tax Liability shall in no event be less than an amount that will enable the Corporation to meet both its tax obligations and 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 (or will be subject at such time as it owns Class A Common Stock), 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 property of the Company, 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, Sunday or day on which banks located in New York City, New York 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 (or such Member’s predecessor) 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.

Certificate” means the Company’s Certificate of Formation as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, as amended or amended and restated from time to time.

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, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person and its subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan, and excluding the Permitted Transferees) becomes the “beneficial owner” (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Stock, Class C Common Stock, preferred stock and/or any other class or classes of capital stock of the Corporation (if any) representing in the aggregate more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote;

(2) the stockholders 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 all or substantially all of the assets of the Company);

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

 

4


(4) the Corporation ceases to be the sole managing member of the Company.

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 (a) the record holders of the Class A Common Stock, Class B Stock, Class C Common Stock, preferred stock and/or any other class or classes of capital 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 or (b) in the case of the foregoing clauses (1) or (3), either the Rook Related Parties or the Searchlight Related Parties are the “beneficial owner” (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Stock, Class C Common Stock, Preferred Stock and/or any other class or classes of capital stock of the Corporation (if any) representing in the aggregate more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote (or, in the case of a transaction described in the foregoing clause (3), more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Person resulting from such merger of consolidation or, if the surviving company is a Subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof).

Change of Control Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.09(a).

Change of Control Transaction” means any Change of Control that was approved by the Corporate Board prior to such Change of Control.

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

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

Class C Common Stock” means the shares of Class C common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Corporation.

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

Common Unit” means a Unit designated as a “Common Unit” and having the rights and obligations specified with respect to the Common Units in this Agreement.

Common Unit Redemption Price” means, with respect to any Redemption, the arithmetic average of the volume weighted average prices for a share of Class A Common Stock (or any class of stock into which it has been converted) on the Stock Exchange, or any other exchange or automated or electronic quotation system on which the Class A Common Stock trades, 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 applicable 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 the Stock Exchange or any other securities exchange or automated or electronic quotation system as of any particular Redemption Date, then the Manager (through a majority of its independent directors (within the meaning of the rules of the Stock Exchange)) shall determine the Common Unit Redemption Price in good faith.

 

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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.

Confidential Information” has the meaning set forth in Section 15.02.

Corporate Board” means the board of directors of the Corporation.

Corporate Incentive Award Plan” means the 2020 Incentive Award Plan of the Corporation, 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.

Corresponding Rights” means any rights issued with respect to a share of Class A Common Stock. Class B Stock or Class C Common Stock pursuant to a “poison pill” or similar stockholder rights plan approved by the Corporate Board.

Credit Agreements” means any promissory note, mortgage, loan agreement, indenture or similar instrument or agreement to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or becomes a borrower, as such instruments or agreements may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time and including any one or more refinancing or replacements thereof, in whole or in part, with any other debt facility or debt obligation, for as long as the payee or creditor to whom the Company or any of its Subsidiaries owes such obligation is not an Affiliate of the Company.

Delaware Act” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, 6 Del.C. § 18-101, et seq., as it may be amended from time to time, and any successor thereto.

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

Discount” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.06.

Distributable Cash” means, 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 Agreements (and without otherwise violating any applicable provisions of any of the Credit Agreements).

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

 

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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.

Distribution Tax Rate” means a rate equal to the highest effective marginal combined federal, state and local income tax rate for a Fiscal Year applicable to corporate or individual taxpayers (whichever is higher) that may potentially apply to any Member for such Fiscal Year, taking into account the character of the relevant tax items (e.g., ordinary or capital) and the deductibility of state and local income taxes for federal income tax purposes (but only to the extent such taxes are deductible under the Code), as reasonably determined by the Manager.

Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

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

Equity Plan” means any stock or equity purchase plan, restricted stock or equity plan or other similar equity compensation plan now or hereafter adopted by the Company or the Corporation.

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, without limitation, (i) a change in entity classification of a Member under Treasury Regulations Section 301.7701-3, (ii) a sale of assets by, or liquidation of, a Member pursuant to an election under Code Sections 336 or 338, or (iii) 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 Units of such trust that is a Member).

Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and any successor to such statute, rules or regulations.

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

 

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Fair Market Value” of a specific asset of the Company 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.

Fiscal Period” means any interim accounting period within a Taxable Year established by the Manager 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.

FPOS” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

FPOS Contribution Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

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, but not limited to, any county, municipal or other local subdivision of the foregoing, or (d) any agency, arbitrator or arbitral body, authority, board, body, bureau, commission, court, department, entity, instrumentality, organization or tribunal 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).

Initial LLC Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

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

IPO” means the initial underwritten public offering of shares of the Corporation’s Class A Common Stock.

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

IPO Common Unit Subscription Agreement” means that certain Common Unit Subscription Agreement, dated as of the Effective Date, by and between the Corporation and the Company.

IPO Net Proceeds” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

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

 

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Law” means all laws, statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations of any Governmental Entity.

Liquidator” has the meaning set forth in Section 14.02.

LLC Employee” means an employee of, or other service provider (including, without limitation, any management member whether or not treated as an employee for the purposes of U.S. federal income tax) to, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case acting in such capacity.

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

Manager” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01.

Market Price” means, with respect to a share of Class A Common Stock as of a specified date, the last sale price per share of Class A Common Stock, regular way, or if no such sale took place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices per share of Class A Common Stock, regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the Stock Exchange or, if the Class A Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on the Stock Exchange, as reported on the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the Class A Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading or, if the Class A Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price, or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System or, if such system is no longer in use, the principal other automated quotation system that may then be in use or, if the Class A Common Stock is not quoted by any such system, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in shares of Class A Common Stock selected by the Corporate Board or, in the event that no trading price is available for the shares of Class A Common Stock, the fair market value of a share of Class A Common Stock, as determined in good faith by the Corporate Board.

Member” means, as of any date of determination, (a) each of the members 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, each in its capacity as a member of the Company. The Members shall constitute a single class or group of members for purposes of the Delaware Act.

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).

 

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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).

Optionee” means a Person to whom a stock option is granted under any Stock Option Plan.

Original Units” means the Class A Units, Class B Units and Preferred Units (each as defined in Section 3.2 of the Initial LLC Agreement) of the Company.

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

Over-Allotment Contribution” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.03(b).

Over-Allotment Option” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Over-Allotment Option Net Proceeds” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

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 the number of such Member’s Units of such class by the total number of Units of all Members of such class at such time. The Percentage Interest of each Member shall be calculated to the fourth decimal place.

Permitted Pledge” means any bona fide pledge or collateralization of the Common Units held by a Member to a financial institution in connection with any bona fide loan or debt transaction.

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

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

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.

Pledged Units” means Common Units that are the subject of a Permitted Pledge.

Pre-IPO Members” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

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.

 

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

Pubco Offer” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.09(b).

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

Recapitalization” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

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

Redeemed Units Equivalent” means the product of (a) the applicable number of Redeemed Units, 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 Effective Date, by and among the Corporation, certain of the Members as of the Effective Date and certain other Persons whose signatures are affixed thereto (together with any joinder thereto from time to time by any successor or assign to any party to such agreement).

Regulatory Allocations” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.03(f).

Reorganization” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

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

Revised Partnership Audit Provisions” means Section 1101 of Title XI (Revenue Provisions Related to Tax Compliance) of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, H.R. 1314, Public Law Number 114-74.

Rook Related Parties” means Rook Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its Affiliates.

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

Searchlight Member” means Searchlight II GWN, L.P.

 

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Searchlight Related Parties” means Searchlight II GWN, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and its Affiliates.

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 (together with any Corresponding Rights) equal to the number of Redeemed Units.

Stock Exchange” means the New York Stock Exchange.

Stock Option Plan” means any stock option plan now or hereafter adopted by the Company or by the Corporation, including the Corporate Incentive Award Plan.

Stockholders Agreement” means that certain stockholders agreement, dated as of the Effective Date, by and among the Corporation and the other Persons party thereto (as it may be amended from time to time in accordance with its terms).

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 Advance” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(b)(iv).

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

Tax Receivable Agreement” means that certain Tax Receivable Agreement, dated as the date of the Effective Date, by and among the Corporation, on the one hand, and the Members as of the Effective Date, 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 Stock Exchange or such other principal United States securities exchange on which the Class A Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading 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, redemption, 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 tax regulations promulgated under the Code and any corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations.

Underwriting Agreement” means the Underwriting Agreement, [dated as of [ • ], 2020, by and among the Corporation, the Company, Goldman, Sachs & Co. LLC, Credit Suisse and Citi Group.]

Unit” means the fractional interest of a Member in Profits, Losses and Distributions of the Company, and otherwise having the rights and obligations specified with respect to “Units” in this Agreement; provided, however, that any class or group of Units issued shall have the relative rights, powers and duties set forth in this Agreement applicable to such class or group of Units.

Unvested Corporate Shares” means shares of Class A Common Stock issuable pursuant to awards granted under the Corporate Incentive Award Plan that are not Vested Corporate Shares.

Value” means (a) for any Stock Option Plan, the Market Price for the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of exercise of a stock option under such Stock Option Plan and (b) for any Equity Plan other than a Stock Option Plan, the Market Price for the Trading Day immediately preceding the Vesting Date.

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

Vesting Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.10(c)(ii).

 

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ARTICLE II.

ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS

Section 2.01 Formation of Company. The Company was formed on March 25, 2014 pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act.

Section 2.02 Sixth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement. The Members hereby execute this Agreement for the purpose of amending, restating and superseding the Initial Agreement in its entirety and otherwise establishing the affairs of the Company and the conduct of its business in accordance with the provisions of the Delaware 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 Delaware Act. No provision of this Agreement shall be in violation of the Delaware Act and to the extent any provision of this Agreement is in violation of the Delaware 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. Neither any Member nor the Manager nor any other Person shall have appraisal rights with respect to any Units.

Section 2.03 Name. The name of the Company shall be “Shift4 Payments, LLC”. 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; Powers. The primary business and purpose of the Company shall be to engage in such activities as are permitted under the Delaware Act and determined from time to time by the Manager in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement. The Company shall have the power and authority to take (directly, or indirectly through its Subsidiaries) any and all actions and engage in any and all activities necessary, appropriate, desirable, advisable, ancillary or incidental to accomplish the foregoing purpose.

Section 2.05 Principal Office; Registered Office. The principal office of the Company shall be located at such place or places as the Manager may from time to time designate, each of which may be within or outside the State of Delaware. The address of the registered office of the Company in the State of Delaware shall be c/o The Corporation Trust Company, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware, 19801, and the registered agent for service of process on the Company in the State of Delaware at such registered office shall be The Corporation Trust Company. The Manager may from time to time change the Company’s registered agent and registered office in the State of Delaware.

Section 2.06 Term. The term of the Company commenced upon the filing of the Certificate in accordance with the Delaware Act and shall continue in perpetuity unless dissolved 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, without limitation, 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 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.

 

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ARTICLE III.

MEMBERS; UNITS; CAPITALIZATION

Section 3.01 Members.

(a) (i) In connection with the Reorganization, the Corporation acquired Original Units (which will be converted into Common Units pursuant to the Recapitalization in accordance with Section 3.03) and was admitted as a Member and (ii) the Corporation is acquiring additional Common Units pursuant to the IPO Common Unit Subscription Agreement and the FPOS Contribution Agreement.

(b) The Company shall maintain a schedule setting forth: (i) the name and address 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”). The applicable Schedule of Members in effect as of the Effective Date and after giving effect to the Recapitalization, the FPOS Contribution Agreement and the IPO Common Unit Subscription Agreement is set forth as Schedule 2 to this Agreement. The Schedule of Members may be updated by the Manager in the Company’s books and records from time to time, and as so updated, it shall be the definitive record of ownership of each Unit of the Company and all relevant information with respect to each Member. The Company shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a Person registered on its records as the owner of Units 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 Delaware 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 (i) loan any money or property to the Company, (ii) borrow any money or property from the Company or (iii) make any additional Capital Contributions.

Section 3.02 Units.

(a) Interests in the Company shall be represented by Units, or such other securities of the Company, in each case as the Manager may establish (subject to any limitations prescribed by the Stockholders Agreement) in its discretion in accordance with the terms and subject to the restrictions hereof. At the Effective Date, the Units will be comprised of a single class of Common Units.

(b) Subject to Section 3.04(a) and any limitations prescribed in the Stockholders Agreement, the Manager may (i) issue additional Common Units at any time in its sole discretion and (ii) create one or more classes or series of Units or preferred Units solely to the extent such new class or series of Units or preferred Units are substantially economically equivalent to a class

 

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of common or other stock of the Corporation or class or series of preferred stock of the Corporation, respectively; provided, that as long as there are any Members (other than the Corporation and its Subsidiaries) (i) no such new class or series of Units may deprive such Members of, or dilute or reduce, the allocations and distributions they would have received, and the other rights and benefits to which they would have been entitled, in respect of their Units if such new class or series of Units had not been created and (ii) no such new class or series of Units may be issued, in each case, except to the extent (and 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 aggregate distributions that would be made in respect of such new class or series of Units if the Company were liquidated immediately after the issuance of such new class or series of Units.

(c) To the extent required pursuant to Section 3.04(a) or Section 3.10, as applicable, the Manager may amend this Agreement, without the consent of any Member or any other Person, in connection with the creation and issuance of such classes or series of Units, subject to Sections 15.03(b) and Section 15.03(c) hereof and any limitations prescribed in the Stockholders Agreement.

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

(a) In order to effect the Recapitalization, the number of Original Units that were issued and outstanding and held by the Pre-IPO Members prior to the Effective Date as set forth opposite to the respective Pre-IPO Member in Schedule 1 are hereby converted, as of the Effective Date, and after giving effect to such conversion and the other transactions related to the Recapitalization, into the number of Common Units set forth opposite the name of the respective Member on the Schedule of Members attached hereto as Schedule 2 (provided, for the avoidance of doubt, that the number of Common Units set forth opposite the name of the Corporation on the Schedule of Members attached hereto as Schedule 2 shall include (i) the Common Units held by FPOS upon the Recapitalization, and immediately thereafter contributed by FPOS to the Corporation pursuant to the FPOS Contribution Agreement and (ii) the Common Units issued to the Corporation pursuant to the IPO Common Unit Subscription Agreement), and such Common Units are hereby issued and outstanding as of the Effective Date and the holders of such Common Units are Members hereunder.

(b) Following the Recapitalization, the Corporation will acquire [ • ] newly issued Common Units in exchange for a portion of the IPO Net Proceeds payable to the Company upon consummation of the IPO pursuant to the IPO Common Unit Subscription Agreement with the Company (the “IPO Common Unit Subscription”). 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 a portion of the Over-Allotment Option Net Proceeds to the Company in exchange for newly issued Common Units pursuant to the IPO Common Unit Subscription Agreement, and such issuance of additional Common Units shall be reflected on the Schedule of Members (the “Over-Allotment Contribution”). The number of Common Units issued in the Over-Allotment Contribution, in the aggregate, shall be equal to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issued by the Corporation in such exercise of the Over-Allotment Option. 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.

 

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Section 3.04 Authorization and Issuance of Additional Units.

(a) Except as otherwise determined by the Manager, the Company and the Corporation shall undertake all actions, including, without limitation, an issuance, reclassification, distribution, division or recapitalization, with respect to the Common Units and the Class A Common Stock, Class B Stock or Class C Common Stock, as applicable, to maintain at all times (i) a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by the Corporation, directly or indirectly, and the aggregate number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class C Common Stock and (ii) a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by Members (other than the Corporation and its Subsidiaries), directly or indirectly, and the aggregate number of outstanding shares of Class B Stock owned by such Members (including, in the case of the Searchlight Member, all outstanding shares of Class B Stock owned by all Searchlight Related Parties), directly or indirectly, in each case, disregarding, for purposes of maintaining the one-to-one ratio, (A) Unvested Corporate Shares, (B) treasury stock or (C) preferred stock or other debt or equity securities (including, without limitation, warrants, options or rights) issued by the Corporation that are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock, Class B Stock or Class C 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). Except as otherwise determined by the Manager, in the event the Corporation issues, transfers or delivers from treasury stock or repurchases Class A Common Stock or Class C Common Stock in a transaction not contemplated in this Agreement, the Manager and the Corporation shall take all actions such that, after giving effect to all such issuances, transfers, deliveries or repurchases, the number of outstanding Common Units owned, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation will equal on a one-for-one basis the aggregate number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class C Common Stock. Except as otherwise determined by the Manager, 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 and the Corporation shall take all actions such that, after giving effect to all such issuances, transfers, deliveries, repurchases or redemptions, the Corporation, directly or indirectly, 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 economically equivalent to the outstanding preferred stock of the Corporation so issued, transferred, delivered, repurchased or redeemed. Except as otherwise determined by the Manager, the Company and the Corporation shall not undertake any subdivision (by any Common Unit split, stock split, Common Unit distribution, stock distribution, reclassification, division, recapitalization or similar event) or combination (by reverse Common Unit split, reverse stock split, reclassification, division, recapitalization or similar event) of the Common Units, Class A Common Stock, Class B Stock, Class C Common Stock or other equity interests in the Company or the Corporation, as applicable, unless accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination of the Common Units, Class A Common Stock, Class B Stock, Class C Common Stock or other equity interests in the Company or Corporation, respectively, to maintain at all times (x) a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation and the aggregate number of outstanding shares of Class A

 

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Common Stock and Class C Common Stock, (y) a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by Members (other than the Corporation and its Subsidiaries) and the number of outstanding shares of Class B Stock or (z) a one-to-one ratio between the number of outstanding other equity interests in the Corporation and any corresponding equity interests in the Company, in each case, unless such action is necessary to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between either the number of Common Units owned, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation and the aggregate number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class C Common Stock or the number of Common Units owned by Members (other than the Corporation and its Subsidiaries) and the number of outstanding shares of Class B Stock as contemplated by the first sentence of this Section 3.04(a).

(b) The Company shall only be permitted to issue additional Common Units, and/or establish other classes of 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 and/or establish other classes of Units or other Equity Securities in the Company 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 or Class C Common Stock. Except as otherwise determined by the Manager, if at any time, any shares of Class A Common Stock or Class C 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 or Class C Common Stock, to redeem a corresponding number of Common Units held (directly or indirectly) by the Corporation, at an aggregate redemption price equal to the aggregate purchase or redemption price of the shares of Class A Common Stock or Class C 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 or Class C Common Stock being repurchased or redeemed by the Corporation; provided, if the Corporation uses funds received from distributions from the Company or the net proceeds from an issuance of Class A Common Stock or Class C Common Stock to fund such repurchase or redemption, then the Company shall cancel a corresponding number of Common Units held (directly or indirectly) by the Corporation for no consideration. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall not make any repurchase or redemption if such repurchase or redemption would violate any applicable Law.

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, Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel, Secretary or any other officer designated by the Manager, representing the

 

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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. No Units shall be treated as a “security” within the meaning of Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code unless all Units then outstanding are certificated.

(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) To the extent Units are certificated, 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 Corporate Stock Option Plans and Equity Plans.

(a) Options Granted to Persons other than LLC Employees. If at any time or from time to time, in connection with any Stock Option Plan, a stock option granted over shares of Class A Common Stock to a Person other than an LLC Employee is duly exercised (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with the cashless exercise of such option):

(i) The Corporation shall, as soon as practicable after such exercise, make a Capital Contribution to the Company in an amount equal to the exercise price paid to the Corporation by such exercising Person in connection with the exercise of such stock option.

 

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(ii) Notwithstanding the amount of the Capital Contribution actually made pursuant to Section 3.10(a)(i), the Corporation shall be deemed to have contributed to the Company as a Capital Contribution, in lieu of the Capital Contribution actually made and in consideration of additional Common Units, an amount equal to the Value of a share of Class A Common Stock as of the date of such exercise multiplied by the number of shares of Class A Common Stock then being issued by the Corporation in connection with the exercise of such stock option.

(iii) The Corporation shall receive in exchange for such Capital Contributions (as deemed made under Section 3.10(a)(ii)), a number of Common Units equal to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock for which such option was exercised.

(b) Options Granted to LLC Employees. If at any time or from time to time, in connection with any Stock Option Plan, a stock option granted over shares of Class A Common Stock to an LLC Employee is duly exercised:

(i) The Corporation shall sell to the Optionee, and the Optionee shall purchase from the Corporation, for a cash price per share equal to the Value of a share of Class A Common Stock at the time of the exercise, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the quotient of (x) the exercise price payable by the Optionee in connection with the exercise of such stock option divided by (y) the Value of a share of Class A Common Stock at the time of such exercise.

(ii) The Corporation shall sell to the Company (or if the Optionee is an employee of, or other service provider to, a Subsidiary, the Corporation shall sell to such Subsidiary), and the Company (or such Subsidiary, as applicable) shall purchase from the Corporation, a number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the excess of (x) the number of shares of Class A Common Stock as to which such stock option is being exercised over (y) the number of shares of Class A Common Stock sold pursuant to Section 3.10(b)(i) hereof. The purchase price per share of Class A Common Stock for such sale of shares of Class A Common Stock to the Company (or such Subsidiary) shall be the Value of a share of Class A Common Stock as of the date of exercise of such stock option.

(iii) The Company shall transfer to the Optionee (or if the Optionee is an employee of, or other service provider to, a Subsidiary, the Subsidiary shall transfer to the Optionee) at no additional cost to such LLC Employee and as additional compensation (and not a distribution) to such LLC Employee, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock described in Section 3.10(b)(ii).

(iv) The Corporation shall, as soon as practicable after such exercise, make a Capital Contribution to the Company in an amount equal to all proceeds received (from whatever source, but excluding any payment in respect of payroll taxes or other withholdings) by the Corporation in connection with the exercise of such stock option. The Corporation shall receive for such Capital Contribution, a number of Common Units equal to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock for which such option was exercised.

 

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(c) Restricted Stock Granted to LLC Employees. If at any time or from time to time, in connection with any Equity Plan (other than a Stock Option Plan), any shares of Class A Common Stock are issued to an LLC Employee (including any shares of Class A Common Stock that are subject to forfeiture in the event such LLC Employee terminates his or her employment with the Company or any Subsidiary) in consideration for services performed for the Company or any Subsidiary:

(i) The Corporation shall issue such number of shares of Class A Common Stock as are to be issued to such LLC Employee in accordance with the Equity Plan;

(ii) On the date (such date, the “Vesting Date”) that the Value of such shares is includible in taxable income of such LLC Employee, the following events will be deemed to have occurred: (1) the Corporation shall be deemed to have sold such shares of Class A Common Stock to the Company (or if such LLC Employee is an employee of, or other service provider to, a Subsidiary, to such Subsidiary) for a purchase price equal to the Value of such shares of Class A Common Stock, (2) the Company (or such Subsidiary) shall be deemed to have delivered such shares of Class A Common Stock to such LLC Employee, (3) the Corporation shall be deemed to have contributed the purchase price for such shares of Class A Common Stock to the Company as a Capital Contribution, and (4) in the case where such LLC Employee is an employee of a Subsidiary, the Company shall be deemed to have contributed such amount to the capital of the Subsidiary; and

(iii) The Company shall issue to the Corporation on the Vesting Date a number of Units equal to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issued under Section 3.10(c)(i) in consideration for a Capital Contribution that the Corporation is deemed to make to the Company pursuant to clause (3) of Section 3.10(c)(ii) above.

(d) Future Stock Incentive Plans. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed or applied to preclude or restrain the Corporation from adopting, modifying or terminating stock incentive plans for the benefit of employees, directors or other business associates of the Corporation, the Company or any of their respective Affiliates. The Members acknowledge and agree that, in the event that any such plan is adopted, modified or terminated by the Corporation, amendments to this Section 3.10 may become necessary or advisable and that any approval or consent to any such amendments requested by the Corporation shall be deemed granted by the Manager and the Members, as applicable, without the requirement of any further consent or acknowledgement of any other Member.

(e) Anti-dilution Adjustments. For all purposes of this Section 3.10, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock and the corresponding number of Common Units shall be determined after giving effect to all anti-dilution or similar adjustments that are applicable, as of the date of exercise or vesting, to the option, warrant, restricted stock or other equity interest that is being exercised or becomes vested under the applicable Stock Option Plan or other Equity Plan and applicable award or grant documentation.

 

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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, 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 Units. Upon such contribution, the Company will issue to the Corporation a number of 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, at such time and on such terms (including the payment dates of such Distributions) as the Manager in its sole discretion shall determine using such record date as the Manager may designate. All Distributions made under this Section 4.01 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 (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, any distributions made pursuant to Sections 4.01(b)(ii) and (v)) 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; provided, further, that notwithstanding any other provision herein to the contrary, no Distributions shall be made to any Member to the extent such Distribution would render the Company insolvent or violate the Delaware Act. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, insolvency means the inability of the Company to meet its payment obligations when due. In furtherance of the foregoing, it 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 of Distributable Cash to the Members pursuant to this Section 4.01(a) in such amounts as shall enable the Corporation 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) Subject to Section 4.01(b)(ii), with respect to each Fiscal Year, the Company shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, make cash distributions out of Distributable Cash (“Tax Distributions”) to each Member in accordance with, and to the extent of, such Member’s Assumed Tax Liability. Tax Distributions pursuant to this Section 4.01(b)(i) shall be estimated by the Company on a quarterly basis and, to the extent feasible, shall be distributed to the Members (together with a statement showing the calculation of such Tax Distribution and an estimate of the Company’s net taxable income allocable to each Member for such period) on a quarterly basis on April 15th, June 15th, September 15th and December 15th (or such other dates for which individuals or corporations, whichever is earlier, are required to make quarterly estimated tax payments for U.S. federal income tax purposes) (each, a “Quarterly Tax Distribution”); provided, that the foregoing shall not restrict the Company from making a Tax Distribution on any

 

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other date. Quarterly Tax Distributions shall take into account the estimated taxable income or loss of the Company for the Fiscal Year through the end of the relevant quarterly period. A final accounting for Tax Distributions shall be made for each Fiscal Year after the allocation of the Company’s actual net taxable income or loss has been determined and any shortfall in the amount of Tax Distributions a Member received for such Fiscal Year based on such final accounting shall promptly be distributed to such Member. For the avoidance of doubt, any excess Tax Distributions a Member receives with respect to any Fiscal Year shall reduce future Tax Distributions otherwise required to be made to such Member with respect to any subsequent Fiscal Year.

(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) (other than any distributions made pursuant to Section 4.01(b)(v)) 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 the Members’ respective Percentage Interests. If, on the date of a Tax Distribution, there is insufficient Distributable Cash to distribute to the Members the full aggregate amount of the Tax Distributions to which such Members would otherwise be entitled, Distributions pursuant to this Section 4.01(b) shall be made to the Members to the extent of Distributable Cash in accordance with their respective Assumed Tax Liabilities and the Company shall make future Tax Distributions as soon as Distributable Cash becomes available sufficient to distribute each Member’s Assumed Tax Liability.

(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 (other than an audit conducted pursuant to the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions for which no election is made pursuant to Section 6226 thereof), 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) In the case of insufficient Distributable Cash, any Tax Distribution made pursuant to Section 4.01(b)(ii) in excess of such Member’s pro rata Percentage Interest shall be treated as an advance (“Tax Advance”) of such amounts, and shall therefore reduce (without duplication) amounts, otherwise subsequently distributable to such Member pursuant to Section 4.01(a) or Section 14.02, provided, that in no event will the Distributions payable to the Corporation in respect of Units transferred to the Corporation in connection with a Redemption or Direct Exchange be reduced (as compared to Common Units held by the Corporation as of the date hereof) as a result of Tax Distributions made to the transferor (or a predecessor) of such Units prior to their transfer to the Corporation in connection with the applicable Redemption or Direct Exchange. If there is a Tax Advance outstanding with respect to a Member who (i) elects to participate in a

 

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Redemption (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Direct Exchange) or (ii) transfers Units pursuant to Article X, then such Member shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company against such Tax Advance and shall be required to promptly pay the Company (but in all events within thirty (30) days after the Redemption Date or the date of such Transfer, as the case may be) an amount of cash equal to the proportionate share of such Tax Advance relating to its Units subject to the Redemption or Transfer (determined at the time of the Redemption or Transfer based on the number of Units subject to the Redemption or Transfer as compared to the number of Units held by such Member immediately prior to the Redemption or Transfer), provided that, in the case of a Transfer pursuant to Article X, such Member shall not be required to pay such amount of cash if the transferee agrees to assume the Member’s obligation to repay the Company. The obligations of each Member pursuant to this Section shall survive the withdrawal of any Partner or the transfer of any Member’s Units in the Company and shall apply to any current or former Member.

(v) Notwithstanding the foregoing and anything to the contrary in this Agreement, a final accounting for distributions under Section 7.2 of the Initial LLC Agreement in respect of the taxable income of the Company for the portion of the Fiscal Year of the Company that ends on the closing date of the IPO shall be made by the Company following the closing date of the IPO and, based on such final accounting, the Company shall make a distribution to the Pre-IPO Members (or in the case of any Pre-IPO Member that no longer exists, the successor of such Pre-IPO Member) in accordance with the applicable terms of the Initial LLC Agreement to the extent of any shortfall in the amount of distributions the Pre-IPO Members received prior to the closing date of the IPO under Section 7.2 of the Initial LLC Agreement with respect to taxable income of the Company for such portion of such Fiscal Year that will be allocated to the Pre-IPO Members pursuant to Section 706 of the Code. For the avoidance of doubt, the amount of distributions to be made pursuant to this Section 4.01(b)(v) shall be calculated pursuant to Section 7.2 of the Initial LLC 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 the Company’s property.

(b) For purposes of computing the amount of any item of income, gain, loss or deduction with respect to the Company 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:

 

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(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 property of the Company is adjusted pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(e) or (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 property of the Company 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 property of the Company 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).

(v) To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any asset of the Company 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 5.03(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.

 

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(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).

(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 with respect to the Company 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.

 

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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.

(b) Items of taxable income, gain, loss and deduction of the Company 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 set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3(b).

(c) If the Book Value of any asset of the Company is adjusted pursuant to Section 5.01(b), including adjustments to the Book Value of any asset of the Company in connection with the execution of this Agreement, 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 using the traditional method set forth 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 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 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 determined pursuant to any proper method, as reasonably determined by the Manager; provided, that each year the Manager shall use its reasonable best efforts (using in all instances any proper method, including without limitation the “additional method” described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-3(a)(3)) to allocate a sufficient amount of the excess nonrecourse liabilities to those Members who would have at the end of the applicable Taxable Year, but for such allocation, taxable income due to the deemed distribution of money to such Member pursuant to Section 752(b) of the Code that is in excess of such Member’s adjusted tax basis in its Units.

 

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(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 items of the Company 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 income taxes as a result of obligations of the Company pursuant to the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions, federal withholding taxes, state personal property taxes and state unincorporated business taxes, but excluding payments such as payroll taxes, withholding taxes, benefits or professional association fees and the like required to be made or 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. In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary, each Member agrees that any Cash Settlement such Member is entitled to receive pursuant to Article XI may be offset by an amount equal to such Member’s obligation to indemnify the Company under this Section 5.06 and that such Member shall be treated as receiving the full amount of such Cash Settlement and paying to the Company an amount equal to such obligation. A Member’s obligation to make payments to the Company under this Section 5.06 shall survive the transfer or termination of any Member’s interest in any Units of the Company, the termination of this Agreement and the termination, dissolution, liquidation and winding up of the Company. In the event that the Company has been terminated prior to the date such payment is due, such Member shall make such payment to the Manager (or its designee), which shall distribute such funds in accordance with this Agreement. 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.

ARTICLE VI.

MANAGEMENT

Section 6.01 Authority of Manager; Officer Delegation.

(a) Except for situations in which the approval of any Member(s) is specifically required by this Agreement and subject to the provisions of the Stockholders Agreement or under any mandatory provisions of the Delaware Act, (i) all management powers over the business and affairs of the Company shall be exclusively vested in the Corporation, as the sole managing member of the Company (the Corporation, in such capacity, the “Manager”), (ii) the Manager shall conduct, direct and exercise full control over all activities of the Company and (iii) no other Member shall have any right, authority or power to vote, consent or approve any matter, whether

 

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under the Delaware Act, this Agreement or otherwise. The Manager shall be the “manager” of the Company for the purposes of the Delaware 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 Delaware 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) Without limiting the authority of the Manager to act on behalf of the Company, 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 or she 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 of 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 be limited to such duties as the Manager may, from time to time, delegate to them. 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. Any Officer may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Manager.

(c) Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, 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, division, reorganization or other combination of the Company with or into another entity, for the avoidance of doubt, without the prior consent of any Member or any other Person being required, subject to the provisions of the Stockholders Agreement.

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; provided, however, such resignation shall not be effective unless proper provision is made, in compliance with this Agreement, so that the obligations of the Corporation (or its successor, if applicable) and any new Manager and the rights of all Members under this Agreement and applicable Law remain in full force and effect. 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. For the avoidance of doubt, the Members have no right under this Agreement to remove or replace the Manager, except as provided in the Stockholders Agreement.

 

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Section 6.04 Vacancies. Subject to the provisions of the Stockholders Agreement, 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). For the avoidance of doubt, the Members (other than the Corporation in its capacity as Manager) have no right under this Agreement to fill any vacancy in the position of Manager, except as provided in the Stockholders Agreement.

Section 6.05 Transactions Between the Company and the Manager. The Manager may cause the Company to contract and deal with the Manager, or any Affiliate of the Manager, provided, that such contracts and dealings (other than contracts and dealings between the Company and its Subsidiaries) are on terms comparable to and competitive with those available to the Company from others dealing at arm’s length or are approved by the Members (other than the Manager and its Affiliates) and otherwise are permitted by the Credit Agreements. The Members hereby approve each of the contracts or agreements between or among the Manager, the Company and their respective Affiliates entered into on or prior to the date of this Agreement in accordance with the Initial LLC Agreement or that the board of managers of the Company or the Corporate Board has approved in connection with the Recapitalization, the Reorganization or the IPO as of the date of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, the IPO Common Unit Subscription Agreement and the FPOS Contribution Agreement.

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 without limitation all fees, expenses and costs associated with the IPO and all fees, expenses and costs of being a public company (including without limitation public reporting obligations, proxy statements, stockholder meetings, Stock Exchange fees, transfer agent fees, legal fees, SEC and FINRA filing fees and offering expenses) and maintaining its corporate existence. For the avoidance of doubt, the Manager shall not be reimbursed for any federal, state or local taxes imposed on the Manager or any Subsidiary of the Manager (other than taxes paid by the Manager on behalf of the Company and any Subsidiary of the Company but only if the taxes paid were the legal liability of the Company and/or any Subsidiary of the Company). 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.

 

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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, and (b) may assign titles (including, without limitation, chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, chief operating officer, general counsel, senior vice president, vice president, secretary, assistant secretary, treasurer or assistant treasurer) and delegate certain authority and duties to such Persons which 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 or Manager’s officers, employees or other agents shall be liable to the Company, to any Member that is not the Manager or to any other Person bound by this Agreement for any act or omission performed or omitted by the Manager in its capacity as the sole managing member 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 willful misconduct or knowing violation of Law or for any present or future material breaches of any representations, warranties or covenants by the Manager or its Affiliates contained herein or in the Other Agreements with the Company. 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 upon the advice of legal counsel, independent public accountants and other experts, including financial advisors, 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, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any duty otherwise existing at Law or in equity.

(c) Subject to the terms of the Stockholders Agreement, 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,” with its “approval” or “consent” 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 and notwithstanding any duty otherwise existing at Law or in equity, have no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Company, other Members or any other Person.

 

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(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, notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement or duty otherwise, existing at Law or in equity, 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 impose liability upon the Manager or any of the Manager’s Affiliates and shall be deemed approved by all Members.

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.

ARTICLE VII.

RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS AND MANAGER

Section 7.01 Limitation of Liability and Duties of Members.

(a) Except as provided in this Agreement or in the Delaware Act, the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, shall be solely the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company and no Member (including without limitation, the Manager) shall be obligated personally for any such debts, obligations, contracts or liabilities of the Company solely by reason of being a Member or the Manager (except to the extent and under the circumstances set forth in any non-waivable provision of the Delaware Act). Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, 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 Delaware Act shall not be grounds for imposing personal liability on the Members for liabilities of the Company.

(b) In accordance with the Delaware Act and the laws of the State of Delaware, a Member may, under certain circumstances, be required to return amounts previously distributed to such Member. It is the intent of the Members that no Distribution to any Member pursuant to Articles IV or XIV shall be deemed a return of money or other property paid or distributed in violation of the Delaware Act. The payment of any such money or Distribution of any such property to a Member shall be deemed to be a compromise within the meaning of Section 18-502(b) of the Delaware Act, and, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, any Member receiving any such money or property shall not be required to return any such money or property to the Company or any other Person, unless such distribution was made by the Company to its Members in clerical error. However, if any court of competent jurisdiction holds that, notwithstanding the provisions of this Agreement, any Member is obligated to make any such payment, such obligation shall be the obligation of such Member and not of any other Member.

 

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(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (but subject, and without limitation, to Section 6.08 with respect to the Manager), to the extent that, at Law or in equity, any Member (other than the Manager in its capacity as such) (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 Unit 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 Unit 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 Unit 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 (in its capacity as such), shall have the right to seek or obtain partition by court decree or operation of Law of any property of the Company, or the right to own or use particular or individual assets of the Company.

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 applicable Law, 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 an Affiliate thereof (other than as a result of an ownership interest in the Corporation) or is or was serving as the Manager or a director, officer, employee or other agent of the Manager, or a director, manager, Officer, employee or other agent of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a manager, officer, director, principal, member, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other enterprise; provided, however, that no Indemnified Person shall be indemnified for any expenses, liabilities and losses suffered that are attributable to such Indemnified Person’s or its Affiliates’ willful misconduct or knowing violation of Law or for any present or future breaches of any representations, warranties or covenants by such Indemnified Person or its Affiliates contained herein or in Other Agreements with the Company. Reasonable expenses, including out-of-pocket attorneys’ fees, incurred by any such Indemnified Person in defending a proceeding shall be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such proceeding, including any appeal therefrom, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Indemnified Person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such Indemnified Person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company.

 

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(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 substantially equivalent insurance, at its expense, to protect any Indemnified Person 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 and maintain property, casualty and liability insurance in types and at levels customary for companies of similar size engaged in similar lines of business, as determined in good faith by the Manager, and 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) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided for in this Section 7.04 shall be provided out of and to the extent of Company assets only. No Member (unless such Member otherwise agrees in writing or is found in a non-appealable 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. The Company (i) shall be the primary indemnitor of first resort for such Indemnified 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 Indemnified 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. Subject to the provisions of the Stockholders Agreement, for matters contained in this Agreement that require the approval of the Members, the Members shall act through meetings and/or written consents as follows: the actions contained herein requiring the approval of the Members or any particular Member or group of Members (as applicable, the “Approving Members”) may be approved at a meeting called by the Manager or by the Approving Members holding a majority of the Common Units held by all Approving Members, in each case, on at least five (5) days’ prior written notice to the other Approving Members, which notice shall state the purpose or purposes for which such meeting is being called. The actions taken by the Approving Members (i.e., the approval or disapproval of the applicable matter) 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 Approving Members as to whom it was improperly held signs

 

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a written waiver of notice or a consent to the holding of such meeting or an approval of the minutes thereof. Any matter contained herein requiring the approval of any Approving Members may be taken by written consent, so long as such consent is signed by Approving 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 Approving Members were present and voted. Prompt notice of the action so taken, which shall state the purpose or purposes for which such consent was obtained and may be delivered via email, without a meeting shall be given to those Approving Members 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 Approving Members shall have the same force and effect as if taken by the Approving Members at a meeting thereof.

Section 7.06 Inspection Rights. The Company shall permit each Member and each of its designated representatives at such Member’s sole cost and expense to examine the books and records of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries at the principal office of the Company or such other location as the Manager shall reasonably approve during normal business hours and upon reasonable notice for any purpose reasonably related to such Member’s Units; provided, that the Manager has a right to keep confidential from the Members certain information in accordance with Section 18-305 of the Delaware Act.

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 pursuant to applicable Laws. All matters concerning (a) the determination of the relative amount of allocations and Distributions among the Members pursuant to Articles IV and V 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 end on December 31 of each year or such other date as may be established by the Manager.

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. The Manager shall use reasonable efforts to furnish, within one hundred and eighty (180) days of the close of each Taxable Year, to each Member a completed IRS Schedule K-1 (and any comparable state income tax form) and such other information as is reasonably requested by such Member relating to the Company that is necessary for such Member to comply with its tax reporting obligations. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, in its capacity as Partnership Representative, 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 without limitation the use of any permissible method under Section 706 of the Code for purposes of determining the varying Units of its Members.

 

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Section 9.02 Tax Elections. The Taxable Year shall be the Fiscal Year set forth in Section 8.02, unless otherwise required by Section 706 of the Code. The Company and any eligible Subsidiary shall have in effect an election pursuant to Section 754 of the Code and shall not thereafter revoke such election. Each Member will upon request supply any information reasonably necessary to give proper effect to any such elections.

Section 9.03 Tax Controversies. The Corporation is hereby designated as the “tax matters partner” of the Company within the meaning of Section 6231 of the Code (as in effect prior to repeal of such section pursuant to the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions) with respect any Taxable Year beginning on or before December 31, 2017 and the “partnership representative” of the Company as provided in Section 6223(a) of the Code with respect to any Taxable Year of the Company beginning after December 31, 2017, and if the “partnership representative” is an entity, the Corporation is hereby authorized to designate an individual to be the sole individual through which such entity “partnership representative” will act (in such capacities, collectively, the “Partnership Representative”). The Company and the Members shall cooperate fully with each other and shall use reasonable best efforts to cause the Corporation (or its designated individual, as applicable) to become the Partnership Representative with respect to any taxable period of the Company with respect to which the statute of limitations has not yet expired, including (as applicable) by filing certifications pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 301.6231(a)(7)-1(d). The Partnership Representative shall have the right and obligation to take all actions authorized and required, 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 any 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 the Partnership Representative and to do or refrain from doing any or all things reasonably requested by the Company or the Partnership Representative with respect to the conduct of such proceedings. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, with respect to any audit or other proceeding, the Partnership Representative shall be entitled to cause the Company (and any of its Subsidiaries) to make any available elections pursuant to Section 6226 of the Code (and similar provisions of state, local and other Law), and the Members shall cooperate to the extent reasonably requested by the Company in connection therewith. The Company shall reimburse the Partnership Representative for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Partnership Representative, including reasonable fees of any professional attorneys, in carrying out its duties as the Partnership Representative. The provisions of this Section 9.03 shall survive the transfer or termination of any Member’s interest in any Units of the Company, the termination of this Agreement and the termination of the Company, and shall remain binding on each Member for the period of time necessary to resolve all tax matters relating to the Company.

 

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ARTICLE X.

RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF UNITS; CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS

Section 10.01 Transfers by Members. No holder of Units shall Transfer any interest in any Units, except Transfers (a) pursuant to and in accordance with Sections 10.02 and 10.09 or (b) approved in advance and in writing by the Manager, in the case of Transfers by any Member other than the Manager, or (c) in the case of Transfers by the Manager, to any Person who succeeds to the Manager in accordance with Section 6.04. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Transfer” shall not include (i) an event that terminates the existence of a Member for income tax purposes (including, without limitation, a change in entity classification of a Member under Treasury Regulations Section 301.7701-3, 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 Units of such trust that is a Member) or (ii) any indirect Transfer of Units held by the Manager by virtue of any Transfer of Equity Securities in the Corporation.

Section 10.02 Permitted Transfers. The restrictions contained in Section 10.01 shall not apply to any of the following (each, a “Permitted Transfer” and each transferee, a “Permitted Transferee”): (i)(A) a Transfer pursuant to a Redemption or Direct Exchange in accordance with Article XI hereof or (B) a Transfer by a Member to the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries (including, for the avoidance of doubt, pursuant to the FPOS Contribution Agreement), (ii) a Transfer to an Affiliate of such Member, (iii) a Permitted Pledge or (iv) a Transfer to a Person to whom such Pledged Units have been pledged as a result of a foreclosure on such Pledged Units; provided, however, that (x) the restrictions contained in this Agreement will continue to apply to Units after any Permitted Transfer of such Units, (y) in the case of the foregoing clause (ii), the Permitted Transferees of the Units so Transferred shall agree in writing to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement, and prior to such Transfer 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 Permitted Transferee and (z) in the case of the foregoing clause (iv), upon such Transfer, such Pledged Units shall automatically be exchanged for Class A Common Stock, the transferor shall then automatically cease to be a Member of the Company with respect to such Pledged Units, and any shares of Class B Stock (together with any Corresponding Rights) corresponding to such Pledged Units shall be canceled and retired (including, in the case of the Searchlight Member, any such shares of Class B Stock held by a Searchlight Related Party), in each case, with the provisions of Article XI applying to such Transfer mutatis mutandis (applied for this purpose as if the Corporation had delivered an Election Notice that specified a Share Settlement with respect to such Redemption, and with the applicable Redemption Date occurring on the date of such Transfer) such that, for the avoidance of doubt, a Permitted Transferee described in clause (iv) shall not take ownership of such Units or shares of Class B Stock (and shall not become a Member hereunder), and instead shall take ownership of the applicable shares of Class A Common Stock. In the case of a Permitted Transfer of any Common Units by any Member that is authorized to hold Class B Stock in accordance with the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation to a Permitted Transferee in accordance with this Section 10.02, such Member (or any subsequent Permitted Transferee of such Member) shall also transfer a number of shares of Class B Stock equal to the number of Common Units that were transferred by such Member (or subsequent Permitted Transferee) in the transaction to such Permitted Transferee; provided, that, in the case of the Searchlight Member (or its subsequent Permitted Transferees), the foregoing obligation to transfer shares of Class B Stock shall be deemed satisfied so long as the SL Collective Registered Owner Requirement (as defined in the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation) remains satisfied immediately following consummation of such Permitted Transfer. All Permitted Transfers are subject to the additional limitations set forth in Section 10.07(b).

 

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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 if an exemption from such registration is then available with respect to such sale. 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 shall be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form:

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WERE ISSUED ON [ • ], 2020, AND 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 SIXTH AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OF SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC, AS MAY BE AMENDED, RESTATED, AMENDED AND RESTATED, OR OTHERWISE MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME, AND SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC 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 SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC 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.

 

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Section 10.04 Transfer. Prior to Transferring any Units (other than in connection with a Redemption or Direct Exchange in accordance with Article XI or a Transfer pursuant to clauses (iii) or (iv) of Section 10.02), the Transferring holder of Units shall cause the prospective Permitted Transferee to be bound by this Agreement and any other agreements executed by the holders of Units and relating to such Units in the aggregate to which the transferor was a party, including without limitation the Stockholders Agreement (collectively, the “Other Agreements”) by executing and delivering to the Company a duly executed Joinder and counterparts of this Agreement and any applicable Other Agreements.

Section 10.05 Assignee’s Rights.

(a) The Transfer of a Unit 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 items of the Company shall be allocated between the transferor and the transferee 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 on or 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 Units (including the obligation to make Capital Contributions on account of such Units).

Section 10.06 Assignor’s Rights and Obligations. Any Member who shall Transfer any Unit in a manner in accordance with this Agreement shall cease to be a Member with respect to such Units and shall no longer have any rights or privileges, or, except as set forth in this Section 10.06 and with respect to any Tax Advance under Section 4.01(b)(iv), 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, 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 for any period of time prior to the Admission Date. Nothing contained herein shall relieve any Member who Transfers any Units in the Company from any liability of such Member to the Company with respect to such Units that may exist as of the Admission Date or that is otherwise specified in the Delaware Act 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 or attempted Transfer of any Units in violation of this Agreement (including any prohibited indirect Transfers) 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 of doubt, any Person to whom a Transfer is made or attempted in violation of this Agreement shall not become a Member and shall not have any other rights in or with respect to any rights of a Member of the Company with respect to the applicable Units. 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.

 

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(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 would:

(i) result in the violation of the Securities Act, or any other applicable federal, state or foreign Laws;

(ii) cause an assignment under the Investment Company Act;

(iii) in the reasonable determination of the Manager, 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 obligation under any Credit Agreement to which the Company or the Manager is a party; provided that the payee or creditor to whom the Company or the Manager owes such obligation is not an Affiliate of the Company or the Manager;

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

(v) cause the Company to be treated as a “publicly traded partnership” or to be taxed as a corporation pursuant to Section 7704 of the Code or any successor provision thereto under the Code; or

(vi) 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)).

(c) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, in no event shall any Member that is not a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code Transfer any Units, unless such Member and the transferee have delivered to the Company, in respect of the relevant Transfer, written evidence that all required withholding under Section 1446(f) of the Code will have been done and duly remitted to the applicable taxing authority or duly executed certifications (prepared in accordance with the applicable Treasury Regulations or other authorities) of an exemption from such withholding.

Section 10.08 Spousal Consent. In connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, any Member who is a natural person will deliver to the Company an executed consent from such Member’s spouse (if any) in the form of Exhibit B-1 attached hereto or a Member’s spouse confirmation of separate property in the form of Exhibit B-2 attached hereto. If, at any time subsequent to the date of this Agreement such Member becomes legally married (whether in the first instance or to a different spouse), such Member shall cause his or her spouse to execute and deliver to the Company a consent in the form of Exhibit B-1 or Exhibit B-2 attached hereto. Such Member’s non-delivery to the Company of an executed consent in the form of Exhibit B-1 or Exhibit B-2 at any time shall constitute such Member’s continuing representation and warranty that such Member is not legally married as of such date.

 

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Section 10.09 Certain Transactions with respect to the Corporation.

(a) In connection with a Change of Control Transaction, the Manager shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to require each Member to effect a Redemption of all or a portion of such Member’s Units together with an equal number of shares of Class B Stock (including, in the case of the Searchlight Member, any such shares of Class B Stock held by the Searchlight Related Parties), pursuant to which such Units and such shares of Class B Stock will be exchanged for shares of Class A Common Stock (or economically equivalent cash or securities of a successor entity), mutatis mutandis, in accordance with the Redemption provisions of Article XI (applied for this purpose as if the Corporation had delivered an Election Notice that specified a Share Settlement with respect to such Redemption) and otherwise in accordance with this Section 10.09(a). Any such Redemption pursuant to this Section 10.09(a) shall be effective immediately prior to the consummation of such Change of Control Transaction (and, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be contingent upon the consummation of such Change of Control Transaction and shall not be effective if such Change of Control Transaction is not consummated) (the date of such Redemption pursuant to this Section 10.09(a), the “Change of Control Date”). From and after the Change of Control Date, (i) the Units and any shares of Class B Stock subject to such Redemption shall be deemed to be transferred to the Corporation on the Change of Control Date and (ii) each such Member (or, in the case of the Searchlight Member, any applicable Searchlight Related Party) shall cease to have any rights with respect to the Units and any shares of Class B Stock subject to such Redemption (other than the right to receive shares of Class A Common Stock (or economically equivalent cash or equity securities in a successor entity) pursuant to such Redemption). In the event the Manager desires to initiate the provisions of this Section 10.09, the Manager shall provide written notice of an expected Change of Control Transaction to all Members within the earlier of (x) five (5) Business Days following the execution of an agreement with respect to such Change of Control Transaction and (y) ten (10) Business Days before the proposed date upon which the contemplated Change of Control Transaction is to be effected, including in such notice such information as may reasonably describe Change of Control transaction, subject to Law, including the date of execution of such agreement or such proposed effective date, as applicable, the amount and types of consideration to be paid for shares of Class A Common Stock in the Change of Control Transaction and any election with respect to types of consideration that a holder of shares of Class A Common Stock, as applicable, shall be entitled to make in connection with a Change of Control Transaction (which election shall be available to each Member on the same terms as holders of shares of Class A Common Stock). Following delivery of such notice and on or prior to the Change of Control Date, the Members shall take all actions reasonably requested by the Corporation to effect such Redemption, including taking any action and delivering any document required pursuant to this Section 10.09(a) to effect such Redemption.

(b) In the event that a tender offer, share exchange offer, issuer bid, take-over bid, recapitalization, or similar transaction with respect to Class A Common Stock (a “Pubco Offer”) is proposed by the Corporation or is proposed to the Corporation or its stockholders and approved by the Corporate Board or is otherwise effected or to be effected with the consent or approval of the Corporate Board, the Manager shall provide written notice of the Pubco Offer to all Members within the earlier of (i) five (5) Business Days following the execution of an agreement (if applicable) with respect to, or the commencement of (if applicable), such Pubco Offer and (ii) ten (10) Business Days before the proposed date upon which the Pubco Offer is to be effected, including in such notice such information as may reasonably describe the Pubco Offer, subject to

 

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Law, including the date of execution of such agreement (if applicable) or of such commencement (if applicable), the material terms of such Pubco Offer, including the amount and types of consideration to be received by holders of shares of Class A Common Stock in the Pubco Offer, any election with respect to types of consideration that a holder of shares of Class A Common Stock, as applicable, shall be entitled to make in connection with such Pubco Offer, and the number of Units (and the corresponding shares of Class B Stock) held by such Member (including, in the case of the Searchlight Member, any such shares of Class B Stock held by Searchlight Related Parties) that is applicable to such Pubco Offer. The Members (other than the Manager) shall be permitted to participate in such Pubco Offer by delivering a written notice of participation that is effective immediately prior to the consummation of such Pubco Offer (and that is contingent upon consummation of such offer), and shall include such information necessary for consummation of such offer as requested by the Corporation. In the case of any Pubco Offer that was initially proposed by the Corporation, the Corporation shall use reasonable best efforts to enable and permit the Members (other than the Manager) to participate in such transaction to the same extent or on an economically equivalent basis as the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock, and to enable such Members to participate in such transaction without being required to exchange Units or shares of Class B Stock in connection therewith. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall Common Unitholders be entitled to receive in such Pubco Offer aggregate consideration for each Common Unit that is greater than the consideration payable in respect of each share of Class A Common Stock in connection with a Pubco Offer (it being understood that payments under or in respect of the Tax Receivable Agreement shall not be considered part of any such consideration).

(c) In the event that a transaction or proposed transaction constitutes both a Change of Control Transaction and a Pubco Offer, the provisions of Section 10.09(a) shall take precedence over the provisions of Section 10.09(b) with respect to such transaction, and the provisions of Section 10.09(b) shall be subordinate to provisions of Section 10.09(a), and may only be triggered if the Manager elects to waive the provisions of Section 10.09(a).

ARTICLE XI.

REDEMPTION AND DIRECT EXCHANGE RIGHTS

Section 11.01 Redemption Right of a Member.

(a) Each Member (other than the Corporation and its Subsidiaries) shall be entitled to cause the Company to redeem (a “Redemption”) its Common Units (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any Common Units that are subject to vesting conditions or subject to Transfer limitations pursuant to this Agreement) in whole or in part (the “Redemption Right”) at any time and from time to time following the waiver or expiration of any contractual lock-up period relating to the shares of the Corporation that may be applicable to such Member. A Member desiring to exercise its Redemption Right (each, a “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, not less than three (3) Business Days nor more than ten (10) Business Days after delivery of such Redemption Notice (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 (the “Redemption Date”); provided, that the Company, the Corporation and the Redeeming Member may change the

 

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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 in the event the Corporation elects a Share Settlement, the Redemption may be conditioned (including as to timing) by the Redeeming Member 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. Subject to Section 11.03 and unless the Redeeming Member timely has delivered a Retraction Notice as provided in Section 11.01(c) or has revoked or delayed a Redemption as provided in Section 11.01(d), on the Redemption Date (to be effective immediately prior to the close of business on the Redemption Date):

(i) the Redeeming Member shall (or in the case of the Searchlight Member with respect to clause (y) below, cause the applicable Searchlight Related Parties to) Transfer and surrender, free and clear of all liens and encumbrances (x) the Redeemed Units to the Company (including any certificates representing the Redeemed Units if they are certificated), and (y) a number of shares of Class B Stock (together with any Corresponding Rights) equal to the number of Redeemed Units to the Corporation, to the extent applicable;

(ii) 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(d), 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 (i) of this Section 11.01(a) and the Redeemed Units; and

(iii) the Corporation shall cancel and retire for no consideration the shares of Class B Stock (together with any Corresponding Rights) that were Transferred to the Corporation pursuant to Section 11.01(a)(i)(y) above.

(b) The Corporation shall have the option (as determined solely by its independent directors (within the meaning of the rules of the Stock Exchange) who are disinterested) as provided in Section 11.02 and subject to Section 11.01(e) to elect to have the Redeemed Units be redeemed in consideration for either a Share Settlement or a Cash Settlement. The Corporation shall give written notice (the “Election Notice”) to the Company (with a copy to the Redeeming Member) of such election within three (3) Business Days of receiving the Redemption Notice; provided, that if the Corporation does not timely deliver an Election Notice, the Corporation shall be deemed to have elected the Share Settlement method (subject to the limitations set forth above).

(c) In the event the Corporation elects the Cash Settlement in connection with a Redemption, 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 three (3) Business Days of delivery of the Election Notice. The timely delivery of a Retraction Notice shall terminate all of the Redeeming Member’s, the Company’s and the Corporation’s rights and obligations under this Section 11.01 arising from the Redemption Notice.

(d) 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:

 

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(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 Redeeming Member is in possession of any material non-public information concerning the Corporation, the receipt of which results 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 of such information);

(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; or

(ix) the Redemption Date would occur three (3) Business Days or less prior to, or during, a Black-Out Period.

If a Redeeming Member delays the consummation of a Redemption pursuant to this Section 11.01(d), the Redemption Date shall occur on the fifth (5th) Business Day following the date on which the condition(s) 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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(e) The number of shares of Class A Common Stock (or Redeemed Units Equivalent, if applicable) (together with any Corresponding Rights) applicable to any Share Settlement or Cash Settlement 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; provided, further, however, that a Redeeming Member shall be entitled to receive any and all Tax Distributions that such Redeeming Member otherwise would have received in respect of income allocated to such Member for the portion of any Fiscal Year irrespective of whether such Tax Distribution(s) are declared or made after the Redemption Date. For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding the foregoing, it is intended that following a complete redemption of any Redeeming Member, the Redeeming Member shall terminate as a partner in the Company for U.S. federal income tax purposes as of the applicable Redemption Date, and any Tax Distribution made thereafter shall be treated as having been made to such Redeeming Member in respect of their interest in the Company prior to such Redemption Date.

(f) In the case of a Share Settlement, in the event a reclassification or other similar transaction occurs following delivery of a Redemption Notice, but prior to the Redemption Date, as a result of which shares of Class A Common Stock are converted into another security, then a Redeeming Member shall be entitled to receive the amount of such other security (and, if applicable, any Corresponding Rights) 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.

Section 11.02 Election and Contribution of the Corporation. Unless the Redeeming Member has timely delivered a Retraction Notice as provided in Section 11.01(c), or has revoked or delayed a Redemption as provided in Section 11.01(d), on the Redemption Date (to be effective immediately prior to the close of business on the Redemption Date) (i) the Corporation shall make a Capital Contribution to the Company (in the form of the Share Settlement or the Cash Settlement, as determined by the Corporation in accordance with Section 11.01(b)), and (ii) in the event of a Share Settlement, 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 Redeemed Units Equivalent with respect to such Cash Settlement, which in no event shall exceed the amount actually paid by the Company to the Redeeming Member as the Cash Settlement. The timely delivery of a Retraction Notice shall terminate all of the Company’s and the Corporation’s rights and obligations under this Section 11.02 arising from the Redemption Notice.

Section 11.03 Direct Exchange Right of the Corporation.

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article XI (save for the limitations set forth in Section 11.01(b) regarding the Corporation’s option to select the Share Settlement or the Cash Settlement, and without limitation to the rights of the Members under Section 11.01, including the right to revoke a Redemption Notice), the Corporation may, in its sole and absolute discretion (as determined solely by its independent directors (within the meaning of the rules of

 

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the Stock Exchange) who are disinterested) (subject to the limitations set forth on such discretion in Section 11.01(b)), elect to effect on the Redemption Date the exchange of Redeemed Units for the Share Settlement or the Cash Settlement, as the case may be, through a direct exchange of such Redeemed Units and the Share Settlement or the Cash Settlement, as applicable, between the Redeeming Member and the Corporation (a “Direct Exchange”) (rather than contributing the Share Settlement or the Cash Settlement, as the case may be, to the Company in accordance with Section 11.02 for purposes of the Company redeeming the Redeemed Units from the Redeeming Member in consideration of the Share Settlement or the Cash Settlement, as applicable). 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 (including after delivery of an Election Notice pursuant to Section 11.01(b)), 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 is subject to the limitations set forth in Section 11.01(b) and does not unreasonably 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 unreasonably 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 of the Redeemed Units that would have otherwise been subject to a Redemption.

(c) Except as otherwise provided by this Section 11.03, a Direct Exchange shall be consummated pursuant to the same timeframe as the relevant Redemption would have been consummated if the Corporation had not delivered an Exchange Election Notice and as follows:

(i) the Redeeming Member shall (or in the case of the Searchlight Member with respect to clause (y) below, cause the applicable Searchlight Related Parties to) transfer and surrender, free and clear of all liens and encumbrances (x) the Redeemed Units and (y) a number of shares of Class B Stock (together with any Corresponding Rights) equal to the number of Redeemed Units, to the extent applicable, in each case, to the Corporation;

(ii) the Corporation shall (x) pay to the Redeeming Member the Share Settlement or the Cash Settlement, as applicable, and (y) cancel and retire for no consideration the shares of Class B Stock (together with any Corresponding Rights) that were Transferred to the Corporation pursuant to Section 11.03(c)(i)(y) above; and

(iii) the Company shall (x) register the Corporation as the owner of the Redeemed Units and (y) 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 Section 11.03(c)(i)(x) and the Redeemed Units, and issue to the Corporation a certificate for the number of Redeemed Units.

 

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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 Share Settlement in connection with a Redemption or Direct Exchange, such number of shares of Class A Common Stock as shall be issuable upon any such Share Settlement pursuant to a Redemption or Direct Exchange; provided that nothing contained herein shall be construed to preclude the Corporation from satisfying its obligations in respect of any such Share Settlement pursuant to a 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 by way of Cash Settlement. The Corporation shall deliver Class A Common Stock that has been registered under the Securities Act with respect to any Share Settlement pursuant to a Redemption or Direct Exchange to the extent a registration statement is effective and available with respect to such shares. The Corporation shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to list the Class A Common Stock required to be delivered upon any such Share Settlement pursuant to a 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 Share Settlement pursuant to a 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 shares of Class A Common Stock issued in connection with a Share Settlement pursuant to 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 any corresponding provisions of the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation (if any).

Section 11.05 Effect of Exercise of Redemption or Direct Exchange. This Agreement shall continue notwithstanding the consummation of a Redemption or Direct Exchange by a Member and all rights set forth herein shall continue in effect with respect to the remaining Members and, to the extent the Redeeming Member has a remaining Unit following such Redemption or Direct Exchange, the Redeeming Member. No Redemption or Direct Exchange shall relieve a Redeeming Member of any prior breach of this Agreement by such Redeeming Member or of any obligations with respect to a Tax Advance under Section 4.01(b)(iv).

Section 11.06 Tax Treatment. Unless otherwise required by applicable Law, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that 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 Unit hereunder, the Permitted Transferee shall become a Substituted Member on the effective date of such 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, including the Schedule of Members.

Section 12.02 Additional Members. Subject to the provisions of Article X hereof, any Person that is not a Member as of the Effective Date may be admitted to the Company as an additional Member (any such Person, an “Additional Member”) only upon furnishing to the Manager (a) duly executed Joinder and counterparts to any applicable Other Agreements and (b)

 

47


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 may reasonably be requested by the Manager). Such admission shall become effective on the date on which the Manager determines in its sole discretion that such conditions have been satisfied and when any such admission is shown on the books and records of the Company, including the Schedule of Members.

ARTICLE XIII.

WITHDRAWAL AND RESIGNATION; TERMINATION OF RIGHTS

Section 13.01 Withdrawal and Resignation of Members. Except in the event of Transfers pursuant to Section 10.06 and the Manager’s right to resign pursuant to Section 6.03, 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 and the amount of any outstanding Tax Advance. 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 (provided that such Member’s obligations with respect to a Tax Advance under Section 4.01(b)(iv) shall survive such cessation).

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, removal, dissolution, bankruptcy or resignation of a Member. Subject to the limitations set forth the Stockholders Agreement, the Company shall dissolve, and its affairs shall be wound up, upon:

(a) the decision of the Manager together with the written approval of the holders of a majority of the Common Units to dissolve the Company (excluding for purposes of such calculation the Corporation and all Common Units held directly or indirectly by it);

(b) a dissolution of the Company under Section 18-801(4) of the Delaware Act, unless the Company is continued without dissolution pursuant thereto; or

(c) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Company under Section 18-802 of the Delaware Act.

Except as otherwise set forth in this Article XIV, the Company is intended to have perpetual existence. An Event of Withdrawal shall not in and of itself cause a dissolution of the Company and the Company shall continue in existence subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

48


Section 14.02 Winding up and Termination. Subject to Section 14.05, on dissolution of the Company, the Manager shall act as liquidating trustee or may appoint one or more Persons as liquidating trustee (each such Person, a “Liquidator”). The Liquidators shall proceed diligently to wind up the affairs of the Company and make final distributions as provided herein and in the Delaware Act. The costs of liquidation shall be borne as an expense of the Company. Until final distribution, the Liquidators shall continue to operate the properties of the Company 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 pay, satisfy or discharge from the Company’s funds, or otherwise make adequate provision for payment and discharge thereof (including, without limitation, the establishment of a cash fund for contingent, conditional and unmatured liabilities in such amount and for such term as the liquidators may reasonably determine) the following: first, all expenses incurred in connection with the liquidation; second, all of the debts, liabilities and obligations of the Company owed to creditors other than the Members; and third, all of the debt, liabilities and obligations of the Company owed to the Members (other than any payments or distributions owed to such Members in their capacity as Members pursuant to this Agreement); and

(c) following any payments pursuant to the foregoing Section 14.02(b), all remaining assets of the Company shall be distributed to the Members in accordance with Section 4.01(a) 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 Section 14.02 and Section 14.03 below shall constitute a complete return to the Members of their Capital Contributions, a complete distribution to the Members of their interest in the Company and all of the Company’s property and shall constitute a compromise to which all Members have consented within the meaning of the Delaware 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 the Company’s liabilities (other than loans to the Company by any Member(s)) 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 assets in-kind of the Company in accordance with the provisions of Section 14.02(c), (b) as tenants in common and in accordance with the provisions of Section 14.02(c), undivided interests in all or any portion of such assets of the Company or (c) a

 

49


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 assets of the Company 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 so distributed.

Section 14.04 Cancellation of Certificate. On completion of the winding up of the Company as provided herein, the Manager (or such other Person or Persons as the Delaware Act may require or permit) shall file a certificate of cancellation of the Certificate with the Secretary of State of Delaware, cancel any other filings made pursuant to this Agreement that should be canceled and take such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the existence of the Company. The Company shall 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 assets of the Company).

ARTICLE XV.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 15.01 Power of Attorney.

(a) Each Member hereby constitutes and appoints the Manager (or the Liquidator, if applicable) with full power of substitution, as his, her or its 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 Delaware 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 accordance with its terms; (C) all conveyances and other instruments or documents which the Manager deems appropriate or necessary to reflect the dissolution and winding up of the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including a certificate of cancellation; and (D) all instruments relating to the admission, substitution or withdrawal of any Member pursuant to Article XII or XIII; and

 

50


(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, 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 and the transfer of all or any portion of his, her or its Units and shall extend to such Member’s heirs, successors, assigns and personal representatives.

Section 15.02 Confidentiality.

(a) Each of the Members (other than the Corporation) agrees to hold the Company’s Confidential Information in confidence and may not disclose or use such information except as otherwise authorized separately in writing by the Manager. “Confidential Information” as used herein includes all non-public information concerning the Company or its Subsidiaries including, but 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 each Member, Confidential Information does not include information or material that: (a) is rightfully in the possession of such Member at the time of disclosure by the Company; (b) before or after it has been disclosed to such Member by the Company, becomes part of public knowledge, not as a result of any action or inaction of such Member in violation of this Agreement; (c) is approved for release by written authorization of the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or General Counsel of the Company or of the Corporation, or any other officer designated by the Manager; (d) is disclosed to such Member or their representatives by a third party not, to the knowledge of such Member, in violation of any obligation of confidentiality owed to the Company with respect to such information; or (e) is or becomes independently developed by such Member or their respective representatives without use of or reference to the Confidential Information.

(b) Solely to the extent it is reasonably necessary or appropriate to fulfill its obligations or to exercise its rights under this Agreement, each of the Members may disclose Confidential Information to its Subsidiaries, Affiliates, partners, directors, officers, employees, counsel, advisers, consultants, outside contractors and other agents, on the condition that such Persons keep the Confidential Information confidential to the same extent as such Member is required to keep the Confidential Information confidential; provided, that such Member shall remain liable with respect to any breach of this Section 15.02 by any such Subsidiaries, Affiliates, partners, directors, officers, employees, counsel, advisers, consultants, outside contractors and other agents (as if such Persons were party to this Agreement for purposes of this Section 15.02).

 

51


(c) Notwithstanding Section 15.02(a) or Section 15.02(b), each of the Members may disclose Confidential Information (i) to the extent that such Member is required by Law (by oral questions, interrogatories, request for information or documents, subpoena, civil investigative demand or similar process) to disclose any of the Confidential Information, (ii) for purposes of reporting to its stockholders and direct and indirect equity holders (each of whom are bound by customary confidentiality obligations) the performance of the Company and its Subsidiaries and for purposes of including applicable information in its financial statements to the extent required by applicable Law or applicable accounting standards; or (iii) to any bona fide prospective purchaser of the equity or assets of a Member, or the Common Units held by such Member (provided, in each case, that such Member determines in good faith that such prospective purchaser would be a Permitted Transferee), or a prospective merger partner of such Member (provided, that (i) such Persons will be informed by such Member of the confidential nature of such information and shall agree in writing to keep such information confidential in accordance with the contents of this Agreement and (ii) each Member will be liable for any breaches of this Section 15.02 by any such Persons (as if such Persons were party to this Agreement for purposes of this Section 15.02)). Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, nothing in this Section 15.02 will restrict in any manner the ability of the Corporation to comply with its disclosure obligations under Law, and the extent to which any Confidential Information is necessary or desirable to disclose.

Section 15.03 Amendments. This Agreement may be amended or modified upon the written consent of the Manager, together with the written consent of the holders of a majority of the Common Units then outstanding (excluding all Common Units held directly or indirectly by the Corporation). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment or modification:

(a) to this Section 15.03 may be made without the prior written consent of the Manager and each of the Members;

(b) 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

(c) to any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement which would (A) reduce the amounts distributable to a Member pursuant to Articles IV and XIV in a manner that is not pro rata with respect to all Members, (B) increase the liabilities of such Member hereunder, (C) otherwise materially and adversely affect a holder of Units (with respect to such Units) in a manner materially disproportionate to any other holder of Units of the same class or series (with respect to such Units) (other than amendments, modifications and waivers necessary to implement the provisions of Article XII) or (D) materially and adversely affect the rights of any Member under Article XI, shall be effective against such affected Member or holder of Units, as the case may be, without the prior written consent of such Member or holder of Units, as the case may be.

Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, the Manager may make any amendment (i) of an administrative nature that is necessary in order to implement the substantive provisions hereof, without the consent of any other Member; provided, that any such amendment does not adversely change the rights of the Members hereunder in any respect, or (ii) to reflect any changes to the Class A Common Stock, Class B Stock, Class C Common Stock or the issuance of any other capital stock of the Corporation.

 

52


Section 15.04 Title to Company Assets. Company assets shall be owned by the Company as an entity, and no Member, individually or collectively, shall have any ownership interest in such assets of the Company 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 assets of the Company shall be recorded as the property of the Company on its books and records, irrespective of the name in which legal title to such 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 15.05 Addresses and Notices. Any notice, request, demand or instruction specified or permitted by 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 or by electronic mail 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 or sent by telecopier (provided confirmation of transmission is received), three (3) days after deposit in the U.S. mail and one (1) day after deposit with a reputable overnight courier service or if sent by electronic mail, upon confirmed receipt. Whenever any notice is required to be given by Law or this Agreement, a written waiver thereof signed by the Person entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated at which such notice is required to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice.

To the Company:

[●]

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

[●]

To the Corporation:

[●]

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

[●]

To the Members, as set forth on Schedule 2.

Section 15.06 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 15.07 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 Profits, Losses, Distributions, capital or property of the Company other than as a secured creditor.

 

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Section 15.08 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 15.09 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, 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 15.10 Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware. Any suit, dispute, action or proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in connection with, this Agreement shall be heard in the state or federal courts of the State of Delaware, and the parties hereby consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of such court (and of the appropriate appellate courts) in any such suit, action or proceeding and waives any objection to venue laid therein. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, PROCESS IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE SERVED ON ANY PARTY ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, WHETHER WITHIN OR WITHOUT THE JURISDICTION OF ANY SUCH COURT (INCLUDING BY PREPAID CERTIFIED MAIL WITH A VALIDATED PROOF OF MAILING RECEIPT) AND SHALL HAVE THE SAME LEGAL FORCE AND EFFECT AS IF SERVED UPON SUCH PARTY PERSONALLY WITHIN THE STATE OF DELAWARE. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE PARTIES AGREE THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON SUCH PARTY AT THE ADDRESS REFERRED TO IN SECTION 15.05 (INCLUDING BY PREPAID CERTIFIED MAIL WITH A VALIDATED PROOF OF MAILING RECEIPT), TOGETHER WITH WRITTEN NOTICE OF SUCH SERVICE TO SUCH PARTY, SHALL BE DEEMED EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON SUCH PARTY.

Section 15.11 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 15.12 Further Action. The parties shall execute and deliver all documents, provide all information and take or refrain from taking such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Agreement.

 

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Section 15.13 Delivery by Electronic Transmission. This Agreement and any signed agreement or instrument entered into in connection with this Agreement or contemplated hereby, 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 15.14 Right of Offset. Whenever the Company or the Corporation is to pay any sum (other than pursuant to Article IV or in connection with a Cash Settlement) to any Member, any amounts that such Member owes to the Company or the Corporation 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 15.14.

Section 15.15 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, those documents expressly referred to herein (including the Stockholders Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Tax Receivable Agreement), any indemnity agreements entered into in connection with the Initial LLC Agreement with any member of the board of directors 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 Initial LLC Agreement is superseded by this Agreement as of the Effective Date and shall be of no further force and effect thereafter.

Section 15.16 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 15.17 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 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. 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,

 

55


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.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed or caused to be executed on their behalf this Sixth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

COMPANY:

 
 

SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC

 

By:

 

                          

 

Name:

 
 

Title:

 

CORPORATION:

 
 

SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, INC.

 

By:

 

                          

 

Name:

 
 

Title:

 

MEMBERS:

 
 

[]

 
 

By:

 

                          

 

Name:

 
 

Title:

 
 

[]

 
 

By:

 

                          

 

Name:

 
 

Title:

 
 

[]

 
 

 

 

[]

 
 

 

[Signature Page to Sixth Amended and Restated Operating Agreement]


SCHEDULE 1

SCHEDULE OF PRE-IPO MEMBERS

 

Member

   Original Class A
Units
     Original Class B
Units
     Preferred
Units
 

Searchlight II GWN, L.P.

     60,000        —          —    

Rook Holdings, Inc.

     40,000        —          430  

FPOS Holding Co., Inc.

     —          1,010        —    


SCHEDULE 2 *

SCHEDULE OF MEMBERS

 

Member    Common
Units
(Vested)
    Common
Units
(Unvested)
     Options      Contact
Information
for Notice
 

1. [●]

     [ ●]      —          —          [ ●] 

Total

          

 

*

This Schedule of Members shall be updated from time to time to reflect any adjustment with respect to any subdivision (by Unit split or otherwise) or any combination (by reverse Unit split or otherwise) of any outstanding Common Units, or to reflect any additional issuances of Common Units pursuant to this Agreement.


Exhibit A

FORM OF JOINDER AGREEMENT

This JOINDER AGREEMENT, dated as of _________________, 20___ (this “Joinder”), is delivered pursuant to that certain Sixth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, dated as of [●], 2020 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “LLC Agreement”) by and among Shift4 Payments, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), Shift4 Payments, Inc., a Delaware corporation and the managing member 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 LLC Agreement.

1. Joinder to the LLC 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 LLC 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 LLC Agreement as if it had been a signatory thereto as of the date thereof.

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

3. Address. All notices under the LLC 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 MEMBER]

By:

 

                     

Name:

 

Title:

 


Acknowledged and agreed

as of the date first set forth above:

SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, LLC

By: SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, INC., its Manager

By:

 

                     

Name:

 

Title:

 


Exhibit B-1

FORM OF AGREEMENT AND CONSENT OF SPOUSE

The undersigned spouse of _____________________________ (the “Member”), a party to that certain Sixth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, dated as of [●], 2020 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Agreement”) by and among Shift4 Payments, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), Shift4 Payments, Inc., a Delaware corporation and the managing member of the Company, 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 Agreement), acknowledges on his or her own behalf that:

I have read the Agreement and understand its contents. I acknowledge and understand that under the Agreement, any interest I may have, community property or otherwise, in the Units owned by the Member is subject to the terms of the Agreement which include certain restrictions on Transfer.

I hereby consent to and approve the Agreement. I agree that said Units and any interest I may have, community property or otherwise, in such Units are subject to the provisions of the Agreement and that I will take no action at any time to hinder operation of the Agreement on said Units or any interest I may have, community property or otherwise, in said Units.

I hereby acknowledge that the meaning and legal consequences of the Agreement have been explained fully to me and are understood by me, and that I am signing this Agreement and consent without any duress and of free will.

Dated: _____________________________

 

[NAME OF SPOUSE]

By:

 

                      

Name:

 


Exhibit B-2

FORM OF SPOUSE’S CONFIRMATION OF SEPARATE PROPERTY

I, the undersigned, the spouse of _____________________________ (the “Member”), who is a party to that certain Sixth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, dated as of [●], 2020 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Agreement”) by and among Shift4 Payments, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), Shift4 Payments, Inc., a Delaware corporation and the managing member of the Company, 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 Agreement), acknowledge and confirm on that the Units owned by said Member are the sole and separate property of said Member, and I hereby disclaim any interest in same.

I hereby acknowledge that the meaning and legal consequences of this Member’s spouse’s confirmation of separate property have been fully explained to me and are understood by me, and that I am signing this Member’s spouse’s confirmation of separate property without any duress and of free will.

Dated: _____________________________

 

[NAME OF SPOUSE]

By:

 

                          

Name:

 

Exhibit 10.3

STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT OF

SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, INC.

THIS STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT, dated as of [ ● ], 2020 (as it may be amended, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, this “Agreement”), is entered into by and among Shift4 Payments, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), Searchlight Capital Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Searchlight”), Searchlight Capital II PV L.P., a limited partnership or organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands (“Searchlight Capital PV”), Searchlight Capital II, L.P., a limited partnership or organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands (together with Searchlight Capital PV, the “Searchlight Holdcos”) and Rook Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Rook Holdings,” and together with Searchlight, the “Original Members”). Certain terms used in this Agreement are defined in Section 7.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, each Original Member owns, directly or indirectly, outstanding membership interests in Shift4 Payments, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Shift4 LLC”), which membership interests constitute and are defined as “Common Units” pursuant to the Sixth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Shift4 LLC, dated as of [ ● ], 2020, as such agreement may be further amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (the “LLC Agreement” and such membership interests, the “Common Units”);

WHEREAS, the Corporation is contemplating an offering and sale of the shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Corporation (the “Class A Common Stock”) in an underwritten initial public offering (the “IPO”) and using a portion of the net proceeds received from the IPO to purchase Common Units;

WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Common Unit Subscription Agreement by and between the Corporation and Shift4 LLC, dated as of [ ● ], 2020 (the “Common Unit Subscription Agreement”) and that certain Common Unit Purchase Agreement by and among the Corporation and certain member(s) of Shift4 LLC parties thereto, dated as of [ ● ], 2020 (the “Common Unit Purchase Agreement”), the Corporation will hold Common Units;

WHEREAS, upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Common Unit Subscription Agreement and the Common Unit Purchase Agreement, it is contemplated that the Corporation will be admitted as a member, and appointed as the sole managing member of Shift4 LLC;

WHEREAS, in connection with, and prior to, the consummation of the IPO, it is anticipated that Searchlight, the Searchlight Holdcos, the Corporation and certain of their respective affiliates will enter into a series of related transactions pursuant to which the Searchlight Holdcos will become holders of the Corporation’s Class B Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class B Stock”) and the Corporation’s Class C Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class C Stock”);

WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Purchase Agreement by and between the Corporation and Rook Holdings, dated [ ● ], 2020, it is anticipated that Rook Holdings will purchase up to $100,000,000 of Class C Stock from the Corporation in a private placement concurrently with the IPO at a purchase price per share equal to the IPO offering price per share of the Corporation Class A Common Stock;

WHEREAS, immediately following the consummation of the IPO, Searchlight (together with the Searchlight Holdcos and any other Permitted Transferees of Searchlight, in such capacity, the “Searchlight Related Parties”) will be the record holder of shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Stock and Class C Stock;


WHEREAS, immediately following the consummation of the IPO, Rook Holdings (and together with its Permitted Transferees, in such capacity, the “Rook Related Parties”) will be the record holders of shares of Class B Stock and Class C Stock; and

WHEREAS, in order to induce the Original Members (x) to approve the sale and issuance of Common Units by Shift4 LLC [to the Corporation] and the appointment of the Corporation as the sole managing member of Shift4 LLC in connection with the IPO and (y) to take such other actions as shall be necessary to effectuate the transactions contemplated by the IPO, the parties hereto desire to set forth their agreement with respect to the matters set forth herein in connection with their respective investments in the Corporation.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and agreements contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Corporation and the Original Members agree as follows:

Agreement

Section 1. Election of the Board of Directors.

(a) Subject to this Section 1(a), the Searchlight Related Parties shall be entitled to designate for nomination by the Board up to two (2) Directors from time to time (any Director designated by the Searchlight Related Parties, a “Searchlight Director”). The Searchlight Directors shall be apportioned among the three (3) classes of Directors as nearly equal in number as possible. The right of the Searchlight Related Parties to designate the Searchlight Directors as set forth in this Section 1(a) shall be subject to the following: (i) if at any time the Searchlight Related Parties beneficially own, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate twenty-five percent (25%) or more of all issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (including for this purpose the Underlying Class A Shares), the Searchlight Related Parties shall be entitled to designate two (2) Searchlight Directors, and (ii) if at any time the Searchlight Related Parties beneficially own, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate less than twenty-five percent (25%) but at least ten percent (10%) or more of all issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (including for this purpose the Underlying Class A Shares), the Searchlight Related Parties shall only be entitled to designate one (1) Searchlight Director. The Searchlight Related Parties shall not be entitled to designate any Searchlight Directors in accordance with this Section 1(a) if at any time the Searchlight Related Parties beneficially own, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate less than ten percent (10%) of all issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (including for this purpose Underlying Class A Shares).

(b) Subject to this Section 1(b), the Rook Related Parties shall be entitled to designate for nomination by the Board two (2) Directors from time to time (any Director designated by the Rook Related Parties, a “Rook Director”). The Rook Directors shall be apportioned among the three (3) classes of Directors as nearly equal in number as possible. The right of the Rook Related Parties to designate the Rook Directors as set forth in this Section 1(b) shall be subject to the following: (i) if at any time the Rook Related Parties beneficially own, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate twenty-five percent (25%) or more of all issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (including for this purpose the Underlying Class A Shares), the Rook Related Parties shall be entitled to designate two (2) Rook Directors, and (ii) if at any time the Rook Related Parties beneficially own, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate less than twenty-

 

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five percent (25%) but at least ten percent (10%) or more of all issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (including for this purpose the Underlying Class A Shares), the Rook Related Parties shall only be entitled to designate one (1) Rook Director. The Rook Related Parties shall not be entitled to designate any Rook Directors in accordance with this Section 1(b) if at any time the Rook Related Parties beneficially own, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate less than ten percent (10%) of all issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (including for this purpose Underlying Class A Shares). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Section 1(b), so long as Jared Isaacman serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, Mr. Jared Isaacman shall be nominated by the Board as a Director and in that capacity he shall serve as one of the Rook Directors.

(c) Subject to Section 1(a) and Section 1(b), each of Searchlight, the Searchlight Holdcos and Rook Holdings hereby agree to vote, or cause to be voted, all outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Stock and/or Class C Stock, as applicable, held by the Searchlight Related Parties and the Rook Related Parties (or any of the Permitted Transferees) at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation at which Directors of the Corporation are to be elected or removed, or to take all Necessary Action to cause the election or removal of the Searchlight Directors and the Rook Directors as a Director, as provided herein and to implement and enforce the provisions set forth in Section 3.

Section 2. Vacancies and Replacements.

(a) If the number of Directors that the Searchlight Related Parties or the Rook Related Parties have the right to designate to the Board is decreased pursuant to Section 1(a) or Section 1(b) (each such occurrence, a “Decrease in Designation Rights”), then:

(i) unless a majority of Directors (with the affected party’s Board designees abstaining) agree in writing that a Director or Directors shall not resign as a result of a Decrease in Designation Rights, each of the Searchlight Related Parties or the Rook Related Parties, as applicable, shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause each of (x) the appropriate number of Searchlight Directors that the Searchlight Related Parties cease to have the right to designate to serve as a Searchlight Director or (y) the Rook Directors that the Rook Related Parties cease to have the right to designate to serve as the Rook Directors, respectively, to offer to tender his, her or their resignation(s), and each of such Searchlight Directors or Rook Directors so tendering a resignation, as applicable, shall resign within thirty (30) days from the date that the Searchlight Related Parties and/or the Rook Related Parties, as applicable, incurs a Decrease in Designation Rights. In the event any such Searchlight Director or Rook Director, as applicable, does not resign as a Director by such time as is required by the foregoing, the Searchlight Related Parties and the Rook Related Parties, as holders of Class A Common Stock, Class B Stock and Class C Stock, the Corporation and the Board, to the fullest extent permitted by law and, with respect to the Board, subject to its fiduciary duties to the Corporation’s stockholders, shall thereafter take all Necessary Action, including voting in accordance with Section 1(c), to cause the removal of such individual as a Director; and

(ii) the vacancy or vacancies created by such resignation(s) and/or removal(s) shall be filled with one or more Directors, as applicable, designated by the Board upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (with the affected party’s Board designees abstaining), so long as it is established.

(b) Each of the Searchlight Related Parties and the Rook Related Parties shall have the sole right to request that one or more of their respective designated Directors, as applicable, tender their resignations as Directors of the Board (each, a “Removal Right”), in each case, with or without cause at any time, by sending a written notice to such Director and the Corporation’s Secretary stating the name of

 

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the Director or Directors whose resignation from the Board is requested (the “Removal Notice”). If the Director subject to such Removal Notice does not resign within thirty (30) days from receipt thereof by such Director, the Searchlight Related Parties and the Rook Related Parties, as holders of Class A Common Stock, Class B Stock and Class C Stock, the Corporation and the Board, to the fullest extent permitted by law and, with respect to the Board, subject to its fiduciary duties to the Corporation’s stockholders, shall thereafter take all Necessary Action, including voting in accordance with Section 1(c) to cause the removal of such Director from the Board (and such Director shall only be removed by the parties to this Agreement in such manner as provided herein).

(c) Except with respect to a Decrease in Designation Rights subject to Section 2(a), each of the Searchlight Related Parties and the Rook Related Parties, as applicable, shall have the exclusive right to designate a replacement Director for nomination or election by the Board to fill vacancies created as a result of not designating their respective Directors initially or by death, disability, retirement, resignation, removal (with or without cause) of their respective Directors, or otherwise by designating a successor for nomination or election by the Board to fill the vacancy of their respective Directors created thereby on the terms and subject to the conditions of Section 1.

Section 3. Initial Directors and Corporate Governance.

(a) Initial Directors. The initial Searchlight Directors pursuant to Section 1(a) shall initially be Christopher Cruz (as a Class [ ● ] Director) and Andrew Frey (as a Class [ ● ] Director). The initial Rook Directors pursuant to Section 1(b) shall initially be Jared Isaacman (as a Class [ ● ] Director) and Donald Isaacman (as a Class [ ● ] Director). Mr. Jared Isaacman shall serve as the initial Chairperson of the Board (as defined in the Bylaws) for the initial term, in accordance with this Agreement and the Bylaws, after which the Chairperson of the Board shall be determined in accordance with this Agreement and the Bylaws.

(b) Nominating Committee. For so long as the Rook Related Parties have the ability pursuant to Section 1(b) to designate for nomination at least one (1) Director, the Rook Related Parties shall have, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, subject to the New York Stock Exchange rules and in compliance with other applicable laws, rules and regulations, and subject to the requirements of the charter for the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the right, but not the obligation, to designate one (1) member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. For so long as the Searchlight Related Parties have the ability pursuant to Section 1(a) to designate for nomination at least one (1) Director, the Searchlight Related Parties shall have, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, subject to the New York Stock Exchange rules and in compliance with other applicable laws, rules and regulations, and subject to the requirements of the charter for the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the right, but not the obligation, to designate one (1) member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

(c) Chief Executive Officer. Immediately following the consummation of the IPO, the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation shall be Jared Isaacman. Mr. Jared Isaacman shall not be removed or terminated as Chief Executive Officer without “Cause” (as such term is defined in Mr. Jared Isaacman’s employment agreement with the Company in effect as of the date hereof) without the approval of (i) a majority of the Directors comprising the Board and (ii) a majority of the Rook Directors, in each case with Mr. Jared Isaacman recusing himself from such vote.

 

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Section 4. Rights of the Original Members.

In addition to any voting requirements contained in the organizational documents of the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries, the Corporation shall not take, and shall cause Shift4 LLC and its Subsidiaries not to take, any of the following actions (whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise) without the prior written approval of (i) Searchlight and each of the Searchlight Holdcos for as long as the Searchlight Related Parties beneficially own, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate twenty-five percent (25%) or more of all issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (including for these purposes the Underlying Class A Shares) and (ii) Rook Holdings for as long as the Rook Holdings Related Parties beneficially own, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate of twenty-five percent (25%) or more of all issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (including for these purposes the Underlying Class A Shares):

(a) any transaction or series of related transactions, in each case, to the extent within the reasonable control of the Corporation, (i) in which any “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act (excluding the Searchlight Related Parties, the Rook Related Parties and any “group” that includes the Searchlight Related Parties and the Rook Related Parties)) acquires, directly or indirectly, in excess of fifty percent (50%) of the then outstanding shares of any class of capital stock (or equivalent) of the Corporation, Shift4 LLC or any of their respective Subsidiaries (whether by merger, consolidation, sale or transfer of capital stock or partnership, membership or other equity interests, tender offer, exchange offer, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) or (ii) following which any “person” or “group” referred to in clause (i) hereof has the direct or indirect power to elect a majority of the members of the Board or to replace the Corporation as the sole manager of Shift4 LLC (or to add another Person as a co-manager of Shift4 LLC);

(b) the reorganization, recapitalization, voluntary bankruptcy, liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, Shift4 LLC or any of their respective Subsidiaries;

(c) the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(d) any actions (including, without limitation, any debt recapitalizations, refinancings, amendments, revolver drawings, repayments, and compliance report review) with respect to the Corporation or its Subsidiaries’ debt capitalization (including, without limitation, any debt obligations outstanding as of the date of this Agreement) in excess of $100,000,000;

(e) the declaration or payment of any dividends or other distributions by the Corporation or its Subsidiaries;

(f) any buyback, purchase, repurchase, redemption or other acquisition by the Corporation or Shift4 LLC of any of the securities of the Corporation, Shift4 LLC or any of their respective Subsidiaries, other than repurchases made pursuant to any incentive plan adopted by the Board and stockholders of the Corporation or in connection with any redemption or exchange of Common Units as set forth in the LLC Agreement;

(g) the (i) resignation, replacement or removal of the Corporation as the sole manager of Shift4 LLC or (ii) appointment of any additional Person as a manager of Shift4 LLC;

(h) any acquisition or disposition of assets of the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries where the aggregate consideration for such assets is greater than twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) in any single transaction or series of related transactions, other than transactions solely between or among the Corporation and/or one or more of the Corporation’s direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries;

(i) the creation of a new class or series of capital stock or equity securities of the Corporation, Shift4 LLC or any of their respective Subsidiaries;

 

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(j) any issuance of additional shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Stock, Class C Stock, Preferred Stock or other equity securities of the Corporation, Shift4 LLC or any of their respective Subsidiaries after the date hereof, other than any issuance of additional shares of Class A Common Stock or other equity securities of the Corporation or its Subsidiaries (i) under any stock option or other equity compensation plan of the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries approved by the Board or the compensation committee of the Board, (ii) pursuant to the exercise or conversion of any options, warrants or other securities existing as of the date of this Agreement, or (iii) in connection with any redemption of Common Units as set forth in the LLC Agreement;

(k) any amendment or modification of the organizational documents of the Corporation, Shift4 LLC or any of their respective Subsidiaries, other than the LLC Agreement, which shall be subject to amendment or modification solely in accordance with the terms set forth therein;

(l) entering into, modifying, amending or terminating any material contract of the Corporation, Shift4 LLC or any of their respective Subsidiaries, other than for such modifications and terminations that are in the ordinary course of the Company’s business consistent with past practice;

(m) any new joint venture with a non-affiliate third-party;

(n) the commencement, settlement or compromise by the Corporation, Shift4 LLC or any of their respective Subsidiaries, of any litigation, claim, arbitration or other adversarial proceeding, governmental investigation, or proceeding involving an amount in dispute in excess of $500,000;

(o) any entering into, modifying, amending or terminating any employments, severance, change of control or other agreement or contract with the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation;

(p) any hiring and/or termination of the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Strategy Officer, General Counsel, or other executive officer of the Corporation; or

(q) any increase or decrease of the size of the Board.

Notwithstanding anything in the organizational documents of the Corporation to the contrary, each of (i) the Rook Related Parties for as long as the Rook Related Parties beneficially own, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate twenty-five percent (25%) or more of all issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (including for these purposes the Underlying Class A Shares) and (ii) the Searchlight Related Parties for as long as the Searchlight Related Parties beneficially own, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate twenty-five percent (25%) or more of all issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (including for these purposes the Underlying Class A Shares), shall have the right to call a special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation for any purpose.

Section 5. Covenants of the Corporation.

(a) The Corporation agrees to take all Necessary Action to (i) cause the Board to be comprised of at least seven (7) Directors or such other number of Directors as the Board may determine, subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Charter or the Bylaws of the Corporation; (ii) cause the individuals designated in accordance with Section 1 to be included in the slate of nominees to be elected to the Board at the next annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation at which Directors are to be elected, in accordance with the Bylaws, Charter and General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and at each annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation thereafter at which such Director’s term expires; (iii) cause the individuals designated in accordance with Section 2(c) to fill the applicable vacancies on the Board, in accordance with the Bylaws, Charter, Securities Laws, General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the New York Stock Exchange rules; (iv) cause a Rook Director to be the Chairperson of the Board and (v) to adhere to, implement and enforce the provisions set forth in Section 4.

 

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(b) The Searchlight Related Parties and the Rook Related Parties shall comply with the requirements of the Charter and Bylaws when designating and nominating individuals as Directors, in each case, to the extent such requirements are applicable to Directors generally. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, in the event that the Board determines, within sixty (60) days after compliance with the first sentence of this Section 5(b), in good faith, after consultation with outside legal counsel, that its nomination, appointment or election of a particular Director designated in accordance with Section 1 or Section 2, as applicable, would constitute a breach of its fiduciary duties to the Corporation’s stockholders or does not otherwise comply with any requirements of the Charter or Bylaws, then the Board shall inform the Searchlight Related Parties and/or the Rook Related Parties, as applicable, of such determination in writing and explain in reasonable detail the basis for such determination and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, nominate, appoint or elect another individual designated for nomination, election or appointment to the Board by the Searchlight Related Parties and/or the Rook Related Parties, as applicable (subject in each case to this Section 5(b)). The Board and the Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, take all Necessary Action required by this Section 5 with respect to the election of such substitute designees to the Board.

(c) In addition to any voting requirements contained in this Agreement or the organizational documents of the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries, the Corporation shall not, directly or indirectly, enter into or conduct business or operations or hold or acquire assets in its own name or otherwise other than through Shift4 LLC and its Subsidiaries without the prior written approval of (i) Searchlight and each of the Searchlight Holdcos for as long as the Searchlight Related Parties beneficially own, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate five percent (5%) or more of all issued and outstanding Common Units and (ii) Rook Holdings for as long as the Rook Holdings Related Parties beneficially own, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate five percent (5%) or more of all issued and outstanding Common Units, provided, however, that nothing in this clause (c) shall be deemed to prohibit the Corporation from, and no consent of Searchlight, Rook Holdings or any other Person shall be required for the Corporation to engage in, (i) holding or using cash received by the Corporation as a result of the Corporation’s investment in Shift4 LLC or (ii) re-investing cash into Shift4 LLC (whether by way of intercompany loan, investment or otherwise).

Section 6. Termination.

This Agreement shall terminate upon the earliest to occur of any one of the following events:

(a) each of (i) the Searchlight Related Parties and (ii) the Rook Related Parties ceasing to own any shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Stock or Class C Stock;

(b) each of (i) the Searchlight Related Parties and (ii) the Rook Related Parties ceasing to have any Director designation rights under Section 1 and

(c) the unanimous written consent of the parties hereto.

For the avoidance of doubt, the rights and obligations (i) of the Searchlight Related Parties under this Agreement shall terminate upon the Searchlight Related Parties ceasing to own any shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Stock or Class C Stock and (ii) of the Rook Related Parties under this Agreement shall terminate upon the Rook Related Parties ceasing to own any shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Stock or Class C Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall modify, limit or otherwise affect, in any way, any and all rights to indemnification, exculpation and/or contribution owed by any of the parties hereto, to the extent arising out of or relating to events occurring prior to the date of termination of this Agreement or the date the rights and obligations of such party under this Agreement terminates in accordance with this Section 6.

Section 7. Definitions.

As used in this Agreement, any term that it is not defined herein, shall have the following meanings:

Board” means the board of directors of the Corporation.

Bylaws” means the amended and restated bylaws of the Corporation, dated as of the date hereof, as the same may be further amended, restated, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

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Charter” means the amended and restated certificate of incorporation of the Corporation, effective as of the date hereof, as the same may be further amended, restated, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

Director” means a member of the Board.

Necessary Action” means, with respect to a specified result, all commercially reasonable actions required to cause such result that are within the power of a specified Person, including (i) voting or providing a written consent or proxy with respect to the equity securities owned by the Person obligated to undertake the necessary action, (ii) voting in favor of the adoption of stockholders’ resolutions and amendments to the organizational documents of the Corporation, (iii) executing agreements and instruments, and (iv) making, or causing to be made, with governmental, administrative or regulatory authorities, all filings, registrations or similar actions that are required to achieve such result.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee” means the nominating and corporate governance committee of the Board or any committee of the Board authorized to perform the function of recommending to the Board the nominees for election as Directors or nominating the nominees for election as Directors.

Permitted Transferees” has the meaning set forth in the Charter.

Person” means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, trust, joint stock company, business trust, unincorporated association, joint venture, governmental authority or other entity or organization, including a government or any subdivision or agency thereof.

Preferred Stock” means the shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Corporation.

Securities Laws” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules promulgated thereunder.

Subsidiary” means with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, trust or other form of legal entity, of which (a) such first Person directly or indirectly owns or controls at least a majority of the securities or other interests having by their terms voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or others performing similar functions, or (b) such first Person is a general partner or managing member (excluding partnerships in which such Person or any Subsidiary thereof does not have a majority of the voting interests in such partnership).

Underlying Class A Shares” means (i) all shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon redemption of Common Units, assuming all such Common Units are redeemed for Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis and (ii) all shares of Class C Common Stock.

Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise requires, (i) words of any gender include each other gender; (ii) words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number, respectively; (iii) the terms “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby” and derivative or similar words refer to this entire Agreement; (iv) the terms “Article” or “Section” refer to the specified Article or Section of this Agreement; (v) the word “including” shall mean “including, without limitation”; (vi) each defined term has its defined meaning throughout this Agreement, whether the definition of such term appears before or after such term is used; and (vii) the word “or” shall be disjunctive but not exclusive. References to agreements and other documents shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments and other modifications thereto. References to statutes shall include all regulations promulgated thereunder and references to statutes or regulations shall be construed as including all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending or replacing the statute or regulation.

 

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Section 8. Choice of Law and Venue; Waiver of Right to Jury Trial.

(a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, CONSTRUED, APPLIED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT IN THE EVENT OF ANY BREACH OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE NON-BREACHING PARTY WOULD BE IRREPARABLY HARMED AND COULD NOT BE MADE WHOLE BY MONETARY DAMAGES, AND THAT, IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER REMEDY TO WHICH THEY MAY BE ENTITLED AT LAW OR IN EQUITY, THE PARTIES SHALL BE ENTITLED TO SUCH EQUITABLE OR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF AS MAY BE APPROPRIATE. THE CHOICE OF FORUM SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION SHALL NOT BE DEEMED TO PRECLUDE THE ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT OF A DELAWARE FEDERAL OR STATE COURT, OR THE TAKING OF ANY ACTION UNDER THIS AGREEMENT TO ENFORCE SUCH A JUDGMENT, IN ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE JURISDICTION.

(b) IN THE EVENT ANY PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT COMMENCES ANY LITIGATION, PROCEEDING OR OTHER LEGAL ACTION IN CONNECTION WITH OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY RELATED AGREEMENT OR ANY MATTERS DESCRIBED OR CONTEMPLATED HEREIN OR THEREIN, THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY (1) AGREE UNDER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES ABSOLUTELY AND IRREVOCABLY TO SUBMIT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, OR IF (AND ONLY IF) SUCH COURT FINDS IT LACKS SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION, THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (COMPLEX COMMERCIAL DIVISION), OR IF UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION OVER THE MATTER THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF THE ACTION OR PROCEEDING IS VESTED EXCLUSIVELY IN THE FEDERAL COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE, AND APPELLATE COURTS FROM ANY THEREOF, WITH RESPECT TO ALL ACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY; (2) AGREE THAT IN THE EVENT OF ANY SUCH LITIGATION, PROCEEDING OR ACTION, SUCH PARTIES WILL CONSENT AND SUBMIT TO THE PERSONAL JURISDICTION OF ANY SUCH COURT DESCRIBED IN CLAUSE (1) OF THIS SECTION 8(B) AND TO SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES AND STATUTES GOVERNING SERVICE OF PROCESS; (3) AGREE TO WAIVE TO THE FULL EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW ANY OBJECTION THAT THEY MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH LITIGATION, PROCEEDING OR ACTION IN ANY SUCH COURT OR THAT ANY SUCH LITIGATION, PROCEEDING OR ACTION WAS BROUGHT IN ANY INCONVENIENT FORUM; (4) AGREE TO WAIVE ANY RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL TO RESOLVE ANY DISPUTES OR CLAIMS RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT; (5) AGREE TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING BY MAILING OF COPIES THEREOF TO SUCH PARTY AT ITS ADDRESS SET FORTH HEREIN FOR COMMUNICATIONS TO SUCH PARTY; (6) AGREE THAT ANY SERVICE MADE AS PROVIDED HEREIN SHALL BE EFFECTIVE AND BINDING SERVICE IN EVERY RESPECT; AND (7) AGREE THAT NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHTS OF ANY PARTY TO EFFECT SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW.

 

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Section 9. Notices.

Any notice, request, claim, demand, document and other communication hereunder to any party shall be effective upon receipt (or refusal of receipt) and shall be in writing and delivered personally or sent by facsimile, or by electronic mail, or first class mail, or by Federal Express or other similar courier or other similar means of communication, as follows:

 

  (a)

If to Searchlight or the Searchlight Holdcos, addressed as follows:

Searchlight Capital Partners, L.P.

745 5th Avenue, 27th Floor

New York, New York 10151

Attn: Christopher Cruz

E-mail:

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

Latham & Watkins LLP

885 Third Avenue

New York, New York 10022

Attn: Christina Singh

Facsimile: (212) 751-4864

E-mail:

 

  (b)

If to Rook Holdings, addressed as follows:

Rook Holdings, Inc.

2202 N. Irving St.

Allentown, Pennsylvania 18109

Attn: Jared Isaacman

E-mail:

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

Kane Kessler, P.C.

Attn: Mitchell D. Hollander and Robert Lawrence

Facsimile: (212) 541-6222

E-mail:

 

  (c)

If to the Corporation, addressed as follows:

Shift4 Payments, Inc.

2202 N. Irving St.

Allentown, Pennsylvania 18109

Telephone: (888) 276-2108

Attn: Jordan Frankel, General Counsel and EVP, Legal

E-mail:

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

Latham & Watkins LLP

885 Third Avenue

 

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New York, New York 10022

Attn: Marc Jaffe and Ian Schuman

Facsimile: (212) 751-4864

E-mail:

or, in each case, to such other address or email address as such party may designate in writing to each party by written notice given in the manner specified herein. All such communications shall be deemed to have been given, delivered or made when so delivered by hand or sent by facsimile (with confirmed transmission), on the next business day if sent by overnight courier service (with confirmed delivery) or when received if sent by first class mail, or in the case of notice by electronic mail, when the relevant email enters the recipient’s server.

Section 10. Assignment.

Except as otherwise provided herein, all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the respective successors and permitted assigns of the parties hereto. This Agreement may not be assigned (by operation of law or otherwise) without the express prior written consent of the other parties hereto, and any attempted assignment, without such consents, will be null and void; provided, however, that each of Searchlight, the Searchlight Holdcos and Rook Holdings is permitted to assign this Agreement to their respective Permitted Transferees. Each of Searchlight, the Searchlight Holdcos and Rook Holdings shall cause any of their respective Permitted Transferees to become a party to this Agreement.

Section 11. Amendment and Modification; Waiver of Compliance.

This Agreement may not be amended, modified, altered or supplemented except by means of a written instrument executed on behalf of each of the Corporation, Searchlight and Rook Holdings. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any failure of any of the parties to comply with any obligation, covenant, agreement or condition herein may be waived by the party or parties entitled to the benefits thereof only by a written instrument signed by the party or parties granting such waiver, but such waiver or failure to insist upon strict compliance with such obligation, covenant, agreement or condition shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or other failure.

Section 12. Waiver.

No failure on the part of either party hereto to exercise any power, right, privilege or remedy under this Agreement, and no delay on the part of either party hereto in exercising any power, right, privilege or remedy under this Agreement, shall operate as a waiver thereof; and no single or partial exercise of any such power, right, privilege or remedy shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof or of any other power, right, privilege or remedy.

Section 13. Severability.

If any provision of this Agreement, or the application of such provision to any Person or circumstance or in any jurisdiction, shall be held to be invalid or unenforceable to any extent, (i) the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby, and each other provision hereof shall be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law, (ii) as to such Person or circumstance or in such jurisdiction such provision shall be reformed to be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law and (iii) the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances or in other jurisdictions shall not be affected thereby.

 

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Section 14. Counterparts.

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and signatures may be delivered by facsimile, each of which may be executed by less than all parties, each of which shall be enforceable against the parties actually executing such counterparts, and all of which together shall constitute one instrument.

Section 15. Further Assurances.

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

Section 16. Titles and Subtitles.

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

Section 17. Representations and Warranties.

(a) Each of Searchlight, the Searchlight Holdcos, Rook Holdings and each Person who becomes a party to this Agreement after the date hereof, severally and not jointly and solely with respect to itself, represents and warrants to the Corporation as of the time such party becomes a party to this Agreement that (a) if applicable, it is duly authorized to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement; (b) this Agreement has been duly executed by such party and is a valid and binding agreement of such party, enforceable against such party in accordance with its terms; and (c) the execution, delivery and performance by such party of this Agreement does not violate or conflict with or result in a breach of or constitute (or with notice or lapse of time or both constitute) a default under any agreement to which such party is a party or, if applicable, the organizational documents of such party.

(b) The Corporation represents and warrants to each other party hereto that (a) the Corporation is duly authorized to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement; (b) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Corporation and is a valid and binding agreement of the Corporation, enforceable against the Corporation in accordance with its terms; and (c) the execution, delivery and performance by the Corporation of this Agreement does not violate or conflict with or result in a breach by the Corporation of or constitute (or with notice or lapse of time or both constitute) a default by the Corporation under the Charter or Bylaws, any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order, or decree of any governmental authority exercising any statutory or regulatory authority of any of the foregoing, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets, or any agreement or instrument to which the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets may be bound.

Section 18. No Strict Construction.

This Agreement shall be deemed to be collectively prepared by the parties hereto, and no ambiguity herein shall be construed for or against any party based upon the identity of the author of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed on the day and year first above written.

 

SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, INC.
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[Signature Page to Stockholders Agreement]


SEARCHLIGHT CAPITAL PARTNERS, L.P.
By: [  ],
its [ ● ]
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
SEARCHLIGHT CAPITAL II, L.P.
By: [  ],
its [ ● ]
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
SEARCHLIGHT CAPITAL II PV, L.P.
By: [  ],
its [ ● ]
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

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ROOK HOLDINGS, INC.,
a Delaware corporation
By:  

 

Name:   Jared Isaacman
Title:  

[Signature Page to Stockholders Agreement]

Exhibit 10.4

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of [ ● ], 2020 by and among Shift4 Payments, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), and each Person identified on the Schedule of Holders attached hereto as of the date hereof (such Persons, collectively, the “Original Equity Owner Parties”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Corporation is contemplating an offer and sale of its shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 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 (as defined below) of Shift4 Payments, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), 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 Original Equity Owner Parties and certain other Persons that hold equity interests in the Company are the sole members of the Company (the Original Equity Owner Parties, together with such other Persons, the “Original Equity Owners”);

WHEREAS, immediately prior to or simultaneous with the purchase by the Corporation of the Common Units, the Corporation, the Company and the Original Equity Owners will enter into that certain Sixth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company (such agreement, as it may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified form time to time, the “LLC Agreement”);

WHEREAS, in connection with the closing of the IPO, (i) the Corporation will become the sole managing member of the Company, (ii) under the LLC Agreement, the equity interests held by the Original Equity Owners prior to such time will be cancelled and new Common Units (as defined in the LLC Agreement, the “Common Units”) of the Company will be issued, (iii) each Person identified on the Schedule of Holders attached hereto as a “Former Equity Owner” (such Persons, collectively, the “Former Equity Owners”) will exchange their indirect interest in the Common Units for shares of Class A Common Stock, (iv) each Person identified on the Schedule of Holders attached hereto as a “Continuing Equity Owner Party” (such Persons, collectively, the “Continuing Equity Owner Parties”) and certain other Original Equity Owners will become non-managing members of the Company, but otherwise continue to hold Common Units in the Company (such persons, collectively, the “Continuing Equity Owners”), and (v) in consideration of the Corporation acquiring the Common Units and becoming the managing member of the Company and for other good consideration, the Company has provided the Continuing Equity Owners with a redemption right pursuant to which the Continuing Equity Owners can redeem their Common Units for, at the Corporation’s option, shares of Class A Common Stock or cash on the terms set forth in the LLC Agreement; and

WHEREAS, in connection with the IPO and the transactions described above, the Corporation has agreed to grant to the Holders (as defined below) certain rights with respect to the registration of the Registrable Securities (as defined below) on the terms and conditions set forth herein.


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 9.

Additional Holder” has the meaning set forth in Section 9, 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 recitals.

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 stock, par value $0.0001 per share.

Class C Common Stock” means the Corporation’s Class C stock, par value $0.0001 per share.

Common Units” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

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Company” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Continuing Equity Owner Parties” has the meaning set forth in the recitals, 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.

Continuing Equity Owners” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Controlling Holder” means each of the Controlling Holders as identified on the Schedule of Holders, so long as such Holders continue to hold Registrable Securities.

Corporation” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

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.

Former Equity Owners” has the meaning set forth in the recitals, 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.

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

Holder” means any Person that is a party to this Agreement from time to time, as set forth on the signature pages hereto.

Holder Indemnified Parties” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(a).

IPO” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Joinder” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.

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

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

Majority of the Registrable Securities” means, with respect to any group of Registrable Securities described in this Agreement, the Holders of a majority of such group of Registrable Securities, including (i) if the Rook Holders collectively hold at least 10% of all Registrable Securities and any Rook Holder’s Registrable Securities are included such group, a majority of the Registrable Securities held by all Rook Holders that are included in such group and (ii) if the Searchlight Holders collectively hold at least 10% of all Registrable Securities and any Searchlight Holder’s Registrable Securities are included such group, a majority of the Registrable Securities held by all Searchlight Holders that are included in such group.

 

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

Original Equity Owner Parties” has the meaning set forth in the recitals, 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.

Original Equity Owners” 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 (A) issued by the Corporation in connection with the IPO in exchange for the Common Units of the Former Equity Owners or (B) issued by the Corporation in a Share Settlement in connection with (x) the redemption by the Company of Common Units owned by any Continuing Equity Owner Parties or (y) at the election of the Corporation, in a direct exchange for Common Units owned by any Continuing Equity Owner Party, in each case in accordance with the terms of the LLC Agreement, (ii) any 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 way of dividend, distribution, split or combination of securities, or any recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization, and (iii) any other Shares owned, directly or indirectly, by Holders. As to any particular Registrable Securities owned by any Person, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities on the date such securities (a) have been sold or distributed pursuant to a Public Offering, (b) have been sold in compliance with Rule 144 following the consummation of the IPO, (c) have been repurchased by the Corporation or a Subsidiary of the Corporation or (d) may be disposed of pursuant to Rule 144 in a single transaction without volume limitation or other restrictions on transfer thereunder. 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, (x) while Common Units, shares of Class B Stock and/or shares of Class C Stock may constitute Registrable

 

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Securities, under no circumstances shall the Corporation be obligated to register Common Units, shares of Class B Stock or shares of Class C Stock, and only Shares issuable upon redemption or exchange of Common Units will be registered and (y) in no event will Common Units held by the Blockers (as defined in the LLC Agreement) be considered Registrable Securities.

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

Rook Holder” means each of the Rook Holders as identified on the Schedule of Holders, so long as such Holders continue to hold Registrable Securities.

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 Holders” means the schedule attached to this Agreement entitled “Schedule of Holders,” which shall reflect each Holder from time to time party to this Agreement.

Searchlight Holder” means each of the Searchlight Holders as identified on the Schedule of Holders, so long as such Holders continue to hold Registrable Securities.

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 LLC Agreement.

Shares” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

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

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.

 

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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).

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

Violation” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(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, each Controlling Holder 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 each Controlling Holder 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 Company shall not be obligated to file registration statements relating to any Long-Form Registration or Short-Form Registration under this Section 2(a) unless the market value of the Registrable Securities proposed to be registered is at least $15 million (or, if less, such Registrable Securities represent all Registrable Securities then held by the Controlling Holder requesting such registration). All registrations requested pursuant to this Section 2(a) are referred to herein as “Demand Registrations.” The Controlling Holder 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”). Except to the extent that Section 2(d) applies, upon receipt of the request for the Demand Registration, the Corporation shall as promptly as reasonably practicable (but in no event later than ten days after receipt of the request for the Demand Registration) give written notice of the Demand Registration to all other Holders who hold Registrable Securities 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 (i) 15 days, in the case of any notice with respect to a Long-Form Registration, or (ii) ten days, in the case of any notice with respect to a Short-Form Registration, after the receipt of the Corporation’s notice. Each Holder agrees that 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 or 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 or any similar provision contained in the underwriting agreement entered into in connection with any underwritten Public Offering.

 

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(b) Long-Form Registrations. The Controlling Holders shall be entitled to request, in any twelve-month period, two 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 the applicable Controlling Holder.

(c) Short-Form Registrations. In addition to the Long-Form Registrations described in Section 2(b), each Controlling Holder 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 best efforts to make Short-Form Registrations available for the sale of Registrable Securities.

(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 best 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 best efforts to prepare a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to all of the Registrable Securities owned by or issuable to the Original Equity Owner Parties in accordance with the terms of the LLC 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 later to occur of (i) the expiration of the Lock-Up Period (as defined below) and (ii) the Corporation becoming eligible to file a Shelf Registration Statement for a Short-Form Registration; provided that any of the Original Equity Owner Parties may, with respect to itself, instruct the Corporation in writing not to include in such Shelf

 

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Registration Statement the Registrable Securities owned by or issuable to such Holder. In order for any of the Original Equity Owner Parties 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. 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 representing Registrable Securities either (a) with a market value of at least $25 million, or (b) that represent at least 10% of the aggregate market value of the Registrable Securities registered pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement 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 Corporation shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection therewith; provided that each Controlling Holder 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 Holder. 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”). In the case of an Underwritten Takedown, 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 Section 2(e) and Section 8 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 five Business Days after the receipt of the Shelf Offering Notice. The Corporation shall, as expeditiously as possible (and in any event within ten Business 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 best efforts to facilitate such Shelf Offering. Each Holder agrees that 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 or 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 any Holder desires to effect a sale of Shelf Registrable Securities that does not constitute an Underwritten Takedown, the Holder shall deliver to the Corporation a Shelf Offering Request no later than two Business Days prior to the expected date of the sale of such Shelf Registrable Securities, and subject to the limitations set forth in Section 2(d)(i), the Corporation shall file and effect an amendment or supplement to its Shelf Registration Statement for such purpose as soon as reasonably practicable.

 

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(iv) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Controlling Holder wishes 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 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 Business Day prior to the day such offering is to commence) (unless a longer period is agreed to by the 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 best efforts to facilitate such offering (which may close as early as two Business Days after the date it commences); provided that Holders representing a Majority of the Registrable Securities wishing to engage in the 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.

(v) 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, (i) first, 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, (ii) second, other securities requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect,

 

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and (iii) third, securities the Corporation requested to be included in such registration for its own account which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect. 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 of Registrable Securities or Shelf Registrable Securities, as applicable, if (A) the Corporation’s board of directors determines in its reasonable good faith judgment that the offer or sale of Registrable Securities would 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 each Controlling Holder. The Corporation also may extend the Suspension Period with the consent of each Controlling Holder.

(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 5(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

 

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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 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 or 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; provided that in no event shall an End of Suspension Notice be given after the end of the Suspension Period unless with the consent of each Controlling Holder.

(iii) Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, if the Corporation gives a Suspension Notice with respect to any Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to 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. Controlling Holder(s) initiating any Demand Registration representing a Majority of the Registrable Securities included in such 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 not 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 to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

(h) Fulfillment of Registration Obligations. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, a registration requested pursuant to this Section 2 shall not be deemed to have been effected: (i) if the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included in a Long-Form Registration by the initiating Controlling Holder is cut back by the managing underwriters pursuant to Section 2(e) by more than twenty percent (20%); (ii) if the registration statement is withdrawn without becoming effective in accordance with Section 2(f) or otherwise without the consent of the initiating Controlling Holder; (iii) if after it has become effective such registration is interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other governmental authority for any reason other than a misrepresentation or

 

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an omission by the Holder making such Demand Registration, or an Affiliate of such Holder (other than the Corporation and its controlled Affiliates), and, as a result thereof, the Registrable Securities requested to be registered cannot be completely distributed in accordance with the plan of distribution set forth in the related registration statement; (iv) if the registration does not contemplate an underwritten offering, if it does not remain effective for at least 180 days (or such shorter period as will terminate when all securities covered by such registration statement have been sold or withdrawn); or if such registration statement contemplates an underwritten offering, if it does not remain effective for at least 180 days plus such longer period as, in the opinion of counsel for the underwriter or underwriters, a prospectus is required by applicable law to be delivered in connection with the sale of Registrable Securities by an underwriter or dealer; or (v) in the event of an underwritten offering, if the conditions to closing (including any condition relating to an overallotment option) specified in the purchase agreement or underwriting agreement entered into in connection with such registration are not satisfied or waived other than by reason of some wrongful act or omission by the Holder that made the Demand Registration, or an Affiliate of such Holder.

(i) 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 each Controlling Holder.

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 who hold Registrable Securities of its intention to effect such Piggyback Registration and, subject to the terms of Section 3(c), 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 fifteen 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.

(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

 

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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) 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).

(e) 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 6.

Section 4. Lock-Up Agreements. In connection with the IPO, each Controlling Holder (each a “Lock-Up Party”) has entered into a customary lock-up agreement with Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., as representatives (the “Representatives”) of the several underwriters, pursuant to which each Lock-Up Party has agreed to certain restrictions relating to the shares of Capital Stock and certain other securities held by them (collectively, the “Lock-Up Restrictions”) during the period ending 180 days after the date of the final prospectus issued in connection with the IPO (such period, the “Lock-Up Period”). In the event that the Representatives consent to the release from the Lock-Up Restrictions of any shares of Capital Stock (or other securities) held by a Lock-Up Party (any such party, the “Released Party,” and any shares of Capital Stock or other securities so released, the “Released Shares”), such Released Party hereby agrees not to sell or otherwise dispose of any Released Shares unless the same percentage of the total number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock held by each other Lock-Up Party (assuming the exchange of all membership interests of the Company for a corresponding number of shares of Class A Common Stock in accordance with the LLC Agreement) as is equal to the percentage of the total number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock of the Released Party represented by the Released Shares (assuming the exchange of all membership interests of the Company for a corresponding number of shares of Class A Common Stock in accordance with the LLC Agreement) is immediately and fully released from any Lock-Up Restrictions on the same terms as the Released Shares. The Corporation may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to the shares of Capital Stock and other securities subject to the Lock-Up Restrictions until the end of the Lock-Up Period.

 

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Section 5. Registration Procedures.

(a) Whenever the Holders have requested that any Registrable Securities be registered pursuant to this Agreement or have initiated a Shelf Offering, (x) such Holders shall, if applicable, cause such Registrable Securities to be exchanged into shares of Class A Common Stock in accordance with the terms of the LLC Agreement prior to sale of such Registrable Securities and (y) the Corporation shall use its reasonable best 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 (subject to the availability of required financial information) a registration statement, and all amendments and supplements thereto and related prospectuses, with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its reasonable best 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 Controlling Holder(s) initiating a Demand Registration or, in all other cases, 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 best 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 best 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, without limitation, effecting a stock split, combination of shares, recapitalization or reorganization);

 

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(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 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 best 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 best 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 best 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 best efforts to obtain one or more cold comfort letters from the Corporation’s independent public accountants in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by cold 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 best 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 best efforts to remain a WKSI (and not become an ineligible issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act)) during the period during which such Automatic Shelf Registration Statement is required to remain effective;

(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 Original Equity Owner Parties 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 and such distributees shall have the right to become a party to this Agreement by the joinder in the form of Exhibit A hereto and thereby have all of the rights of such Original Equity Owner Parties under this Agreement, other than the Demand Registration rights of a Controlling Holder.

Section 6. Registration Expenses.

(a) The Corporations Obligation. All expenses incident to the Corporation’s performance of or compliance with this Agreement (including, without limitation, 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, without limitation, 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, the Corporation shall reimburse the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such registration for the reasonable fees and disbursements of not more than one law firm (for each of the Searchlight Holders, if participating in such registration, and the Rook Holders, if participating in such registration.

 

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Section 7. 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, partners, stockholders, members, trustees, Affiliates, 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 (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 7, 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.

 

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(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 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 by such Holders that are conflicted indemnified parties, at the expense of the indemnifying party.

(d) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 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 7(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.

 

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(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 7, 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.

(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 8. 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, without limitation, 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, custody 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, Section 5 and this Section 8(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, Section 4 and this Section 8(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 8(a).

(b) Price and Underwriting Discounts. In the case of an underwritten Demand Registration or Underwritten Takedown requested by the 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 5(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 5(a)(vi). In the event the Corporation has given any such notice, the applicable time period set forth in Section 5(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 such notice pursuant to this Section 8(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 5(a)(vi).

 

21


Section 9. Additional Parties; Joinder. Subject to the prior written consent of each Controlling Holder, 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 without limitation any Person who acquires Common Units) a party to this Agreement (each such Person, an “Additional Holder”) 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 Holder in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (a “Joinder”). Upon the execution and delivery of a Joinder by such Additional Holder, the Class A Common Stock of the Corporation acquired by such Additional Holder or issuable upon redemption or exchange of Common Units acquired by such Additional Holder (the “Acquired Common”) shall be Registrable Securities to the extent provided herein, such Additional Holder shall be a Holder under this Agreement with respect to the Acquired Common, and the Corporation shall add such Additional Holder’s name and address to the Schedule of Holders and circulate such information to the parties to this Agreement.

Section 10. Rule 144. 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, including (i) instructing the transfer agent for the Registrable Securities to remove restrictive legends from any Registrable Securities sold pursuant to Rule 144 (to the extent such removal is permitted under Rule 144 and other applicable law), and (ii) cooperating with the Holder of such Registrable Securities to facilitate the transfer of such securities through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company, in such amounts and credited to such accounts as such Holder may request (or, if applicable, the preparation and delivery of certificates representing such securities, in such denominations and registered in such names as such Holder may request), all to the extent required to enable the 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 11. 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 12. Transfer of Registrable Securities. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, except in the case of (i) a transfer to the Corporation, (ii) a transfer by any Original Equity Owner Party 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, without limitation, 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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Section 13. MNPI Provisions.

(a) Each Holder acknowledges that 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).

(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 13 and that in the case of clauses (ii) through (v), such disclosure is required by law and such Holder shall promptly notify the Corporation of such disclosure to the extent such Holder is legally permitted to give such notice.

(c) 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 to not 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 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. 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.

 

23


Section 14. General Provisions.

(a) Amendments and Waivers. Except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions of this Agreement may be amended, modified, terminated or waived only with the prior written consent of the Corporation and each Controlling Holder; provided that no such amendment, modification, termination 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 Holders to this Agreement pursuant to Section 9 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. 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 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) 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.

(d) 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.

(e) 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.

 

24


(f) 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 Business Day, (iii) one Business Day after it is sent to the recipient by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid) or (iv) three 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 Original Equity Owner Party or to any other party subject to this Agreement at such address as indicated on the Schedule of Holders, 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:

Shift4 Payments, Inc.

2202 N. Irving St.

Allentown, Pennsylvania 18109

Attn: General Counsel

With a copy to:

Latham & Watkins LLP

885 Third Avenue

New York, New York 10022

Attn: Marc D. Jaffe, Esq.

Facsimile: (212) 751-4864

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.

(g) 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.

(h) Governing Law. The corporate law of the State of Delaware 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.

(i) 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.

 

25


(j) 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 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE, 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.

(k) 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.

(l) 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.

(m) 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.

 

26


(n) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, 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.

(o) 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.

(p) 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.

(q) 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 parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, INC.
By:  

 

Name:   Jared Isaacman
Title:   Chief Executive Officer

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


SEARCHLIGHT CAPITAL PARTNERS, L.P.
By: [  ],
its [ ● ]
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
SEARCHLIGHT CAPITAL II, L.P.
By: [  ],
its [ ● ]
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
SEARCHLIGHT CAPITAL II PV, L.P.
By: [  ],
its [ ● ]
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


ROOK HOLDINGS, INC.,

a Delaware corporation

By:  

 

Name:   Jared Isaacman
Title:   [ ● ]

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


FPOS HOLDING CO. INC.
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


Jared Isaacman
By:  

 

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


SCHEDULE OF HOLDERS

 

Holder

  

Controlling Holder?

  

Continuing Equity Owner

Party/

Former Equity Owner

Searchlight Capital Partners II GP LLC.*    Yes    Continuing Equity Owner Party
Searchlight Capital Partners II GP L.P.*    Yes    Former Equity Owner
Searchlight Capital II, L.P.*    Yes    Continuing Equity Owner Party
Searchlight Capital II PV L.P.*    Yes    Continuing Equity Owner Party
SC II GWN Holdings, Inc.*    Yes    Former Equity Owner
SC II PV GWN Holdings, Inc.*    Yes    Former Equity Owner
SC II GWN, L.P.*    Yes    Continuing Equity Owner Party
SC II PV GWN, L.P.*    Yes    Continuing Equity Owner Party
Searchlight II GWN, L.P.*    Yes    Continuing Equity Owner Party
Rook Holdings, Inc.†    Yes    Continuing Equity Owner Party
FPOS Holding Co. Inc.    No    Former Equity Owner
Jared Isaacman†    Yes    Former Equity Owner

 

*

Searchlight Holder

Rook Holder

 

33


EXHIBIT A

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT JOINDER

The undersigned is executing and delivering this Joinder pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of [ ● ], 2020 (as the same may hereafter be amended, the “Registration Rights Agreement”), among Shift4 Payments, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), and the other person named as parties therein.

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 Holders attached to the Registration Rights Agreement.

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__

 

Shift4 Payments, Inc.
By:  

 

Name:  
Its:  

 

34

Exhibit 10.10

SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, INC.

2020 INCENTIVE AWARD PLAN

ARTICLE 1.

PURPOSE

The purpose of the Shift4 Payments, Inc. 2020 Incentive Award Plan (as it may be amended or restated from time to time, the “Plan”) is to promote the success and enhance the value of Shift4 Payments, Inc. (the “Company”) by linking the individual interests of Directors, Employees, and Consultants to those of Company stockholders and by providing such individuals with an incentive for outstanding performance to generate superior returns to Company stockholders. The Plan is further intended to provide flexibility to the Company in its ability to motivate, attract, and retain the services of Directors, Employees, and Consultants upon whose judgment, interest, and special effort the successful conduct of the Company’s operation is largely dependent.

ARTICLE 2.

DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION

Wherever the following terms are used in the Plan they shall have the meanings specified below, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The singular pronoun shall include the plural where the context so indicates.

2.1 “Administrator” shall mean the Board or a Committee to the extent that the Board’s powers or authority under the Plan have been delegated to such Committee.

2.2 “Affiliate” shall mean (a) any Subsidiary; and (b) any domestic eligible entity that is disregarded, under Treasury Regulation Section 301.7701-3, as an entity separate from either (i) the Company or (ii) any Subsidiary.

2.3 “Applicable Accounting Standards” shall mean Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States, International Financial Reporting Standards or such other accounting principles or standards as may apply to the Company’s financial statements under United States federal securities laws from time to time.

2.4 “Applicable Law” shall mean any applicable law, including, without limitation: (a) provisions of the Code, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and any rules or regulations thereunder; (b) corporate, securities, tax or other laws, statutes, rules, requirements or regulations, whether federal, state, local or foreign; and (c) rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded.

2.5 “Automatic Exercise Date” shall mean, with respect to an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right, the last business day of the applicable Option Term or Stock Appreciation Right Term that was initially established by the Administrator for such Option or Stock Appreciation Right (e.g., the last business day prior to the tenth anniversary of the date of grant of such Option or Stock Appreciation Right if the Option or Stock Appreciation Right initially had a ten-year Option Term or Stock Appreciation Right Term, as applicable).

 

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2.6 “Award” shall mean an Option, a Stock Appreciation Right, a Restricted Stock award, a Restricted Stock Unit award, an Other Stock or Cash Based Award or a Dividend Equivalent award, which may be awarded or granted under the Plan.

2.7 “Award Agreement” shall mean any written notice, agreement, terms and conditions, contract or other instrument or document evidencing an Award, including through electronic medium, which shall contain such terms and conditions with respect to an Award as the Administrator shall determine consistent with the Plan.

2.8 “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

2.9 “Change in Control” shall mean and includes each of the following:

(a) A transaction or series of transactions (other than an offering of Common Stock to the general public through a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) whereby any “person” or related “group” of “persons” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) directly or indirectly acquires beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) of securities of the Company possessing more than 50 % of the total combined voting power of the Company’s securities outstanding immediately after such acquisition; provided, however, that the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (i) any acquisition by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) any acquisition by an employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) any acquisition which complies with Sections 2.8(c)(i), 2.8(c)(ii) or 2.8(c)(iii); or (iv) in respect of an Award held by a particular Holder, any acquisition by the Holder or any group of persons including the Holder (or any entity controlled by the Holder or any group of persons including the Holder); or

(b) The Incumbent Directors cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board;

(c) The consummation by the Company (whether directly involving the Company or indirectly involving the Company through one or more intermediaries) of (x) a merger, consolidation, reorganization, or business combination, (y) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets in any single transaction or series of related transactions or (z) the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity, in each case other than a transaction:

(i) which results in the Company’s voting securities outstanding immediately before the transaction continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the Company or the person that, as a result of the transaction, controls, directly or indirectly, the Company or owns, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or otherwise succeeds to the business of the Company (the Company or such person, the “Successor Entity”)) directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity’s outstanding voting securities immediately after the transaction, and

 

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(ii) after which no person or group beneficially owns voting securities representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity; provided, however, that no person or group shall be treated for purposes of this Section 2.8(c)(ii) as beneficially owning 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity solely as a result of the voting power held in the Company prior to the consummation of the transaction; and

(iii) after which at least a majority of the members of the board of directors (or the analogous governing body) of the Successor Entity were Board members at the time of the Board’s approval of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such transaction; or

(d) The date which is 10 business days prior to the completion of a liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change in Control constitutes a payment event with respect to any Award (or any portion of an Award) that provides for the deferral of compensation that is subject to Section 409A, to the extent required to avoid the imposition of additional taxes under Section 409A, the transaction or event described in subsection (a), (b), (c) or (d) with respect to such Award (or portion thereof) shall only constitute a Change in Control for purposes of the payment timing of such Award if such transaction also constitutes a “change in control event,” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5).

The Administrator shall have full and final authority, which shall be exercised in its sole discretion, to determine conclusively whether a Change in Control has occurred pursuant to the above definition, the date of the occurrence of such Change in Control and any incidental matters relating thereto; provided that any exercise of authority in conjunction with a determination of whether a Change in Control is a “change in control event” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) shall be consistent with such regulation.

2.10 “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, together with the regulations and official guidance promulgated thereunder, whether issued prior or subsequent to the grant of any Award.

2.11 “Committee” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board, or another committee or subcommittee of the Board which may be comprised of one or more Directors and/or executive officers of the Company as appointed by the Board, to the extent permitted in accordance with Applicable Law.

2.12 “Common Stock” shall mean the common stock of the Company.

2.13 “Company” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 1.

2.14 “Consultant” shall mean any consultant or adviser engaged to provide services to the Company or any parent of the Company or Affiliate who qualifies as a consultant or advisor under the applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission for registration of shares on a Form S-8 Registration Statement.

 

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2.15 “Director” shall mean a member of the Board, as constituted from time to time.

2.16 “Director Limit” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.6.

2.17 “Dividend Equivalent” shall mean a right to receive the equivalent value (in cash or Shares) of dividends paid on Shares, awarded under Section 9.2.

2.18 “DRO” shall mean a “domestic relations order” as defined by the Code or Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, or the rules thereunder.

2.19 “Effective Date” shall mean the day prior to the Public Trading Date.

2.20 “Eligible Individual” shall mean any person who is an Employee, a Consultant or a Non-Employee Director, as determined by the Administrator.

2.21 “Employee” shall mean any officer or other employee (as determined in accordance with Section 3401(c) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder) of the Company or of any parent of the Company or Affiliate.

2.22 “Equity Restructuring” shall mean a nonreciprocal transaction between the Company and its stockholders, such as a stock dividend, stock split, spin-off, rights offering or recapitalization through a large, nonrecurring cash dividend, that affects the number or kind of Shares (or other securities of the Company) or the share price of Common Stock (or other securities) and causes a change in the per-share value of the Common Stock underlying outstanding Awards.

2.23 “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

2.24 “Expiration Date” shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 12.1(c).

2.25 “Fair Market Value” shall mean, as of any given date, the value of a Share determined as follows:

(a) If the Common Stock is (i) listed on any established securities exchange (such as the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market and the Nasdaq Global Select Market), (ii) listed on any national market system or (iii) quoted or traded on any automated quotation system, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for a Share as quoted on such exchange or system for such date or, if there is no closing sales price for a Share on the date in question, the closing sales price for a Share on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable;

(b) If the Common Stock is not listed on an established securities exchange, national market system or automated quotation system, but the Common Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer, its Fair Market Value shall be the mean of the high bid and low asked prices for such date or, if there are no high bid and low asked prices for a Share on such date, the high bid and low asked prices for a Share on the last preceding date for which such information exists, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; or

 

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(c) If the Common Stock is neither listed on an established securities exchange, national market system or automated quotation system nor regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer, its Fair Market Value shall be established by the Administrator in its discretion.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Award granted on the pricing date of the Company’s initial public offering, the Fair Market Value shall mean the initial public offering price of a Share as set forth in the Company’s final prospectus relating to its initial public offering filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

2.26 “Greater Than 10% Stockholder” shall mean an individual then owning (within the meaning of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any subsidiary corporation (as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code) or parent corporation thereof (as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code).

2.27 “Holder” shall mean a person who has been granted an Award.

2.28 “Incentive Stock Option” shall mean an Option that is intended to qualify as an incentive stock option and conforms to the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code.

2.29 “Incumbent Directors” shall mean for any period of 12 consecutive months, individuals who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the Board together with any new Director(s) (other than a Director designated by a person who shall have entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Section 2.8(a) or 2.8(c)) whose election or nomination for election to the Board was approved by a vote of at least a majority (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for Director without objection to such nomination) of the Directors then still in office who either were Directors at the beginning of the 12-month period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved. No individual initially elected or nominated as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to Directors or as a result of any other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of any person other than the Board shall be an Incumbent Director.

2.30 “Non-Employee Director” shall mean a Director of the Company who is not an Employee.

2.31 “Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Policy” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.6.

2.32 “Non-Qualified Stock Option” shall mean an Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option or which is designated as an Incentive Stock Option but does not meet the applicable requirements of Section 422 of the Code.

2.33 “Option” shall mean a right to purchase Shares at a specified exercise price, granted under Article 5. An Option shall be either a Non-Qualified Stock Option or an Incentive Stock Option; provided, however, that Options granted to Non-Employee Directors and Consultants shall only be Non-Qualified Stock Options.

 

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2.34 “Option Term” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.4.

2.35 “Organizational Documents” shall mean, collectively, (a) the Company’s articles of incorporation, certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other similar organizational documents relating to the creation and governance of the Company, and (b) the Committee’s charter or other similar organizational documentation relating to the creation and governance of the Committee.

2.36 “Other Stock or Cash Based Award” shall mean a cash payment, cash bonus award, stock payment, stock bonus award, performance award or incentive award that is paid in cash, Shares or a combination of both, awarded under Section 9.1, which may include, without limitation, deferred stock, deferred stock units, performance awards, retainers, committee fees, and meeting-based fees.

2.37 “Permitted Transferee” shall mean, with respect to a Holder, any “family member” of the Holder, as defined in the General Instructions to Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act (or any successor form thereto), or any other transferee specifically approved by the Administrator after taking into account Applicable Law.

2.38 “Performance Criteria” shall mean the criteria (and adjustments) that the Administrator selects for an Award for purposes of establishing the Performance Goal or Performance Goals for a Performance Period. The Performance Criteria that may be used to establish Performance Goals include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) net earnings or losses (either before or after one or more of the following: (A) interest, (B) taxes, (C) depreciation, (D) amortization and (E) non-cash equity-based compensation expense); (ii) gross or net sales or revenue or sales or revenue growth; (iii) net income (either before or after taxes); (iv) adjusted net income; (v) operating earnings (either before or after taxes); (vi) cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow and free cash flow); (vii) return on assets; (viii) return on capital (or invested capital) and cost of capital; (ix) return on stockholders’ equity; (x) total stockholder return; (xi) return on sales; (xii) gross or net profit or operating margin; (xiii) costs, reductions in costs and cost control measures; (xiv) expenses; (xv) working capital; (xvi) earnings or loss per share; (xvii) adjusted earnings or loss per share; (xviii) price per share or dividends per share (or appreciation in and/or maintenance of such price or dividends); (xix) regulatory achievements or compliance (including, without limitation, regulatory body approval for commercialization of a product); (xx) implementation or completion of critical projects; (xxi) market share; (xxii) economic value; and (xxiii) individual employee performance, any of which may be measured either in absolute terms or as compared to any incremental increase or decrease or as compared to results of a peer group or other employees or to market performance indicators or indices.

2.39 “Performance Goals” shall mean, for a Performance Period, one or more goals established in writing by the Administrator for the Performance Period based upon one or more Performance Criteria. Depending on the Performance Criteria used to establish such Performance Goals, the Performance Goals may be expressed in terms of overall Company performance or the performance of an Affiliate, division, business unit, or an individual. The achievement of each Performance Goal shall be determined with reference to Applicable Accounting Standards or other methodology as determined appropriate by the Administrator.

 

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2.40 “Performance Period” shall mean one or more periods of time, which may be of varying and overlapping durations, as the Administrator may select, over which the attainment of one or more Performance Goals will be measured for the purpose of determining a Holder’s right to, vesting of, and/or the payment in respect of, an Award.

2.41 “Plan” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 1.

2.42 “Program” shall mean any program adopted by the Administrator pursuant to the Plan containing the terms and conditions intended to govern a specified type of Award granted under the Plan and pursuant to which such type of Award may be granted under the Plan.

2.43 “Public Trading Date” shall mean the first date upon which Common Stock is listed (or approved for listing) upon notice of issuance on any securities exchange or designated (or approved for designation) upon notice of issuance as a national market security on an interdealer quotation system.

2.44 “Restricted Stock” shall mean Common Stock awarded under Article 7 that is subject to certain restrictions and may be subject to risk of forfeiture or repurchase.

2.45 “Restricted Stock Units” shall mean the right to receive Shares awarded under Article 8.

2.46 “SAR Term” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.4.

2.47 “Section 409A” shall mean Section 409A of the Code and the Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including, without limitation, any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the Effective Date.

2.48 “Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

2.49 “Shares” shall mean shares of Common Stock.

2.50 “Stock Appreciation Right” shall mean an Award entitling the Holder (or other person entitled to exercise pursuant to the Plan) to exercise all or a specified portion thereof (to the extent then exercisable pursuant to its terms) and to receive from the Company an amount determined by multiplying (i) the difference obtained by subtracting (x) the exercise price per share of such Award from (y) the Fair Market Value on the date of exercise of such Award by (ii) the number of Shares with respect to which such Award shall have been exercised, subject to any limitations the Administrator may impose.

2.51 “Subsidiary” shall mean any entity (other than the Company), whether domestic or foreign, in an unbroken chain of entities beginning with the Company if each of the entities other than the last entity in the unbroken chain beneficially owns, at the time of the determination, securities or interests representing at least fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of securities or interests in one of the other entities in such chain.

 

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2.52 “Substitute Award” shall mean an Award granted under the Plan in connection with a corporate transaction, such as a merger, combination, consolidation or acquisition of property or stock, in any case, upon the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding equity awards previously granted by a company or other entity; provided, however, that in no event shall the term “Substitute Award” be construed to refer to an award made in connection with the cancellation and repricing of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right.

2.53 “Termination of Service” shall mean the date the Holder ceases to be an Eligible Individual. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall determine the effect of all matters and questions relating to any Termination of Service, including, without limitation, whether a Termination of Service has occurred, whether a Termination of Service resulted from a discharge for cause and all questions of whether particular leaves of absence constitute a Termination of Service; provided, however, that, with respect to Incentive Stock Options, unless the Administrator otherwise provides in the terms of any Program, Award Agreement or otherwise, or as otherwise required by Applicable Law, a leave of absence, change in status from an employee to an independent contractor or other change in the employee-employer relationship shall constitute a Termination of Service only if, and to the extent that, such leave of absence, change in status or other change interrupts employment for the purposes of Section 422(a)(2) of the Code and the then-applicable regulations and revenue rulings under said Section. For purposes of the Plan, a Holder’s employee-employer relationship or consultancy relations shall be deemed to be terminated in the event that the Affiliate employing or contracting with such Holder ceases to remain an Affiliate following any merger, sale of stock or other corporate transaction or event (including, without limitation, a spin-off).

ARTICLE 3.

SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

3.1 Number of Shares.

(a) Subject to Sections 3.1(b) and 12.2, Awards may be made under the Plan covering an aggregate number of Shares equal to the sum of: (i) 5,750,000 and (ii) an annual increase on the first day of each calendar year beginning on January 1, 2021 and ending on and including January 1, 2030, equal to the lesser of (A) 1.0% of the Shares outstanding (on an as-converted basis, taking into account any and all securities convertible into, or exercisable, exchangeable or redeemable for, shares of Common Stock (including LLC Interests of Shift4 Payments, LLC)) on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year and (B) such smaller number of Shares as determined by the Board; provided, however, no more than 5,750,000 Shares may be issued upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options. Any Shares distributed pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Common Stock, treasury Common Stock or Common Stock purchased on the open market.

(b) If any Shares are forfeited or expire, are converted to shares of another person in connection with a recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, exchange of shares or other similar event, or such Award is settled for cash (in whole or in part) (including Shares repurchased by the Company under Section 7.4 at the same price paid by the Holder), the Shares subject to such Award shall, to the extent of such forfeiture,

 

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expiration or cash settlement, again be available for future grants of Awards under the Plan. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the following Shares shall not be added to the Shares authorized for grant under Section 3.1(a) and shall not be available for future grants of Awards: (i) Shares tendered by a Holder or withheld by the Company in payment of the exercise price of an Option; (ii) Shares tendered by the Holder or withheld by the Company to satisfy any tax withholding obligation with respect to an Award; (iii) Shares subject to a Stock Appreciation Right or other stock-settled Award (including Awards that may be settled in cash or stock) that are not issued in connection with the settlement or exercise, as applicable, of the Stock Appreciation Right or other stock-settled Award; and (iv) Shares purchased on the open market by the Company with the cash proceeds received from the exercise of Options. Any Shares repurchased by the Company under Section 7.4 at the same price paid by the Holder so that such Shares are returned to the Company shall again be available for Awards. The payment of Dividend Equivalents in cash in conjunction with any outstanding Awards shall not be counted against the Shares available for issuance under the Plan. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 3.1(b), no Shares may again be optioned, granted or awarded if such action would cause an Incentive Stock Option to fail to qualify as an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Code.

(c) Substitute Awards may be granted on such terms as the Administrator deems appropriate, notwithstanding limitations on Awards in the Plan. Substitute Awards shall not reduce the Shares authorized for grant under the Plan, except as may be required by reason of Section 422 of the Code, and Shares subject to such Substitute Awards shall not be added to the Shares available for Awards under the Plan as provided in Section 3.1(b) above. Additionally, in the event that a company acquired by the Company or any Affiliate or with which the Company or any Affiliate combines has shares available under a pre-existing plan approved by its stockholders and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or combination, the shares available for grant pursuant to the terms of such pre-existing plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, using the exchange ratio or other adjustment or valuation ratio or formula used in such acquisition or combination to determine the consideration payable to the holders of common stock of the entities party to such acquisition or combination) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not reduce the Shares authorized for grant under the Plan (and Shares subject to such Awards shall not be added to the Shares available for Awards under the Plan as provided in Section 3.1(b) above); provided that Awards using such available Shares shall not be made after the date awards or grants could have been made under the terms of the pre-existing plan, absent the acquisition or combination, and shall only be made to individuals who were not employed by or providing services to the Company or its Affiliates immediately prior to such acquisition or combination.

ARTICLE 4.

GRANTING OF AWARDS

4.1 Participation. The Administrator may, from time to time, select from among all Eligible Individuals those to whom an Award shall be granted and shall determine the nature and amount of each Award, which shall not be inconsistent with the requirements of the Plan. Except for any Non-Employee Director’s right to Awards that may be required pursuant to the Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Policy as described in Section 4.6, no Eligible Individual or other person shall have any right to be granted an Award pursuant to the Plan and neither the

 

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Company nor the Administrator is obligated to treat Eligible Individuals, Holders or any other persons uniformly. Participation by each Holder in the Plan shall be voluntary and nothing in the Plan or any Program shall be construed as mandating that any Eligible Individual or other person shall participate in the Plan.

4.2 Award Agreement. Each Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that sets forth the terms, conditions and limitations for such Award as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion (consistent with the requirements of the Plan and any applicable Program). Award Agreements evidencing Incentive Stock Options shall contain such terms and conditions as may be necessary to meet the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may grant Awards to Eligible Individuals that are based on one or more Performance Criteria or achievement of one or more Performance Goals or any such other criteria or goals as the Administrator shall establish.

4.3 Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Plan, and any Award granted or awarded to any individual who is then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act and any amendments thereto) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Plan and Awards granted or awarded hereunder shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.

4.4 At-Will Service. Nothing in the Plan or in any Program or Award Agreement hereunder shall confer upon any Holder any right to continue in the employ of, or as a Director or Consultant for, the Company or any Affiliate, or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the Company and any Affiliate, which rights are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge any Holder at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause, and with or without notice, or to terminate or change all other terms and conditions of employment or engagement, except to the extent expressly provided otherwise in a written agreement between the Holder and the Company or any Affiliate.

4.5 Foreign Holders. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or applicable Program to the contrary, in order to comply with the laws in countries other than the United States in which the Company and its Affiliates operate or have Employees, Non-Employee Directors or Consultants, or in order to comply with the requirements of any foreign securities exchange or other Applicable Law, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to: (a) determine which Affiliates shall be covered by the Plan; (b) determine which Eligible Individuals outside the United States are eligible to participate in the Plan; (c) modify the terms and conditions of any Award granted to Eligible Individuals outside the United States to comply with Applicable Law (including, without limitation, applicable foreign laws or listing requirements of any foreign securities exchange); (d) establish subplans and modify exercise procedures and other terms and procedures, to the extent such actions may be necessary or advisable; provided, however, that no such subplans and/or modifications shall increase the share limitation contained in Section 3.1 or the Director Limit; and (e) take any action, before or after an Award is made, that it deems advisable to obtain approval or comply with any necessary local governmental regulatory exemptions or approvals or listing requirements of any foreign securities exchange.

 

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4.6 Non-Employee Director Awards.

(a) Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Policy. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may provide that Awards granted to Non-Employee Directors shall be granted pursuant to a written nondiscretionary formula established by the Administrator (the “Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Policy”), subject to the limitations of the Plan. The Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Policy shall set forth the type of Award(s) to be granted to Non-Employee Directors, the number of Shares to be subject to Non-Employee Director Awards, the conditions on which such Awards shall be granted, become exercisable and/or payable and expire, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine in its sole discretion. The Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Policy may be modified by the Administrator from time to time in its sole discretion and pursuant to the exercise of its business judgment, taking into account such factors, circumstances and considerations as it shall deem relevant from time to time.

(b) Director Limit. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the Plan or in the Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Policy, the sum of the grant date fair value of equity-based Awards and the amount of any cash-based Awards or other fees granted to a Non-Employee Director during any calendar year shall not exceed $500,000 (the “Director Limit”). The Administrator may make exceptions to this limit for individual Non-Employee Directors in extraordinary circumstances, as the Administrator may determine in its discretion, provided that the Non-Employee Director receiving such additional compensation may not participate in the decision to award such compensation or in other contemporaneous compensation decisions involving Non-Employee Directors.

ARTICLE 5.

GRANTING OF OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

5.1 Granting of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights to Eligible Individuals. The Administrator is authorized to grant Options and Stock Appreciation Rights to Eligible Individuals from time to time, in its sole discretion, on such terms and conditions as it may determine, which shall not be inconsistent with the Plan, including any limitations in the Plan that apply to Incentive Stock Options.

5.2 Qualification of Incentive Stock Options. The Administrator may grant Options intended to qualify as Incentive Stock Options only to employees of the Company, any of the Company’s present or future “parent corporations” or “subsidiary corporations” as defined in Sections 424(e) or (f) of the Code, respectively, and any other entities the employees of which are eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options under the Code. No person who qualifies as a Greater Than 10% Stockholder may be granted an Incentive Stock Option unless such Incentive Stock Option conforms to the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code. To the extent that the aggregate fair market value of stock with respect to which “incentive stock options” (within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, but without regard to Section 422(d) of the Code) are exercisable for the first time by a Holder during any calendar year under the Plan, and all other plans of the Company and any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation thereof (as defined in Section 424(e) and 424(f) of the Code, respectively), exceeds $100,000, the Options shall be

 

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treated as Non-Qualified Stock Options to the extent required by Section 422 of the Code. The rule set forth in the immediately preceding sentence shall be applied by taking Options and other “incentive stock options” into account in the order in which they were granted and the fair market value of stock shall be determined as of the time the respective options were granted. Any interpretations and rules under the Plan with respect to Incentive Stock Options shall be consistent with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code. Neither the Company nor the Administrator shall have any liability to a Holder, or any other person, (a) if an Option (or any part thereof) which is intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option fails to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option or (b) for any action or omission by the Company or the Administrator that causes an Option not to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, including, without limitation, the conversion of an Incentive Stock Option to a Non-Qualified Stock Option or the grant of an Option intended as an Incentive Stock Option that fails to satisfy the requirements under the Code applicable to an Incentive Stock Option.

5.3 Option and Stock Appreciation Right Exercise Price. The exercise price per Share subject to each Option and Stock Appreciation Right shall be set by the Administrator, but shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, as applicable, is granted (or, as to Incentive Stock Options, on the date the Option is modified, extended or renewed for purposes of Section 424(h) of the Code). In addition, in the case of Incentive Stock Options granted to a Greater Than 10% Stockholder, such price shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Option is granted (or the date the Option is modified, extended or renewed for purposes of Section 424(h) of the Code). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right that is a Substitute Award, the exercise price per share of the Shares subject to such Option or Stock Appreciation Right, as applicable, may be less than the Fair Market Value per share on the date of grant; provided that the exercise price of any Substitute Award shall be determined in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 424 and 409A of the Code.

5.4 Option and SAR Term. The term of each Option (the “Option Term”) and the term of each Stock Appreciation Right (the “SAR Term”) shall be set by the Administrator in its sole discretion; provided, however, that the Option Term or SAR Term, as applicable, shall not be more than (a) ten (10) years from the date the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, as applicable, is granted to an Eligible Individual (other than a Greater Than 10% Stockholder), or (b) five (5) years from the date an Incentive Stock Option is granted to a Greater Than 10% Stockholder. Except as limited by the requirements of Section 409A or Section 422 of the Code and regulations and rulings thereunder or the first sentence of this Section 5.4 and without limiting the Company’s rights under Section 10.7, the Administrator may extend the Option Term of any outstanding Option or the SAR Term of any outstanding Stock Appreciation Right, and may extend the time period during which vested Options or Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised, in connection with any Termination of Service of the Holder or otherwise, and may amend, subject to Section 10.7 and 12.1, any other term or condition of such Option or Stock Appreciation Right relating to such Termination of Service of the Holder or otherwise.

5.5 Option and SAR Vesting. The period during which the right to exercise, in whole or in part, an Option or Stock Appreciation Right vests in the Holder shall be set by the Administrator and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing and unless determined otherwise by the Company, in the event that on the last business day of the

 

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term of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right (other than an Incentive Stock Option) (a) the exercise of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right is prohibited by Applicable Law, as determined by the Company, or (b) Shares may not be purchased or sold by the applicable Participant due to any Company insider trading policy (including blackout periods) or a “lock-up” agreement undertaken in connection with an issuance of securities by the Company, the term of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall be extended until the date that is thirty (30) days after the end of the legal prohibition, black-out period or lock-up agreement, as determined by the Company; provided, however, in no event shall the extension last beyond the ten year term of the applicable Option or Stock Appreciation Right. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator in the Award Agreement, the applicable Program or by action of the Administrator following the grant of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, (i) no portion of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right which is unexercisable at a Holder’s Termination of Service shall thereafter become exercisable and (ii) the portion of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right that is unexercisable at a Holder’s Termination of Service shall automatically expire thirty (30) days following such Termination of Service.

ARTICLE 6.

EXERCISE OF OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

6.1 Exercise and Payment. An exercisable Option or Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised in whole or in part. However, unless the Administrator otherwise determines, an Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall not be exercisable with respect to fractional Shares and the Administrator may require that, by the terms of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, a partial exercise must be with respect to a minimum number of Shares. Payment of the amounts payable with respect to Stock Appreciation Rights pursuant to this Article 6 shall be in cash, Shares (based on its Fair Market Value as of the date the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised), or a combination of both, as determined by the Administrator.

6.2 Manner of Exercise. Except as set forth in Section 6.3, all or a portion of an exercisable Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall be deemed exercised upon delivery of all of the following to the Secretary of the Company, the stock plan administrator of the Company or such other person or entity designated by the Administrator, or his, her or its office, as applicable:

(a) A written notice of exercise in a form the Administrator approves (which may be electronic) complying with the applicable rules established by the Administrator. The notice shall be signed or otherwise acknowledge electronically by the Holder or other person then entitled to exercise the Option or Stock Appreciation Right or such portion thereof;

(b) Such representations and documents as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, deems necessary or advisable to effect compliance with Applicable Law.

(c) In the event that the Option shall be exercised pursuant to Section 10.3 by any person or persons other than the Holder, appropriate proof of the right of such person or persons to exercise the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, as determined in the sole discretion of the Administrator; and

 

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(d) Full payment of the exercise price and applicable withholding taxes for the Shares with respect to which the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, or portion thereof, is exercised, in a manner permitted by the Administrator in accordance with Sections 10.1 and 10.2.

6.3 Expiration of Option Term or SAR Term: Automatic Exercise of In-The-Money Options and Stock Appreciation Rights. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator in an Award Agreement or otherwise or as otherwise directed by an Option or Stock Appreciation Rights Holder in writing to the Company, each vested and exercisable Option and Stock Appreciation Right outstanding on the Automatic Exercise Date with an exercise price per Share that is less than the Fair Market Value per Share as of such date shall automatically and without further action by the Option or Stock Appreciation Rights Holder or the Company be exercised on the Automatic Exercise Date. In the sole discretion of the Administrator, payment of the exercise price of any such Option shall be made pursuant to Section 10.1(b) or 10.1(c) and the Company or any Subsidiary shall be entitled to deduct or withhold an amount sufficient to satisfy all taxes associated with such exercise in accordance with Section 10.2. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, this Section 6.3 shall not apply to an Option or Stock Appreciation Right if the Holder of such Option or Stock Appreciation Right incurs a Termination of Service on or before the Automatic Exercise Date. For the avoidance of doubt, no Option or Stock Appreciation Right with an exercise price per Share that is equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value per Share on the Automatic Exercise Date shall be exercised pursuant to this Section 6.3.

6.4 Notification Regarding Disposition. The Holder shall give the Company prompt written or electronic notice of any disposition or other transfers (other than in connection with a Change in Control) of Shares acquired by exercise of an Incentive Stock Option which occurs within (a) two years from the date of granting (including the date the Option is modified, extended or renewed for purposes of Section 424(h) of the Code) such Option to such Holder, or (b) one year after the date of transfer of such Shares to such Holder. Such notice shall specify the date of such disposition or other transfer and the amount realized, in cash, other property, assumption of indebtedness or other consideration, by the Holder in such disposition or other transfer.

ARTICLE 7.

AWARD OF RESTRICTED STOCK

7.1 Award of Restricted Stock. The Administrator is authorized to grant Restricted Stock, or the right to purchase Restricted Stock, to Eligible Individuals, and shall determine the terms and conditions, including the restrictions applicable to each award of Restricted Stock, which terms and conditions shall not be inconsistent with the Plan or any applicable Program, and may impose such conditions on the issuance of such Restricted Stock as it deems appropriate. The Administrator shall establish the purchase price, if any, and form of payment for Restricted Stock; provided, however, that if a purchase price is charged, such purchase price shall be no less than the par value, if any, of the Shares to be purchased, unless otherwise permitted by Applicable Law. In all cases, legal consideration shall be required for each issuance of Restricted Stock to the extent required by Applicable Law.

 

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7.2 Rights as Stockholders. Subject to Section 7.4, upon issuance of Restricted Stock, the Holder shall have, unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, all of the rights of a stockholder with respect to said Shares, subject to the restrictions in the Plan, any applicable Program and/or the applicable Award Agreement, including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions paid or made with respect to the Shares to the extent such dividends and other distributions have a record date that is on or after the date on which the Holder to whom such Restricted Stock are granted becomes the record holder of such Restricted Stock; provided, however, that, in the sole discretion of the Administrator, any extraordinary dividends or distributions with respect to the Shares may be subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 7.3.

7.3 Restrictions. All shares of Restricted Stock (including any shares received by Holders thereof with respect to shares of Restricted Stock as a result of stock dividends, stock splits or any other form of recapitalization) and, unless the Administrator provides otherwise, any property (other than cash) transferred to Holders in connection with an extraordinary dividend or distribution shall be subject to such restrictions and vesting requirements as the Administrator shall provide in the applicable Program or Award Agreement.

7.4 Repurchase or Forfeiture of Restricted Stock. Except as otherwise determined by the Administrator, if no price was paid by the Holder for the Restricted Stock, upon a Termination of Service during the applicable restriction period, the Holder’s rights in unvested Restricted Stock then subject to restrictions shall lapse, and such Restricted Stock shall be surrendered to the Company and cancelled without consideration on the date of such Termination of Service. If a price was paid by the Holder for the Restricted Stock, upon a Termination of Service during the applicable restriction period, the Company shall have the right to repurchase from the Holder the unvested Restricted Stock then subject to restrictions at a cash price per share equal to the price paid by the Holder for such Restricted Stock or such other amount as may be specified in the applicable Program or Award Agreement.

7.5 Section 83(b) Election. If a Holder makes an election under Section 83(b) of the Code to be taxed with respect to the Restricted Stock as of the date of transfer of the Restricted Stock rather than as of the date or dates upon which the Holder would otherwise be taxable under Section 83(a) of the Code, the Holder shall be required to deliver a copy of such election to the Company promptly after filing such election with the Internal Revenue Service along with proof of the timely filing thereof with the Internal Revenue Service.

ARTICLE 8.

AWARD OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

8.1 Grant of Restricted Stock Units. The Administrator is authorized to grant Awards of Restricted Stock Units to any Eligible Individual selected by the Administrator in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Administrator. A Holder will have no rights of a stockholder with respect to Shares subject to any Restricted Stock Unit unless and until the Shares are delivered in settlement of the Restricted Stock Unit.

8.2 Vesting of Restricted Stock Units. At the time of grant, the Administrator shall specify the date or dates on which the Restricted Stock Units shall become fully vested and nonforfeitable, and may specify such conditions to vesting as it deems appropriate, including, without limitation, vesting based upon the Holder’s duration of service to the Company or any

 

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Affiliate, one or more Performance Goals or other specific criteria, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods, as determined by the Administrator. An Award of Restricted Stock Units shall only be eligible to vest while the Holder is an Employee, a Consultant or a Director, as applicable; provided, however, that the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may provide (in an Award Agreement or otherwise) that a Restricted Stock Unit award may become vested subsequent to a Termination of Service in the event of the occurrence of certain events, including a Change in Control, the Holder’s death, retirement or disability or any other specified Termination of Service, subject to Section 11.7.

8.3 Maturity and Payment. At the time of grant, the Administrator shall specify the maturity date applicable to each grant of Restricted Stock Units, which shall be no earlier than the vesting date or dates of the Award and may be determined at the election of the Holder (if permitted by the applicable Award Agreement); provided that, except as otherwise determined by the Administrator, and subject to compliance with Section 409A, in no event shall the maturity date relating to each Restricted Stock Unit occur following the later of (a) the 15th day of the third month following the end of the calendar year in which the applicable portion of the Restricted Stock Unit vests; and (b) the 15th day of the third month following the end of the Company’s fiscal year in which the applicable portion of the Restricted Stock Unit vests. On the maturity date, the Company shall, in accordance with the applicable Award Agreement and subject to Section 10.4(f), transfer to the Holder one unrestricted, fully transferable Share for each Restricted Stock Unit scheduled to be paid out on such date and not previously forfeited, or in the sole discretion of the Administrator, an amount in cash equal to the Fair Market Value of such Shares on the maturity date or a combination of cash and Common Stock as determined by the Administrator.

ARTICLE 9.

AWARD OF OTHER STOCK OR CASH BASED AWARDS AND DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS

9.1 Other Stock or Cash Based Awards. The Administrator is authorized to grant Other Stock or Cash Based Awards, including awards entitling a Holder to receive Shares or cash to be delivered immediately or in the future, to any Eligible Individual. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and any applicable Program, the Administrator shall determine the terms and conditions of each Other Stock or Cash Based Award, including the term of the Award, any exercise or purchase price, Performance Criteria and Performance Goals, transfer restrictions, vesting conditions and other terms and conditions applicable thereto, which shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, subject to Section 3.2. Other Stock or Cash Based Awards may be paid in cash, Shares, or a combination of cash and Shares, as determined by the Administrator, and may be available as a form of payment in the settlement of other Awards granted under the Plan, as stand-alone payments, as a part of a bonus, deferred bonus, deferred compensation or other arrangement, and/or as payment in lieu of compensation to which an Eligible Individual is otherwise entitled.

 

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9.2 Dividend Equivalents. Dividend Equivalents may be granted by the Administrator, either alone or in tandem with another Award, based on dividends declared on the Common Stock, to be credited as of dividend payment dates during the period between the date the Dividend Equivalents are granted to a Holder and the date such Dividend Equivalents terminate or expire, as determined by the Administrator. Such Dividend Equivalents shall be converted to cash or additional Shares by such formula and at such time and subject to such restrictions and limitations as may be determined by the Administrator. In addition, Dividend Equivalents with respect to an Award that are based on dividends paid prior to the vesting of such Award shall only be paid out to the Holder to the extent that the vesting conditions are subsequently satisfied and the Award vests.

ARTICLE 10.

ADDITIONAL TERMS OF AWARDS

10.1 Payment. The Administrator shall determine the method or methods by which payments by any Holder with respect to any Awards granted under the Plan shall be made, including, without limitation: (a) cash, wire transfer of immediately available funds or check, (b) Shares (including, in the case of payment of the exercise price of an Award, Shares issuable pursuant to the exercise of the Award) or Shares held for such minimum period of time as may be established by the Administrator, in each case, having a Fair Market Value on the date of delivery equal to the aggregate payments required, (c) delivery of a written or electronic notice that the Holder has placed a market sell order with a broker acceptable to the Company with respect to Shares then issuable upon exercise or vesting of an Award, and that the broker has been directed to pay a sufficient portion of the net proceeds of the sale to the Company in satisfaction of the aggregate payments required; provided that payment of such proceeds is then made to the Company upon settlement of such sale, (d) other form of legal consideration acceptable to the Administrator in its sole discretion, or (e) any combination of the above permitted forms of payment. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, no Holder who is a Director or an “executive officer” of the Company within the meaning of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act shall be permitted to make payment with respect to any Awards granted under the Plan, or continue any extension of credit with respect to such payment, with a loan from the Company or a loan arranged by the Company in violation of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act.

10.2 Tax Withholding. The Company or any Affiliate shall have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Holder to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, local and foreign taxes (including the Holder’s FICA, employment tax or other social security contribution obligation) required by law to be withheld with respect to any taxable event concerning a Holder arising as a result of the Plan or any Award. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion and in satisfaction of the foregoing requirement, or in satisfaction of such additional withholding obligations as a Holder may have elected, allow a Holder to satisfy such obligations by any payment means described in Section 10.1 hereof, including without limitation, by allowing such Holder to elect to have the Company or any Affiliate withhold Shares otherwise issuable under an Award (or allow the surrender of Shares). The number of Shares that may be so withheld or surrendered shall be limited to the number of Shares that have a fair market value on the date of withholding or repurchase no greater than the aggregate amount of such liabilities based on the maximum statutory withholding rates in such Holder’s applicable jurisdictions for federal, state, local and foreign income tax and payroll tax purposes that are applicable to such taxable income. The Administrator shall determine the fair

 

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market value of the Shares, consistent with applicable provisions of the Code, for tax withholding obligations due in connection with a broker-assisted cashless Option or Stock Appreciation Right exercise involving the sale of Shares to pay the Option or Stock Appreciation Right exercise price or any tax withholding obligation.

10.3 Transferability of Awards.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in Sections 10.3(b) and 10.3(c):

(i) No Award under the Plan may be sold, pledged, assigned or transferred in any manner other than (A) by will or the laws of descent and distribution or (B) subject to the consent of the Administrator, pursuant to a DRO, unless and until such Award has been exercised or the Shares underlying such Award have been issued, and all restrictions applicable to such Shares have lapsed;

(ii) No Award or interest or right therein shall be liable for or otherwise subject to the debts, contracts or engagements of the Holder or the Holder’s successors in interest or shall be subject to disposition by transfer, alienation, anticipation, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, assignment or any other means whether such disposition be voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy) unless and until such Award has been exercised, or the Shares underlying such Award have been issued, and all restrictions applicable to such Shares have lapsed, and any attempted disposition of an Award prior to satisfaction of these conditions shall be null and void and of no effect, except to the extent that such disposition is permitted by Section 10.3(a)(i); and

(iii) During the lifetime of the Holder, only the Holder may exercise any exercisable portion of an Award granted to such Holder under the Plan, unless it has been disposed of pursuant to a DRO. After the death of the Holder, any exercisable portion of an Award may, prior to the time when such portion becomes unexercisable under the Plan or the applicable Program or Award Agreement, be exercised by the Holder’s personal representative or by any person empowered to do so under the deceased Holder’s will or under the then-applicable laws of descent and distribution.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 10.3(a), the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may determine to permit a Holder or a Permitted Transferee of such Holder to transfer an Award other than an Incentive Stock Option (unless such Incentive Stock Option is intended to become a Nonqualified Stock Option) to any one or more Permitted Transferees of such Holder, subject to the following terms and conditions: (i) an Award transferred to a Permitted Transferee shall not be assignable or transferable by the Permitted Transferee other than (A) to another Permitted Transferee of the applicable Holder or (B) by will or the laws of descent and distribution or, subject to the consent of the Administrator, pursuant to a DRO; (ii) an Award transferred to a Permitted Transferee shall continue to be subject to all the terms and conditions of the Award as applicable to the original Holder (other than the ability to further transfer the Award to any person other than another Permitted Transferee of the applicable Holder); (iii) the Holder (or transferring Permitted Transferee) and the receiving Permitted Transferee shall execute any and all documents requested by the Administrator, including, without limitation documents to (A) confirm the status of the

 

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transferee as a Permitted Transferee, (B) satisfy any requirements for an exemption for the transfer under Applicable Law and (C) evidence the transfer; and (iv) the transfer of an Award to a Permitted Transferee shall be without consideration. In addition, and further notwithstanding Section 10.3(a), hereof, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may determine to permit a Holder to transfer Incentive Stock Options to a trust that constitutes a Permitted Transferee if, under Section 671 of the Code and other Applicable Law, the Holder is considered the sole beneficial owner of the Incentive Stock Option while it is held in the trust.

(c) Notwithstanding Section 10.3(a), a Holder may, in the manner determined by the Administrator, designate a beneficiary to exercise the rights of the Holder and to receive any distribution with respect to any Award upon the Holder’s death. A beneficiary, legal guardian, legal representative, or other person claiming any rights pursuant to the Plan is subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and any Program or Award Agreement applicable to the Holder and any additional restrictions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Administrator. If the Holder is married or a domestic partner in a domestic partnership qualified under Applicable Law and resides in a community property state, a designation of a person other than the Holder’s spouse or domestic partner, as applicable, as the Holder’s beneficiary with respect to more than 50% of the Holder’s interest in the Award shall not be effective without the prior written or electronic consent of the Holder’s spouse or domestic partner. If no beneficiary has been designated or survives the Holder, payment shall be made to the person entitled thereto pursuant to the Holder’s will or the laws of descent and distribution. Subject to the foregoing, a beneficiary designation may be changed or revoked by a Holder at any time; provided that the change or revocation is delivered in writing to the Administrator prior to the Holder’s death.

10.4 Conditions to Issuance of Shares.

(a) The Administrator shall determine the methods by which Shares shall be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Holders. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates or make any book entries evidencing Shares pursuant to the exercise of any Award, unless and until the Administrator has determined that the issuance of such Shares is in compliance with Applicable Law and the Shares are covered by an effective registration statement or applicable exemption from registration. In addition to the terms and conditions provided herein, the Administrator may require that a Holder make such reasonable covenants, agreements and representations as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, deems advisable in order to comply with Applicable Law.

(b) All share certificates delivered pursuant to the Plan and all Shares issued pursuant to book entry procedures are subject to any stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Administrator deems necessary or advisable to comply with Applicable Law. The Administrator may place legends on any share certificate or book entry to reference restrictions applicable to the Shares (including, without limitation, restrictions applicable to Restricted Stock).

(c) The Administrator shall have the right to require any Holder to comply with any timing or other restrictions with respect to the settlement, distribution or exercise of any Award, including a window-period limitation, as may be imposed in the sole discretion of the Administrator.

 

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(d) Unless the Administrator otherwise determines, no fractional Shares shall be issued and the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall determine whether cash shall be given in lieu of fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares shall be eliminated by rounding down.

(e) The Company, in its sole discretion, may (i) retain physical possession of any stock certificate evidencing Shares until any restrictions thereon shall have lapsed and/or (ii) require that the stock certificates evidencing such Shares be held in custody by a designated escrow agent (which may but need not be the Company) until the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed, and that the Holder deliver a stock power, endorsed in blank, relating to such Shares.

(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator or required by Applicable Law, the Company shall not deliver to any Holder certificates evidencing Shares issued in connection with any Award and instead such Shares shall be recorded in the books of the Company (or, as applicable, its transfer agent or stock plan administrator).

10.5 Forfeiture and Claw-Back Provisions. All Awards (including any proceeds, gains or other economic benefit actually or constructively received by a Holder upon any receipt or exercise of any Award or upon the receipt or resale of any Shares underlying the Award and any payments of a portion of an incentive-based bonus pool allocated to a Holder) shall be subject to the provisions of any claw-back policy implemented by the Company, including, without limitation, any claw-back policy adopted to comply with the requirements of Applicable Law, including, without limitation, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder, whether or not such claw-back policy was in place at the time of grant of an Award, to the extent set forth in such claw-back policy and/or in the applicable Award Agreement.

10.6 Repricing. Subject to Section 12.2, the Administrator shall not, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, (a) authorize the amendment of any outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right to reduce its price per Share, or (b) cancel any Option or Stock Appreciation Right in exchange for cash or another Award when the Option or Stock Appreciation Right price per Share exceeds the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares. Furthermore, for purposes of this Section 10.6, except in connection with a corporate transaction involving the Company (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination or exchange of shares), the terms of outstanding Awards may not be amended to reduce the exercise price per Share of outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights or cancel outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights in exchange for cash, other Awards or Options or Stock Appreciation Rights with an exercise price per Share that is less than the exercise price per Share of the original Options or Stock Appreciation Rights without the approval of the stockholders of the Company.

10.7 Amendment of Awards. Subject to Applicable Law, the Administrator may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding Award, including but not limited to, substituting therefor another Award of the same or a different type, changing the date of exercise or settlement, and converting an Incentive Stock Option to a Non-Qualified Stock Option. The Holder’s consent to such action shall be required unless (a) the Administrator determines that the action, taking into account any related action, would not materially and adversely affect the Holder, or (b) the change is otherwise permitted under the Plan (including, without limitation, under Section 12.2 or 12.10).

 

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10.8 Lock-Up Period. The Company may, in connection with registering the offering of any Company securities under the Securities Act, prohibit Holders from, directly or indirectly, selling or otherwise transferring any Shares or other Company securities during a period of up to one hundred eighty days following the effective date of a Company registration statement filed under the Securities Act, or such longer period as determined by the underwriter. In order to enforce the foregoing, the Company shall have the right to place restrictive legends on the certificates of any securities of the Company held by the Holder and to impose stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent with respect to any securities of the Company held by the Holder until the end of such period.

10.9 Data Privacy. As a condition of receipt of any Award, each Holder explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use and transfer, in electronic or other form, of personal data as described in this Section 10.9 by and among, as applicable, the Company and its Affiliates for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing the Holder’s participation in the Plan. The Company and its Affiliates may hold certain personal information about a Holder, including but not limited to, the Holder’s name, home address and telephone number, date of birth, social security or insurance number or other identification number, salary, nationality, job title(s), any shares of stock held in the Company or any of its Affiliates, details of all Awards, in each case, for the purpose of implementing, managing and administering the Plan and Awards (the “Data”). The Company and its Affiliates may transfer the Data amongst themselves as necessary for the purpose of implementation, administration and management of a Holder’s participation in the Plan, and the Company and its Affiliates may each further transfer the Data to any third parties assisting the Company and its Affiliates in the implementation, administration and management of the Plan. These recipients may be located in the Holder’s country, or elsewhere, and the Holder’s country may have different data privacy laws and protections than the recipients’ country. Through acceptance of an Award, each Holder authorizes such recipients to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, for the purposes of implementing, administering and managing the Holder’s participation in the Plan, including any requisite transfer of such Data as may be required to a broker or other third party with whom the Company or any of its Affiliates or the Holder may elect to deposit any Shares. The Data related to a Holder will be held only as long as is necessary to implement, administer, and manage the Holder’s participation in the Plan. A Holder may, at any time, view the Data held by the Company with respect to such Holder, request additional information about the storage and processing of the Data with respect to such Holder, recommend any necessary corrections to the Data with respect to the Holder or refuse or withdraw the consents herein in writing, in any case without cost, by contacting his or her local human resources representative. The Company may cancel the Holder’s ability to participate in the Plan and, in the Administrator’s discretion, the Holder may forfeit any outstanding Awards if the Holder refuses or withdraws his or her consents as described herein. For more information on the consequences of refusal to consent or withdrawal of consent, Holders may contact their local human resources representative.

 

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ARTICLE 11.

ADMINISTRATION

11.1 Administrator. The Committee shall administer the Plan (except as otherwise permitted herein). To the extent required to comply with the provisions of Rule 16b-3, it is intended that each member of the Committee will be, at the time the Committee takes any action with respect to an Award that is subject to Rule 16b-3, a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3. Additionally, to the extent required by Applicable Law, each of the individuals constituting the Committee shall be an “independent director” under the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any action taken by the Committee shall be valid and effective, whether or not members of the Committee at the time of such action are later determined not to have satisfied the requirements for membership set forth in this Section 11.1 or the Organizational Documents. Except as may otherwise be provided in the Organizational Documents or as otherwise required by Applicable Law, (a) appointment of Committee members shall be effective upon acceptance of appointment, (b) Committee members may resign at any time by delivering written or electronic notice to the Board and (c) vacancies in the Committee may only be filled by the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the full Board, acting by a majority of its members in office, shall conduct the general administration of the Plan with respect to Awards granted to Non-Employee Directors and, with respect to such Awards, the term “Administrator” as used in the Plan shall be deemed to refer to the Board and (ii) the Board or Committee may delegate its authority hereunder to the extent permitted by Section 11.6.

11.2 Duties and Powers of Administrator. It shall be the duty of the Administrator to conduct the general administration of the Plan in accordance with its provisions. The Administrator shall have the power to interpret the Plan, all Programs and Award Agreements, and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan and any Program as are not inconsistent with the Plan, to interpret, amend or revoke any such rules and to amend the Plan or any Program or Award Agreement; provided that the rights or obligations of the Holder of the Award that is the subject of any such Program or Award Agreement are not materially and adversely affected by such amendment, unless the consent of the Holder is obtained or such amendment is otherwise permitted under Section 10.7 or Section 12.10. In its sole discretion, the Board may at any time and from time to time exercise any and all rights and duties of the Committee in its capacity as the Administrator under the Plan except with respect to matters which under Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act or any successor rule, or any regulations or rules issued thereunder, or the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded are required to be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee.

11.3 Action by the Administrator. Unless otherwise established by the Board, set forth in any Organizational Documents or as required by Applicable Law, a majority of the Administrator shall constitute a quorum and the acts of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present, and acts approved in writing by all members of the Administrator in lieu of a meeting, shall be deemed the acts of the Administrator. Each member of the Administrator is entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to that member by any officer or other employee of the Company or any Affiliate, the

 

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Company’s independent certified public accountants, or any executive compensation consultant or other professional retained by the Company to assist in the administration of the Plan. Neither the Administrator nor any member or delegate thereof shall have any liability to any person (including any Holder) for any action taken or omitted to be taken or any determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award.

11.4 Authority of Administrator. Subject to the Organizational Documents, any specific designation in the Plan and Applicable Law, the Administrator has the exclusive power, authority and sole discretion to:

(a) Designate Eligible Individuals to receive Awards;

(b) Determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Eligible Individual (including, without limitation, any Awards granted in tandem with another Award granted pursuant to the Plan);

(c) Determine the number of Awards to be granted and the number of Shares to which an Award will relate;

(d) Determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted pursuant to the Plan, including, but not limited to, the exercise price, grant price, purchase price, any Performance Criteria and/or Performance Goals, any restrictions or limitations on the Award, any schedule for vesting, lapse of forfeiture restrictions or restrictions on the exercisability of an Award, and accelerations or waivers thereof, and any provisions related to non-competition and claw-back and recapture of gain on an Award, based in each case on such considerations as the Administrator in its sole discretion determines;

(e) Determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances an Award may be settled in, or the exercise price of an Award may be paid in cash, Shares, other Awards, or other property, or an Award may be canceled, forfeited, or surrendered;

(f) Prescribe the form of each Award Agreement, which need not be identical for each Holder;

(g) Decide all other matters that must be determined in connection with an Award;

(h) Establish, adopt, or revise any Programs, rules and regulations as it may deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan;

(i) Interpret the terms of, and any matter arising pursuant to, the Plan, any Program or any Award Agreement; and

(j) Make all other decisions and determinations that may be required pursuant to the Plan or as the Administrator deems necessary or advisable to administer the Plan.

 

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11.5 Decisions Binding. The Administrator’s interpretation of the Plan, any Awards granted pursuant to the Plan, any Program or any Award Agreement and all decisions and determinations by the Administrator with respect to the Plan are final, binding and conclusive on all persons.

11.6 Delegation of Authority. The Board or Committee may from time to time delegate to a committee of one or more Directors or one or more officers of the Company the authority to grant or amend Awards or to take other administrative actions pursuant to this Article 11; provided, however, that in no event shall an officer of the Company be delegated the authority to grant Awards to, or amend Awards held by, the following individuals: (a) individuals who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, or (b) officers of the Company (or Directors) to whom authority to grant or amend Awards has been delegated hereunder; provided, further, that any delegation of administrative authority shall only be permitted to the extent it is permissible under any Organizational Documents and Applicable Law. Any delegation hereunder shall be subject to the restrictions and limits that the Board or Committee specifies at the time of such delegation or that are otherwise included in the applicable Organizational Documents, and the Board or Committee, as applicable, may at any time rescind the authority so delegated or appoint a new delegatee. At all times, the delegatee appointed under this Section 11.6 shall serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the Board or the Committee, as applicable, and the Board or the Committee may abolish any committee at any time and re-vest in itself any previously delegated authority.

11.7 Acceleration. Subject to the Organizational Documents, any specific designation in the Plan and Applicable Law, the Administrator has the exclusive power, authority and sole discretion to accelerate, wholly or partially, the vesting or lapse of restrictions (and, if applicable, the Company shall cease to have a right of repurchase) of any Award or portion thereof at any time after the grant of an Award, subject to whatever terms and conditions it selects under Section 12.2.

ARTICLE 12.

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

12.1 Amendment, Suspension or Termination of the Plan.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 12.1(b), the Plan may be wholly or partially amended or otherwise modified, suspended or terminated at any time or from time to time by the Board; provided that, except as provided in Section 10.7 and Section 12.10, no amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan shall, without the consent of the Holder, materially and adversely affect any rights or obligations under any Award theretofore granted or awarded, unless the Award itself otherwise expressly so provides.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 12.1(a), the Board may not, except as provided in Section 12.2, take any of the following actions without approval of the Company’s stockholders given within twelve (12) months before or after such action: (i) increase the limit imposed in Section 3.1 on the maximum number of Shares which may be issued under the Plan, (ii) reduce the price per share of any outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan or take any action prohibited under Section 11.6, or (iii) cancel any Option or Stock Appreciation Right in exchange for cash or another Award in violation of Section 10.6.

 

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(c) No Awards may be granted or awarded during any period of suspension or after termination of the Plan, and notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event may any Award be granted under the Plan after the tenth (10th) anniversary of the earlier of (i) the date on which the Plan was adopted by the Board or (ii) the date the Plan was approved by the Company’s stockholders (such anniversary, the “Expiration Date”). Any Awards that are outstanding on the Expiration Date shall remain in force according to the terms of the Plan, the applicable Program and the applicable Award Agreement.

12.2 Changes in Common Stock or Assets of the Company, Acquisition or Liquidation of the Company and Other Corporate Events.

(a) In the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of Company assets to stockholders, or any other change affecting the shares of the Company’s stock or the share price of the Company’s stock other than an Equity Restructuring, the Administrator may make equitable adjustments to reflect such change with respect to: (i) the aggregate number and kind of Shares that may be issued under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitations in Section 3.1 on the maximum number and kind of Shares which may be issued under the Plan); (ii) the number and kind of Shares (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards; (iii) the terms and conditions of any outstanding Awards (including, without limitation, any applicable Performance Criteria and Performance Goals with respect thereto); (iv) the grant or exercise price per share for any outstanding Awards under the Plan; and (v) the number and kind of Shares (or other securities or property) for which automatic grants are subsequently to be made to new and continuing Non-Employee Directors pursuant to any Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy adopted in accordance with Section 4.6.

(b) In the event of any transaction or event described in Section 12.2(a), a Change in Control, or any unusual or nonrecurring transactions or events affecting the Company, any Affiliate of the Company, or the financial statements of the Company or any Affiliate, or of changes in Applicable Law or Applicable Accounting Standards, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, and on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, either by the terms of the Award or by action taken prior to the occurrence of such transaction or event, is hereby authorized to take any one or more of the following actions whenever the Administrator determines that such action is appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan or with respect to any Award under the Plan, to facilitate such transactions or events or to give effect to such changes in Applicable Law or Applicable Accounting Standards:

(i) To provide for the termination of any such Award in exchange for an amount of cash and/or other property with a value equal to the amount that would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Holder’s rights (and, for the avoidance of doubt, if as of the date of the occurrence of the transaction or event described in this Section 12.2 the Administrator determines in good faith that no amount would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Holder’s rights, then such Award may be terminated by the Company without payment);

 

25


(ii) To provide that such Award be assumed by the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, or shall be substituted for by similar options, rights or awards covering the stock of the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and applicable exercise or purchase price, in all cases, as determined by the Administrator;

(iii) To make adjustments in the number and type of Shares of the Company’s stock (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards, and/or in the terms and conditions of (including the grant or exercise price), and the criteria included in, outstanding Awards and Awards which may be granted in the future;

(iv) To provide that such Award shall be exercisable or payable or fully vested with respect to all Shares covered thereby, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or the applicable Program or Award Agreement;

(v) To replace such Award with other rights or property selected by the Administrator; and/or

(vi) To provide that the Award cannot vest, be exercised or become payable after such event.

(c) In connection with the occurrence of any Equity Restructuring, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Sections 12.2(a) and 12.2(b):

(i) The number and type of securities subject to each outstanding Award and the exercise price or grant price thereof, if applicable, shall be equitably adjusted (and the adjustments provided under this Section 12.2(c)(i) shall be nondiscretionary and shall be final and binding on the affected Holder and the Company); and/or

(ii) The Administrator shall make such equitable adjustments, if any, as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may deem appropriate to reflect such Equity Restructuring with respect to the aggregate number and kind of Shares that may be issued under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitation in Section 3.1 on the maximum number and kind of Shares which may be issued under the Plan).

(d) The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may include such further provisions and limitations in any Award, agreement or certificate, as it may deem equitable and in the best interests of the Company that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan.

(e) Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, no adjustment or action described in this Section 12.2 or in any other provision of the Plan shall be authorized to the extent it would (i) cause the Plan to violate Section 422(b)(1) of the Code, (ii) result in short-swing profits liability under Section 16 of the Exchange Act or violate the exemptive conditions of Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act, or (iii) cause an Award to fail to be exempt from or comply with Section 409A.

 

26


(f) The existence of the Plan, any Program, any Award Agreement and/or the Awards granted hereunder shall not affect or restrict in any way the right or power of the Company or the stockholders of the Company to make or authorize any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company’s capital structure or its business, any merger or consolidation of the Company, any issue of stock or of options, warrants or rights to purchase stock or of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference stocks whose rights are superior to or affect the Common Stock or the rights thereof or which are convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business, or any other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise.

(g) In the event of any pending stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of Company assets to stockholders, or any other change affecting the Shares or the share price of the Common Stock including any Equity Restructuring, for reasons of administrative convenience, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may refuse to permit the exercise of any Award during a period of up to thirty (30) days prior to the consummation of any such transaction.

12.3 Approval of Plan by Stockholders. The Plan shall be submitted for the approval of the Company’s stockholders within twelve (12) months after the date of the Board’s initial adoption of the Plan. Awards may be granted or awarded prior to such stockholder approval; provided that such Awards shall not be exercisable, shall not vest and the restrictions thereon shall not lapse and no Shares shall be issued pursuant thereto prior to the time when the Plan is approved by the Company’s stockholders; and provided, further, that if such approval has not been obtained at the end of said twelve (12) month period, all Awards previously granted or awarded under the Plan shall thereupon be canceled and become null and void.

12.4 No Stockholders Rights. Except as otherwise provided herein or in an applicable Program or Award Agreement, a Holder shall have none of the rights of a stockholder with respect to Shares covered by any Award until the Holder becomes the record owner of such Shares.

12.5 Paperless Administration. In the event that the Company establishes, for itself or using the services of a third party, an automated system for the documentation, granting or exercise of Awards, such as a system using an internet website or interactive voice response, then the paperless documentation, granting or exercise of Awards by a Holder may be permitted through the use of such an automated system.

12.6 Effect of Plan upon Other Compensation Plans. The adoption of the Plan shall not affect any other compensation or incentive plans in effect for the Company or any Affiliate. Nothing in the Plan shall be construed to limit the right of the Company or any Affiliate: (a) to establish any other forms of incentives or compensation for Employees, Directors or Consultants of the Company or any Affiliate, or (b) to grant or assume options or other rights or awards otherwise than under the Plan in connection with any proper corporate purpose including without limitation, the grant or assumption of options in connection with the acquisition by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation or otherwise, of the business, stock or assets of any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, firm or association.

 

27


12.7 Compliance with Laws. The Plan, the granting and vesting of Awards under the Plan and the issuance and delivery of Shares and the payment of money under the Plan or under Awards granted or awarded hereunder are subject to compliance with all Applicable Law (including but not limited to state, federal and foreign securities law and margin requirements), and to such approvals by any listing, regulatory or governmental authority as may, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, be necessary or advisable in connection therewith. Any securities delivered under the Plan shall be subject to such restrictions, and the person acquiring such securities shall, if requested by the Company, provide such assurances and representations to the Company as the Company may deem necessary or desirable to assure compliance with all Applicable Law. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may take whatever actions it deems necessary or appropriate to effect compliance with Applicable Law, including, without limitation, placing legends on share certificates and issuing stop-transfer notices to agents and registrars. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Administrator may not take any actions hereunder, and no Awards shall be granted, that would violate Applicable Law. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Plan and Awards granted or awarded hereunder shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to Applicable Law.

12.8 Titles and Headings, References to Sections of the Code or Exchange Act. The titles and headings of the Sections in the Plan are for convenience of reference only and, in the event of any conflict, the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings, shall control. References to sections of the Code or the Exchange Act shall include any amendment or successor thereto.

12.9 Governing Law. The Plan and any Programs and Award Agreements hereunder shall be administered, interpreted and enforced under the internal laws of the State of Delaware without regard to conflicts of laws thereof or of any other jurisdiction.

12.10 Section 409A. To the extent that the Administrator determines that any Award granted under the Plan is subject to Section 409A, the Plan, the Program pursuant to which such Award is granted and the Award Agreement evidencing such Award shall incorporate the terms and conditions required by Section 409A. In that regard, to the extent any Award under the Plan or any other compensatory plan or arrangement of the Company or any of its Affiliates is subject to Section 409A, and such Award or other amount is payable on account of a Holder’s Termination of Service (or any similarly defined term), then (a) such Award or amount shall only be paid to the extent such Termination of Service qualifies as a “separation from service” as defined in Section 409A, and (b) if such Award or amount is payable to a “specified employee” as defined in Section 409A then to the extent required in order to avoid a prohibited distribution under Section 409A, such Award or other compensatory payment shall not be payable prior to the earlier of (i) the expiration of the six-month period measured from the date of the Holder’s Termination of Service, or (ii) the date of the Holder’s death. To the extent applicable, the Plan, the Program and any Award Agreements shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event that following the Effective Date the Administrator determines that any Award may be subject to Section 409A, the Administrator may (but is not obligated to), without a Holder’s consent, adopt such amendments to the Plan and the applicable Program and Award Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the Administrator determines are necessary or appropriate to (A) exempt the Award from Section 409A and/or preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided with respect to the Award, or (B) comply with the requirements of Section 409A and thereby avoid the application of any

 

28


penalty taxes under Section 409A. The Company makes no representations or warranties as to the tax treatment of any Award under Section 409A or otherwise. The Company shall have no obligation under this Section 12.10 or otherwise to take any action (whether or not described herein) to avoid the imposition of taxes, penalties or interest under Section 409A with respect to any Award and shall have no liability to any Holder or any other person if any Award, compensation or other benefits under the Plan are determined to constitute non-compliant, “nonqualified deferred compensation” subject to the imposition of taxes, penalties and/or interest under Section 409A.

12.11 Unfunded Status of Awards. The Plan is intended to be an “unfunded” plan for incentive compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Holder pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Program or Award Agreement shall give the Holder any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company or any Affiliate.

12.12 Indemnification. To the extent permitted under Applicable Law and the Organizational Documents, each member of the Administrator (and each delegate thereof pursuant to Section 11.6) shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by such member in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action or failure to act pursuant to the Plan or any Award Agreement and against and from any and all amounts paid by him or her, with the Board’s approval, in satisfaction of judgment in such action, suit, or proceeding against him or her; provided he or she gives the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf and, once the Company gives notice of its intent to assume such defense, the Company shall have sole control over such defense with counsel of the Company’s choosing. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be available to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction in a final judgment or other final adjudication, in either case not subject to further appeal, determines that the acts or omissions of the person seeking indemnity giving rise to the indemnification claim resulted from such person’s bad faith, fraud or willful criminal act or omission. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled pursuant to the Organizational Documents, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.

12.13 Relationship to Other Benefits. No payment pursuant to the Plan shall be taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, savings, profit sharing, group insurance, welfare or other benefit plan of the Company or any Affiliate except to the extent otherwise expressly provided in writing in such other plan or an agreement thereunder.

12.14 Expenses. The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company and its Affiliates.

12.15 Section 162(m) Reliance Period. To the maximum extent permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code and Applicable Law, Awards under this Plan shall not be subject to the deduction limit set forth in U.S. Treasury Regulation 1.162-27(b) pursuant to Section 162(m) of the Code and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, to the extent such Awards may qualify for any post-public offering reliance period deduction limit exception set forth in U.S. Treasury Regulation 1.162-27(f) (or any successor thereto), and the Plan and Award Agreements shall be interpreted accordingly.

 

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Exhibit 10.11

IPO Award - No Continued Employment Requirement

SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, INC.

2020 INCENTIVE AWARD PLAN

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD

GRANT NOTICE AND RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT

IPO AWARD

Shift4 Payments, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), pursuant to its 2020 Incentive Award Plan, as amended from time to time (the “Plan”), in connection with its initial public offering, hereby grants to the holder listed below (“Participant”) the number of Restricted Stock Units set forth below (the “RSUs”). The RSUs are subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice (the “Grant Notice”), the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Agreement”) and the Plan, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the Plan shall have the same defined meanings in the Grant Notice and the Agreement.

 

Participant:                                                 
Grant Date:                                                 
Vesting Start Date:                                                 
Number of RSUs:    [                  ]
Type of Shares Issuable:    Class A Common Stock
Vesting Schedule:    Except as otherwise set forth in the Agreement, the RSUs shall vest annually in three equal installments of 1/3 each on each of the first three anniversaries of the Vesting Start Date.

Withholding Tax Election: By accepting this Award electronically through the Plan service provider’s online grant acceptance policy, the Participant understands and agrees that as a condition of the grant of the RSUs hereunder, the Participant is required to, and hereby affirmatively elects to (the “Sell to Cover Election”), (1) sell that number of Shares determined in accordance with Section 2.5 of the Agreement as may be necessary to satisfy all applicable withholding obligations with respect to any taxable event arising in connection with the RSUs and similarly sell such number of Shares as may be necessary to satisfy all applicable withholding obligations with respect to any other awards of restricted stock units granted to the Participant under the Plan or any other equity incentive plans of the Company or its predecessor, and (2) to allow the Agent (as defined in the Agreement) to remit the cash proceeds of such sale(s) to the Company. Furthermore, the Participant directs the Company to make a cash payment equal to the required tax withholding from the cash proceeds of such sale(s) directly to the appropriate taxing authorities. The Participant has carefully reviewed Section 2.5 of the Agreement and the Participant hereby represents and warrants that on the date hereof he or she is not aware of any material, nonpublic information with respect to the Company or any securities of the Company, is not subject to any legal, regulatory or contractual restriction that would prevent the Agent from conducting sales, does not have, and will not attempt to exercise, authority, influence or control over any sales of Shares effected by the Agent pursuant to the Agreement, and is entering into the Agreement and this election to “sell to cover” in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade the prohibitions of Rule 10b5-1 (regarding trading of the Company’s securities on the basis of material nonpublic information) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). It is the Participant’s intent that this election to “sell to cover” comply with the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(i)(B) under the Exchange Act and be interpreted to comply with the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c) under the Exchange Act.


IPO Award - No Continued Employment Requirement

 

By accepting this Award electronically through the Plan service provider’s online grant acceptance policy, Participant agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Agreement and the Grant Notice. Participant has reviewed the Agreement, the Plan and the Grant Notice in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing the Grant Notice and fully understands all provisions of the Grant Notice, the Agreement, and the Plan. Participant hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Administrator upon any questions arising under the Plan, the Grant Notice or the Agreement.


IPO Award - No Continued Employment Requirement

 

EXHIBIT A

TO RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD GRANT NOTICE

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

Pursuant to the Grant Notice to which this Agreement is attached, the Company has granted to Participant the number of RSUs set forth in the Grant Notice.

ARTICLE I.

GENERAL

Section 1.1 Defined Terms. Capitalized terms not specifically defined herein shall have the meanings specified in the Plan or the Grant Notice. For purposes of this Agreement,

(a) “Participating Company” shall mean the Company or any of its parents or Subsidiaries.

Section 1.2 Incorporation of Terms of Plan. The RSUs and the shares of Class A Common Stock issued to Participant hereunder (“Shares”) are subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Plan, which is incorporated herein by reference. In the event of any inconsistency between the Plan and this Agreement, the terms of the Plan shall control.

ARTICLE II.

AWARD OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

Section 2.1 Award of RSUs

(a) In consideration of Participant’s past and/or continued employment with or service to a Participating Company and for other good and valuable consideration, effective as of the grant date set forth in the Grant Notice (the “Grant Date”), the Company has granted to Participant the number of RSUs set forth in the Grant Notice, upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Grant Notice, the Plan and this Agreement, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 12.2 of the Plan. Each RSU represents the right to receive one Share at the times and subject to the conditions set forth herein. However, unless and until the RSUs have vested, Participant will have no right to the payment of any Shares subject thereto. Prior to the actual delivery of any Shares, the RSUs will represent an unsecured obligation of the Company, payable only from the general assets of the Company.

Section 2.2 Vesting of RSUs.

(a) Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the RSUs shall vest in such amounts and at such times as are set forth in the Grant Notice. For the avoidance of doubt, the RSUs granted hereunder shall not be subject to Participant’s continued employment; RSUs granted hereunder shall vest pursuant to this Section 2.2 and be shall be distributed in Shares pursuant to Section 2.3 on the applicable vesting date set forth in the Grant Notice regardless of whether Participant remains employed by, or otherwise provides services to, the Company through such date, provided, that in the event of Participant’s death, the RSUs shall thereupon become vested with respect to all shares covered thereby on the date of the Participant’s death.


IPO Award - No Continued Employment Requirement

 

Section 2.3

(a) Distribution or Payment of RSUs. Participant’s RSUs shall be distributed in Shares (either in book-entry form or otherwise) on or within two business days following each applicable vesting date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may delay a distribution or payment in settlement of RSUs if it reasonably determines that such payment or distribution will violate federal securities laws or any other Applicable Law, provided that such distribution or payment shall be made at the earliest date at which the Company reasonably determines that the making of such distribution or payment will not cause such violation, as required by Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(7)(ii), and provided further that no payment or distribution shall be delayed under this Section 2.3(a) if such delay will result in a violation of Section 409A.

(b) All distributions shall be made by the Company in the form of whole Shares, and any fractional share shall be distributed in cash in an amount equal to the value of such fractional share determined based on the Fair Market Value as of the date immediately preceding the date of such distribution.

Section 2.4 Conditions to Issuance of Certificates. The Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificate or certificates for any Shares or to cause any Shares to be held in book-entry form prior to the fulfillment of all of the following conditions: (a) the admission of the Shares to listing on all stock exchanges on which such Shares are then listed, (b) the completion of any registration or other qualification of the Shares under any state or federal law or under rulings or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission or other governmental regulatory body, which the Administrator shall, in its absolute discretion, deem necessary or advisable, (c) the obtaining of any approval or other clearance from any state or federal governmental agency that the Administrator shall, in its absolute discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable, (d) the receipt by the Company of full payment for such Shares, which may be in one or more of the forms of consideration permitted under Section 2.5, and (e) the receipt of full payment of any applicable withholding tax in accordance with Section 2.5 by the Participating Company with respect to which the applicable withholding obligation arises.

Section 2.5 Tax Withholding. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement:

(a) As set forth in Section 10.2 of the Plan, the Company shall have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or to require the Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy all applicable federal, state and local taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising in connection with the Restricted Stock Units. In satisfaction of such tax withholding obligations and in accordance with the Sell to Cover Election included in the Grant Notice, the Participant has irrevocably elected to sell the portion of the Shares to be delivered under the Restricted Stock Units necessary so as to satisfy the tax withholding obligations and shall execute any letter of instruction or agreement required by the Company’s transfer agent (together with any other party the Company determines necessary to execute the Sell to Cover Election, the “Agent”) to cause the Agent to irrevocably commit to forward the proceeds necessary to satisfy the tax withholding obligations directly to the Company and/or its Affiliates. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated to deliver any new certificate representing Shares to the Participant or the Participant’s legal representative or enter such Shares in book entry form unless and until the Participant or the Participant’s legal representative shall have paid or otherwise satisfied in full the amount of all federal, state and local taxes applicable to the taxable income of the Participant resulting from the grant or vesting of the Restricted Stock Units or the issuance of Shares. In accordance with Participant’s Sell to Cover Election pursuant to the Grant Notice, the Participant hereby acknowledges and agrees:


IPO Award - No Continued Employment Requirement

 

(i) The Participant hereby appoints the Agent as the Participant’s agent and authorizes the Agent to (1) sell on the open market at the then prevailing market price(s), on the Participant’s behalf, as soon as practicable on or after the Shares are issued upon the vesting of the Restricted Stock Units, that number (rounded up to the next whole number) of the Shares so issued necessary to generate proceeds to cover (x) any tax withholding obligations incurred with respect to such vesting or issuance and (y) all applicable fees and commissions due to, or required to be collected by, the Agent with respect thereto and (2) apply any remaining funds to the Participant’s federal tax withholding.

(ii) The Participant hereby authorizes the Company and the Agent to cooperate and communicate with one another to determine the number of Shares that must be sold pursuant to subsection (i) above.

(iii) The Participant understands that the Agent may effect sales as provided in subsection (i) above in one or more sales and that the average price for executions resulting from bunched orders will be assigned to the Participant’s account. In addition, the Participant acknowledges that it may not be possible to sell Shares as provided by subsection (i) above due to (1) a legal or contractual restriction applicable to the Participant or the Agent, (2) a market disruption, or (3) rules governing order execution priority on the national exchange where the Shares may be traded. The Participant further agrees and acknowledges that in the event the sale of Shares would result in material adverse harm to the Company, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion, the Company may instruct the Agent not to sell Shares as provided by subsection (i) above. In the event of the Agent’s inability to sell Shares, the Participant will continue to be responsible for the timely payment to the Company and/or its Affiliates of all federal, state, local and foreign taxes that are required by applicable laws and regulations to be withheld, including but not limited to those amounts specified in subsection (i) above.

(iv) The Participant acknowledges that regardless of any other term or condition of this Section 2.5(a), the Agent will not be liable to the Participant for (1) special, indirect, punitive, exemplary, or consequential damages, or incidental losses or damages of any kind, or (2) any failure to perform or for any delay in performance that results from a cause or circumstance that is beyond its reasonable control.

(v) The Participant hereby agrees to execute and deliver to the Agent any other agreements or documents as the Agent reasonably deems necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes and intent of this Section 2.5(a). The Agent is a third-party beneficiary of this Section 2.5(a).

(vi) This Section 2.5(a) shall terminate not later than the date on which all tax withholding obligations arising in connection with the vesting of the Award have been satisfied.

(b) The Company shall not be obligated to deliver any certificate representing Shares issuable with respect to the RSUs to, or to cause any such Shares to be held in book-entry form by, Participant or his or her legal representative unless and until Participant or his or her legal representative shall have paid or otherwise satisfied in full the amount of all federal, state, local and foreign taxes applicable with respect to the taxable income of Participant resulting from the vesting or settlement of the RSUs or any other taxable event related to the RSUs.

(c) Participant is ultimately liable and responsible for all taxes owed in connection with the RSUs, regardless of any action the Company or any other Participating Company takes with respect to any tax withholding obligations that arise in connection with the RSUs. No Participating Company makes any representation or undertaking regarding the treatment of any tax withholding in connection with the awarding, vesting or payment of the RSUs or the subsequent sale of Shares. The Participating Companies do not commit and are under no obligation to structure the RSUs to reduce or eliminate Participant’s tax liability.


IPO Award - No Continued Employment Requirement

 

Section 2.6 Rights as Stockholder. Neither Participant nor any Person claiming under or through Participant will have any of the rights or privileges of a stockholder of the Company in respect of any Shares deliverable hereunder unless and until certificates representing such Shares (which may be in book-entry form) will have been issued and recorded on the records of the Company or its transfer agents or registrars and delivered to Participant (including through electronic delivery to a brokerage account). Except as otherwise provided herein, after such issuance, recordation and delivery, Participant will have all the rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to such Shares, including, without limitation, the right to receipt of dividends and distributions on such Shares.

Section 2.7 Restrictive Covenants. Participant acknowledges and agrees that (i) as a result of Participant’s employment or other relationship with the Company or its Affiliates, he or she has possessed and learned, and will continue to possess and learn, valuable trade secrets and other confidential or proprietary information relating to the Company and its Affiliates, (ii) Participant’s services to the Company and its Affiliates are unique in nature, (iii) the Company’s and its Affiliates’ business is national in scope, and (iv) the Company and its Affiliates would be irreparably damaged if Participant were to provide services to any other Person or take other actions in violation of the restrictions contained in this Agreement. Accordingly, as an inducement for the Company to enter into this Agreement, Participant agrees that during his or her employment and for a period of one (1) year thereafter (such period being referred to herein as the “Restricted Period”), Participant shall not, directly or indirectly, either for himself or herself or for any other Person (whether as a shareholder, member, equityholder, officer, director, employee, partner, member, manager, trustee, agent, representative or otherwise):

(a) engage in any Competitive Activity (as defined below) within the Restricted Territory (as defined below);

(b) except on behalf of the Company or its Affiliates, (i) solicit any Business from, or conduct any Business with, any reseller, customer, client, merchant, vendor, supplier or independent sales representatives or organizations (or other Persons having a similar relationship with the Company or its Affiliates) of the Company or any of its Affiliates; (ii) solicit any Business from, or conduct any Business with, any Person that was known by Participant to be solicited or identified as a business prospect by the Company or any of its Affiliates; (iii) interfere or attempt to interfere with any transaction, agreement, prospective agreement, business opportunity, or business relationship of the Company or any of its Affiliates related to the Business; or (iv) otherwise engage or participate in any effort or act to induce any Person to discontinue any business relationship, affiliation or association with the Company or its Affiliates related to the Business; or

(c) (i) cause, solicit or induce, or attempt to cause, solicit or induce, any employee, agent, associate, sales representative, consultant or other independent contractor of the Company or its Affiliates, or any Person employed by or affiliated or associated with the Company or its Affiliates at any time within the twelve (12) months prior to the date of such solicitation, inducement or attempt, to consider or accept employment, association or affiliation (whether as an agent, associate, sales representative, consultant, independent contractor or otherwise) with Participant or any such Person in which Participant is directly or indirectly involved; (ii) interfere in any other manner with the business relationship, association or relationship between or among the Company or its Affiliates, and any employee, agent, associate, consultant, sales representative or other independent contractor of the Company or its Affiliates; or (iii) make any offer to hire or hire any Person who, during the twelve (12) month period prior to the termination of Participant’s employment, affiliation or association with the Company or its Affiliates, was


IPO Award - No Continued Employment Requirement

 

employed by or associated or affiliated with the Company or its Affiliates; provided, however, that nothing herein shall prohibit Participant from owning not more than 1% of the outstanding stock or other equity interest of any publicly traded entity engaged in the Business, so long as Participant is merely a passive investor and has no role in the operation or management of such entity.

(d) For the purposes of this Agreement:

(i) “Affiliate” means any Person that, directly or indirectly, Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with or of, such entity, including without limitation Shift4 Payments LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. The term “Control” (including, with correlative meaning, the terms “Controlled by” and “under common Control with”), as used with respect to any entity, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such entity, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

(ii) “Business” means the business of developing, selling and/or providing secure payment processing, gateway and third-party device management services, and other payment processing services and related systems, equipment and software (including but not limited to, point of sale software) that facilitate the exchange of goods and services provided by merchants, resellers, vendors, service providers and other third parties for payments made by credit, debit, prepaid, electronic gift or loyalty cards or other similar payments across all geographic regions, as well as providing tools, training and financial services for channel partners such as, merchant banks, processors, independent sales organizations referral partners and resellers to facilitate the distribution of the foregoing products and services.

(iii) “Competitive Activity” means, in each case, directly or indirectly, engaging in any of the following activities on behalf of any Person other than the Company or its Affiliates: (A) providing Business-related services to any Person that engages in the Business, whether as a principal, or on Participant’s own account, or solely or jointly with others as a partner, sole proprietor, owner, joint venturer, shareholder, officer, director, member, associate, manager, agent, employee, security holder, independent contractor, consultant, trustee or beneficiary of a trust, stockholder or limited partner; (B) launching, operating, carrying on or engaging in the Business; (C) investing in, lending credit or money to, managing, operating or controlling, in any way, any Person that engages in the Business; (D) engaging or participating in any effort or act, or preparing to engage or participate in any effort or act, to pursue any of the activities described in clause (A), (B) or (C) above with a Person or compete against the Company or its Affiliates in the Business; or (E) otherwise lending or allowing skill, knowledge or experience to be used for the activities described in clause (A), (B), (C) or (D) above.

(iv) “Person” means an individual, corporation, joint venture, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint stock or other company, business trust, trust or other entity or organization, including any national, federal, state, territorial agency, local or foreign judicial, legislative, regulatory or administrative authority, commission, court, tribunal, any political or other subdivision, department or branch of any of the foregoing, and any self-regulatory organization or arbitrator.

(v) “Restricted Territory” means anywhere in the United States of America and Canada.


IPO Award - No Continued Employment Requirement

 

It is the intention of the Company and Participant to restrict the activities of Participant hereunder only to the extent necessary to protect the legitimate business and property interests of the Company and its Affiliates. The Company and Participant further agree that they believe that the restrictions set forth in this Section 2.7 are reasonable and appropriate to protect the legitimate business and property interests of the Company and its Affiliates. However, if any provision set forth herein shall be held illegal, invalid, or unenforceable for any reason, the Company and Participant shall be deemed to have substituted and added as part of this Agreement, in lieu of any such provision or provisions, a clause or provision as similar in terms to such illegal, invalid or unenforceable clause or provision but which shall be legal, valid, and enforceable. Without limiting the foregoing, a court of competent jurisdiction shall have the right to limit the geographical scope or duration of the restrictive covenants contained in this Section 2.7, if the court determines that the scope set forth above is broader than necessary to reasonably protect the legitimate interests of the Company and its Affiliates.

Section 2.8 In the event the Participant materially breaches Section 2.7 or any other written covenants between such Participant and any Participating Company, the Participant shall immediately forfeit any and all RSUs granted under this Agreement (whether or not vested), and Participant’s rights in any such RSUs shall lapse and expire.

ARTICLE III.

OTHER PROVISIONS

Section 3.1 Administration. The Administrator shall have the power to interpret the Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement as are consistent therewith and to interpret, amend or revoke any such rules. All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Administrator will be final and binding upon Participant, the Company and all other interested Persons. To the extent allowable pursuant to Applicable Law, no member of the Committee or the Board will be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made with respect to the Plan, the Grant Notice or this Agreement.

Section 3.2 RSUs Not Transferable. The RSUs may not be sold, pledged, assigned or transferred in any manner other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, unless and until the Shares underlying the RSUs have been issued, and all restrictions applicable to such Shares have lapsed. No RSUs or any interest or right therein or part thereof shall be liable for the debts, contracts or engagements of Participant or his or her successors in interest or shall be subject to disposition by transfer, alienation, anticipation, pledge, encumbrance, assignment or any other means whether such disposition be voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy), and any attempted disposition thereof shall be null and void and of no effect, except to the extent that such disposition is permitted by the preceding sentence. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with the consent of the Administrator, the RSUs may be transferred to Permitted Transferees, pursuant to any such conditions and procedures the Administrator may require.

Section 3.3 Adjustments. The Administrator may accelerate the vesting of all or a portion of the RSUs in such circumstances as it, in its sole discretion, may determine. Participant acknowledges that the RSUs and the Shares subject to the RSUs are subject to adjustment, modification and termination in certain events as provided in this Agreement and the Plan, including Section 12.2 of the Plan.

Section 3.4 Notices. Any notice to be given under the terms of this Agreement to the Company shall be addressed to the Company in care of the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal office, and any notice to be given to Participant shall be addressed to Participant at Participant’s last address reflected on the Company’s records. By a notice given pursuant to this Section 3.4, either party may hereafter designate a different address for notices to be given to that party. Any notice shall be deemed duly given when sent via email or when sent by certified mail (return receipt requested) and deposited (with postage prepaid) in a post office or branch post office regularly maintained by the United States Postal Service or similar foreign entity.


IPO Award - No Continued Employment Requirement

 

Section 3.5 Titles. Titles are provided herein for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Agreement.

Section 3.6 Governing Law. The laws of the State of Delaware shall govern the interpretation, validity, administration, enforcement and performance of the terms of this Agreement regardless of the law that might be applied under principles of conflicts of laws.

Section 3.7 Conformity to Securities Laws. Participant acknowledges that the Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement, are intended to conform to the extent necessary with all Applicable Laws, including, without limitation, the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and any and all regulations and rules promulgated thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and state securities laws and regulations. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Plan shall be administered, and the RSUs are granted, only in such a manner as to conform to Applicable Law. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement, shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to Applicable Law.

Section 3.8 Amendment, Suspension and Termination. To the extent permitted by the Plan, this Agreement may be wholly or partially amended or otherwise modified, suspended or terminated at any time or from time to time by the Administrator or the Board, provided that, except as may otherwise be provided by the Plan, no amendment, modification, suspension or termination of this Agreement shall adversely affect the RSUs in any material way without the prior written consent of Participant.

Section 3.9 Successors and Assigns. The Company may assign any of its rights under this Agreement to single or multiple assignees, and this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in Section 3.2 and the Plan, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs, legatees, legal representatives, successors and assigns of the parties hereto.

Section 3.10 Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or this Agreement, if Participant is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the Plan, the RSUs, the Grant Notice and this Agreement shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including any amendment to Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.

Section 3.11 Not a Contract of Employment. Nothing in this Agreement or in the Plan shall confer upon Participant any right to continue to serve as an employee or other service provider of any Participating Company or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of any Participating Company, which rights are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge or terminate the services of Participant at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause, except to the extent (i) expressly provided otherwise in a written agreement between a Participating Company and Participant or (ii) where such provisions are not consistent with applicable foreign or local laws, in which case such applicable foreign or local laws shall control.


IPO Award - No Continued Employment Requirement

 

Section 3.12 Entire Agreement. The Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement (including any exhibit hereto) constitute the entire agreement of the parties and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Participant with respect to the subject matter hereof. In consideration of the RSUs granted hereunder and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, Participant hereby waives any and all rights Participant has or may have to any bonus compensation or other similar payments in respect of the initial public offering of the Company’s common stock or any change of control, initial public offering, or similar transaction by the Company or any of its Affiliates, including, but not limited to any change of control bonus agreement between the Company and any of its Affiliates and Participant or any change of control bonus payments pursuant to any employment agreement between the Company or any of its Affiliates and Participant (the “COC Bonus”), and hereby releases and discharges the Company and each of its Affiliates from payment of any COC Bonus.

Section 3.13 Section 409A. The intent of the parties is that the payments and benefits under this Agreement comply with or be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder (collectively, “Section 409A”) and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted to be in compliance therewith.

Section 3.14 Agreement Severable. In the event that any provision of the Grant Notice or this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable, such provision will be severable from, and such invalidity or unenforceability will not be construed to have any effect on, the remaining provisions of the Grant Notice or this Agreement.

Section 3.15 Limitation on Participant’s Rights. Participation in the Plan confers no rights or interests other than as herein provided. This Agreement creates only a contractual obligation on the part of the Company as to amounts payable and shall not be construed as creating a trust. Neither the Plan nor any underlying program, in and of itself, has any assets. Participant shall have only the rights of a general unsecured creditor of the Company with respect to amounts credited and benefits payable, if any, with respect to the RSUs.

Section 3.16 Counterparts. The Grant Notice may be executed in one or more counterparts, including by way of any electronic signature, subject to Applicable Law, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one instrument.

* * * * *

Exhibit 10.12

IPO Award - Continued Employment Awards

SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, INC.

2020 INCENTIVE AWARD PLAN

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD GRANT NOTICE AND RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT

IPO AWARD

Shift4 Payments, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), pursuant to its 2020 Incentive Award Plan, as amended from time to time (the “Plan”), in connection with its initial public offering, hereby grants to the holder listed below (“Participant”) the number of Restricted Stock Units set forth below (the “RSUs”). The RSUs are subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice (the “Grant Notice”), the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Agreement”) and the Plan, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the Plan shall have the same defined meanings in the Grant Notice and the Agreement.

 

Participant:                                                 
Grant Date:                                                 
Vesting Start Date:                                                 
Number of RSUs:    [                ]
Type of Shares Issuable:    Class A Common Stock
Vesting Schedule:    [Except as otherwise provided in the Agreement, the RSUs shall vest annually in three equal installments of 1/3 each on each of the first three anniversaries of the Vesting Start Date, subject to Participant’s continued status as an Employee through the applicable vesting date.] [Except as otherwise provided in the Agreement, the RSUs shall vest in two equal installments of 1/2 each on the six month anniversary of the Vesting Start Date and the eighteen month anniversary of the Vesting Start Date, subject to Participant’s continued status as an Employee through the applicable vesting date.]

Withholding Tax Election: By accepting this Award electronically through the Plan service provider’s online grant acceptance policy, the Participant understands and agrees that as a condition of the grant of the RSUs hereunder, the Participant is required to, and hereby affirmatively elects to (the “Sell to Cover Election”), (1) sell that number of Shares determined in accordance with Section 2.5 of the Agreement as may be necessary to satisfy all applicable withholding obligations with respect to any taxable event arising in connection with the RSUs and similarly sell such number of Shares as may be necessary to satisfy all applicable withholding obligations with respect to any other awards of restricted stock units granted to the Participant under the Plan or any other equity incentive plans of the Company or its predecessor, and (2) to allow the Agent (as defined in the Agreement) to remit the cash proceeds of such sale(s) to the Company. Furthermore, the Participant directs the Company to make a cash payment equal to the required tax withholding from the cash proceeds of such sale(s) directly to the appropriate taxing authorities. The Participant has carefully reviewed Section 2.5 of the Agreement and the Participant hereby represents and warrants that on the date hereof he or she is not aware of any material, nonpublic information with respect to the Company or any securities of the Company, is not subject to any legal, regulatory or contractual restriction that would prevent the Agent from conducting sales, does not have, and will not attempt to exercise, authority, influence or control over any sales of Shares effected by the Agent pursuant to the Agreement, and is entering into the Agreement and this election to “sell to cover” in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade the prohibitions of Rule 10b5-1 (regarding trading of the Company’s securities on the basis of material nonpublic information) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). It is the Participant’s intent that this election to “sell to cover” comply with the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(i)(B) under the Exchange Act and be interpreted to comply with the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c) under the Exchange Act.


IPO Award - Continued Employment Awards

 

By accepting this Award electronically through the Plan service provider’s online grant acceptance policy, Participant agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Agreement and the Grant Notice. Participant has reviewed the Agreement, the Plan and the Grant Notice in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing the Grant Notice and fully understands all provisions of the Grant Notice, the Agreement, and the Plan. Participant hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Administrator upon any questions arising under the Plan, the Grant Notice or the Agreement.


IPO Award - Continued Employment Awards

 

EXHIBIT A

TO RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD GRANT NOTICE

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

Pursuant to the Grant Notice to which this Agreement is attached, the Company has granted to Participant the number of RSUs set forth in the Grant Notice.

ARTICLE I.

GENERAL

Section 1.1 Defined Terms. Capitalized terms not specifically defined herein shall have the meanings specified in the Plan or the Grant Notice. For purposes of this Agreement,

(a) “Cause” shall mean, unless such term or an equivalent term is otherwise defined by any employment agreement or offer letter between a Participant and a Participating Company, any of the following: (i) Participant’s material breach or substantial failure to perform any of the duties, responsibilities, representation, warranties, covenants or obligations under this Agreement (other than as a result of Participant’s death or disability), which failure continues unremedied and uncured for a period of thirty (30) days after written notice from the Company requesting such remedy or cure by Participant, (ii) Participant’s conviction for, or plea of guilty or no contest to, or confession of guilt of, any felony or gross misdemeanor (excluding minor traffic violations or similar offenses), (iii) Participant’s commission of any act of fraud, misappropriation, embezzlement, theft or gross malfeasance with respect to the Company or any of its affiliates or any of their assets.

(b) “Cessation Date” shall mean the date of Participant’s Termination of Service (regardless of the reason for such termination).

(c) “CIC Qualifying Termination” shall mean Termination of Service of Participant by the Company without Cause, by Participant for Good Reason or upon the Participant’s death during the twelve (12) month period immediately following a Change in Control.

(d) “Disability” shall mean Participant is unable to substantially perform Participant’s duties to the Company or any other Participating Company by reason of (i) any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death of Participant within one hundred twenty (120) days from the date of determination or (ii) which has lasted, or can be, within a medically reasonable degree of certainty, expected to last, for not less than one hundred twenty (120) consecutive days.

(e) “Good Reason” shall mean, unless such term or an equivalent term is otherwise defined by any employment agreement or offer letter between a Participant and a Participating Company, the occurrence of any of the following without the Participant’s voluntary written consent: (i) a material breach by the Company of any material provision of this Agreement; (ii) the Company’s relocation of the Company office to which the Participant primarily reports (the “Office”) to a location that increases the distance from the Participant’s principal residence to the Office by more than fifty (50) miles; (iii) a material diminution in the Participant’s authority, duties or responsibilities, provided that any changes in the Participant’s title or to the Participant’s reporting relationship shall not constitute Good Reason hereunder; or (iv) any material reduction in the Participant’s annual base compensation (other than in connection with across-the-board base compensation reductions for all or substantially all similarly situated employees); provided, in each case, that the Participant first provided notice to the applicable Participating Company of


IPO Award - Continued Employment Awards

 

the existence of the condition described above within fifteen (15) days of the initial existence of the condition, upon the notice of which such Participating Company shall have thirty (30) days during which it may remedy the condition, and provided further that the separation of service must occur within fifteen (15) days following the end of such 30-day cure period.

(f) “Participating Company” shall mean the Company or any of its parents or Subsidiaries.

Section 1.2 Incorporation of Terms of Plan. The RSUs and the shares of Class A Common Stock issued to Participant hereunder (“Shares”) are subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Plan, which is incorporated herein by reference. In the event of any inconsistency between the Plan and this Agreement, the terms of the Plan shall control.

ARTICLE II.

AWARD OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

Section 2.1 Award of RSUs

(a) In consideration of Participant’s past and/or continued employment with or service to a Participating Company and for other good and valuable consideration, effective as of the grant date set forth in the Grant Notice (the “Grant Date”), the Company has granted to Participant the number of RSUs set forth in the Grant Notice, upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Grant Notice, the Plan and this Agreement, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 12.2 of the Plan. Each RSU represents the right to receive one Share at the times and subject to the conditions set forth herein. However, unless and until the RSUs have vested, Participant will have no right to the payment of any Shares subject thereto. Prior to the actual delivery of any Shares, the RSUs will represent an unsecured obligation of the Company, payable only from the general assets of the Company.

Section 2.2 Vesting of RSUs.

(a) Subject to Participant’s continued employment with or service to a Participating Company on each applicable vesting date and subject to the terms of this Agreement, including, without limitation, Section 2.2(d), the RSUs shall vest in such amounts and at such times as are set forth in the Grant Notice.

(b) In the event Participant incurs a Termination of Service, except as may be otherwise provided herein or by the Administrator or as set forth in a written agreement between Participant and the Company, Participant shall immediately forfeit any and all RSUs granted under this Agreement that have not vested or do not vest on or prior to the date on which such Termination of Service occurs, and Participant’s rights in any such RSUs that are not so vested shall lapse and expire.

(c) Notwithstanding the Grant Notice or the provisions of Section 2.2(a) and Section 2.2(b), in the event Participant incurs a Termination of Service for Cause, except as may be otherwise provided by the Administrator or as set forth in a written agreement between Participant and the Company, Participant shall immediately forfeit any and all RSUs granted under this Agreement (whether or not vested), and Participant’s rights in any such RSUs shall lapse and expire.

(d) Notwithstanding the Grant Notice or the provisions of Section 2.2(a) and Section 2.2(b), in the event of Participant’s death, the RSUs shall thereupon become vested with respect to all shares covered thereby on the date of such Termination of Service.


IPO Award - Continued Employment Awards

 

(e) Notwithstanding the Grant Notice or the provisions of Section 2.2(a) and Section 2.2(b), in the event Participant incurs a Disability, the RSUs shall remain outstanding and continue to vest in such amounts and at such times as are set forth in the Grant Notice, and such RSUs shall be payable in accordance with Section 2.3.

(f) Notwithstanding the Grant Notice or the provisions of Section 2.2(a) and Section 2.2(b), in the event of a CIC Qualifying Termination, the RSUs shall become vested in full on the date of such CIC Qualifying Termination.

Section 2.3

(a) Distribution or Payment of RSUs. Participant’s RSUs shall be distributed in Shares (either in book-entry form or otherwise) on or within two business days following each applicable vesting date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may delay a distribution or payment in settlement of RSUs if it reasonably determines that such payment or distribution will violate federal securities laws or any other Applicable Law, provided that such distribution or payment shall be made at the earliest date at which the Company reasonably determines that the making of such distribution or payment will not cause such violation, as required by Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(7)(ii), and provided further that no payment or distribution shall be delayed under this Section 2.3(a) if such delay will result in a violation of Section 409A.

(b) All distributions shall be made by the Company in the form of whole Shares, and any fractional share shall be distributed in cash in an amount equal to the value of such fractional share determined based on the Fair Market Value as of the date immediately preceding the date of such distribution.

Section 2.4 Conditions to Issuance of Certificates. The Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificate or certificates for any Shares or to cause any Shares to be held in book-entry form prior to the fulfillment of all of the following conditions: (a) the admission of the Shares to listing on all stock exchanges on which such Shares are then listed, (b) the completion of any registration or other qualification of the Shares under any state or federal law or under rulings or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission or other governmental regulatory body, which the Administrator shall, in its absolute discretion, deem necessary or advisable, (c) the obtaining of any approval or other clearance from any state or federal governmental agency that the Administrator shall, in its absolute discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable, (d) the receipt by the Company of full payment for such Shares, which may be in one or more of the forms of consideration permitted under Section 2.5, and (e) the receipt of full payment of any applicable withholding tax in accordance with Section 2.5 by the Participating Company with respect to which the applicable withholding obligation arises.

Section 2.5 Tax Withholding. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement:

(a) As set forth in Section 10.2 of the Plan, the Company shall have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or to require the Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy all applicable federal, state and local taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising in connection with the Restricted Stock Units. In satisfaction of such tax withholding obligations and in accordance with the Sell to Cover Election included in the Grant Notice, the Participant has irrevocably elected to sell the portion of the Shares to be delivered under the Restricted Stock Units necessary so as to satisfy the tax withholding obligations and shall execute any letter of instruction or agreement required by the Company’s transfer agent (together with any other party the Company determines necessary to execute the Sell to Cover Election, the “Agent”) to cause the Agent to irrevocably commit to forward the proceeds necessary to satisfy the tax withholding obligations directly to


IPO Award - Continued Employment Awards

 

the Company and/or its Affiliates. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated to deliver any new certificate representing Shares to the Participant or the Participant’s legal representative or enter such Shares in book entry form unless and until the Participant or the Participant’s legal representative shall have paid or otherwise satisfied in full the amount of all federal, state and local taxes applicable to the taxable income of the Participant resulting from the grant or vesting of the Restricted Stock Units or the issuance of Shares. In accordance with Participant’s Sell to Cover Election pursuant to the Grant Notice, the Participant hereby acknowledges and agrees:

(i) The Participant hereby appoints the Agent as the Participant’s agent and authorizes the Agent to (1) sell on the open market at the then prevailing market price(s), on the Participant’s behalf, as soon as practicable on or after the Shares are issued upon the vesting of the Restricted Stock Units, that number (rounded up to the next whole number) of the Shares so issued necessary to generate proceeds to cover (x) any tax withholding obligations incurred with respect to such vesting or issuance and (y) all applicable fees and commissions due to, or required to be collected by, the Agent with respect thereto and (2) apply any remaining funds to the Participant’s federal tax withholding.

(ii) The Participant hereby authorizes the Company and the Agent to cooperate and communicate with one another to determine the number of Shares that must be sold pursuant to subsection (i) above.

(iii) The Participant understands that the Agent may effect sales as provided in subsection (i) above in one or more sales and that the average price for executions resulting from bunched orders will be assigned to the Participant’s account. In addition, the Participant acknowledges that it may not be possible to sell Shares as provided by subsection (i) above due to (1) a legal or contractual restriction applicable to the Participant or the Agent, (2) a market disruption, or (3) rules governing order execution priority on the national exchange where the Shares may be traded. The Participant further agrees and acknowledges that in the event the sale of Shares would result in material adverse harm to the Company, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion, the Company may instruct the Agent not to sell Shares as provided by subsection (i) above. In the event of the Agent’s inability to sell Shares, the Participant will continue to be responsible for the timely payment to the Company and/or its Affiliates of all federal, state, local and foreign taxes that are required by applicable laws and regulations to be withheld, including but not limited to those amounts specified in subsection (i) above.

(iv) The Participant acknowledges that regardless of any other term or condition of this Section 2.5(a), the Agent will not be liable to the Participant for (1) special, indirect, punitive, exemplary, or consequential damages, or incidental losses or damages of any kind, or (2) any failure to perform or for any delay in performance that results from a cause or circumstance that is beyond its reasonable control.

(v) The Participant hereby agrees to execute and deliver to the Agent any other agreements or documents as the Agent reasonably deems necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes and intent of this Section 2.5(a). The Agent is a third-party beneficiary of this Section 2.5(a).

(vi) This Section 2.5(a) shall terminate not later than the date on which all tax withholding obligations arising in connection with the vesting of the Award have been satisfied.


IPO Award - Continued Employment Awards

 

(b) The Company shall not be obligated to deliver any certificate representing Shares issuable with respect to the RSUs to, or to cause any such Shares to be held in book-entry form by, Participant or his or her legal representative unless and until Participant or his or her legal representative shall have paid or otherwise satisfied in full the amount of all federal, state, local and foreign taxes applicable with respect to the taxable income of Participant resulting from the vesting or settlement of the RSUs or any other taxable event related to the RSUs.

(c) Participant is ultimately liable and responsible for all taxes owed in connection with the RSUs, regardless of any action the Company or any other Participating Company takes with respect to any tax withholding obligations that arise in connection with the RSUs. No Participating Company makes any representation or undertaking regarding the treatment of any tax withholding in connection with the awarding, vesting or payment of the RSUs or the subsequent sale of Shares. The Participating Companies do not commit and are under no obligation to structure the RSUs to reduce or eliminate Participant’s tax liability.

Section 2.6 Rights as Stockholder. Neither Participant nor any Person claiming under or through Participant will have any of the rights or privileges of a stockholder of the Company in respect of any Shares deliverable hereunder unless and until certificates representing such Shares (which may be in book-entry form) will have been issued and recorded on the records of the Company or its transfer agents or registrars and delivered to Participant (including through electronic delivery to a brokerage account). Except as otherwise provided herein, after such issuance, recordation and delivery, Participant will have all the rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to such Shares, including, without limitation, the right to receipt of dividends and distributions on such Shares.

Section 2.7 Restrictive Covenants. Participant acknowledges and agrees that (i) as a result of Participant’s employment or other relationship with the Company or its Affiliates, he or she has possessed and learned, and will continue to possess and learn, valuable trade secrets and other confidential or proprietary information relating to the Company and its Affiliates, (ii) Participant’s services to the Company and its Affiliates are unique in nature, (iii) the Company’s and its Affiliates’ business is national in scope, and (iv) the Company and its Affiliates would be irreparably damaged if Participant were to provide services to any other Person or take other actions in violation of the restrictions contained in this Agreement. Accordingly, as an inducement for the Company to enter into this Agreement, Participant agrees that during his or her employment and for a period of one (1) year thereafter (such period being referred to herein as the “Restricted Period”), Participant shall not, directly or indirectly, either for himself or herself or for any other Person (whether as a shareholder, member, equityholder, officer, director, employee, partner, member, manager, trustee, agent, representative or otherwise):

(a) engage in any Competitive Activity (as defined below) within the Restricted Territory (as defined below);

(b) except on behalf of the Company or its Affiliates, (i) solicit any Business from, or conduct any Business with, any reseller, customer, client, merchant, vendor, supplier or independent sales representatives or organizations (or other Persons having a similar relationship with the Company or its Affiliates) of the Company or any of its Affiliates; (ii) solicit any Business from, or conduct any Business with, any Person that was known by Participant to be solicited or identified as a business prospect by the Company or any of its Affiliates; (iii) interfere or attempt to interfere with any transaction, agreement, prospective agreement, business opportunity, or business relationship of the Company or any of its Affiliates related to the Business; or (iv) otherwise engage or participate in any effort or act to induce any Person to discontinue any business relationship, affiliation or association with the Company or its Affiliates related to the Business; or


IPO Award - Continued Employment Awards

 

(c) (i) cause, solicit or induce, or attempt to cause, solicit or induce, any employee, agent, associate, sales representative, consultant or other independent contractor of the Company or its Affiliates, or any Person employed by or affiliated or associated with the Company or its Affiliates at any time within the twelve (12) months prior to the date of such solicitation, inducement or attempt, to consider or accept employment, association or affiliation (whether as an agent, associate, sales representative, consultant, independent contractor or otherwise) with Participant or any such Person in which Participant is directly or indirectly involved; (ii) interfere in any other manner with the business relationship, association or relationship between or among the Company or its Affiliates, and any employee, agent, associate, consultant, sales representative or other independent contractor of the Company or its Affiliates; or (iii) make any offer to hire or hire any Person who, during the twelve (12) month period prior to the termination of Participant’s employment, affiliation or association with the Company or its Affiliates, was employed by or associated or affiliated with the Company or its Affiliates; provided, however, that nothing herein shall prohibit Participant from owning not more than 1% of the outstanding stock or other equity interest of any publicly traded entity engaged in the Business, so long as Participant is merely a passive investor and has no role in the operation or management of such entity.

(d) For the purposes of this Agreement:

(i) “Affiliate” means any Person that, directly or indirectly, Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with or of, such entity. The term “Control” (including, with correlative meaning, the terms “Controlled by” and “under common Control with”), as used with respect to any entity, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such entity, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

(ii) “Business” means the business of developing, selling and/or providing secure payment processing, gateway and third-party device management services, and other payment processing services and related systems, equipment and software (including but not limited to, point of sale software) that facilitate the exchange of goods and services provided by merchants, resellers, vendors, service providers and other third parties for payments made by credit, debit, prepaid, electronic gift or loyalty cards or other similar payments across all geographic regions, as well as providing tools, training and financial services for channel partners such as, merchant banks, processors, independent sales organizations referral partners and resellers to facilitate the distribution of the foregoing products and services.

(iii) “Competitive Activity” means, in each case, directly or indirectly, engaging in any of the following activities on behalf of any Person other than the Company or its Affiliates: (A) providing Business-related services to any Person that engages in the Business, whether as a principal, or on Participant’s own account, or solely or jointly with others as a partner, sole proprietor, owner, joint venturer, shareholder, officer, director, member, associate, manager, agent, employee, security holder, independent contractor, consultant, trustee or beneficiary of a trust, stockholder or limited partner; (B) launching, operating, carrying on or engaging in the Business; (C) investing in, lending credit or money to, managing, operating or controlling, in any way, any Person that engages in the Business; (D) engaging or participating in any effort or act, or preparing to engage or participate in any effort or act, to pursue any of the activities described in clause (A), (B) or (C) above with a Person or compete against the Company or its Affiliates in the Business; or (E) otherwise lending or allowing skill, knowledge or experience to be used for the activities described in clause (A), (B), (C) or (D) above.

(iv) “Person” means an individual, corporation, joint venture, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint stock or other company, business trust, trust or other entity or organization, including any national, federal, state, territorial agency, local or foreign judicial, legislative, regulatory or administrative authority, commission, court, tribunal, any political or other subdivision, department or branch of any of the foregoing, and any self-regulatory organization or arbitrator.


IPO Award - Continued Employment Awards

 

(v) “Restricted Territory” means anywhere in the United States of America and Canada.

It is the intention of the Company and Participant to restrict the activities of Participant hereunder only to the extent necessary to protect the legitimate business and property interests of the Company and its Affiliates. The Company and Participant further agree that they believe that the restrictions set forth in this Section 2.7 are reasonable and appropriate to protect the legitimate business and property interests of the Company and its Affiliates. However, if any provision set forth herein shall be held illegal, invalid, or unenforceable for any reason, the Company and Participant shall be deemed to have substituted and added as part of this Agreement, in lieu of any such provision or provisions, a clause or provision as similar in terms to such illegal, invalid or unenforceable clause or provision but which shall be legal, valid, and enforceable. Without limiting the foregoing, a court of competent jurisdiction shall have the right to limit the geographical scope or duration of the restrictive covenants contained in this Section 2.7, if the court determines that the scope set forth above is broader than necessary to reasonably protect the legitimate interests of the Company and its Affiliates.

Section 2.8 In the event the Participant materially breaches Section 2.7 or any other written covenants between such Participant and any Participating Company, the Participant shall immediately forfeit any and all RSUs granted under this Agreement (whether or not vested), and Participant’s rights in any such RSUs shall lapse and expire.

ARTICLE III.

OTHER PROVISIONS

Section 3.1 Administration. The Administrator shall have the power to interpret the Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement as are consistent therewith and to interpret, amend or revoke any such rules. All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Administrator will be final and binding upon Participant, the Company and all other interested Persons. To the extent allowable pursuant to Applicable Law, no member of the Committee or the Board will be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made with respect to the Plan, the Grant Notice or this Agreement.

Section 3.2 RSUs Not Transferable. The RSUs may not be sold, pledged, assigned or transferred in any manner other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, unless and until the Shares underlying the RSUs have been issued, and all restrictions applicable to such Shares have lapsed. No RSUs or any interest or right therein or part thereof shall be liable for the debts, contracts or engagements of Participant or his or her successors in interest or shall be subject to disposition by transfer, alienation, anticipation, pledge, encumbrance, assignment or any other means whether such disposition be voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy), and any attempted disposition thereof shall be null and void and of no effect, except to the extent that such disposition is permitted by the preceding sentence. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with the consent of the Administrator, the RSUs may be transferred to Permitted Transferees, pursuant to any such conditions and procedures the Administrator may require.


IPO Award - Continued Employment Awards

 

Section 3.3 Adjustments. The Administrator may accelerate the vesting of all or a portion of the RSUs in such circumstances as it, in its sole discretion, may determine. Participant acknowledges that the RSUs and the Shares subject to the RSUs are subject to adjustment, modification and termination in certain events as provided in this Agreement and the Plan, including Section 12.2 of the Plan.

Section 3.4 Notices. Any notice to be given under the terms of this Agreement to the Company shall be addressed to the Company in care of the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal office, and any notice to be given to Participant shall be addressed to Participant at Participant’s last address reflected on the Company’s records. By a notice given pursuant to this Section 3.4, either party may hereafter designate a different address for notices to be given to that party. Any notice shall be deemed duly given when sent via email or when sent by certified mail (return receipt requested) and deposited (with postage prepaid) in a post office or branch post office regularly maintained by the United States Postal Service or similar foreign entity.

Section 3.5 Titles. Titles are provided herein for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Agreement.

Section 3.6 Governing Law. The laws of the State of Delaware shall govern the interpretation, validity, administration, enforcement and performance of the terms of this Agreement regardless of the law that might be applied under principles of conflicts of laws.

Section 3.7 Conformity to Securities Laws. Participant acknowledges that the Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement, are intended to conform to the extent necessary with all Applicable Laws, including, without limitation, the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and any and all regulations and rules promulgated thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and state securities laws and regulations. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Plan shall be administered, and the RSUs are granted, only in such a manner as to conform to Applicable Law. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement, shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to Applicable Law.

Section 3.8 Amendment, Suspension and Termination. To the extent permitted by the Plan, this Agreement may be wholly or partially amended or otherwise modified, suspended or terminated at any time or from time to time by the Administrator or the Board, provided that, except as may otherwise be provided by the Plan, no amendment, modification, suspension or termination of this Agreement shall adversely affect the RSUs in any material way without the prior written consent of Participant.

Section 3.9 Successors and Assigns. The Company may assign any of its rights under this Agreement to single or multiple assignees, and this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in Section 3.2 and the Plan, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs, legatees, legal representatives, successors and assigns of the parties hereto.

Section 3.10 Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or this Agreement, if Participant is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the Plan, the RSUs, the Grant Notice and this Agreement shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including any amendment to Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.

 


IPO Award - Continued Employment Awards

 

Section 3.11 Not a Contract of Employment. Nothing in this Agreement or in the Plan shall confer upon Participant any right to continue to serve as an employee or other service provider of any Participating Company or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of any Participating Company, which rights are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge or terminate the services of Participant at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause, except to the extent (i) expressly provided otherwise in a written agreement between a Participating Company and Participant or (ii) where such provisions are not consistent with applicable foreign or local laws, in which case such applicable foreign or local laws shall control.

Section 3.12 Entire Agreement. The Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement (including any exhibit hereto) constitute the entire agreement of the parties and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Participant with respect to the subject matter hereof.

Section 3.13 Section 409A. The intent of the parties is that the payments and benefits under this Agreement comply with or be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder (collectively, “Section 409A”) and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted to be in compliance therewith.

Section 3.14 Agreement Severable. In the event that any provision of the Grant Notice or this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable, such provision will be severable from, and such invalidity or unenforceability will not be construed to have any effect on, the remaining provisions of the Grant Notice or this Agreement.

Section 3.15 Limitation on Participant’s Rights. Participation in the Plan confers no rights or interests other than as herein provided. This Agreement creates only a contractual obligation on the part of the Company as to amounts payable and shall not be construed as creating a trust. Neither the Plan nor any underlying program, in and of itself, has any assets. Participant shall have only the rights of a general unsecured creditor of the Company with respect to amounts credited and benefits payable, if any, with respect to the RSUs.

Section 3.16 Counterparts. The Grant Notice may be executed in one or more counterparts, including by way of any electronic signature, subject to Applicable Law, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one instrument.

* * * * *

Exhibit 10.18

SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, INC.

NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR COMPENSATION POLICY

Non-employee members of the board of directors (the “Board”) of Shift4 Payments, Inc. (the “Company”) shall be eligible to receive cash and equity compensation as set forth in this Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy (this “Policy”). The cash and equity compensation described in this Policy shall be paid or be made, as applicable, automatically and without further action of the Board, to each member of the Board who is not an employee of the Company or any parent or subsidiary of the Company (each, a “Non-Employee Director”) who may be eligible to receive such cash or equity compensation, unless such Non-Employee Director declines the receipt of such cash or equity compensation by written notice to the Company. This Policy shall become effective after the effectiveness of the Company’s initial public offering (the “IPO”) and shall remain in effect until it is revised or rescinded by further action of the Board. This Policy may be amended, modified or terminated by the Board at any time in its sole discretion. The terms and conditions of this Policy shall supersede any prior cash and/or equity compensation arrangements for service as a member of the Board between the Company and any of its Non-Employee Directors and between any subsidiary of the Company and any of its non-employee directors.

 

  1.

Cash Compensation.

(a) Annual Retainers. Each Non-Employee Director shall receive an annual retainer of $50,000 for service on the Board.

(b) Additional Annual Retainers. In addition, a Non-Employee Director shall receive the following annual retainers:

(i) Audit Committee. A Non-Employee Director serving as Chairperson of the Audit Committee shall receive an additional annual retainer of $20,000 for such service. A Non-Employee Director serving as a member of the Audit Committee (other than the Chairperson) shall receive an additional annual retainer of $10,000 for such service.

(ii) Compensation Committee. A Non-Employee Director serving as Chairperson of the Compensation Committee shall receive an additional annual retainer of $15,000 for such service. A Non-Employee Director serving as a member of the Compensation Committee (other than the Chairperson) shall receive an additional annual retainer of $7,500 for such service.

(iii) Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. A Non-Employee Director serving as Chairperson of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall receive an additional annual retainer of $10,000 for such service. A Non-Employee Director serving as a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (other than the Chairperson) shall receive an additional annual retainer of $5,000 for such service.

(c) Payment of Retainers. The annual retainers described in Sections 1(a) and 1(b) shall be earned on a quarterly basis based on a calendar quarter and shall be paid by the Company in arrears not later than the fifteenth day following the end of each calendar quarter. In the event a Non-Employee Director does not serve as a Non-Employee Director, or in the applicable positions described in Section 1(b), for an entire calendar quarter, such Non-Employee Director shall receive a prorated portion of the retainer(s) otherwise payable to such Non-


Employee Director for such calendar quarter pursuant to Sections 1(a) and 1(b), with such prorated portion determined by multiplying such otherwise payable retainer(s) by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days during which the Non-Employee Director serves as a Non-Employee Director or in the applicable positions described in Section 1(b) during the applicable calendar quarter and the denominator of which is the number of days in the applicable calendar quarter.

2. Equity Compensation. Non-Employee Directors shall be granted the equity awards described below. The awards described below shall be granted under and shall be subject to the terms and provisions of the Company’s 2020 Incentive Award Plan or any other applicable Company equity incentive plan then-maintained by the Company (such plan, as may be amended from time to time, the “Equity Plan”) and shall be granted subject to the execution and delivery of award agreements, including attached exhibits, in substantially the forms previously approved by the Board. All applicable terms of the Equity Plan apply to this Policy as if fully set forth herein, and all equity grants hereunder are subject in all respects to the terms of the Equity Plan.

(a) Annual Awards.

(i) Each Non-Employee Director who (i) serves on the Board as of the date of any annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders (an “Annual Meeting”) after the Pricing Date and (ii) will continue to serve as a Non-Employee Director immediately following such Annual Meeting shall be automatically granted, on the date of such Annual Meeting (the “Grant Date”), an award of restricted stock units that have an aggregate fair value on the date of grant of $108,300 (as determined in accordance with FASB Accounting Codification Topic 718 (“ASC 718”) and subject to adjustment as provided in the Equity Plan). The awards described in this Section 2(a) shall be referred to as the “Annual Awards.

(ii) Except as otherwise determined by the Board, each Non-Employee Director who is initially elected or appointed to the Board after the date the IPO price of shares of the Company’s common stock is established in connection with the Company’s IPO on any date other than the date of an Annual Meeting shall be automatically granted, on the date of such Non-Employee Director’s initial election or appointment (such Non-Employee Director’s “Start Date”), an award of restricted stock units that have an aggregate fair value on such Non-Employee Director’s Start Date equal to the product of (i) $108,300 (as determined in accordance with ASC 718) and (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is (x) 365 minus (y) the number of days in the period beginning on the date of the Annual Meeting immediately preceding such Non-Employee Director’s Start Date (or, if no such Annual Meeting has occurred, the effective date of the Company’s IPO) and ending on such Non-Employee Director’s Start Date and the denominator of which is 365 (with the number of shares of common stock underlying each such award subject to adjustment as provided in the Equity Plan).

(b) Termination of Employment of Employee Directors. Members of the Board who are employees of the Company or any parent or subsidiary of the Company who subsequently terminate their employment with the Company and any parent or subsidiary of the Company and remain on the Board will receive, to the extent that they are eligible to receive, after termination from employment with the Company and any parent or subsidiary of the Company, the Annual Awards as described in Section 2(a) above.

 

2


(c) Vesting of Awards Granted to Non-Employee Directors. Each Annual Award shall vest on the first anniversary of the Grant Date, subject to the Non-Employee Director continuing in service on the Board through the applicable vesting date. No portion of an Annual Award that is unvested at the time of a Non-Employee Director’s termination of service on the Board shall become vested thereafter. All of a Non-Employee Director’s Annual Awards shall vest in full immediately prior to the occurrence of a Change in Control (as defined in the Equity Plan), to the extent outstanding at such time.

* * * * *

 

3

Exhibit 10.19

INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT AGREEMENT

This Indemnification and Advancement Agreement (“Agreement”) is made as of                         , 2020 by and between Shift4 Payments, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and                         , a member of the Board of Directors or an officer of the Company (“Indemnitee”). This Agreement supersedes and replaces any and all previous Agreements between the Company and Indemnitee covering indemnification and advancement.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) believes that highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve publicly-held corporations as directors, officers, or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification and advancement of expenses against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the corporation;

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals, the Company will attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense, liability insurance to protect persons serving the Company and its subsidiaries from certain liabilities. Although the furnishing of such insurance has been a customary and widespread practice among United States-based corporations and other business enterprises, the Company believes that, given current market conditions and trends, such insurance may be available to it in the future only at higher premiums and with more exclusions. At the same time, directors, officers, and other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises are being increasingly subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been brought only against the company or business enterprise itself. The bylaws and certificate of incorporation of the Company (each as may be amended from time to time, the “Bylaws” and “Certificate of Incorporation”, respectively) require indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company. Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”). The Bylaws, Certificate of Incorporation, and the DGCL expressly provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive, and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Company and members of the Board, officers and other persons with respect to indemnification and advancement of expenses;

WHEREAS, the uncertainties relating to such insurance, to indemnification, and to advancement of expenses may increase the difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons;

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;

WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law (as defined below) so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified;

 

1


WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Bylaws, Certificate of Incorporation and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and is not a substitute therefor, nor diminishes or abrogates any rights of Indemnitee thereunder; and

WHEREAS, Indemnitee does not regard the protection available under the Bylaws, Certificate of Incorporation, DGCL and insurance as adequate in the present circumstances, and may not be willing to serve or continue to serve as an officer or director without adequate additional protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve in such capacity. Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that Indemnitee be so indemnified and be advanced expenses.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:

Section 1. Services to the Company. Indemnitee agrees to serve as a director or officer of the Company. Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law). This Agreement does not create any obligation on the Company to continue Indemnitee in such position and is not an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise) and Indemnitee.

Section 2. Definitions. As used in this Agreement:

(a) “Agent” means any person who is authorized by the Company or an Enterprise to act for or represent the interests of the Company or an Enterprise, respectively.

(b) “Applicable Law” means applicable law, including as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Company to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the Company to provide prior to such amendment.

(c) A “Change in Control” occurs upon the earliest to occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events:

i. Acquisition of Stock by Third Party. Any Person (as defined below) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner (as defined below), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifteen percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities unless the change in relative beneficial ownership of the Company’s securities by any Person results solely from a reduction in the aggregate number of outstanding shares of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors;

ii. Change in Board of Directors. During any period of two (2) consecutive years (not including any period prior to the execution of this Agreement), individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board, and any new director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Sections 2(c)(i), 2(c)(iii) or 2(c)(iv)) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board;

 

-2-


iii. Corporate Transactions. The effective date of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other entity, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation and with the power to elect at least a majority of the board of directors or other governing body of such surviving entity;

iv. Liquidation. The approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; and

v. Other Events. There occurs any other event of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or a response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined below), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement.

vi. For purposes of this Section 2(c), the following terms have the following meanings:

 

  1

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

  2

“Person” has the meaning as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Person excludes (i) the Company, (ii) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, and (iii) any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.

 

  3

“Beneficial Owner” has the meaning given to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Beneficial Owner excludes any Person otherwise becoming a Beneficial Owner by reason of the stockholders of the Company approving a merger of the Company with another entity.

(d) “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was acting as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary, or Agent of the Company or an Enterprise.

 

-3-


(e) “Disinterested Director” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

(f) “Enterprise” means any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other entity for which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, or Agent.

(g) “Expenses” includes all attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts and other professionals, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, ERISA excise taxes and penalties, and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding. Expenses also include (i) Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including without limitation the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent, and (ii) for purposes of Section 14(d) only, Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement, by litigation or otherwise. The parties agree that for the purposes of any advancement of Expenses for which Indemnitee has made written demand to the Company in accordance with this Agreement, all Expenses included in such demand that are certified by affidavit of Indemnitee’s counsel as being reasonable in the good faith judgment of such counsel will be presumed conclusively to be reasonable.

(h) “Independent Counsel” means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either party (other than with respect to matters concerning the Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” does not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.

(i) The term “Proceeding” includes any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, claim, counterclaim, cross claim, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative, legislative, or investigative (formal or informal) nature, including any appeal therefrom, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party, potential party, non-party witness or otherwise by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status or by reason of any action taken by Indemnitee (or a failure to take action by Indemnitee) or of any action (or failure to act) on Indemnitee’s part while acting pursuant to Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or Expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of Expenses can be provided under this Agreement. A Proceeding also includes a situation the Indemnitee believes in good faith may lead to or culminate in the institution of a Proceeding.

 

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(j) “Sponsor Entities” means collectively, Searchlight Capital Partners, L.P. (“Searchlight”), a Delaware limited partnership, and its affiliates.

Section 3. Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings. The Company will indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 3, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law against all Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, in the case of a criminal Proceeding had no reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.

Section 4. Indemnity in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. The Company will indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 4, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company. The Company will not indemnify Indemnitee for Expenses under this Section 4 related to any claim, issue or matter in a Proceeding for which Indemnitee has been finally adjudged by a court to be liable to the Company, unless, and only to the extent that, the Delaware Court of Chancery (the “Delaware Court”) or any court in which the Proceeding was brought determines upon application by Indemnitee that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification.

Section 5. Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful. To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding to the extent that Indemnitee is successful, on the merits or otherwise. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with or related to each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter to the fullest extent permitted by law. For purposes of this Section 5 and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, will be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

 

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Section 6. Indemnification For Expenses of a Witness. To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party but to which Indemnitee is a witness, deponent, interviewee, or otherwise asked to participate.

Section 7. Partial Indemnification. If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of Expenses, but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which Indemnitee is entitled.

Section 8. Additional Indemnification. Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4, or 5, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law if Indemnitee is a party to or threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor).

Section 9. Exclusions. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company is not obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnification payment to Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding:

(a) for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision, except to the extent provided in Section 16(b) and except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision; or

(b) for (i) an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act (as defined in Section 2(b) hereof) or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law, (ii) any reimbursement of the Company by the Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by the Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act) or (iii) any reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any compensation pursuant to any compensation recoupment or clawback policy adopted by the Board or the compensation committee of the Board, including but not limited to any such policy adopted to comply with stock exchange listing requirements implementing Section 10D of the Exchange Act; or

(c) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Proceeding or part of any Proceeding is to enforce Indemnitee’s rights to indemnification or advancement, of Expenses, including a Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement, (ii) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) or (iii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under Applicable Law.

 

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Section 10. Advances of Expenses.

(a) The Company will advance, to the fullest extent not prohibited by Applicable Law, the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) not initiated by Indemnitee or any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee if (i) the Proceeding or part of any Proceeding is to enforce Indemnitee’s rights to obtain indemnification or advancement of Expenses from the Company or Enterprise, including a proceeding initiated pursuant to Section 14 or (ii) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation. The Company will advance the Expenses within thirty (30) days after the receipt by the Company of a written statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding.

(b) Advances will be unsecured and interest free. Indemnitee undertakes to repay the amounts advanced (without interest) to the extent that it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company. Thus Indemnitee qualifies for advances upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement to the Company. No other form of undertaking is required other than the execution of this Agreement. The Company will make advances without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement.    

Section 11. Procedure for Notification of Claim for Indemnification or Advancement.

(a) Indemnitee will notify the Company in writing of any Proceeding with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder as soon as reasonably practicable following the receipt by Indemnitee of written notice thereof. Indemnitee will include in the written notification to the Company a description of the nature of the Proceeding and the facts underlying the Proceeding and provide such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of such Proceeding. Indemnitee’s failure to notify the Company will not relieve the Company from any obligation it may have to Indemnitee under this Agreement, and any delay in so notifying the Company will not constitute a waiver by Indemnitee of any rights under this Agreement. The Secretary of the Company will, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification or advancement, advise the Board in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification or advancement.

(b) The Company will be entitled to participate in the Proceeding at its own expense.

Section 12. Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification.

(a) Unless a Change in Control has occurred, the determination of Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification will be made:

i. by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board;

 

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ii. by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board;

iii. if there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by written opinion provided by Independent Counsel selected by the Board; or

iv. if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the Company.

(b) If a Change in Control has occurred, the determination of Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification will be made by written opinion provided by Independent Counsel selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee requests such selection be made by the Board).

(c) The party selecting Independent Counsel pursuant to subsection (a)(iii) or (b) of this Section 12 will provide written notice of the selection to the other party. The notified party may, within ten (10) days after receiving written notice of the selection of Independent Counsel, deliver to the selecting party a written objection to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement, and the objection will set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected will act as Independent Counsel. If such written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or the Delaware Court has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within thirty (30) days after the later of submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof and the final disposition of the Proceeding, Independent Counsel has not been selected or, if selected, any objection to has not been resolved, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Delaware Court for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by such court or by such other person as such court designates. Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel will be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

(d) Indemnitee will cooperate with the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. The Company will advance and pay any Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making the indemnification determination irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom. The Company promptly will advise Indemnitee in writing of the determination that Indemnitee is or is not entitled to indemnification, including a description of any reason or basis for which indemnification has been denied and providing a copy of any written opinion provided to the Board by Independent Counsel.

(e) If it is determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company will make payment to Indemnitee within sixty (60) days after such determination.

 

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Section 13. Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.

(a) In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such determination will, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, presume Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 11(a) of this Agreement, and the Company will, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption. Neither the failure of the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, will be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

(b) If the determination of the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification has not been made pursuant to Section 12 within sixty (60) days after the later of (i) receipt by the Company of Indemnitee’s request for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(a), and (ii) the final disposition of the Proceeding for which Indemnitee requested Indemnification (the “Determination Period”), the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification will, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee will be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under Applicable Law. The Determination Period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto; and provided, further, the Determination Period may be extended an additional fifteen (15) days if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders pursuant to Section 12(a)(iv) of this Agreement.

(c) The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, will not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.

(d) For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee will be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee acted based on the records or books of account of the Company, its subsidiaries, or an Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the directors or officers of the Company, its subsidiaries, or an Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Company, its subsidiaries, or an Enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Company, its subsidiaries or an Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser,

 

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financial advisor or other expert selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Company, its subsidiaries, or an Enterprise. Further, Indemnitee will be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Company,” as referred to in this Agreement if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan. The provisions of this Section 13(d) is not exclusive and does not limit in any way the other circumstances in which the Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.

(e) The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, agent or employee of the Enterprise may not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining Indemnitee’s right to indemnification under this Agreement.

Section 14. Remedies of Indemnitee.

(a) Indemnitee may commence litigation against the Company in the Delaware Court to obtain indemnification or advancement of Expenses provided by this Agreement in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) the Company does not advance the full amount of Expenses pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement, (iii) the determination of entitlement to indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement within the Determination Period, (iv) the Company does not indemnify Indemnitee pursuant to Section 5 or 6 or the second to last sentence of Section 12(d) of this Agreement within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) the Company does not indemnify Indemnitee pursuant to Section 3, 4, 7, or 8 of this Agreement within sixty (60) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vi) in the event that the Company or any other person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or Proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, the Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to the Indemnitee hereunder. Indemnitee must commence such Proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within one hundred and eighty (180) days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such Proceeding pursuant to this Section 14(a); provided, however, that the foregoing clause does not apply in respect of a Proceeding brought by Indemnitee to enforce Indemnitee’s rights under Section 5 of this Agreement. The Company will not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

(b) If a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 will be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits and Indemnitee may not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination. In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 the Company will have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be, and will not introduce evidence of the determination made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement.

 

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(c) If a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company will be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under Applicable Law.

(d) The Company is, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and will stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.

(e) It is the intent of the Company that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Indemnitee not be required to incur legal fees or other Expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to the Indemnitee hereunder. The Company, to the fullest extent permitted by law, will (within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor) advance to Indemnitee such Expenses which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action concerning this Agreement, Indemnitee’s right to indemnification or advancement of Expenses from the Company, or concerning any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, and will indemnify Indemnitee against any and all such Expenses unless the court determines that each of the Indemnitee’s claims in such action were made in bad faith or were frivolous or are prohibited by law.

Section 15. Non-exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation.

(a) The indemnification and advancement of Expenses provided by this Agreement are not exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under Applicable Law, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise. The indemnification and advancement of Expenses provided by this Agreement may not be limited or restricted by any amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement in any way with respect to any action taken or omitted by Indemnitee in Indemnitee’s Corporate Status occurring prior to any amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement. To the extent that a change in Delaware law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Bylaws, Certificate of Incorporation, or this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy is cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, will not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

(b) The Company hereby acknowledges that Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement of Expenses and/or insurance provided by one or more other Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entities). The relationship between the Company and such other Persons, other than

 

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an Enterprise, with respect to the Indemnitee’s rights to indemnification, advancement of Expenses, and insurance is described by this subsection, subject to the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section 16 with respect to a Proceeding concerning Indemnitee’s Corporate Status with an Enterprise.

i. The Company hereby acknowledges and agrees:

1) the Company is the indemnitor of first resort with respect to any request for indemnification or advancement of Expenses made pursuant to this Agreement concerning any Proceeding;

2) the Company is primarily liable for all indemnification and indemnification or advancement of Expenses obligations for any Proceeding, whether created by law, organizational or constituent documents, contract (including this Agreement) or otherwise;

3) any obligation of any other Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entities) to indemnify Indemnitee and/or advance Expenses to Indemnitee in respect of any proceeding are secondary to the obligations of the Company’s obligations; and

4) the Company will indemnify Indemnitee and advance Expenses to Indemnitee hereunder to the fullest extent provided herein without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, any Sponsor Entities) or insurer of any such Person.

ii. The Company irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases (A) any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entities) from any claim of contribution, subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration or indemnification, or any other recovery of any kind in respect of amounts paid by the Company to Indemnitee pursuant to this Agreement and (B) any right to participate in any claim or remedy of Indemnitee against any Person (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entities), whether or not such claim, remedy or right arises in equity or under contract, statute or common law, including, without limitation, the right to take or receive from any Person (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entities), directly or indirectly, in cash or other property or by set-off or in any other manner, payment or security on account of such claim, remedy or right.

iii. In the event any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entities) or their insurers advances or extinguishes any liability or loss for Indemnitee, the payor has a right of subrogation against the Company or its insurers for all amounts so paid which would otherwise be payable by the Company or its insurers under this Agreement. In no event will payment by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entities) or their insurers affect the obligations of the Company hereunder or shift primary liability for the Company’s obligation to indemnify or advance of Expenses to any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entities).

 

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iv. Any indemnification or advancement of Expenses provided by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entities) is specifically in excess over the Company’s obligation to indemnify and advance Expenses or any valid and collectible insurance (including but not limited to any malpractice insurance or professional errors and omissions insurance) provided by the Company.

(c) To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees, or agents of the Company, the Company will obtain a policy or policies covering Indemnitee to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, employee or agent under such policy or policies, including coverage in the event the Company does not or cannot, for any reason, indemnify or advance Expenses to Indemnitee as required by this Agreement. If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant to this Agreement, the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company will give prompt notice of such claim or of the commencement of a Proceeding, as the case may be, to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company will thereafter take all reasonably necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies. Indemnitee agrees to assist the Company efforts to cause the insurers to pay such amounts and will comply with the terms of such policies, including selection of approved panel counsel, if required.

(d) The Company’s obligation to indemnify or advance Expenses hereunder to Indemnitee for any Proceeding concerning Indemnitee’s Corporate Status with an Enterprise will be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has actually received as indemnification or advancement of Expenses from such Enterprise. The Company and Indemnitee intend that any such Enterprise (and its insurers) be the indemnitor of first resort with respect to indemnification and advancement of Expenses for any Proceeding related to or arising from Indemnitee’s Corporate Status with such Enterprise. The Company’s obligation to indemnify and advance Expenses to Indemnitee is secondary to the obligations the Enterprise or its insurers owe to Indemnitee. Indemnitee agrees to take all reasonably necessary and desirable action to obtain from an Enterprise indemnification and advancement of Expenses for any Proceeding related to or arising from Indemnitee’s Corporate Status with such Enterprise.

(e) In the event of any payment made by the Company under this Agreement, the Company will be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee from any Enterprise or insurance carrier. Indemnitee will execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.

Section 16. Duration of Agreement. This Agreement continues until and terminates upon the later of: (a) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee ceases to have a Corporate Status or (b) one (1) year after the final termination of any Proceeding then pending in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder and of any Proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement relating thereto. The indemnification and advancement of Expenses rights provided by or granted pursuant to this Agreement are binding upon and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or of any other Enterprise, and inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s spouse, assigns, heirs, devisees, executors and administrators and other legal representatives.

 

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Section 17. Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions will be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to Applicable Law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) will be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.

Section 18. Interpretation. Any ambiguity in the terms of this Agreement will be resolved in favor of Indemnitee and in a manner to provide the maximum indemnification and advancement of Expenses permitted by law. The Company and Indemnitee intend that this Agreement provide to the fullest extent permitted by law for indemnification and advancement in excess of that expressly provided, without limitation, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, vote of the Company stockholders or disinterested directors, or Applicable Law.

Section 19. Enforcement.

(a) The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as a director or officer of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving or continuing to serve as a director or officer of the Company.

(b) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided, however, that this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and Applicable Law, and is not a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

Section 20. Modification and Waiver. No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement is binding unless executed in writing by the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement will be deemed or constitutes a waiver of any other provisions of this Agreement nor will any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

Section 21. Notice by Indemnitee. Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder. The failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Company does not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to the Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise.

 

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Section 22. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement will be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given if (a) delivered by hand to the other party, (b) sent by reputable overnight courier to the other party or (c) sent by facsimile transmission or electronic mail, with receipt of oral confirmation that such communication has been received:

(a) If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee provides to the Company.

(b) If to the Company to:

Shift4 Payments, Inc.

Address: 2202 N. Irving St.

    Allentown, PA 18109

Attention: Jordan Frankel

Email:

or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company.

Section 23. Contribution. To the fullest extent permissible under Applicable Law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, will contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such Proceeding; and/or (ii) the relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s).

Section 24. Applicable Law and Consent to Jurisdiction. This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties are governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any action or Proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement may be brought only in the Delaware Court and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or Proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or Proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (iv) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or Proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

 

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Section 25. Identical Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together constitutes one and the same Agreement. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

Section 26. Headings. The headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute part of this Agreement or affect the construction thereof.

[Signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed as of the day and year first above written.

 

SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, INC.       INDEMNITEE
By:  

                                                                           

           Name:  

                                      

Name:         Address:  

                                  

Office:          

 

         

 

 

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Exhibit 10.20

PURCHASE AGREEMENT

This PURCHASE AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is made as of May 31, 2020 (the “Effective Date”), by and between Shift4 Payments, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Rook Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Investor”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Investor desires to purchase from the Company, and the Company desires to sell and issue to the Investor, up to $100.0 million of the Class C common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (the “Class C Common Stock”), in connection with the Company’s initial public offering (the “IPO”) of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (the “Class A Common Stock”) on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement (the “Financing”);

WHEREAS, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the Effective Date, which is contemporaneously with or prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-238307) (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the IPO;

WHEREAS, the closing of the Financing shall take place concurrently with the closing of the IPO (the date of such closing, the “IPO Closing Date”) and at a purchase price per share of Class C Common Stock equal to the initial public offering price per share at which the Class A Common Stock is sold to the public in the IPO (the “IPO Price”) less the amount that will represent underwriting discounts and commissions, as set forth on the cover of the final prospectus filed with the SEC; and

WHEREAS, in order to effect the IPO, the Company shall enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”).

AGREEMENT

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

1.    Purchase and Sale of Stock.

1.1    Sale and Issuance of Stock. The Company agrees to issue and sell to the Investor, and the Investor agrees to purchase from the Company, up to $100.0 million of Class C Common Stock (the “Investment Amount”) at the IPO Price less the amount that will represent underwriting discounts and commissions, in each case on the terms and subject to the condition set forth in this Agreement; provided, however, that each of the Investor and the Company shall be entitled to decrease the Investment Amount in their sole discretion at any time prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement. The number of shares of Class C Common Stock to be sold by the Company and purchased by the Investor hereunder (the “Shares”) shall equal the number of shares determined by dividing the Investment Amount (as adjusted as necessary pursuant to the proviso in the preceding sentence) by the IPO Price less the amount that will represent underwriting discounts and commissions (rounded down to the nearest whole share). Payment of the purchase price for the Shares (the “Purchase Price”) shall be made at the Closing (as defined below) by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account specified in writing by the Company to the Investor no less than three business days prior to the IPO Closing Date, subject to the


satisfaction of the conditions set forth in this Agreement. Payment of the Purchase Price for the Shares shall be made against delivery to the Investor of the Shares, which Shares shall be uncertificated and shall be registered in the name of the Investor on the books of the Company by the Company’s transfer agent.

1.2    Closing. The closing of the sale and purchase of the Shares (the “Closing”) will take place remotely via the exchange of documents and signatures after the satisfaction or waiver of each of the conditions set forth in Section 4 (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the fulfillment or waiver of those conditions) on the IPO Closing Date.

2.    Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company hereby represents and warrants to the Investor that the following representations are true and correct as of the date hereof and as of the Closing (except to the extent any such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties are true and correct as of such earlier date). As used in this Agreement, “Registration Statement” means the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-238307) filed and declared effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”); “Preliminary Prospectus” means the most recent preliminary prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the time of effectiveness of the Registration Statement; “Prospectus” means the final prospectus filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act relating to the IPO; and “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any issuer free writing prospectus filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 433 under the Securities Act relating to the IPO.

2.1    Organization, Valid Existence and Qualification. The Company is a corporation duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has all requisite corporate power and authority to carry on its business as currently conducted; and the Company’s subsidiary is a company duly organized and validly existing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and has all requisite company power and authority to carry on its business as currently conducted. The Company is duly qualified to transact business as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which it conducts its business, except where failure to be so qualified could not reasonably be expected to result, either individually or in the aggregate, in a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, business or operations.

2.2    Authorization. All corporate action on the part of the Company necessary for the authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement, the performance of all obligations of the Company hereunder, and the authorization, issuance, sale and delivery of the Shares, has been taken or will be taken prior to the Closing, and this Agreement constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except (a) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and (b) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies.

2.3    Valid Issuance of Shares; Description of Capital Stock. The Shares that are being purchased by the Investor hereunder, when issued, sold and delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement for the consideration expressed herein, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable, and will be transferred to the Investor free of liens, encumbrances and restrictions on transfer other than (a) restrictions on transfer under this Agreement and under applicable state and federal securities laws, (b) restrictions on transfer under the lock-up agreement entered into by the Investor for the benefit of the Underwriters in the IPO, and (c) any liens, encumbrances or restrictions on transfer that are created or imposed by the Investor.

 

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2.4    Non-Contravention. No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration, qualification, designation, declaration or filing with, any federal, state or local governmental authority on the part of the Company is required in connection with the consummation of the sale and issuance of Shares contemplated by this Agreement, except for the filing of notices of the sale of Shares pursuant to Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The Company is not in violation or default of any provision of its certificate of incorporation or bylaws, or in violation or default in any material respect of any instrument, judgment, order, writ or decree to which it is a party or by which it is bound, or, to its knowledge, of any provision of any federal or state statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Company, except for such violations or defaults of any federal or state statute, rule or regulation that could not reasonably be expected to result, either individually or in the aggregate, in a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, business or operations.

2.5    No Brokers. The Company has not incurred, and will not incur in connection with the sale of the Shares, any brokerage or finders’ fees, or agents’ commissions or similar liabilities.

2.6    Charter Documents; Capitalization. Upon consummation of the IPO on the IPO Closing Date, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company and the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company will be in the forms as filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement (collectively, the “Charter Documents”) and the capitalization of the Company will be as set forth in the Registration Statement. Upon consummation of the Financing the Class C Common Stock shall the rights and privileges as set forth in such Charter Documents.

3.    Representations and Warranties of the Investor. The Investor hereby represents and warrants to the Company that the following representations are true and correct as of the date hereof and as of the Closing (except to the extent any such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties are true and correct as of such earlier date):

3.1    Authorization. The investor has all requisite power and authority to enter into this Agreement, and this Agreement constitutes its valid and legally binding obligation, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except (a) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and (b) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies.

3.2    Purchase Entirely for Own Account. This Agreement is made with the Investor in reliance upon the Investor’s representations to the Company, which by the Investor’s execution of this Agreement the Investor hereby confirms, that the Shares acquired by the Investor hereunder will be acquired for investment for the Investor’s own account, not as a nominee or agent, and not with a view to the resale or distribution of any part thereof, and that the Investor has no present intention of selling, granting any participation in, or otherwise distributing the same. By executing this Agreement, the Investor further represents that the Investor does not have any contract, undertaking, agreement or arrangement with any person to sell, transfer or grant participation rights to such person or to any third person with respect to any of the Shares.

3.3    No Solicitation. At no time was the Investor presented with or solicited by any publicly issued or circulated newspaper, mail, radio, television or other form of general advertising or solicitation in connection with the offer, sale and purchase of the Shares.

3.4    Access to Information. The Investor has received or has had full access to all the information it considers necessary or appropriate to make an informed investment decision with respect to the Shares to be purchased by the Investor under this Agreement. The Investor further has had an opportunity to ask questions and receive answers from the Company regarding the terms and conditions of the offering of the Shares. The foregoing, however, does not in any way limit or modify the representations and warranties made by the Company in Section 2.

 

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3.5    Investment Experience. The Investor understands that the purchase of the Shares involves substantial risk. The Investor has experience as an investor in securities of companies and acknowledges that the Investor is able to fend for itself, can bear the economic risk of the Investor’s investment in the Shares, including a complete loss of the investment, and has such knowledge and experience in financial or business matters that the Investor is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of this investment in the Shares and protecting its own interests in connection with this investment. The Investor represents that the office in which its investment decision was made is located at the address set forth in Section 6.6.

3.6    Accredited Investor. The Investor understands the term “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act and is an “accredited investor” for the purposes of acquiring the Shares to be purchased by the Investor under this Agreement.

3.7    Restricted Securities.

(a)    The Investor understands that the Shares are characterized as “restricted securities” under the Securities Act inasmuch as they are being acquired from the Company in a transaction not involving a public offering and that under the Securities Act and applicable regulations thereunder such securities may be resold without registration under the Securities Act only in certain limited circumstances. In this connection, the Investor represents that the Investor is familiar with Rule 144 of the Securities Act, as presently in effect, and understands the resale limitations imposed thereby and by the Securities Act.

(b)    The Investor understands that the certificates or book entries evidencing or representing the Shares may bear one or all of the following legends (or substantially similar legends):

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF APPLICABLE STATES. THESE SECURITIES ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY AND RESALE AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED OR RESOLD EXCEPT AS PERMITTED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION OR EXEMPTION THEREFROM. INVESTORS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THEY MAY BE REQUIRED TO BEAR THE FINANCIAL RISKS OF THIS INVESTMENT FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME.

THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO A LOCK-UP AGREEMENT EXECUTED BY THE ORIGINAL HOLDER OF THESE SHARES, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THE ISSUER. AS A RESULT OF SUCH AGREEMENT, THESE SHARES MAY NOT BE TRADED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE CLASS C COMMON STOCK OF THE ISSUER HEREOF. SUCH RESTRICTION IS BINDING ON TRANSFEREES OF THESE SHARES.

3.8    No Brokers. The Investor has not incurred, and will not incur in connection with the purchase of the Shares, any brokerage or finders’ fees, or agents’ commissions or similar liabilities.

 

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4.    Conditions to the Investor’s Obligations at Closing. The obligations of the Investor under this Agreement at Closing are subject to the fulfillment or waiver, on or by Closing, of each of the following conditions, which waiver may be given by written communication to the Company or its counsel in accordance with Section 6.6.

4.1    Representations and Warranties. Each of the representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 2 shall be true and accurate in all material respects on and as of the Closing with the same force and effect as if they had been made at the Closing, except for (a) those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a particular date (which shall remain true and correct as of such particular date), and (b) those representations and warranties which (i) are qualified as to materiality or (ii) provide that the Company’s failure to comply with such representation or warranty would not result in a material adverse effect, which shall be true and accurate in every respect as of the Closing.

4.2    IPO. The Underwriters shall have purchased the Firm Shares (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) at the IPO Price (less any underwriting discounts or commissions).

4.3    NYSE Listing. The Class A Common Stock shall have been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange, subject only to official notice of issuance.

4.4    Charter Documents. The Charter Documents shall be effective.

4.5    Shares. The Shares shall be registered in the name of the Investor on the books of the Company by the Company’s transfer agent as specified in Section 1.1 of this Agreement.

5.    Conditions to the Company’s Obligations at Closing. The obligations of the Company under this Agreement at the Closing are subject to the fulfillment, on or by the Closing, of each of the following conditions, which waiver may be given by written communication to the Investor or its counsel in accordance with Section 6.6:

5.1    Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Investor contained in Section 3 shall be true and accurate in all material respects on and as of the Closing with the same force and effect as if they had been made at the Closing, except for those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a particular date (which shall remain true and correct as of such particular date).

5.2    Payment of the Purchase Price. The Investor shall have delivered the Purchase Price as specified in Section 1.1 of this Agreement.

5.3    Delivery of Lock-up Agreement. The Investor shall have delivered to the Company or the Underwriters a Lock-up Agreement (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) substantially in the form previously agreed on by the Investor and the Company duly executed by the Investor.

5.4    IPO. The Underwriters shall have purchased the Firm Shares at the IPO Price (less any underwriting discounts or commissions).

 

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6.    Miscellaneous.

6.1    Registration Rights. The Company shall exercise its best efforts (including, without limitation, obtain any required consents) to grant to the Investor registration rights with respect to the Shares on terms as set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement, to be entered into as of the date of the effectiveness of the IPO, between the Company and the investors named therein (as in effect on the date hereof), as promptly as practicable after the Closing.

6.2    Survival of Representations and Warranties. The respective representations and warranties of the Company and the Investor contained in, or made pursuant to, this Agreement shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement until the Closing, and shall in no way be affected by any investigation of the subject matter thereof made by or on behalf of the Investor or the Company.

6.3    Governing Law; Consent to Forum. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of New York (without reference to the conflicts of law provisions thereof). EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY CONSENTS TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY FEDERAL OR STATE COURT SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY, NEW YORK, IN ANY PROCEEDING OR DISPUTE ARISING OUT OF, OR RELATING IN ANY WAY TO, THIS AGREEMENT, AND AGREES THAT ANY SUCH PROCEEDING SHALL BE BROUGHT SOLELY BY IT IN ANY SUCH COURT. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, OBJECTIONS AND DEFENSES THAT IT MAY HAVE REGARDING SUCH COURT’S PERSONAL OR SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION, VENUE OR INCONVENIENT FORUM. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 6.6 OF THIS AGREEMENT.

6.4    Counterparts; Facsimile Signatures. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement may be executed and delivered by facsimile, or by email in portable document format (.pdf), and upon such delivery of the signature page by such method will be deemed to have the same effect as if the original signature had been delivered to the other parties.

6.5    Headings; Interpretation. In this Agreement, (a) the meaning of defined terms shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined, (b) the captions and headings are used only for convenience and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement and (c) the words “including,” “includes” and “include” shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” All references in this Agreement to sections, paragraphs, exhibits and schedules shall, unless otherwise provided, refer to sections and paragraphs hereof and exhibits and schedules attached hereto, all of which exhibits and schedules are incorporated herein by this reference.

6.6    Notices. All notices required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given: (a) upon personal delivery to the party to be notified; (b) when sent by confirmed electronic mail or confirmed facsimile if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, and if not sent during normal business hours, then on the next Business Day (as defined below); (c) five (5) Business Days after having been sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid; or (d) one (1) Business Day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, specifying next day delivery, with written verification of receipt. All notices not delivered personally or by facsimile or email transmission will be sent with postage and/or other charges prepaid and properly addressed to the party to be notified at the address, email address or facsimile number as follows, or at such other address, email address or facsimile number as such other party may designate by one of the indicated means of notice herein to the other parties hereto as follows:

 

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(a)    if to the Investor:

Rook Holdings, Inc.

2202 N. Irving St.

Allentown, Pennsylvania 18109

Attn: Jared Isaacman

E-mail:

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

Kane Kessler, P.C.

Attn: Mitchell D. Hollander and Robert Lawrence

Facsimile:

E-mail:

and

(b)    if to the Company:

Shift4 Payments, Inc.

2202 N. Irving St.

Allentown, Pennsylvania 18109

Telephone:

Attn: Jordan Frankel, General Counsel

E-mail:

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

Latham & Watkins LLP

885 Third Avenue

New York, New York 10022

Attn: Marc Jaffe and Ian Schuman

Facsimile:

E-mail:

6.7    No Finder’s Fees. The Investor agrees to indemnify and to hold harmless the Company from any liability for any commission or compensation in the nature of a finders’ or broker’s fee (and any asserted liability as a result of the performance of services of any such finder or broker), agents’ commissions or similar liabilities (and the costs and expenses of defending against any such liability or asserted liability) for which the Investor or any of its officers, partners, employees, or representatives is responsible. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Investor from any liability for any commission or compensation in the nature of a finder’s or broker’s fee (and any asserted liability as a result of the performance of services by any such finder or broker), agents’ commissions or similar liabilites (and the costs and expenses of defending against any such liability or asserted liability) for which the Company or any of its officers, employees or representatives is responsible.

6.8    Amendments and Waivers. Any term of this Agreement may be amended and the observance of any term of this Agreement may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively), only with the written consent of the Company and the Investor. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 6.8 shall be binding upon each holder of any Shares at the time outstanding, each future holder of such securities, and the Company. No delay or

 

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failure to require performance of any provision of this Agreement shall constitute a waiver of that provision as to that or any other instance. No waiver granted under this Agreement as to any one provision herein shall constitute a subsequent waiver of such provision or of any other provision herein, nor shall it constitute the waiver of any performance other than the actual performance specifically waived.

6.9    Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is determined by any court or arbitrator of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such provision will be enforced to the maximum extent possible given the intent of the parties hereto. If such clause or provision cannot be so enforced, such provision shall be stricken from this Agreement and the remainder of this Agreement shall be enforced as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable clause or provision had (to the extent not enforceable) never been contained in this Agreement.

6.10    Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all prior negotiations, correspondence, agreements, understandings, duties, or obligations, whether oral or written, between or among the parties hereto with respect to the specific subject matter hereof.

6.11    Third Parties. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any person, other than the parties hereto and their successors and assigns, any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement.

6.12    Costs, Expenses. The Company and the Investor will each bear their own expenses in connection with the preparation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the Financing.

6.13    Further Assurances. The parties agree to execute such further documents and instruments and to take such further actions as may be reasonably necessary to carry out the purposes and intent of this Agreement.

6.14    Termination. This Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the earliest to occur, if any, of: (a) either the Company, on the one hand, or either of the Underwriters, on the other hand, advising the other in writing, prior to the execution of the Underwriting Agreement, that they have determined not to proceed with the IPO, (b) termination of the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) prior to the sale of any of the Class A Common Stock to the Underwriters, (c) the Registration Statement filed with the SEC with respect to the IPO is withdrawn, (d) the written consent of each of the Company and the Investor or (e) December 31, 2020, if the IPO Closing Date has not occurred on or prior to such date. Upon termination of this Agreement, to the extent that the Investor has paid all or any portion of the Purchase Price to the Company, the Company shall refund the Purchase Price, or any portion thereof so paid by the Investor, in full to the Investor by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account specified in writing by the Investor to the Company within one business day.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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

 

COMPANY:
SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Bradley Herring

Name:   Bradley Herring
Title:   Chief Financial Officer
INVESTOR:
ROOK HOLDINGS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Jared Isaacman

Name:   Jared Isaacman
Title:   President

[Signature Page to Purchase Agreement]

Exhibit 10.21

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This Employment Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated as of [●], 2020, is made by and between Shift4 Payments, Inc., a Delaware corporation (together with any successor thereto, the “Company”), and Jared Isaacman (“Executive”) (collectively referred to as the “Parties” or individually referred to as a “Party”).

WHEREAS, Executive is party to that certain Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement, dated April [•], 2016, with Shift4 Payments, LLC, the Company’s principal operating subsidiary (the “Prior Agreement”);

WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Company to assure itself of the services of Executive following the Effective Date (as defined below) and thereafter on the terms herein provided by entering into this Agreement; and

WHEREAS, it is the desire of Executive to provide services to the Company following the Effective Date and thereafter on the terms herein provided.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, and for other good and valuable consideration, including the respective covenants and agreements set forth below, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto agree as follows:

1.    Employment.

(a)    General. Effective as of the first date hereafter on which the Company’s common stock is listed (or approved for listing) on any securities exchange or designated (or approved for designation) as a national market security on an interdealer quotation system, or such other date mutually agreed in writing between the Parties (such date, the “Effective Date”), the Company shall employ Executive and Executive shall remain in the employ of the Company, for the period and in the positions set forth in this Section 1, and subject to the other terms and conditions herein.

(b)    Employment Term. The term of employment under this Agreement (the “Term”) shall commence on the Effective Date and end on the third (3rd) anniversary of the Effective Date, subject to earlier termination as provided in Section 3 below. The Term shall automatically renew for additional twelve (12) month periods unless no later than ninety (90) days prior to the end of the applicable Term either Party gives written notice of non-renewal (“Notice of Non-Renewal”) to the other, in which case Executive’s employment will terminate at the end of the then-applicable Term, subject to earlier termination as provided in Section 3 below.

(c)    Positions. Executive shall serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company with such responsibilities, duties and authority normally associated with such position and as may from time to time be reasonably assigned to Executive by the Board, as defined below. Executive shall report directly to the Board. In addition, as soon as reasonably possible following the creation of three classes of directors pursuant to the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, the Board shall take such action as may be necessary to appoint or elect Executive to serve as a Class III member of the Board. Thereafter, during the Term, the Board shall nominate Executive for re-election as a member of the Board at the expiration of the then current term, provided that the foregoing shall not be required to the


extent prohibited by legal or regulatory requirements. Executive shall use his reasonable best efforts to attend each regular meeting of the Board, and such other meetings for which there is reasonable prior notice, in person, except as may be otherwise agreed by the Board prior to such meeting. At the Company’s request, Executive shall serve the Company and/or its subsidiaries and affiliates in such other capacities in addition to the foregoing as the Company shall designate, provided that such additional capacities are consistent with Executive’s position as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. In the event that Executive serves in any one or more of such additional capacities, Executive’s compensation shall not automatically be increased on account of such additional service.

(d)    Duties. Executive shall devote substantially all of Executive’s working time, attention and efforts to the business and affairs of the Company (which shall include service to its affiliates), except during any paid vacation or other excused absence periods. Executive shall not engage in outside business activities (including serving on outside boards or committees) without the prior written consent of the Board (which the Board may grant or withhold in its sole and absolute discretion); provided that Executive shall be permitted to (i) act as a director of Draken International, Inc., member or manager of JDI Holdings, LLC, and an officer, director and shareholder of Rook Holdings, Inc.; (ii) have a direct and/or indirect ownership interest in non-competing companies and, to the extent any such companies are majority-owned by the Executive, serve as an officer and director of such companies; (iii) serve on the board of directors (or as an advisor) of any business corporation other than a competitor of the Company or where the Board reasonably determines there is an actual conflict of interest; (iv) serve on the board of directors of, or work for, any charitable, non-profit or community organization other than a competitor of the Company or where the Board reasonably determines there is an actual conflict of interest; or (v) pursue his personal financial and legal affairs, in each case, subject to compliance with this Agreement and provided that such activities do not materially interfere with Executive’s performance of Executive’s duties and responsibilities hereunder or violate any restrictive covenants applicable to Executive pursuant to any written agreement with the Company (including, without limitation, the restrictive covenants set forth in Section 5). Executive agrees to observe and comply with the rules and policies of the Company as adopted by the Company from time to time, in each case as amended from time to time, as set forth in writing, and as delivered or made available to Executive (each, a “Policy”), provided that the terms of such Policies do not conflict with the terms of this Agreement, in which case this Agreement shall control.

(e)    Location. Executive shall perform his duties hereunder at the offices of the Company located in Allentown, PA, but from time to time Executive may be reasonably required to travel to other locations in the proper conduct of Executive’s responsibilities under this Agreement and may fulfil his duties when traveling for other reasons.

(f)    Termination of Prior Agreement. Effective as of the Effective Date, the Prior Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force and effect.

 

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2.    Compensation and Related Matters.

(a)    Annual Base Salary. During the Term, Executive shall receive a base salary at a rate of $50,000 per annum, which shall be paid in accordance with the customary payroll practices of the Company and shall be pro-rated for partial years of employment (the “Annual Base Salary”).

(b)    Annual Bonus. During the Term, Executive will be eligible to participate in an annual incentive program established by the Board or the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”). Executive’s annual incentive compensation under such incentive program (the “Annual Bonus”) shall be at the discretion of the Compensation Committee and the Board (with any appointees affiliated with Executive or Searchlight Capital Partners, L.P. abstaining), provided that the Compensation Committee and the Board shall meet at least annually to discuss the Annual Bonus. Such discussion shall include review of executive compensation comparables for similarly situated CEOs (whether presented to the Company by executive compensation specialists or otherwise) and giving consideration to Executive’s Annual Base Salary in comparison to the base salaries of such comparable CEOs.

(c)    Annual Equity Awards. During the Term, Executive will be eligible to participate in the Company’s equity incentive plans for executives and employees and receive annual equity awards thereunder, as determined at the discretion of the Compensation Committee and the Board (with any appointees affiliated with Executive or Searchlight Capital Partners, L.P. abstaining) and subject to the terms of the Company’s equity incentive plans and applicable award agreements by and between Executive and the Company, provided that the Compensation Committee and the Board shall meet at least annually to discuss the annual equity award. Such discussion shall include review of executive compensation comparables for similarly situated CEOs (whether presented to the Company by executive compensation specialists or otherwise) and giving consideration to Executive’s Annual Base Salary in comparison to the base salaries of such comparable CEOs. Equity awards shall be in the form of restricted stock awards not subject to time or performance-based vesting unless otherwise required by the Compensation Committee or the Board in their discretion.

(d)    Benefits. During the Term, Executive shall be eligible to participate in employee benefit plans, programs and arrangements as the Company may from time to time offer to provide to its executives, consistent with the terms thereof and as such plans, programs and arrangements may be amended from time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein is intended, or shall be construed, to require the Company to institute or continue any, or any particular, plan or benefit. During the Term, Executive shall also be entitled to benefits that are consistent with past practice, including a private car and driver, two leased automobiles and insurance for those automobiles, and life and health insurance policies.

(e)    Vacation; Holidays. During the Term, Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation per calendar year (pro-rated for partial years) in accordance with the Policies, but in any event not less than four (4) weeks of paid vacation per year. Any vacation shall be taken at the reasonable and mutual convenience of the Company and Executive. In addition, the Company offers employees time off for standard Company holidays in accordance with the Policies.

 

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(f)    Business Expenses. During the Term, the Company shall reimburse Executive for all reasonable travel and other business expenses incurred by Executive in the performance of Executive’s duties to the Company in accordance with the Company’s expense reimbursement Policy in effect from time to time. Business expense reimbursement shall include reimbursements that are consistent with past practice, including home office, cell phone and computer/laptop expenses. If Executive travels on a commercial airline, Executive will be entitled to travel first class or, if unavailable, business class.

(g)    Professional Expenses. During the Term, the Company shall reimburse Executive for legal, accounting, tax and other advisory fees and expenses reasonably incurred by Executive in connection with his employment by the Company and/or Executive’s ownership of equity in the Company or Shift4 Payments, LLC.

(h)    Key Person Insurance. At any time during the Term, the Company shall have the right to insure the life of Executive for the Company’s sole benefit. The Company shall have the right to determine the amount of insurance and the type of policy. Executive shall reasonably cooperate with the Company in obtaining such insurance by submitting to physical examinations, by supplying all information reasonably required by any insurance carrier, and by executing all necessary documents reasonably required by any insurance carrier, provided that any information provided to an insurance company or broker shall not be provided to the Company without the prior written authorization of Executive. Executive shall incur no financial obligation by executing any required document, and shall have no interest in any such policy.

(i)    Indemnification. The Company hereby agrees to indemnify Executive and hold Executive harmless to the fullest extent permitted under the organizational documents of the Company and applicable law against and in respect of any and all actions, suits, proceedings, claims, demands, judgments, costs, expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees), losses, and damages (including advancement of fees and expenses) resulting from Executive’s good faith performance of Executive’s duties and obligations with the Company hereunder. The Company shall cover Executive under directors’ and officers’ liability insurance both during and, while potential liability exists, after the Term in the same amount and to the same extent as the Company covers its other officers and directors. The foregoing obligations shall survive the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company, and shall be in addition to any other indemnification rights Executive is entitled to, under existing indemnification agreements or otherwise.

(j)    Attorney and other Professional Expenses. Upon the Executive’s submission of appropriate itemized proof and verification of reasonable and customary legal, tax and accounting fees incurred by Executive in obtaining legal, tax and accounting advice associated with the review, preparation, approval, and execution of this Agreement and the review of the IPO process, the Company shall reimburse Executive for all such legal, tax and accounting fees in an amount not to exceed $[    ], in accordance with the Company’s expense reimbursement policy following receipt of an invoice for legal, accounting and tax services from Executive and/or his advisors.

(k)    Enforcement of this Agreement. In the event of any suit or action to enforce or interpret any provision of this Agreement, each party shall pay all its own costs and expenses, including without limitation its own legal fees and expenses; provided that if a party obtains a judgement on the merits in such suit or action that substantially achieves in substance and amount the full remedy sought, then the other party shall reimburse the prevailing party for all reasonable and documented legal fees and expenses incurred by the prevailing party in connection with such suit or action.

 

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3.    Termination.

(a)    Circumstances. Executive’s employment hereunder may be terminated by the Company or Executive, as applicable, without any breach of this Agreement under the following circumstances:

(i)    Death. Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate upon Executive’s death.

(ii)    Disability. If Executive has incurred a Disability, as defined below, the Company may terminate Executive’s employment.

(iii)    Termination for Cause. The Company may terminate Executive’s employment for Cause, as defined below.

(iv)    Termination without Cause. The Company may terminate Executive’s employment without Cause, which shall include Executive’s termination as a result of the Company delivering a Notice of Non-Renewal.

(v)    Resignation from the Company with Good Reason. Executive may resign Executive’s employment with the Company with Good Reason, as defined below.

(vi)    Resignation from the Company without Good Reason. Executive may resign Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason other than Good Reason or for no reason, which shall include Executive’s termination as a result of Executive delivering a Notice of Non-Renewal.

(b)    Notice of Termination. During the Term, any termination of Executive’s employment by the Company or by Executive under this Section 3 (other than termination pursuant to Section 3(a)(i) above) shall be communicated by a written notice (a “Notice of Termination”) to the other Party hereto (i) indicating the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) setting forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated, if applicable, and (iii) specifying a Date of Termination (as defined below). The failure by either party to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance shall not waive any right of the party hereunder or preclude the party from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the party’s rights hereunder.

(c)    Termination Date. For purposes of this Agreement, “Date of Termination” shall mean the date of the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company, which, if Executive’s employment is terminated as a result of Executive’s death, will be the date of Executive’s death, and otherwise shall be the date specified in a Notice of Termination. Except in the case of a termination pursuant to Sections 3(a)(i) and (iii) above, the Date of Termination shall be at least thirty (30) days following the date of the Notice of Termination; provided, however,

 

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that the Company may deliver a Notice of Termination to Executive that specifies any Date of Termination that occurs on or after the date of its Notice of Termination and, in the event that Executive delivers a Notice of Termination to the Company, the Company may, in its sole discretion, change the Date of Termination to any date that occurs on or following the date of the Notice of Termination and is prior to the Date of Termination specified in the Notice of Termination.

4.    Obligations upon a Termination of Employment.

(a)    Company Obligations upon Termination. Upon termination of Executive’s employment pursuant to any of the circumstances listed in Section 3(a) above, Executive (or Executive’s estate) shall be entitled to receive the sum of: (i) the portion of Executive’s Annual Base Salary earned through the Date of Termination, but not yet paid to Executive; (ii) any unpaid Annual Bonus earned by Executive for the year prior to the year in which the Date of Termination occurs, as determined by the Board in its good faith discretion based upon actual performance achieved, which Annual Bonus, if any, shall be paid to Executive when bonuses for such year are paid to actively employed senior executives of the Company but in no event later than March 15 of the year in which the Date of Termination occurs; (iii) any accrued but unpaid paid vacation owed to Executive pursuant to Section 2(e) above, if applicable; (iv) any expenses owed to Executive pursuant to Sections 2(f), (g), (j) or (k) above; and (v) any amount accrued and arising from Executive’s participation in, or benefits accrued under any employee benefit plans, programs or arrangements, which amounts shall be payable in accordance with the terms and conditions of such employee benefit plans, programs or arrangements (collectively, the “Company Arrangements”). Except as otherwise expressly required by law or as specifically provided in a Company Arrangement, this Section 4 or otherwise in this Agreement, all of Executive’s rights to salary, severance, benefits, bonuses and other compensatory amounts hereunder (if any) shall cease upon the termination of Executive’s employment hereunder.

(b)    Executive’s Obligations upon Termination.

(i)    Cooperation. Executive shall provide Executive’s reasonable cooperation in connection with any action or proceeding (or any appeal from any action or proceeding) which relates to events occurring during Executive’s employment hereunder; provided the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Executive with respect to any such cooperation and reimburse Executive for Executive’s reasonable costs and expenses (including legal counsel selected by Executive and reasonably acceptable to the Company) and such cooperation shall not unreasonably burden Executive or unreasonably interfere with any subsequent employment that Executive may undertake.

(ii)    Return of Company Property. Executive hereby acknowledges and agrees that all Personal Property (as defined below) and equipment furnished to, or prepared by, Executive in the course of, or incident to, Executive’s employment, belongs to the Company and shall be promptly returned to the Company upon termination of Executive’s employment (and will not be kept in Executive’s possession or delivered to anyone else). For purposes of this Agreement, “Personal Property” includes, without limitation, all books, manuals, records, reports, notes, contracts, lists, blueprints, and other documents, or materials, or copies thereof (including computer files), keys, building card keys,

 

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company credit cards, telephone calling cards, computer hardware and software, laptop computers, docking stations, cellular and portable telephone equipment, personal digital assistant (PDA) devices and all other proprietary information relating to the business of the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates. Following termination, Executive shall not retain any written or other tangible material containing any proprietary information of the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates.

(c)    Continued Benefits Coverage upon a Termination. If Executive’s employment terminates pursuant to Section 3(a)(i) due to Executive’s death, Section 3(a)(ii) due to Executive’s Disability (as defined below), Section 3(a)(iv) due to the Company’s termination without Cause or Section 3(a)(v) due to Executive’s resignation with Good Reason, or at the end of the Term as a result of the Company delivering a Notice of Non-Renewal, then, subject to Executive’s continued compliance with Section 5 below, Executive shall receive, in addition to payments and benefits set forth in Section 4(a) above, unless the Executive earlier receives healthcare through an alternate employer, thirty-six (36) months of payments for Executive and his eligible dependents to continue coverage under Section 4980B of the Code and the regulations thereunder (as if Executive had remained employed by the Company and based on coverage as of immediately prior to the Date of Termination), or receive monthly reimbursement during such 36-month period for equivalent coverage, payable, less applicable withholdings and deductions, monthly.

(d)    Acceleration of Vesting upon a Change in Control. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any applicable Company equity plan or equity agreement upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, the vesting (and, if applicable, exercisability) shall be accelerated (and, if applicable, all restrictions and rights of repurchase on such awards shall lapse), effective as of immediately prior to the date of such Change in Control, with respect to 100% of Executive’s unvested equity awards, whether time-based and/or performance based, and any such vested awards subject to exercisability shall be exercisable by Executive up to the later of the outside exercise date set forth in such award and, if Executive’s employment has terminated, one hundred eighty (180) days following the Date of Termination, after which date any such vested awards that have not been exercised shall be forfeited.

(e)    No Requirement to Mitigate. Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement by seeking other employment or in any other manner and Executive shall continue to receive any payments or benefits to which he is entitled to under this Agreement regardless of whether he seeks or obtains subsequent employment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the termination of Executive’s employment shall not impair the rights or obligations of any Party.

(f)    Other Company Obligations.

(i)    Following termination of Executive’s employment and for so long as Executive holds equity in the Company or any of its subsidiaries, the Company will make its senior executives and other personnel as appropriate available to Executive on a reasonable basis in order to consult with Executive respect to (i) any post-termination issues and (ii) Executive’s equity holdings in the Company and/or its subsidiaries.

 

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(ii)    Following termination of Executive’s employment and for so long as Executive holds equity in the Company or any of its subsidiaries, the Company will continue reimburse Executive[, for up to 36 months following termination,] for legal, accounting, tax and other advisory fees and expenses reasonably incurred by Executive in connection with his former employment and/or Executive’s ownership of equity in the Company and Shift4 Payments, LLC other than with respect to any dispute between Executive and the Company.

5.    Restrictive Covenants and Confidentiality.

(a)    The Executive hereby agrees that the Executive shall not, at any time during the Restricted Period, directly or indirectly engage in, have any interest in (including, without limitation, through the investment of capital or lending of money or property), or manage, operate or otherwise render any services to, any Person (whether on his own or in association with others, as a principal, director, officer, employee, agent, representative, partner, member, security holder, consultant, advisor, independent contractor, owner, investor, participant or in any other capacity) that engages in (either directly or through any subsidiary or affiliate thereof) any business or activity which is competitive with any material service or product offering that, as of the Date of Termination, the Company or any entity owned by the Company anywhere in the United States. For these purposes, “competitive” entities shall consist of businesses that are competitive with, or substantially similar to, the Company’s business as of the Date of Termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive shall be permitted to acquire a passive stock or equity interest in such a business; provided that such stock or other equity interest acquired is not more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding interest in such business.

(b)    The Executive hereby agrees that the Executive shall not, at any time during the Restricted Period, directly or indirectly, either for himself or on behalf of any other Person, recruit or otherwise solicit or induce any suppliers or customers of the Company to terminate its arrangement with the Company, or otherwise change its relationship with the Company. For these purposes, a “customer” of the Company shall be all Persons that have actually used the Company’s services or purchased its products at any time prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period.

(c)    In the event the terms of this Section 5 shall be determined by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable by reason of its extending for too great a period of time or over too great a geographical area or by reason of its being too extensive in any other respect, it will be interpreted to extend only over the maximum period of time for which it may be enforceable, over the maximum geographical area as to which it may be enforceable, or to the maximum extent in all other respects as to which it may be enforceable, all as determined by such court in such action. Any breach or violation by the Executive of the provisions of this Section 5 shall toll the running of any time periods set forth in this Section 5 for the duration of any such breach or violation.

(d)    As used in this Section 5, the term “Company” shall include the Company and any parent, affiliated, related and/or direct or indirect subsidiary entity thereof.

 

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(e)    The Executive acknowledges that during his employment with the Company, the Executive had access to, received and had been entrusted with Confidential Information (as defined below), which is considered secret and/or proprietary and has great value to the Company and that except for the Executive’s engagement by the Company, the Executive would not otherwise have access to such Confidential Information. The Executive recognizes that all such Confidential Information is the property of the Company. Subject to Section 4(b), during and at all times after employment with the Company, the Executive shall keep all of the Confidential Information in confidence and shall not disclose any of the same to any other person, except in the proper course and scope of the Executive’s duties or with the prior written consent of the Company. The Executive shall use his or her best efforts to prevent publication or disclosure of any Confidential Information and shall not, directly or indirectly, intentionally cause the Confidential Information to be used for the gain or benefit of any party outside of the Company or for the Executive’s personal gain or benefit outside the scope of the Executive’s engagement by the Company.

6.    Assignment and Successors.

The Company may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any of its affiliates or to any successor to all or substantially all of the business or the assets of the Company (by merger or otherwise). This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company, Executive and their respective successors, assigns, personnel and legal representatives, executors, administrators, heirs, distributees, devisees, and legatees, as applicable. None of Executive’s rights or obligations may be assigned or transferred by Executive, other than Executive’s rights to payments hereunder, which may be transferred only by will or operation of law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive shall be entitled, to the extent permitted under applicable law and applicable Company Arrangements or other payments or benefits provided to Executive under this Agreement, to select and change a beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive compensation hereunder following Executive’s death by giving written notice thereof to the Company.

7.    Certain Definitions.

(a)    “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company or an authorized committee of the Board.

(b)    “Cause” shall mean a termination by the Company for one of the following reasons: (i) Executive’s fraud or embezzlement with respect to the Company; (ii) Executive’s breach of fiduciary duties to the Company; (iii) Executive’s willful and continuing failure to substantially perform his obligations under this Agreement after reasonable written notice detailing such failure and an opportunity to cure; (iv) Executive’s conviction or plea of nolo contendere or guilty in respect of a felony; or (vi) Executive’s willful or grossly negligent misconduct that has resulted in a material adverse effect on the property, business, or reputation of the Company.

(c)     “Change in Control” of the Company shall be deemed to have occurred in the event that: (i) the Company shall have been sold by either (A) a sale of all or substantially all its assets, or (B) a merger or consolidation, other than any merger or consolidation pursuant to which the Company acquires another entity, or (C) a tender offer, whether solicited or unsolicited; or (ii) any Person or group of Persons, other than the Company, Executive or any of his affiliates, is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), directly or indirectly, of voting securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the total voting power of all the then-outstanding voting securities of the Company.

 

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(d)     “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder.

(e)    “Confidential Information” shall mean all information or material (i) that is developed by the Company or any of its affiliates, relates to the business, operations, employees, customers and/or clients of the Company or any of its affiliates and, if disclosed, could reasonably cause non-de minimis harm to the interests of the Company and/or its affiliates, or (ii) which is either (A) marked “Confidential Information”, “Proprietary Information” or with another similar marking, or (B) from all the relevant circumstances should reasonably be assumed by Executive to be confidential and proprietary to the Company. Confidential Information may include, but is not limited to, trade secrets, inventions, drawings, file data, documentation, diagrams, specifications, know-how, ideas, processes, formulas, models, flow charts, software in various stages of development, source codes, object codes, research and development procedures, research or development and test results, marketing techniques and materials, marketing and development plans, price lists, pricing policies, business plans, information relating to the Company and its customers and/or producers or other suppliers’ identities, characteristics and agreements, financial information and projections, and employee files, in each case, whether disclosed or made available to Executive in writing, orally or by drawings or observation, or whether intangible or embodied in documentation, software, hardware or other tangible form. Confidential Information also includes any information described above which the Company obtains from another party and which the Company treats as proprietary or designates as Confidential Information, whether or not owned or developed by the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Confidential Information shall not include any information that is (w) known by Executive as a result of Executive’s experience in the Company’s industry generally and not specific to the Company, (x) known to the public or becomes known to the public through no fault of Executive, (y) received by Executive on a non-confidential basis from a person that is not known to the Executive to be bound by an obligation of confidentiality to the Company or its affiliates, or (z) in Executive’s possession prior to receipt from the Company or its affiliates, as evidenced by Executive’s written records. Furthermore, nothing contained herein shall be deemed to prohibit any disclosure that is required by law or court order, provided that the Company is given reasonable prior notice and an opportunity to contest or minimize such disclosure.

(f)    “Disability” shall mean any physical or mental impairment that prevents Executive from being able to substantially perform his duties with or without a reasonable accommodation by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death, or which has lasted, or can be expected to last, for not less than ninety (90) days (whether or not occurring consecutively) during any period of twelve (12) consecutive months, with such determination of whether Executive is subject to a Disability to be made in good faith by the Board after consultation with a physician, selected by the Board and approved by Executive (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), who has examined and diagnosed Executive; provided, however, that any leave of absence under the Family and Medical Leave Act or other medical leaves permitted by the Company to other employees generally shall be excluded from this definition.

 

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(g)     “Good Reason” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events or conditions without the Executive’s written consent: (i) a material diminution in the Executive’s authority, duties, responsibilities or reporting structure; (ii) a material diminution in the Executive’s annual base compensation opportunity (i.e., base salary and target bonus percentage); (iii) relocation of the Executive’s principal workplace with the Company by greater than twenty five (25) miles; or (iv) the Board (or any of its committees) does not nominate the Executive for election to the Board at the annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders, provided that in the case of (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) above, if such event or condition is curable, (A) the Executive has provided the Company written notice at least ninety (90) days following the initial occurrence of any such event or condition, (B) the Company fails to cure such event within thirty (30) days thereafter; and (C) the Executive terminates his or her employment for Good Reason within thirty (30) days following the end of such cure period.

(h)    “Person” shall mean any individual, natural person, corporation (including any non-profit corporation), general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, joint venture, estate, trust, company (including any company limited by shares, limited liability company or joint stock company), incorporated or unincorporated association, governmental authority, firm, society or other enterprise, organization or other entity of any nature.

(i)    “Restricted Period” shall mean the period from the Effective Date through the twelve (12) month anniversary of the Date of Termination.

8.    Parachute Payments.

(a)    Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement or any Company Arrangement, in the event that any payment or benefit by the Company or otherwise to or for the benefit of Executive, whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise (all such payments and benefits, including the payments and benefits under Section 4 above, being hereinafter referred to as the “Total Payments”), would be subject (in whole or in part) to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then the Total Payments shall be reduced (in the order provided in Section 8(b) below) to the minimum extent necessary to avoid the imposition of the Excise Tax on the Total Payments, but only if (i) the net amount of such Total Payments, as so reduced (and after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income and employment taxes on such reduced Total Payments and after taking into account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions attributable to such reduced Total Payments), is greater than or equal to (ii) the net amount of such Total Payments without such reduction (but after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income and employment taxes on such Total Payments and the amount of the Excise Tax to which Executive would be subject in respect of such unreduced Total Payments and after taking into account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions attributable to such unreduced Total Payments).

(b)    The Total Payments shall be reduced in the following order: (i) reduction on a pro-rata basis of any cash severance payments that are exempt from Section 409A of the Code (“Section 409A”), (ii) reduction on a pro-rata basis of any non-cash severance payments or benefits that are exempt from Section 409A, (iii) reduction on a pro-rata basis of any other payments or benefits that are exempt from Section 409A, and (iv) reduction of any payments or benefits

 

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otherwise payable to Executive on a pro-rata basis or such other manner that complies with Section 409A; provided, in case of subclauses (ii), (iii) and (iv), that reduction of any payments attributable to the acceleration of vesting of Company equity awards shall be first applied to Company equity awards that would otherwise vest last in time.

(c)    The Company will select an adviser with experience in performing calculations regarding the applicability of Section 280G of the Code and the Excise Tax, provided that the adviser’s determination shall be made based upon “substantial authority” within the meaning of Section 6662 of the Code, to make determinations regarding the application of this Section 8 (the “Independent Adviser”). The Independent Adviser shall provide its determination, together with detailed supporting calculations and documentation, to Executive and the Company within fifteen (15) business days following the date on which Executive’s right to the Total Payments is triggered, if applicable, or such other time as requested by Executive (provided, that Executive reasonably believes that any of the Total Payments may be subject to the Excise Tax) or the Company. The costs of obtaining such determination and all related fees and expenses (including related fees and expenses incurred in any later audit) shall be borne by the Company. Any good faith determinations of the Independent Adviser made hereunder shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the Company and Executive.

(d)    In the event it is later determined that to implement the objective and intent of this Section 8, (i) a greater reduction in the Total Payments should have been made, the excess amount shall be returned promptly by Executive to the Company or (ii) a lesser reduction in the Total Payments should have been made, the excess amount shall be paid or provided promptly by the Company to Executive, except to the extent the Company reasonably determines would result in imposition of an excise tax under Section 409A.

9.    Miscellaneous Provisions.

(a)    Survival. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the provisions of Sections 5 through 9 of this Agreement will survive the termination of Executive’s employment and the termination of the Term.

(b)    Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed, construed, interpreted and enforced in accordance with its express terms, and otherwise in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of New York without reference to the principles of conflicts of law of the State of New York or any other jurisdiction that would result in application of the laws of a jurisdiction other than the State of New York, and where applicable, the laws of the United States. Any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be brought exclusively in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York located in Manhattan or the New York State Supreme Court for the County of New York, and the parties hereby expressly represent and agree that they are subject to the personal jurisdiction of said courts, and the parties hereby irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction of such courts in any legal or equitable proceedings related to such disputes and waive, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection which either of them may now or hereafter have that the laying of the venue of any legal proceedings related to such dispute which is brought in any such courts is improper or that such proceedings have been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

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(c)    Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

(d)    Notices. Any notice, request, claim, demand, document and other communication hereunder to any Party shall be effective upon receipt (or refusal of receipt) and shall be in writing and delivered personally or sent by facsimile or certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, as follows:

(i)    If to the Company, to the Board at the Company’s headquarters,

(ii)    If to Executive, to the last address that the Company has in its personnel records for Executive, or

(iii)    At any other address as any Party shall have specified by notice in writing to the other Party.

(e)    Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same Agreement. Signatures delivered by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed effective for all purposes.

(f)    Entire Agreement. The terms of this Agreement, any indemnification agreement between the Company and Executive, and any equity award agreement between the Company and Executive are intended by the Parties to be the final expression of their agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior understandings and agreements, whether written or oral, including without limitation the Prior Agreement and any other prior employment agreement or offer letter between Executive and the Company; provided that the equity acceleration provisions in this Agreement shall supersede the provisions of any equity award agreement between the Company and Executive. The Parties further intend that this Agreement shall constitute the complete and exclusive statement of their terms and that no extrinsic evidence whatsoever may be introduced in any judicial, administrative, or other legal proceeding to vary the terms of this Agreement.

(g)    Amendments; Waivers. This Agreement may not be modified, amended, or terminated except by an instrument in writing, signed by Executive and a duly authorized representative of Company. By an instrument in writing similarly executed, Executive or a duly authorized representative of the Company may waive compliance by the other Party with any specifically identified provision of this Agreement that such other Party was or is obligated to comply with or perform; provided, however, that such waiver shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any other or subsequent failure. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising any right, remedy, or power hereunder preclude any other or further exercise of any other right, remedy, or power provided herein or by law or in equity.

(h)    Enforcement. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable under present or future laws effective during the Term, such provision shall be fully severable; this Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision had never comprised a portion of this Agreement; and the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be affected by the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision or by its severance from this Agreement. Furthermore,

 

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in lieu of such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision there shall be added automatically as part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be legal, valid and enforceable.

(i)    Withholding. The Company shall be entitled to withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement any federal, state, local or foreign withholding or other taxes or charges that the Company is required to withhold. The Company shall be entitled to rely on an opinion of counsel if any questions as to the amount or requirement of withholding shall arise.

(j)    Whistleblower Protections and Trade Secrets. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, nothing in this Agreement prohibits Executive from reporting possible violations of federal law or regulation to any United States governmental agency or entity in accordance with the provisions of and rules promulgated under Section 21F of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 806 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or any other whistleblower protection provisions of state or federal law or regulation (including the right to receive an award for information provided to any such government agencies). Furthermore, in accordance with 18 U.S.C. § 1833, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement: (i) Executive shall not be in breach of this Agreement, and shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law (A) for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official or to an attorney solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law, or (B) for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal; and (ii) if Executive files a lawsuit for retaliation by the Company for reporting a suspected violation of law, Executive may disclose the trade secret to Executive’s attorney, and may use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if Executive files any document containing the trade secret under seal, and does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.

(k)    Section 409A.

(i)    General. The intent of the Parties is that the payments and benefits under this Agreement comply with or be exempt from Section 409A and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted to be in compliance therewith. Except as otherwise permitted under Section 409A, no payment hereunder shall be accelerated or deferred unless such acceleration or deferral would not result in additional tax or interest pursuant to Section 409A.

(ii)    Separation from Service. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, any compensation or benefits payable under this Agreement that is considered nonqualified deferred compensation under Section 409A and is designated under this Agreement as payable upon Executive’s termination of employment shall be payable only upon Executive’s “separation from service” with the Company within the meaning of Section 409A (a “Separation from Service”).

(iii)    Specified Employee. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if Executive is deemed by the Company at the time of Executive’s Separation from Service to be a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A, to the extent

 

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delayed commencement of any portion of the benefits to which Executive is entitled under this Agreement is required in order to avoid a prohibited distribution under Section 409A, such portion of Executive’s benefits shall not be provided to Executive prior to the earlier of (A) the expiration of the six (6)-month period measured from the date of Executive’s Separation from Service with the Company or (B) the date of Executive’s death. Upon the first business day following the expiration of the applicable Section 409A period, all payments deferred pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be paid in a lump sum to Executive (or Executive’s estate or beneficiaries), and any remaining payments due to Executive under this Agreement shall be paid as otherwise provided herein.

(iv)    Expense Reimbursements. To the extent that any reimbursements under this Agreement are subject to Section 409A, any such reimbursements payable to Executive shall be paid to Executive no later than December 31st of the year following the year in which the expense was incurred; provided, that Executive submits Executive’s reimbursement request promptly following the date the expense is incurred, the amount of expenses reimbursed in one year shall not affect the amount eligible for reimbursement in any subsequent year, other than medical expenses referred to in Section 105(b) of the Code, and Executive’s right to reimbursement under this Agreement will not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.

(v)    Installments. Executive’s right to receive any installment payments under this Agreement, including without limitation any continuation salary payments that are payable on Company payroll dates, shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate payments and, accordingly, each such installment payment shall at all times be considered a separate and distinct payment as permitted under Section 409A.

10.    Acknowledgements.

Each party acknowledges that such party has read and understands this Agreement, is fully aware of its legal effect, has not acted in reliance upon any representations or promises made by the other party hereto, other than those contained in writing herein, and has entered into this Agreement freely based on such party’s own judgment.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement on the date and year first above written.

 

SHIFT4 PAYMENTS, INC.

By:

 

        

Name:

 

Title:

 
EXECUTIVE

 

Jared Isaacman

EXHIBIT 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the use in this Amendment No.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of Shift4 Payments, Inc. of our report dated March 6, 2020 relating to the financial statements of Shift4 Payments, Inc., which appears in this Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

June 1, 2020

EXHIBIT 23.2

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the use in this Amendment No.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of Shift4 Payments, Inc. of our report dated March 6, 2020, except with respect to the events and conditions from COVID-19 discussed in Note 2, as to which the date is May 15, 2020, relating to the financial statements of Shift4 Payments, LLC, which appears in this Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

June 1, 2020