UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 6, 2020 (September 30, 2020)

 

 

Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-39589   85-1800912

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

1800 North Mason Road

Katy, Texas 77449

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (281) 646-5200

Not applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading

Symbol

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share   ASO   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

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

Emerging growth company  ☐

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

 

 

 


Item 1.01

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

In connection with the initial public offering (the “Offering”) by Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (the “Company”) of its common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), described in the prospectus (the “Prospectus”), dated October 1, 2020, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), which is deemed to be part of the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-248683) (as amended, the “Registration Statement”), the following agreements were entered into:

 

   

the Underwriting Agreement, dated October 1, 2020 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), by and among the Company and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named in Schedule I thereto;

 

   

the Amendment to the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of October 6, 2020 (the “RRA Amendment”), by and among the Company, Allstar LLC and New Academy Holding Company, LLC; and

 

   

the Stockholders’ Agreement, dated as of October 6, 2020 (the “Stockholders’ Agreement”), by and among the Company and Allstar LLC, KKR 2006 Allstar Blocker L.P. and Allstar Co-Invest Blocker L.P. (collectively, the “KKR Stockholders”).

The Underwriting Agreement, the RRA Amendment and the Stockholders’ Agreement are filed herewith as Exhibits 1.1, 4.1 and 10.1, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference. The terms of these agreements are substantially the same as the terms set forth in the forms of such agreements previously filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement and as described therein. Affiliates of the KKR Stockholders have various relationships with the Company. For further information, see “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions” in the Prospectus.

 

Item 1.02

Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement

The Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Academy, Ltd., a Texas limited liability partnership, was party to a Monitoring Agreement, dated as of August 3, 2011 (the “Monitoring Agreement”), by and between Academy, Ltd. and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. (“KKR”), which was terminated automatically in accordance with its terms upon the completion of the Offering. In connection with such termination, the Company will pay termination fees of approximately $12.3 million to KKR.

Affiliates of KKR have various relationships with the Company. For further information, see “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions” in the Prospectus.

 

Item 3.03

Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

The information pertaining to Item 5.03 below is incorporated by reference in this Item 3.03.


Item 5.03

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

As contemplated in the Registration Statement, on September 30, 2020, the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Charter”), in the form previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registration Statement, and the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”), in the form previously filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement, became effective. The Charter, among other things, provides that the Company’s authorized capital stock consists of 300,000,000 shares of Common Stock and 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock. A description of the Company’s capital stock, after giving effect to the adoption of the Charter and Bylaws, has previously been included by the Company under “Description of Capital Stock” in the Prospectus. The Charter and Bylaws are filed herewith as Exhibit 3.1 and Exhibit 3.2, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 8.01

Other Events.

On October 6, 2020, the Company completed its Offering of 15,625,000 shares of Common Stock for cash consideration of $13.00 per share ($12.22 per share, net of underwriting discounts) to a syndicate of underwriters led by Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, as representatives, resulting in approximately $182.8 million in net proceeds, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and the offering expenses payable by the Company. The Company has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 2,343,750 shares of Common Stock to cover over-allotments, if any. The Company intends to use these proceeds for general corporate purposes, which may include the repayment of certain indebtedness.

 

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)

Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.    Description
1.1    Underwriting Agreement, dated October  1, 2020, by and among Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named in Schedule I thereto.
3.1    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc.
3.2    Amended and Restated Bylaws of Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc.
4.1    Amendment to the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of October 6, 2020, by and among Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc., Allstar LLC and New Academy Holding Company, LLC.
10.1    Stockholders’ Agreement, dated as of October  6, 2020, by and among Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc., Allstar LLC, KKR 2006 Allstar Blocker L.P. and Allstar Co-Invest Blocker L.P.


Signatures

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

 

    Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc.
Date: October 6, 2020     By:  

/s/ Rene G. Casares

    Name:   Rene G. Casares
    Title:   Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Exhibit 1.1

Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc.

15,625,000 Shares

Common Stock

($0.01 par value)

Underwriting Agreement

October 1, 2020

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

As Representatives of the several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto,

c/o Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC,

Eleven Madison Avenue,

New York, N.Y. 10010-3629

c/o J.P. Morgan Securities LLC,

383 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10179

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes to sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the “Underwriters”), for whom you (the “Representatives”) are acting as representatives, 15,625,000 shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value (“Common Stock”), of the Company (said shares to be issued and sold by the Company being hereinafter called the “Underwritten Securities”). The Company also proposes to grant to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to 2,343,750 additional shares of Common Stock to cover overallotments, if any (the “Option Securities”; the Option Securities, together with the Underwritten Securities, being hereinafter called the “Securities”). Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in Section 22 hereof.

In connection with the offering of the Securities, the unitholders of New Academy Holding Company, LLC will contribute their interests in New Academy Holding Company, LLC in exchange for shares of Common Stock of the Company (such contribution, together with the series of reorganization transactions that will take place prior to the consummation of the offering of the Securities, the “Reorganization Transactions.”

For the purposes of this Agreement, the term “Transaction” means, collectively, the Reorganization Transactions, the offering of the Securities and the use of proceeds therefrom as described herein and in the Disclosure Package.

1. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each Underwriter as set forth below in this Section 1.

 

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(a) The Company has prepared and filed with the Commission a registration statement (file number 333-248683) on Form S-1, including a related preliminary prospectus, for registration under the Act of the offering and sale of the Securities. Such Registration Statement, including any amendments thereto filed prior to the Execution Time, has become effective. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued by the Commission, and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act against the Company or related to the offering of the Securities has been initiated or threatened by the Commission. The Company may have filed one or more amendments thereto, including a related preliminary prospectus, each of which has previously been furnished to you. The Company will file with the Commission a final prospectus in accordance with Rule 424(b). As filed, such final prospectus shall contain all information required by the Act and the rules thereunder and, except to the extent the Representatives shall agree in writing to a modification, shall be in all substantive respects in the form furnished to you prior to the Execution Time or, to the extent not completed at the Execution Time, shall contain only such specific additional information and other changes (beyond that contained in the latest Preliminary Prospectus) as the Company has advised you, prior to the Execution Time, will be included or made therein.

(b) On the Effective Date, the Registration Statement did, and when the Prospectus is first filed in accordance with Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date (as defined below) and on any date on which Option Securities are purchased, if such date is not the Closing Date (a “settlement date”), the Prospectus (and any supplement thereto) will, comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act and the rules thereunder; on the Effective Date, at the Execution Time and on the Closing Date and any settlement date, the Registration Statement did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and on the date of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date and any settlement date, the Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) 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 the Company makes no representations or warranties as to the information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any supplement thereto).

(c) (i) The Disclosure Package, (ii) any individual Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, when taken together as a whole with the Disclosure Package, and (iii) each electronic road show, when taken together as a whole with the Disclosure Package, does not contain 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. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Disclosure Package, any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication or any electronic roadshow based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein.

(d) (i) At the time of filing the Registration Statement and (ii) as of the Execution Time (with such date being used as the determination date for purposes of this clause (ii)), the

 

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Company was not and is not an Ineligible Issuer (as defined in Rule 405), without taking account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 that it is not necessary that the Company be considered an Ineligible Issuer.

(e) Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus does not include any information that conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement. The foregoing sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein.

(f) The Company (a) has not alone engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication (other than Testing-the-Waters Communications with the consent of the Representatives) and (b) has not authorized anyone other than the Representatives to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company reconfirms that the Representatives have been authorized to act on the Company’s behalf in undertaking Testing-the-Waters Communication.

(g) None of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary (as defined below) is or, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Prospectus, will be an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act, without taking account of any exemption arising out of the number of holders of the Company’s securities.

(h) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has paid or agreed to pay to any person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any Securities (except as contemplated in this Agreement).

(i) None of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective Affiliates has taken or will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that would reasonably be expected to cause or result, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, in stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

(j) Each of the Company and its subsidiaries (i) has been duly organized and is validly existing as an entity in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is chartered or organized, (ii) has full corporate or other organizational power and authority to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and (iii) is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation or other entity and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction where the ownership or leasing of its properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification except, in the case of its subsidiaries, and solely with respect to clause (iii), the Company, where the failure to be so organized or qualified, have such power or authority or be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect, or reasonably be expected to have a prospective material adverse effect, on the condition (financial or otherwise), business or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole and after giving effect to the Transaction (a “Material Adverse Effect”).

 

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(k) The Company has no “significant subsidiary,” as defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Act, other than those subsidiaries listed on Schedule III (each, a “Significant Subsidiary”).

(l) As of August 1, 2020, after giving effect to the consummation of the Transaction (but without giving effect to the issuance of any Option Securities), the Company and its subsidiaries would have had the issued and outstanding pro forma capitalization as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the heading “Capitalization”, and all the outstanding membership interests or shares of capital stock, as applicable, of the Company and each subsidiary listed on Exhibit 21 of the Registration Statement have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable, if applicable, and were not issued in violation of any preemptive or similar rights and, except as otherwise set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, as of the Closing Date, all outstanding shares of capital stock or membership interests of the subsidiaries held by the Company are owned either directly or indirectly free and clear of any security interest, claim, lien or encumbrance (other than liens, encumbrances and restrictions imposed in connection with (A) that certain First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated July 2, 2015, among Academy, Ltd., as Borrower, New Academy Holding Company, LLC, as Holdings, Associated Investors L.L.C. and Academy Managing Co., L.L.C, as Texas Intermediate Holdcos, the lending institutions from time to time party thereto and Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., as the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent (as amended, the “Term Loan Facility) and (B) that certain First Amended and Restated ABL Credit Agreement, dated July 2, 2015, among Academy, Ltd., as Borrower, New Academy Holding Company, LLC, as Holdings, Associated Investors L.L.C. and Academy Managing Co., L.L.C, as Texas Intermediate Holdcos, the lending institutions from time to time party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Letter of Credit Issuer and the Swingline Lender (as amended, the “ABL Facility” and, together with the Term Loan Facility, the “Credit Facilities”) or permitted under the Credit Facilities or by the Act). Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, or except in connection with equity investments by, or awards of stock options or other equity-based awards to, members of management or other employees of the Company, or any directors, contractors or agents of the Company, as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there will be, on the Closing Date and after giving effect to the consummation of the Transaction, no (i) outstanding options, warrants or other rights to purchase, (ii) agreements or other obligations to issue or (iii) other rights to convert any obligation into, or exchange any securities for, shares of capital stock of or ownership interests in the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

(m) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

(n) No consent, approval, authorization, filing with or order of any United States (or any political subdivision thereof) court or governmental agency or body, or to the knowledge of the Company, any non-United States court or governmental agency or body, in either case is required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement (including, without limitation, the issuance of the Securities) or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Transaction, except (i) registration of the Securities under the Act, (ii) such as may be required under the blue sky laws of any jurisdiction in which the Securities are offered and sold in connection with the transactions contemplated

 

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hereby or under the Conduct Rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”), (iii) filings with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), (iv) filings with the Commission under the Exchange Act, (v) the filing of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company with the Secretary of State for the State of Delaware or (vi) as shall have been obtained or made prior to the Closing Date.

(o) None of the issue and sale of the Securities nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Transaction, nor the fulfillment of the terms hereof or thereof, will conflict with, result in a breach or violation of or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to (i) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or bound or to which its or their property is subject; or (ii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of its or their properties, other than in the cases of clauses (i) and (ii), such breaches, violations, liens, charges, or encumbrances that would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; or result in the violation of the charter, bylaws or any equivalent organizational document of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

(p) There is no contract or other document of a character required to be described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or to be filed as an exhibit thereto, which is not described or filed as required. The statements in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus under the headings “Material U.S. Federal Income and Estate Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders,” “Business—Governmental Regulations,” “Business—Legal Proceedings” and “Business—Intellectual Property” insofar as such statements summarize legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings discussed therein, are accurate and fair summaries of such legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings.

(q) No holders of securities of the Company have rights to the registration of such securities under the Registration Statement, other than as required by the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of August 3, 2011, among the Company and the shareholders party thereto (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time prior to the date hereof).

(r) Except as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the consolidated historical financial statements included in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the entities to which they relate as of the dates and for the periods indicated and have been prepared in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise noted therein); the selected financial data set forth under the heading “Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Data” in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus fairly presents in all material respects, on the basis stated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the information included therein; the summary historical financial data set forth under the heading “Summary—Summary Historical Consolidated Financial and Other Data” in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus fairly presents in all material respects, on the basis stated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the information included therein.

 

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(s) Except as otherwise set forth therein, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, (i) there has not occurred any material adverse change or development that could reasonably be expected to involve a prospective material adverse change, in the condition (financial or otherwise), business or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) there have been no transactions entered into by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, other than those in the ordinary course of business, which are material with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and (iii) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock.

(t) Except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto), no action, suit, proceeding, investigation or audit by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries or their respective property is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened or contemplated that (i) would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the performance of this Agreement or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Transaction, or (ii) would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(u) The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to all real property owned by them and good and marketable title to all personal property owned by them, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except (i) pursuant to the Credit Facilities or (ii) where failure to have such good and marketable title or free and clear title would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and any real property and buildings held under lease by the Company and its subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(v) Except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto), none of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is in violation or default of (i) any provision of its charter, bylaws or any equivalent organizational document; (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which it is a party or bound or to which its property is subject; or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree applicable to the Company or any its subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties, as applicable, other than in the cases of clauses (i) (if such entity is not the Company or a Significant Subsidiary), (ii) and (iii), such violations and defaults that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(w) Deloitte & Touche LLP, who has audited the consolidated financial statements of New Academy Holding Company, LLC and its subsidiaries as of February 1, 2020 and February 2, 2019 and for each of the three years in the period ended February 1, 2020 and the consolidated

 

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balance sheet of the Company as of June 30, 2020, each included in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, are independent registered public accountants with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Exchange Act and the rules of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

(x) Except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto), the Company and its subsidiaries (i) have filed all non-U.S., U.S. federal, state and local tax returns that are required to be filed or have requested extensions thereof except in any case in which the failure so to file would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (ii) have paid all taxes required to be paid by them and any other tax assessment, fine or penalty levied against them, to the extent that any of the foregoing is due and payable, except for any such tax, tax assessment, fine or penalty that is currently being contested in good faith or as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(y) No labor problem or dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or to the Company’s knowledge, is threatened, and the Company is unaware of any existing labor problem or dispute, that, in each case, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(z) The Company and its subsidiaries, take as a whole, have insurance in amounts and against such losses and risks as such party believes to be customary for companies engaged in similar business in similar industries and markets; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received written 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, except, in each case, that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(aa) Immediately after giving effect to the Transaction, no subsidiary of the Company will be prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company or any other subsidiary (except as may be limited by applicable state or foreign corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership, partnership, insurance or other applicable regulatory law), from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock or membership interests (except as may be limited by applicable state or foreign corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership, partnership, insurance or other applicable regulatory law), from repaying to the Company or any other subsidiary any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or any other subsidiary or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s property or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company, except as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto) or contemplated pursuant to the Credit Facilities.

(bb) Except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto), (i) the Company and its subsidiaries possess all licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by the appropriate U.S. federal, state or non-U.S. regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses, except where the failure to possess such licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (ii) none of the Company or

 

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any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization or permit that, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(cc) The Company and its subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Except as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company is not aware of any material weakness in the Company and its subsidiaries’ internal controls over financial reporting.

(dd) The Company and its subsidiaries maintain “disclosure controls and procedures” (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act); such disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

(ee) Except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto), the Company and its subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with any and all applicable non-U.S., U.S. federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety (as such is affected by hazardous or toxic substances or wastes (including, without limitation, medical waste), pollutants or contaminants), or of the environment or the release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”); (ii) have received and are in compliance with all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses; (iii) have not received notice of any actual or potential liability under any Environmental Law; and (iv) have not been named as a “potentially responsible party” under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, except where such non-compliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive or comply with such required permits, licenses or other approvals, such liability or status as a potentially responsible party would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(ff) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has established or maintains a “pension plan” (as defined in Section 3(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”)) that is subject to Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 or Section 4971 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(gg) The Company and its subsidiaries own, possess, license or have other rights to use all patents, trademarks and service marks, trade names, copyrights, domain names (in each case including all registrations and applications to register same), inventions, trade secrets, technology, know-how and other intellectual property (collectively, the “Intellectual Property”) necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses as now conducted or as proposed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus to be conducted, except where the failure to own,

 

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possess, license or otherwise have such rights would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, or except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Company and its subsidiaries own, or have rights to use under license or otherwise, all such Intellectual Property free and clear in all respects of all adverse claims, liens or other encumbrances, except for claims, liens or other encumbrances pursuant to the Credit Facilities; (ii) to the knowledge of the Company, there is no infringement by third parties of any such Intellectual Property; (iii) there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by any third party challenging the Company’s or its subsidiaries’ rights in or to any such Intellectual Property; (iv) there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by any third party challenging the validity, scope or enforceability of any such Intellectual Property; and (v) there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by any third party that the Company or any of its subsidiaries infringes or otherwise violates any patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret or other proprietary rights of any third party.

(hh) Neither the issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities nor the application of the proceeds thereof by the Company as described in the Disclosure Package and Prospectus will violate Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as the same is in effect on the Closing Date.

(ii) The Company has taken all necessary actions such that, upon the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, it will be in compliance with all provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), with which the Company is required to comply as of such time.

(jj) No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) or presentation of market-related or statistical data contained in the Disclosure Package, any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication or the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.

(kk) 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, 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 statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental or regulatory agency (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 and its subsidiaries, threatened.

(ll) None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer or controlled Affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject or target of any U.S. sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S.

 

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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, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, 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 individual or entity (“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 of or business in any Sanctioned Country or (iii) 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 and are not now knowingly engaged 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 Sanctions.

(mm) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, any director, officer, agent, employee, controlled affiliate or other person acting on behalf of the Company or of any of its subsidiaries, has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) 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, knowingly, 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 person 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 (“Governmental Official”) 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 anti-bribery 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 Governmental Official or other person or entity. The Company and its subsidiaries 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.

(nn) Each of the Company and its subsidiaries (i) conducts its business and is in compliance with all federal, state and local laws governing or otherwise regulating the importation, transportation, purchase or other acquisition, possession or sale or other transfer of firearms, ammunition or explosives, including without limitation the Gun Control Act of 1968

 

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(Chapter 44 of Title 18, United States Code), the National Firearms Act of 1934 (Chapter 53 of Title 26, United States Code), and the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. § 2778), as well as all applicable rules and regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (the “ATF”)) (collectively, the “Firearms, Ammunition and Explosives Laws”); and (ii) possesses, and is in compliance with the terms of, all licenses, registrations and permits required in order for the Company and its subsidiaries to conduct their respective businesses (as currently conducted and as proposed to be conducted) with respect to the sale of firearms, ammunition and explosives, except, in the case of each of clause (i) or (ii), where the failure to so comply or be in possession would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received, during the three year period preceding the date of this Agreement, from the ATF or any other regulatory authority any notice of revocation of any such license, registration or permit and has no reason to believe that the ATF or any other regulatory authority may issue any such notice, except for any such notice or revocation that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries (1) has received from the ATF or any other regulatory authority any notice of violation of any Firearms, Ammunition and Explosives Law or (2) has any reason to believe that the ATF or any other regulatory authority may issue any such notice, except, in the case of clauses (1) and (2), where such notices or violations would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(oo) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its subsidiaries’ information technology assets and equipment, computers, systems, networks, hardware, software, websites, applications, and databases (collectively, “IT Systems”) are adequate for, and operate and perform in all respects as required in connection with the operation of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as currently conducted and, to the knowledge of the Company, is free and clear of all material bugs, errors, defects, Trojan horses, time bombs, malware and other corruptants. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its subsidiaries have implemented and maintained commercially reasonable physical, technical and administrative controls, policies, procedures, and safeguards to maintain and protect their material confidential information and the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of all IT Systems and data (including all personal, personally identifiable, sensitive, confidential or regulated data (“Personal Data”)). Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its subsidiaries are presently in compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Personal Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Personal Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification.

(pp) The Company does not have any debt securities outstanding that have been rated by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” as defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act.

Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Securities shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company, as to matters covered thereby, to each Underwriter.

 

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2. Purchase and Sale.

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell to each Underwriter, and each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price of $12.22 per share, the amount of the Underwritten Securities set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name in Schedule I hereto.

(b) Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the several Underwriters to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to 2,343,750, Option Securities at the same purchase price per share as the Underwriters shall pay for the Underwritten Securities, less an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Underwritten Securities but not payable on the Option Securities. Said option may be exercised only to cover over-allotments in the sale of the Underwritten Securities by the Underwriters. Said option may be exercised in whole or in part at any time (but not more than twice) on or before the 30th day after the date of the Prospectus upon written or telegraphic notice by the Representatives to the Company setting forth the number of shares of the Option Securities as to which the several Underwriters are exercising the option and the settlement date. The number of Option Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter shall be the same percentage of the total number of shares of the Option Securities to be purchased by the several Underwriters as such Underwriter is purchasing of the Underwritten Securities, subject to such adjustments as you in your absolute discretion shall make to eliminate any fractional shares.

3. Delivery and Payment. Delivery of and payment for the Underwritten Securities and the Option Securities (if the option provided for in Section 2(b) hereof shall have been exercised on or before the second Business Day immediately preceding the Closing Date) shall be made at the offices of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, 425 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017 at 10:00 AM, New York City time, on October 6, 2020, or at such time on such later date not more than two Business Days after the foregoing date as the Representatives shall designate, which date and time may be postponed by agreement between the Representatives and the Company or as provided in Section 9 hereof (such date and time of delivery and payment for the Securities being herein called the “Closing Date”). Delivery of the Securities shall be made to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives of the purchase price thereof to or upon the order of the Company by wire transfer payable in same-day funds to an account specified by the Company in writing to the Representatives. Delivery of the Underwritten Securities and the Option Securities shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.

If the option provided for in Section 2(b) hereof is exercised after the second Business Day immediately preceding the Closing Date, the Company will deliver the Option Securities to the Representatives on the date specified by the Representatives (which shall be within two Business Days after exercise of said option, which date may be postponed by agreement between the Representatives and the Company) for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters, against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives of the purchase price thereof to or upon the order of the Company by wire transfer payable in

 

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same-day funds to an account specified by the Company. If settlement for the Option Securities occurs after the Closing Date, the Company will deliver to the Representatives on the settlement date for the Option Securities, and the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase the Option Securities shall be conditioned upon receipt of, supplemental opinions, certificates and letters confirming as of such date the opinions, certificates and letters delivered on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 6 hereof.

4. Offering by Underwriters. It is understood that the several Underwriters propose to offer the Securities for sale to the public as set forth in the Prospectus.

5. Agreements. The Company agrees with the several Underwriters as follows:

(a) Prior to the termination of the offering of the Securities, the Company will not file any amendment of the Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement unless the Company has furnished you a copy for your review prior to filing and will not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which you reasonably object. The Company will cause the Prospectus, properly completed, and any supplement thereto to be filed in a form approved by the Representatives with the Commission pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) within the time period prescribed and will provide evidence satisfactory to the Representatives of such timely filing. The Company will promptly advise the Representatives (i) when the Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, shall have been filed (if required) with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) or when any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall have been filed with the Commission, (ii) when, prior to termination of the offering of the Securities, any amendment to the Registration Statement shall have been filed or become effective, (iii) of any request by the Commission or its staff for any amendment of the Registration Statement, or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or for any supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any notice objecting to its use or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A under the Act and (v) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose. The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or the occurrence of any such suspension or objection to the use of the Registration Statement and, upon such issuance, occurrence or notice of objection, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal of such stop order or relief from such occurrence or objection, including, if necessary, by filing an amendment to the Registration Statement or a new registration statement and using its commercially reasonable efforts to have such amendment or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable.

(b) If, at any time prior to the filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b), there occurs an event, the result of which, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, or counsel for the Company, the Disclosure Package would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading, the Company will (i) notify promptly the Representatives so that any use of the Disclosure Package may cease until it is

 

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amended or supplemented; (ii) subject to paragraph (a) of this Section 5, amend or supplement the Disclosure Package to eliminate or correct such statement or omission; and (iii) supply any amendment or supplement to the several Underwriters and counsel for the Underwriters without charge in such quantities as they may reasonably request.

(c) If, during such period of time after the first date of the public offering of the Securities as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriter a prospectus relating to the Securities is required by law to be delivered (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172) (the “Prospectus Delivery Period”), there occurs an event, the result of which, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, or counsel for the Company, the Prospectus as then supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Prospectus to comply with applicable law, the Company will promptly (i) notify the Representatives of any such event; (ii) prepare and file with the Commission, subject to the second sentence of paragraph (a) of this Section 5, an amendment or supplement that will eliminate or correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance; and (iii) supply any supplemented Prospectus to the several Underwriters and counsel for the Underwriters without charge in such quantities as they may reasonably request.

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

(e) As soon as practicable, the Company will make generally available to its security holders and to the Representatives (which may be satisfied by filing with the Commission’s EDGAR system) an earnings statement or statements of the Company and its subsidiaries which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158.

(f) The Company will cooperate with the Representatives and use its commercially reasonable efforts to permit the Securities to be eligible for clearance and settlement through The Depository Trust Company.

(g) The Company will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and to each other Underwriter a copy of the Registration Statement (without exhibits thereto) and, so long as delivery of a prospectus by an Underwriter or dealer may be required by the Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172) during the Prospectus Delivery Period, as many copies of each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any supplement thereto as the Representatives may reasonably request. The Company will pay the expenses of printing or other production of all documents relating to the offering.

 

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(h) The Company will assist the Underwriters in arranging, if necessary, for the qualification of the Securities for sale by the Underwriters under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate and will maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required for the sale of the Securities; provided that in no event shall the Company be obligated to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that would reasonably be expected to subject it to service of process in suits, other than those arising out of the offering or sale of the Securities, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject or to subject themselves to taxation in excess of a nominal amount in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction.

(i) The Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, offer, sell or contract to sell, pledge (other than on behalf of an Affiliate of the Company) or otherwise dispose of, (or enter into any transaction that is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise) by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company or any person in privity with the Company or any Affiliate of the Company) directly or indirectly, including the public filing (or participation in the public filing) of a registration statement with the Commission in respect of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, any other shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares of Common Stock (“Related Securities”); or publicly announce an intention to effect any such transaction, for a period of 180 days after the date of the Underwriting Agreement. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (A) the Securities to be issued in the Transaction, (B) any shares of Common Stock issued by the Company upon the exercise of options to purchase shares of Common Stock, upon the vesting of restricted stock awards or upon the settlement of restricted stock unit awards, in each case disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (C) the grant of awards pursuant to the Company’s incentive plans or otherwise pursuant to equity compensation arrangements with directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company and its subsidiaries, in each case, as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (D) the issuance or grant of shares of securities, including restricted stock awards, options to purchase shares of common stock, restricted stock units or any other stock-based awards, in each case, registered or to be registered pursuant to any registration statement on Form S-8 pursuant to any benefit plans or arrangements (including, without limitation, employee stock purchase plan), in each case, as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (E) the issuance of shares of Common Stock in connection with the acquisition by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of the securities, business, property or other assets of another person or business entity or pursuant to any employee benefit plan assumed by the Company in connection with any such acquisition, or (F) the issuance of shares of Common Stock, of restricted stock awards or of options to purchase shares of Common Stock, in each case, in connection with joint ventures, commercial relationships or other strategic transactions; provided that, in the case of immediately preceding clauses (E) and (F), the aggregate number of restricted stock awards and shares of Common Stock issued in connection with, or issuable pursuant to the exercise of any options issued in connection with, all such acquisitions and other transactions does not exceed 5% of the aggregate number of shares of common stock outstanding immediately following the consummation of the Transaction and the recipient of the shares of Common Stock agrees in writing to be bound by the same terms described in the agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

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(j) If the Representatives, in their sole discretion, agree to release or waive the restrictions set forth in a lock-up letter described in Section 6(i) hereof for an officer or director of the Company and provide the Company with notice of the impending release or waiver at least three Business Days before the effective date of the release or waiver, the Company agrees to announce the impending release or waiver by a press release substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto through a major news service at least two Business Days before the effective date of the release or waiver.

(k) The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, unlawful stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

(l) The Company agrees to pay the costs and expenses relating to the following matters: (i) the preparation, printing or reproduction and filing with the Commission of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits thereto), each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and each amendment or supplement to any of them; (ii) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery (including postage, air freight charges and charges for counting and packaging) of such copies of the Registration Statement, each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and all amendments or supplements to any of them, as may, in each case, be reasonably requested for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities; (iii) the preparation, printing, authentication, issuance and delivery of certificates for the Securities, including any stamp or transfer taxes in connection with the original issuance and sale of the Securities; (iv) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery of any blue sky memorandum delivered in connection with the offering of the Securities; (v) the registration of the Securities under the Exchange Act and the listing of the Securities on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (the “Exchange”); (vi) any registration or qualification of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of the several states and any other jurisdictions specified pursuant to Section 5(g) hereof (including filing fees and the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters relating to such registration and qualification in an amount not to exceed $20,000); (vii) the approval of the Securities for book entry transfer by The Depository Trust Company; (viii) any filings required to be made with the FINRA (including filing fees, fees and expenses of the QIU (as defined below) and the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters relating to such filings in an amount not to exceed $35,000); (ix) the transportation and other expenses incurred by or on behalf of the Company in connection with presentations to prospective purchasers of the Securities, including any “roadshow” (and including one half of the cost of all aircraft used in connection with any “roadshow”); (x) the costs and expenses associated with the preparation or dissemination of any electronic road show, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations with the prior approval of the Company, (xi) the fees and expenses of the Company’s accountants and the fees and expenses of counsel (including local and special counsel) for the Company and (xii) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder. Notwithstanding the forgoing, except as specifically provided in this paragraph (k) and in Section 7 hereof, the Underwriters shall pay their own costs and expenses in connection with presentations for prospective purchasers of the Securities including the transportation and other expenses incurred by or on behalf of the Underwriters in

 

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connection with presentations to prospective purchasers of the Securities, including any “roadshow” (and including one half of the cost of all aircraft used in connection with any “roadshow”).

(m) The Company will use the proceeds from the sale of the Securities in the manner described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds.”

(n) The Company agrees that, unless it has or shall have obtained the prior written consent of the Representatives, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees with the Company that, unless it has or shall have obtained, as the case may be, the prior written consent of the Company, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute, or otherwise use, refer to or distribute, an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405) required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433; provided that the prior written consent of the parties hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of the Free Writing Prospectuses included in Schedule II hereto and any electronic road show, each furnished to the Representatives before first use. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Representatives or the Company is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company agrees that (x) it has treated and will treat, as the case may be, each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and (y) it has complied and will comply, as the case may be, with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including in respect of timely filing with the Commission, legending and record keeping. Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, represents and agrees that it is not subject to any pending proceeding under Section 8A of the Act with respect to the offering (and will promptly notify the Company if any such proceeding against it is initiated during the period a prospectus is required by the Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Act or any similar rule) in connection with any sale of Securities).

6. Conditions to the Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Underwritten Securities and the Option Securities, as the case may be, shall be subject to the accuracy in all material respects (except in the case of Section 1(kk), (ll) and (mm) or to the extent already qualified by materiality, in which case such obligations shall be subject to the accuracy in all respects) of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein as of the Execution Time, the Closing Date and any settlement date pursuant to Section 3 hereof, to the accuracy of the statements of the Company made in any certificates pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company in all material respects of its obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

(a) The Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, have been filed in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b); any 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 periods prescribed for such filings by Rule 433; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice objecting to its use shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A under the Act shall have been instituted or threatened.

 

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(b) (i) The Company shall have requested and caused Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, counsel for the Company, to furnish to the Representatives an opinion letter and a negative assurance letter, each dated the Closing Date or any settlement date, as the case may be, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, as set forth in Exhibit C hereto;

(ii) The Company shall have requested and caused the general counsel of the Company to furnish to the Representatives an opinion letter dated the Closing Date or any settlement date, as the case may be, and otherwise in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, as set forth in Exhibit D hereto.

(c) The Representatives shall have received from Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, an opinion letter and negative assurance letter, each dated the Closing Date or any settlement date, as the case may be, and addressed to the Representatives, with respect to such matters as the Representatives may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they reasonably request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

(d) The Company shall have furnished to the Underwriters a certificate of the Company, signed by (x) the chairman, chief executive officer, president or vice president and (y) the chief financial officer, treasurer or principal financial or accounting officer of the Company, dated the Closing Date or any settlement date, as the case may be, to the effect that the signers of such certificate have carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as well as each electronic road show used in connection with the offering of the Securities, and this Agreement and that:

(1) the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct in all material respects (except in the case of Section 1(kk), (ll) and (mm) or to the extent already qualified by materiality, in which case such representations and warranties are true and correct in all respects) at the Execution Time and on the Closing Date or any settlement date, as the case may be, and the Company has complied in all material respects with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date or any settlement date, as the case may be;

(2) since the date of the most recent financial statements included in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto), there has been no material adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise), business or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto); and

(3) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice objecting to its use has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A under the Act have been instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened.

 

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(e) At the Execution Time and at the Closing Date or any settlement date, as the case may be, the Company shall have requested and caused Deloitte & Touche LLP to furnish to the Underwriters a “comfort” letter, dated as of the Execution Time, and a bring-down “comfort letter,” dated as of the Closing Date or any settlement date, as the case may be, respectively, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, confirming that they are independent registered public accountants within the meaning of the Exchange Act and within the meaning of the rules of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and confirming certain matters with respect to the audited and unaudited financial statements and other financial and accounting information of the Company contained in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, including any supplement thereto at the date of the applicable letter.

(f) Subsequent to the Execution Time or, if earlier, the dates as of which information is given in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto), there shall not have been any change or development involving a prospective change, in the condition (financial or otherwise), business or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and after giving effect to the Transaction, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto), the effect of which is, or would reasonably be expected to become, in the judgment of the Representatives, so material and adverse as to make it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

(g) On the Closing Date or any settlement date, as the case may be, the Securities shall have been approved for listing and admitted and authorized for trading on the Exchange, subject only to official notice of issuance.

(h) At or prior to the Execution Time, the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a letter addressed to the Representatives substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto from each executive officer, director and securityholder of the Company listed on Exhibit A-1 hereto.

(i) Prior to the Closing Date or any settlement date, as the case may be, the Company shall have taken all action reasonably required to be taken by it to have the Securities declared eligible for clearance and settlement through The Depository Trust Company.

(j) Prior to the Closing Date or any settlement date, as the case may be, the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives such further information, certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.

All opinions, letters, evidence and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters.

The documents required to be delivered by this Section 6 will be available for inspection at the office of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, at 425 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017, on the Business Day prior to the Closing Date or any settlement date, as the case may be.

 

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7. Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses. If the sale of the Securities provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the obligations of the Underwriters set forth in Section 6 hereof is not satisfied, because of any termination pursuant to Section 10 hereof or because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any agreement herein or to comply with any provision hereof other than by reason of a default by any of the Underwriters, including as described in Section 9 hereof, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters severally through the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters on demand for all reasonable expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of Latham & Watkins LLP) that shall have been incurred by them in connection with the proposed purchase and sale of the Securities.

8. Indemnification and Contribution.

(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, the directors, officers, selling agents and Affiliates of each Underwriter and each person who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other U.S. federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law 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 a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, or in any Preliminary Prospectus, or the Prospectus, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, or any bona fide electronic road show as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Act (a “road show”), or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto 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, in the case of any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus, any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication or roadshow or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and agrees (subject to the limitations set forth in the provisos to this sentence) to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by it in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company will 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 any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion therein. The obligations of the Company under this indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that the Company may otherwise have. The Company shall not be liable under this Section 8 to any indemnified party regarding any settlement or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent is consented to by the Company, as applicable, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

20


(b) Each Underwriter severally, and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless (i) the Company, (ii) each person, if any, who controls (within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act) the Company, (iii) each of the directors of the Company who signs the Registration Statement and (iv) each of the officers of the Company who signs the Registration Statement, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to each Underwriter, but only with reference to written information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that any Underwriter may otherwise have. The Company acknowledges that the statements in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus set forth in the fifth paragraph, the thirteenth paragraph and the fourteenth paragraph under the heading “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)”, constitute the only information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the several Underwriters for inclusion in the Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication or any road show.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 or Section 11, of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 8 or Section 11, as applicable, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above or Section 11, as applicable, unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights or defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above or Section 11, as applicable, except as provided in paragraph (d) below. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel (including local counsel) of the indemnifying party’s choice at the indemnifying party’s expense to represent the indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel, other than local counsel if not appointed by the indemnifying party, retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party’s election to appoint counsel (including local counsel) to represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest (based on the advice of counsel for the indemnified person); (ii) such action includes both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded (based on the advice of counsel for the indemnified person) that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party; (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action; or (iv) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party. It is understood and agreed that the indemnifying person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm

 

21


(in addition to any local counsel) for all indemnified persons. Any such separate firm for any Underwriters, its Affiliates, directors, selling agents and officers and any control persons of such Underwriters shall be designated in writing by Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and any such separate firm for the Company and any control persons, officers or directors of the Company shall be designated in writing by the Company. In the event that any Underwriter, its Affiliates, directors, selling agents and officers or any control persons of such Underwriter are indemnified persons collectively entitled, in connection with a proceeding in a single jurisdiction, to the payment of fees and expenses of a single separate firm under this Section 8(c), and any such Underwriter, its Affiliates, directors, selling agents and officers or any control persons of such Underwriter cannot agree to a mutually acceptable separate firm to act as counsel thereto, then such separate firm for all such indemnified persons shall be designated in writing by Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC. An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim, action suit or proceeding) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding and does not include any statement as to, or any admission of, fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(d) In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 8 or Section 11, as applicable, is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party for any reason (other than by virtue of the failure of an indemnified party to notify the indemnifying party of its right to indemnification pursuant to subsection (a), (b) or (c) above or Section 11, as applicable, where such failure materially prejudices the indemnifying party (through the forfeiture of substantial rights or defenses)), the Company and the Underwriters severally agree to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending any loss, claim, damage, liability or action) (collectively “Losses”) to which the Company and one or more of the Underwriters may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and by the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Securities. If the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason or not permitted by applicable law, the Company and the Underwriters severally shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received by the Company shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by it, and benefits received by the Underwriters shall be deemed to be equal to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by them, in each case as set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus. Benefits received by the QIU shall be deemed to be equal to the compensation received by the QIU for acting in such capacity. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any untrue or any alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information provided by the Company on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission and any other equitable considerations appropriate in the circumstances. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if the amount of

 

22


such contribution were determined by pro rata allocation or any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (d), in no event shall any Underwriter be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter with respect to the offering of the Securities exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. The QIU, in its capacity as such, shall not be responsible for any amount in excess of the compensation received by the QIU for acting in such capacity. 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 to contribute pursuant to this Section 8 are several in proportion to their respective purchase obligations hereunder and not joint. For purposes of this Section 8, each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act and each director, officer, employee, Affiliate and agent of an Underwriter shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, each officer of the Company who shall have signed the Registration Statement and each director of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this paragraph (d).

9. Default by an Underwriter. If any one or more Underwriters shall fail to purchase and pay for any of the Securities agreed to be purchased by such Underwriter or Underwriters hereunder and such failure to purchase shall constitute a default in the performance of its or their obligations under this Agreement, the remaining Underwriters, as the case may be, shall be obligated severally to take up and pay for (in the respective proportions that the amount of the Securities set forth opposite their names in Schedule I hereto bears to the aggregate amount of the Securities set forth opposite the names of all the remaining Underwriters, as applicable) the Securities that the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase; provided, however, that in the event that the aggregate amount of the Securities that the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase shall exceed 10% of the aggregate amount of the Securities set forth in Schedule I hereto, the Company shall be entitled to a period of 36 hours within which to procure another party or parties reasonably satisfactory to the non-defaulting Underwriters, as the case may be, to purchase no less than the amount of such unpurchased Securities that exceeds 10% of the amount thereof upon such terms herein set forth. If, however, the Company shall not have completed such arrangements within 72 hours after such default and the amount of unpurchased Securities exceeds 10% of the amount of such Securities to be purchased on such date, then this Agreement will terminate without liability to any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company. In the event of a default by any Underwriter as set forth in this Section 9, the Closing Date shall be postponed for such period, not exceeding five Business Days, to effect any changes that in the opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel for the Representatives are necessary in the Registration Statement, Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter of its liability, if any, to the Company or any nondefaulting Underwriter for damages occasioned by its default hereunder.

10. Termination. This Agreement shall be subject to termination in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice given to the Company prior to delivery of and payment for the Securities, if at any time prior to such time (i) there shall have occurred,

 

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since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, any material adverse change or development in the condition (financial or otherwise), business or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (ii) trading in the Company’s Common Stock shall have been suspended by the Commission or the Exchange or trading in any securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ Stock Market shall have been suspended or materially limited or minimum prices shall have been established on either exchange; (iii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared either by U.S. federal or New York State authorities; (iv) there shall have occurred a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services or (v) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war or other calamity or crisis the effect of which on financial markets is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Securities as contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).

11. Qualified Independent Underwriter. The Company hereby confirms that at its request Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC 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 Offered Securities. The public offering price of the Securities is not in excess of the price recommended by the QIU, acting as a “qualified independent underwriter” within the meaning of Rule 5121 of FINRA. In addition to its obligations under Section 8(a) herein, 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 Securities 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” (within the meaning of Rule 5121 of FINRA) in connection with the offering of Securities as contemplated by this Agreement, 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; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one law firm (in addition to any local counsel) for the QIU. The Company shall not be liable under this Section 11 to any indemnified party regarding any settlement or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent is consented to by the Company, as applicable, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

12. Representations and Indemnities to Survive. The respective agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the Company or its officers and of the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or the Company or any of the indemnified persons referred to in Section 8 hereof, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities. The provisions of Sections 7 and 8 hereof shall survive the termination or cancellation of this Agreement.

13. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and effective only on receipt, and, if sent to the Representatives, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to c/o Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Eleven Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010-3629, Attention: LCD-IBD and c/o J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, 383 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10179, Attention: IBCM-Legal, or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed or delivered to Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc., 1540 North Mason Road, Katy, TX, 77449 Attention: General Counsel; with a copy to Joseph H. Kaufman and Sunny Cheong, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, at 425 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York (fax no. (212) 455-2502). The Company shall be entitled to act and rely upon any request, consent, notice or agreement given or made on behalf of the Underwriters by the Representatives.

14. 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) For purposes of this Section 14, a “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.

15. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the indemnified persons referred to in Section 8 hereof and their respective successors and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder. No purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor merely by reason of such purchase.

16. Applicable Law. THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

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17. Patriot Act. In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.

18. No Fiduciary Duty. The Company hereby acknowledges that (a) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters and any affiliate through which it may be acting, on the other, and does not constitute a recommendation, investment advice, or solicitation of any action by the Underwriters, (b) the Underwriters are acting as principal and not as an agent or fiduciary of the Company and (c) the Company’s engagement of the Underwriters in connection with the offering and the process leading up to the offering is as independent contractors and not in any other capacity. Furthermore, the Company agrees that it is solely responsible for making its own judgments in connection with the offering (irrespective of whether any of the Underwriters has advised or is currently advising the Company on related or other matters). The Company agrees that it will not claim that the Underwriters have rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owe an agency, fiduciary or similar duty to the Company, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto. Any review by the Representatives and the other Underwriters of the Company, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of the Underwriters and shall not be on behalf of the Company.

19. Integration. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Company and the Underwriters, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

20. Waiver of Jury Trial. THE COMPANY AND EACH OF THE UNDERWRITERS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

21. Counterparts. 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 exchange of signature pages by facsimile or electronic format (i.e., “pdf” or “tif”) transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Agreement. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or electronic format (i.e., “pdf” or “tif”) shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

22. Electronic Signatures. 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

 

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the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, and the parties hereto consent to conduct the transactions contemplated hereunder by electronic means.

21. Headings. The section headings used herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

22. Definitions. The terms that follow, when used in this Agreement, shall have the meanings indicated.

“Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

“Affiliate” shall have the meaning specified in Rule 501(b) of Regulation D.

“Agreement” shall mean this Underwriting Agreement.

“Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which commercial banking institutions or trust companies are authorized or required by law to close in New York City.

“Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Disclosure Package” shall mean (i) the Preliminary Prospectus that is generally distributed to investors and used to offer the Securities, (ii) the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, and any other information identified in Schedule II hereto (including the pricing information provided orally by the underwriters), and (iii) any other Free Writing Prospectus that the parties hereto shall hereafter expressly agree in writing to treat as part of the Disclosure Package.

“Effective Date” shall mean each date and time that the Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment or amendments thereto and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement became or becomes effective.

“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

“Execution Time” shall mean 4:30 p.m. on October 1, 2020.

“Free Writing Prospectus” shall mean a free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 405.

“Investment Company Act” shall mean the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

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“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” shall mean an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433.

“Preliminary Prospectus” shall mean any preliminary prospectus referred to in paragraph 1(a) above and any preliminary prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the Effective Date that omits Rule 430A Information.

“Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus relating to the Securities that is first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) after the Execution Time.

“Registration Statement” shall mean the registration statement referred to in paragraph 1(a) above, including exhibits and financial statements and any prospectus supplement relating to the Securities that is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) and deemed part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430A, as amended at the Execution Time and, in the event any post-effective amendment thereto or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement becomes effective prior to the Closing Date, shall also mean such registration statement as so amended or such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, as the case may be.

“Rule 158”, “Rule 163”, “Rule 164”, “Rule 172”, “Rule 405”, “Rule 415”, “Rule 424”, “Rule 430A” and “Rule 433” refer to such rules under the Act.

“Rule 430A Information” shall mean information with respect to the Securities and the offering thereof permitted to be omitted from the Registration Statement when it becomes effective pursuant to Rule 430A.

“Rule 462(b) Registration Statement” shall mean a registration statement and any amendments thereto filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) relating to the offering covered by the registration statement referred to in Section 1(a) hereof.

“Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Rule 163B under of the Act.

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

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among the Company and the several Underwriters.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; Signatures follow]

 

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Very truly yours,

Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc.

By:  

/s/ Rene G. Casares

Name:

 

Rene G. Casares

Title:

  Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

 

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The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed

and accepted as of the date first above written.

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

By:   Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
By:  

/s/ Ryan M. Beaupré

 

Name: Ryan M. Beaupré

 

Title:   Director

By:   J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

By:

 

/s/ Jaclyn Berkley

 

Name: Jaclyn Berkley

 

Title:   Vice President

For themselves and the other several

Underwriters named in Schedule I to the

foregoing Agreement.

 

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SCHEDULE I

 

Underwriters

   Number of Underwritten Securities
to be Purchased
 
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC      4,218,750  
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC      3,125,000  
KKR Capital Markets LLC      3,437,500  
BofA Securities, Inc.      1,562,500  
Evercore Group L.L.C.      625,000  
Guggenheim Securities, LLC      625,000  
UBS Securities LLC      625,000  
Wells Fargo Securities LLC      625,000  
Stephens Inc.      390,625  
Capital One Securities, Inc.      156,250  
Loop Capital Markets LLC      39,063  
CastleOak Securities, L.P.      39,063  
Blaylock Van, LLC      39,063  
Cabrera Capital Markets      39,062  
Ramirez & Co., Inc.      39,062  
R. Seelaus & Co., LLC      39,062  

Total

     15,625,000  

 

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SCHEDULE II

Schedule of Free Writing Prospectuses included in the Disclosure Package

 

   

None

Pricing information provided orally by Underwriters

 

   

Number of Underwritten Securities: 15,625,000 shares of Common Stock

 

   

Number of Option Securities: 2,343,750 shares of Common Stock

 

   

Price: $13.00 per share

 

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SCHEDULE III

Significant Subsidiaries of the Company

ACADEMY, LTD

 

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Form of Lock-Up Agreement    EXHIBIT A

[Letterhead of officer, director or major shareholder of

ACADEMY SPORTS AND OUTDOORS, INC.]

Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc.

Public Offering of Common Stock

October 1, 2020

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

As Representatives of the several Underwriters,

c/o Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC,

Eleven Madison Avenue,

New York, N.Y. 10010-3629

c/o J.P. Morgan Securities LLC,

383 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10179

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This letter agreement (this “Letter Agreement”) is being delivered to you in connection with the proposed Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”), between Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and each of you as representatives of a group of Underwriters named therein, relating to an underwritten public offering of Common Stock, $0.01 par value (the “Common Stock”), of the Company (the “Offering”).

In order to induce you and the other Underwriters to enter into the Underwriting Agreement, the undersigned will not, without the prior written consent of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, offer, sell, contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of, (or enter into any transaction which is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise) by the undersigned or any controlled affiliate of the undersigned or any person in privity with the undersigned or any controlled affiliate of the undersigned), directly or indirectly, including the public filing (or participation in the public filing) of a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated

 

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thereunder with respect to, any shares of capital stock of the Company (“Shares”) or any securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for such capital stock (“Related Securities”), or publicly announce an intention to effect any such transaction, for a period from the date hereof until 180 days after the date of the Underwriting Agreement (the “lock-up period”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Underwriting Agreement.

The foregoing restrictions shall not apply:

 

  (i)

to the transfer of Shares or Related Securities by gift, or by will or intestate succession to a family member or to a trust, partnership, limited liability company or other entity for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned and/or a family member;

 

  (ii)

if the undersigned is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other business entity, to (1) transfers of Shares or Related Securities to another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other business entity that is a direct or indirect affiliate (as defined under Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act) of the undersigned or (2) distributions of Shares or Related Securities to limited partners, limited liability company members or stockholders of the undersigned or holders of similar equity interests in the undersigned;

 

  (iii)

if the undersigned is a trust, to transfers to the beneficiary of such trust;

 

  (iv)

to transfers to any investment fund or other entity that controls or manages, or is controlled or managed by, or is under common control or management with, the undersigned;

 

  (v)

to transfers to a nominee or custodian of a person or entity to whom a disposition or transfer would be permissible under clauses (i) through (iv);

 

  (vi)

to transfers to the Company (1) pursuant to the exercise, in each case on a “cashless” or “net exercise” basis, of any option to purchase Shares or the vesting of any restricted stock awards or the settlement of any restricted stock units granted by the Company pursuant to any incentive plans or otherwise pursuant to equity compensation plans or arrangements described in or filed as an exhibit to the registration statement with respect to the Offering, where any Shares received by the undersigned upon any such exercise, vesting or settlement will be subject to the terms of this lock-up agreement, or (2) for the purpose of satisfying any withholding taxes (including estimated taxes) due as a result of the exercise of any option to purchase Shares or the vesting of any restricted stock awards or the settlement of any restricted stock units granted by the Company pursuant to any incentive plans or otherwise pursuant to equity compensation plans or arrangements described in or filed as an exhibit to the registration statement with respect to the Offering, in each case on a “cashless” or “net exercise” basis, where any Shares received by the undersigned upon any such exercise, vesting or settlement will be subject to the terms of this lock-up agreement; provided that

 

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  any filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act in connection with such transfer shall indicate, to the extent permitted by such Section and the related rules and regulations, the reason for such disposition and that such transfer of Shares was solely to the Company;

 

  (vii)

to transfers pursuant to an order of a court or regulatory agency (for purposes of this Letter Agreement, a “court or regulatory agency” means any domestic or foreign, federal, state or local government, including any political subdivision thereof, any governmental or quasi-governmental authority, department, agency or official, any court or administrative body, and any national securities exchange or similar self-regulatory body or organization, in each case of competent jurisdiction); provided that any filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act in connection with such transfer shall indicate, to the extent permitted by such Section and the related rules and regulations, that such transfer is pursuant to an order of a court or regulatory agency;

 

  (viii)

to transfers of Shares or Related Securities to the Company pursuant to the call or put provisions of existing employment agreements and equity grant documents; provided that any filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act in connection with such transfer shall indicate, to the extent permitted by such Section and the related rules and regulations, the reason for such disposition and that such transfer of Shares or Related Securities was solely to the Company;

 

  (ix)

to transfers from an executive officer or his or her estate to the Company upon death, disability or termination of employment, in each case, of such executive officer;

 

  (x)

to transfers of Shares acquired in the Offering or in open-market transactions after the completion of the Offering;

 

  (xi)

to transfers in response to a bona fide third party tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction made to or with all holders of Shares or related Securities involving a “change of control” (as defined below) of the Company occurring after the consummation of the Offering, that 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 undersigned’s Shares shall remain subject to the terms of this Letter Agreement. For purposes of this clause (xi), “change of control” means 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 at least 51% of total voting power of the voting stock of the Company;

 

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  (xii)

to entry into a written plan meeting the requirements of Rule 10b5-l under the Exchange Act for the transfer of Shares that does not in any case provide for the transfer of Shares during the lock-up period;

 

  (xiii)

the transfer, conversion, reclassification, redemption or exchange of any Shares or Related Securities pursuant to the Reorganization Transactions; and

 

  (xiv)

any sales in open market transactions to generate such amount of net proceeds to the undersigned from such sales (after deducting commissions) in an aggregate amount up to the total amount of taxes or estimated taxes (as applicable) that become due as a result of (A) the exercise of options held by the undersigned with respect to which the undersigned has the right to net exercise and/or (B) the vesting and/or settlement of restricted stock awards or restricted stock units held by the undersigned, in each case, issued pursuant to any incentive plans or otherwise pursuant to equity compensation plans or arrangements described in or filed as an exhibit to the registration statement with respect to the Offering and that are exercisable and/or scheduled to vest and/or settle immediately prior to or during the lock-up; provided that any such transfers described in this subclause (xiv)(B) may only take place if at least 90 days have elapsed since the date of the Underwriting Agreement (and, for the sake of clarity, no transfers in the open market are permitted pursuant to this subclause (xiv)(B) if less than 90 days have elapsed since the date of the Underwriting Agreement).

Provided, further, that:

 

  A.

in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to clauses (i) through (v) above, it shall be a condition to such transfer that each transferee executes and delivers to Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC an agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC stating that such transferee is receiving and holding such Shares and/or Related Securities subject to the provisions of this Letter Agreement and agrees not to sell or offer to sell such Shares and/or Related Securities, engage in any swap or engage in any other activities restricted under this Letter Agreement except in accordance with this Letter Agreement (as if such transferee had been an original signatory hereto); and

 

  B.

in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to clauses (i) through (v), (ix), (xii) and (xiii) above, prior to the expiration of the lock-up period no filing by any party (donor, donee, transferor or transferee) under the Exchange Act (other than those required pursuant to Section 13), or other public announcement reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of Shares shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with such transfer or distribution.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this agreement, the restrictions set forth in this Letter Agreement shall not apply to the exercise of any right with respect to a registration of any Shares or Related Securities; provided that no transfer of the undersigned’s

 

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Shares or Related Securities proposed to be registered pursuant to the exercise of such rights under this paragraph shall occur, and no registration statement shall be publicly filed or announced, during the lock-up period. In addition, the undersigned agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of the undersigned’s Shares or Related Securities except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.

If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, the undersigned further agrees that the foregoing restrictions shall be equally applicable to any issuer-directed shares of Common Stock the undersigned may purchase in the Offering.

The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters have not provided any recommendation or investment advice nor have the Underwriters solicited any action from the undersigned with respect to the Offering and the undersigned has consulted their own legal, accounting, financial, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent deemed appropriate. The undersigned further acknowledges and agrees that, although the Representatives may be required or choose to provide certain Regulation Best Interest and Form CRS disclosures to you in connection with the Offering, the Representatives and the other Underwriters are not making a recommendation to you to enter into this Letter Agreement, and nothing set forth in such disclosures is intended to suggest that the Representative or any Underwriter is making such a recommendation.

If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, (i) Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities 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 shares of Common Stock, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities 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 Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities 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 letter to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of the transfer.

If for any reason the Underwriting Agreement shall be terminated prior to the Closing Date, the agreement set forth above shall likewise be terminated.

 

Yours very truly,

[Signature of officer, director or stockholder]

[Name and address of officer, director or

stockholder]

 

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List of Lock-Up Parties    EXHIBIT A-1

 

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Form of Press Release    EXHIBIT B

Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc.

[Date]

Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (the “Company”) announced today that Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, as lead book-running managers in the Company’s recent public sale of [●] shares of Common Stock, are [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 [●], 20 [●], and the shares may be sold on or after such date.

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

 

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Form of Waiver of Lock-Up    ADDENDUM

Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc.

Public Offering of Common Stock

[Name and Address of

Officer or Director

Requesting Waiver]

Dear Mr./Ms. [Name]:

This letter is being delivered to you in connection with the offering by Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) of [●] shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value (the “Common Stock”), of the Company and the lock-up letter dated [●], 2020 (the “Lock-up Letter”), executed by you in connection with such offering, and your request for a [waiver] [release] dated [●], 20[●], with respect to [●] shares of Common Stock (the “Shares”).

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC hereby agree to [waive] [release] the transfer restrictions set forth in the Lock-up Letter, but only with respect to the Shares, effective [●], 20[●]; provided, however, that such [waiver] [release] is conditioned on the Company announcing the impending [waiver] [release] by press release through a major news service at least two business days before effectiveness of such [waiver] [release]. This letter will serve as notice to the Company of the impending [waiver] [release].

Except as expressly [waived] [released] hereby, the Lock-up Letter shall remain in full force and effect.

 

Yours very truly,
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

cc: Company

 

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Form of STB Opinion and Negative Assurance Letter    EXHIBIT C

 

41


Form of General Counsel Opinion    EXHIBIT D

 

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Exhibit 3.1

AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

ACADEMY SPORTS AND OUTDOORS, INC.

* * * * *

The present name of the corporation is Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (the “Corporation”). The Corporation was incorporated under its present name by the filing of its original Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on June 30, 2020 (the “Original Certificate of Incorporation”). This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time, the “Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”), which restates and integrates and also further amends the provisions of the Original Certificate of Incorporation, was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and by the written consent of its stockholders in accordance with Section 228 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. The Original Certificate of Incorporation is hereby amended, integrated and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

ARTICLE I

NAME

The name of the Corporation is Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc.

ARTICLE II

REGISTERED OFFICE AND AGENT

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

ARTICLE III

PURPOSE

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (as the same exists or may hereafter be amended from time to time, the “DGCL”).

ARTICLE IV

CAPITAL STOCK

The total number of shares of all classes of stock that the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 350,000,000, which shall be divided into two classes as follows:


300,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”); and

50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Preferred Stock”).

I. Capital Stock.

A. Common Stock and Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time by the Corporation for such consideration as may be fixed by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”). The Board of Directors is hereby expressly authorized, by resolution or resolutions, to provide, out of the unissued shares of Preferred Stock, for one or more series of Preferred Stock and, with respect to each such series, to fix, without further stockholder approval, the designation of such series, the powers (including voting powers), preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of such series of Preferred Stock and the number of shares of such series, which number the Board of Directors may, except where otherwise provided in the designation of such series, increase (but not above the total number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock) or decrease (but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding) and as may be permitted by the DGCL. The powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of each series of Preferred Stock, if any, may differ from those of any and all other series at any time outstanding.

B. Each holder of record of Common Stock, as such, shall have one vote for each share of Common Stock which is outstanding in his, her or its name on the books of the Corporation on all matters on which stockholders are entitled to vote generally. Except as otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock) or pursuant to the DGCL.

C. Except as otherwise required by law, holders of any series of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to only such voting rights, if any, as shall expressly be granted thereto by this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to such series of Preferred Stock).

D. 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 Common Stock with respect to the payment of dividends, dividends may be declared and paid ratably on the Common Stock out of the assets of the Corporation which are legally available for this purpose at such times and in such amounts as the Board of Directors in its discretion shall determine.

E. Upon the dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation and subject to 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 Common Stock with respect to the distribution of assets of the Corporation upon such dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders ratably in proportion to the number of shares held by them.

 

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F. The number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL (or any successor provision thereto), and no vote of the holders of any of the Common Stock or the Preferred Stock voting separately as a class shall be required therefor, unless a vote of any such holder is required pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock).

ARTICLE V

AMENDMENT OF THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS

A. For so long as KKR (as defined below) beneficially owns, in the aggregate, at least 40% in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, in addition to any vote required by applicable law, this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation may be amended, altered, repealed or rescinded, in whole or in part, or any provision inconsistent therewith or herewith may be adopted, by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to the contrary, at any time when KKR beneficially owns, in the aggregate, less than 40% in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, in addition to any vote required by applicable law, the following provisions in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation may be amended, altered, repealed or rescinded, in whole or in part, or any provision inconsistent therewith or herewith may be adopted, only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 6623% in voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class: this Article V, Article VI, Article VII, Article VIII, Article IX and Article X. For the purposes of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, beneficial ownership of shares shall be determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

B. The Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, repeal, alter, amend and rescind, in whole or in part, the amended and restated bylaws of the Corporation (as in effect from time to time, the “Bylaws”) without the assent or vote of the stockholders in any manner not inconsistent with the laws of the State of Delaware or this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. For so long as KKR beneficially owns, in the aggregate, at least 40% in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required herein (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock), by the Bylaws or applicable law, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required in order for the stockholders of the Corporation to alter, amend, repeal or rescind, in whole or in part, any provision of the Bylaws or to adopt any provision inconsistent therewith. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Amended and

 

3


Restated Certificate of Incorporation or any provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote of the stockholders, at any time when KKR beneficially owns, in the aggregate, less than 40% in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required herein (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock), by the Bylaws or applicable law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 6623% in voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required in order for the stockholders of the Corporation to alter, amend, repeal or rescind, in whole or in part, any provision of the Bylaws or to adopt any provision inconsistent therewith.

ARTICLE VI

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

A. Except as otherwise provided in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the DGCL, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. Except as otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions of Article IV (including any certificate of designation with respect to any series of Preferred Stock) and this Article VI relating to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors and subject to the applicable requirements of the Stockholders Agreement (as defined below), the total number of directors constituting the whole Board of Directors shall be determined from time to time exclusively by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors. The directors (other than those directors elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or together with one or more other such series, as the case may be) shall be divided into three classes designated Class I, Class II and Class III. Each class shall consist, as nearly as possible, of one-third of the total number of such directors. Class I directors shall initially serve for a term expiring at the first annual meeting of stockholders following the date the Common Stock is first publicly traded (the “IPO Date”), Class II directors shall initially serve for a term expiring at the second annual meeting of stockholders following the IPO Date and Class III directors shall initially serve for a term expiring at the third annual meeting of stockholders following the IPO Date. At each succeeding annual meeting, successors to the class of directors whose term expires at that annual meeting shall be elected for a term expiring at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders. If the number of such directors is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, and any such additional director of any class elected to fill a newly created directorship resulting from an increase in such class shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the remaining term of that class, but in no case shall a decrease in the number of directors remove or shorten the term of any incumbent director. Subject to the terms of the Stockholders Agreement, any such director shall hold office until the annual meeting at which his or her term expires and until his or her successor shall be elected and qualified, or his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office. The Board of Directors is authorized to assign members of the Board of Directors already in office prior to the IPO Date to their respective class.

 

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B. Subject to the rights granted to the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock then outstanding or the rights granted pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement, to be dated on or about October 6, 2020 (as the same may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Stockholders Agreement”), by and among the Corporation, and certain affiliates of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. (together with its affiliates and subsidiaries and its and their successors and assigns (other than the Corporation and its subsidiaries), collectively, “KKR”), any newly created directorship on the Board of Directors that results from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancy occurring on the Board of Directors (whether by death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal or other cause) shall be filled by a majority of the directors then in office (other than the directors elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or together with one or more other such series, as the case may be), even if less than a quorum, by any sole remaining director or by the stockholders; provided, however, that at any time when KKR beneficially owns, in the aggregate, less than 40% in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, any newly created directorship on the Board of Directors that results from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors shall, unless otherwise required by law or by resolution of the Board of Directors, be filled only by a majority of the directors then in office (other than the directors elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or together with one or more other such series, as the case may be), even if less than a quorum, or by any such sole remaining director (and not by the stockholders). Any director elected to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship 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, or until his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.

C. Subject to rights granted to KKR under the Stockholders Agreement, any or all of the directors (other than the directors elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or together with one or more other such series, as the case may be) may be removed at any time either with or without cause by the affirmative vote of a majority in voting power of all outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class; provided, however, that at any time when KKR beneficially owns, in the aggregate, less than 40% in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, any such director or all such directors may be removed only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 6623% in voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class.

D. Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws shall so provide.

E. During any period when the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or together with one or more series, have the right to elect additional directors, then upon commencement and for the duration of the period during which such right continues: (i) the then otherwise total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall automatically be increased by such specified number of directors, and the holders of such Preferred Stock shall be entitled to elect the additional directors so provided for or fixed pursuant to said provisions, and (ii) each such additional director shall serve until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until such director’s right to hold such office terminates pursuant to said provisions, whichever occurs earlier, subject to his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal. Except as otherwise provided by the Board of Directors in the resolution or resolutions establishing such series, whenever the holders of any series of Preferred Stock having such right to elect additional directors are divested of such right pursuant to the provisions of such stock, the terms of office of all such additional directors elected by the holders of such stock, or elected to fill any vacancies resulting from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of such additional directors, shall forthwith terminate and the total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall automatically be reduced accordingly.

 

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ARTICLE VII

LIMITATION OF DIRECTOR LIABILITY

A. To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as it now exists or may hereafter be amended, a director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty owed to the Corporation or its stockholders.

B. Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article VII, nor the adoption of any provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, nor, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, any modification of law shall eliminate, reduce or otherwise adversely affect any right or protection of a current or former director of the Corporation existing at the time of such amendment, repeal, adoption or modification.

ARTICLE VIII

CONSENT OF STOCKHOLDERS IN LIEU OF MEETING, ANNUAL AND SPECIAL MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

A. At any time when KKR beneficially owns, in the aggregate, at least 40% in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered to the Corporation in accordance with the applicable procedures of the DGCL. At any time when KKR beneficially owns, in the aggregate, less than 40% in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of such holders and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such holders; provided, however, that any action required or permitted to be taken by the holders of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or separately as a class with one or more other such series, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, to the extent expressly so provided by the applicable certificate of designation relating to such series of Preferred Stock.

B. Except as otherwise required by law and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time only by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board of Directors; provided, however, that at any time when KKR beneficially owns, in the aggregate, at least 40% in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation for any purpose or purposes shall also be called by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board of Directors at the request of KKR.

 

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C. An annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors to succeed those whose terms expire and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, if any, on such date, and at such time as shall be fixed exclusively by resolution of the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof.

ARTICLE IX

COMPETITION AND CORPORATE OPPORTUNITIES

A. In recognition and anticipation that (i) certain directors, principals, members, officers, associated funds, employees and/or other representatives of KKR and its Affiliates may serve as directors, officers or agents of the Corporation, (ii) KKR and its Affiliates may now engage and may continue to engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage and/or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage, and (iii) members of the Board of Directors who are not employees of the Corporation (“Non-Employee Directors”) and their respective Affiliates may now engage and may continue to engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage and/or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage, the provisions of this Article IX are set forth to regulate and define the conduct of certain affairs of the Corporation with respect to certain classes or categories of business opportunities as they may involve KKR, the Non-Employee Directors or their respective Affiliates and the powers, rights, duties and liabilities of the Corporation and its directors, officers and stockholders in connection therewith, subject to the provisions set out in the Stockholders Agreement.

B. None of (i) KKR or any of its Affiliates or (ii) any Non-Employee Director (including any Non-Employee Director who serves as an officer of the Corporation in both his or her director and officer capacities) or his or her Affiliates (the Persons (as defined below) identified in (i) and (ii) above being referred to, collectively, as “Identified Persons” and, individually, as an “Identified Person”) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have any duty to refrain from directly or indirectly (1) engaging in the same or similar business activities or lines of business in which the Corporation or any of its Affiliates now engages or proposes to engage or (2) otherwise competing with the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, no Identified Person shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders or to any Affiliate of the Corporation for breach of any fiduciary duty solely by reason of the fact that such Identified Person engages in any such activities. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Corporation hereby renounces any interest or expectancy in, or right to be offered an opportunity to participate in, any business opportunity which may be a corporate opportunity for an Identified Person and the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, except as provided in Section (D) of this Article IX. Subject to said Section (D) of this Article IX, in the event that any Identified Person acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or other matter or business opportunity which may be a corporate opportunity for itself, herself or himself and the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, such Identified Person shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have no fiduciary duty or other duty (contractual or otherwise) to communicate, present or offer such transaction or other business opportunity to the Corporation or any of its Affiliates and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall not be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders or to any Affiliate of the Corporation for breach of any fiduciary duty or other duty (contractual or otherwise) as a stockholder, director or officer of the Corporation solely by reason of the fact that such Identified Person pursues or acquires such corporate opportunity for itself, herself or himself, offers or directs such corporate opportunity to another Person, or does not present such corporate opportunity to the Corporation or any of its Affiliates.

 

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C. The Corporation and its Affiliates do not have any rights in and to the business ventures of any Identified Person, or the income or profits derived therefrom, and the Corporation agrees that each of the Identified Persons may do business with any potential or actual customer or supplier of the Corporation or may employ or otherwise engage any officer or employee of the Corporation.

D. The Corporation does not renounce its interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any Non-Employee Director (including any Non-Employee Director who serves as an officer of this Corporation) if such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation, and the provisions of Section (B) of this Article IX shall not apply to any such corporate opportunity.

E. In addition to and notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article IX, a corporate opportunity shall not be deemed to be a potential corporate opportunity for the Corporation if it is a business opportunity that (i) the Corporation is neither financially or legally able, nor contractually permitted to undertake, (ii) from its nature, is not in the line of the Corporation’s business or is of no practical advantage to the Corporation or (iii) is one in which the Corporation has no interest or reasonable expectancy.

F. For purposes of this Article IX, (i) “Affiliate” shall mean (a) in respect of KKR, any Person that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by KKR, controls KKR, or is under common control with KKR, and shall include any principal, member, director, partner, stockholder, officer, employee or other representative of any of the foregoing (other than the Corporation and any Person that is controlled by the Corporation), (b) in respect of a Non-Employee Director, any Person that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by such Non-Employee Director (other than the Corporation and any entity that is controlled by the Corporation) and (c) in respect of the Corporation, any Person that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by the Corporation; and (ii) “Person” shall mean any individual, corporation, general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, association or any other entity.

G. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any Person purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this Article IX. Neither the alteration, amendment, addition to or repeal of this Article IX, nor the adoption of any provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock) inconsistent with this Article IX, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article IX in respect of any business opportunity first identified or any other matter occurring, or any cause of action, suit or claim that, but for this Article IX, would accrue or arise, prior to such alteration, amendment, addition, repeal or adoption.

ARTICLE X

DGCL SECTION 203 AND BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

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

 

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B. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall not engage in any business combination (as defined below), at any point in time at which the Corporation’s 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:

 

  1.

prior to such time, the Board of Directors approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, or

 

  2.

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

 

  3.

at or subsequent to such time, the business combination is approved by the Board of Directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 6623% of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation which is not owned by the interested stockholder.

C. For purposes of this Article X, references to:

 

  1.

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.

 

  2.

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

 

  3.

KKR Direct Transferee” means any person that acquires (other than in a registered public offering or through a broker’s transaction executed on any securities exchange or other over-the-counter market) directly from any of KKR or its affiliates or successors or any “group,” or any member of any such group, of which such persons are a party under Rule 13d-5 of the Exchange Act beneficial ownership of 5% or more of the then-outstanding voting stock of the Corporation.

 

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  4.

KKR Indirect Transferee” means any person that acquires (other than in a registered public offering or through a broker’s transaction executed on any securities exchange or other over-the-counter market) directly from any KKR Direct Transferee or any other KKR Indirect Transferee beneficial ownership of 5% or more of the then-outstanding voting stock of the Corporation.

 

  5.

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

 

  (i)

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

 

  (ii)

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

 

  (iii)

any transaction which results in the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or by any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation of any stock of the Corporation or of such subsidiary to the interested stockholder, except: (a) pursuant to the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which securities were outstanding prior to the time that the interested stockholder became such; (b) pursuant to a merger under Section 251(g) of the DGCL; (c) pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made, or the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which security is distributed, pro rata to all holders of a class or series of stock of the Corporation subsequent to the time the interested stockholder became such; (d) pursuant to an exchange offer by the Corporation to purchase stock made on the same terms to all holders of said stock; or (e) any issuance or transfer of stock by the Corporation; provided, however, that in no case under items (c)-(e) of this subsection (iii) shall there be an increase in the interested stockholder’s proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the Corporation or of the voting stock of the Corporation (except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments);

 

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  (iv)

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

 

  (v)

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

 

  6.

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

 

  7.

interested stockholder” means any person (other than the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation) that (i) is the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation, or (ii) is an affiliate or associate of the Corporation and was the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation at any time within the three (3) year period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be determined whether such person is an interested stockholder; and the affiliates and associates of such person; but “interested stockholder” shall not include or be deemed to include, in any case, (a) KKR, any KKR Direct Transferee, any KKR Indirect Transferee or any of their respective affiliates or successors or any “group,” or any member of any such group, to which such persons are a party under Rule 13d-5 of the Exchange Act, or (b) any person whose ownership of shares in excess of the 15% limitation set forth herein is the result of any action taken solely by the Corporation, provided that such person shall be an interested stockholder if thereafter such person acquires additional shares of voting stock of the

 

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  Corporation, except as a result of further corporate action not caused, directly or indirectly, by such person. For the purpose of determining whether a person is an interested stockholder, the voting stock of the Corporation deemed to be outstanding shall include stock deemed to be owned by the person through application of the definition of “owner” below but shall not include any other unissued stock of the Corporation which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise.

 

  8.

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

 

  (i)

beneficially owns such stock, directly or indirectly; or

 

  (ii)

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

 

  (iii)

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

 

  9.

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

 

  10.

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

 

  11.

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

 

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ARTICLE XI

MISCELLANEOUS

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

B. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee or stockholder of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, creditors or other constituents, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director or officer of the Corporation arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws (as either may be amended and/or restated from time to time) or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director or officer of the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine; provided, that, if and only if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware dismisses any such action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, such action may be brought in another state court sitting in the State of Delaware. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the federal district courts of the United States will be the exclusive forum for resolving any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. 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 XI(B).

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be executed by its duly authorized officer on this 30th day of September, 2020.

 

Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc.
By:  

/s/ Rene G. Casares

Name:   Rene G. Casares
Title:   Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation]

Exhibit 3.2

AMENDED AND RESTATED

BYLAWS

OF

ACADEMY SPORTS AND OUTDOORS, INC.

ARTICLE I

Offices

SECTION 1.01 Registered Office. The registered office and registered agent of Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (the “Corporation”) in the State of Delaware shall be as set forth in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (as defined below). The Corporation may also have offices in such other places in the United States or elsewhere (and may change the Corporation’s registered agent) as the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) may, from time to time, determine or as the business of the Corporation may require.

ARTICLE II

Meetings of Stockholders

SECTION 2.01 Annual Meetings. Annual meetings of stockholders may be held at such place, if any, either within or without the State of Delaware, and at such time and date as the Board of Directors shall determine and state in the notice of meeting. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that annual meetings of stockholders shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as described in Section 2.11 of these Amended and Restated Bylaws in accordance with Section 211(a)(2) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”). The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any annual meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 2.02 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders may only be called in the manner provided in the Corporation’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation as then in effect (as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time, the “Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”) and may be held at such place, if any, either within or without the State of Delaware, and at such time and date as the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board of Directors shall determine and state in the notice of meeting. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that special meetings of stockholders shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as described in Section 2.11 of these Amended and Restated Bylaws in accordance with Section 211(a)(2) of the DGCL. The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any special meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board of Directors; provided, however, that with respect to any special meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board of Directors at the request of KKR (as defined in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation), the Board of Directors shall not postpone, reschedule or cancel such special meeting without the prior written consent of KKR.


SECTION 2.03 Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations.

(A) Annual Meetings of Stockholders.

(1) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of other business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders only (a) as provided in the Stockholders Agreement (as defined in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation) (with respect to nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors only), (b) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) delivered pursuant to Section 2.04 of Article II of these Amended and Restated Bylaws, (c) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any authorized committee thereof or (d) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled to vote at the meeting, who, subject to paragraph (C)(4) of this Section 2.03, complied with the notice procedures set forth in paragraphs (A)(2) and (A)(3) of this Section 2.03 and who was a stockholder of record at the time such notice is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation.

(2) For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (d) of paragraph (A)(1) of this Section 2.03, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation, and, in the case of business other than nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors, such other business must constitute a proper matter for stockholder action. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one hundred and twenty (120) days prior to the date of the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting (which date shall, for purposes of the Corporation’s first annual meeting of stockholders after shares of its Common Stock (as defined in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation) are first publicly traded, be deemed to have occurred on June 30, 2020); provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than thirty (30) days or delayed by more than seventy (70) days from the anniversary date of the previous year’s meeting, or, following the Corporation’s first annual meeting of stockholders after shares of its Common Stock are first publicly traded, if no annual meeting was held in the preceding year, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred and twentieth (120) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement (as defined below) of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation. Public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting shall not commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.03(A)(2) to the contrary, if the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors at an annual meeting is increased and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors at least one hundred (100) calendar days prior to the first anniversary of the prior year’s annual meeting of stockholders, then a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 2.03 shall be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it is received by the Secretary of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) calendar day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

 

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(3) A stockholder’s notice delivered pursuant to this Section 2.03 shall set forth (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director, all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected; (b) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and, in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend these Amended and Restated Bylaws, the language of the proposed amendment), the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; (c) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books and records, and of such beneficial owner, (ii) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation that are owned, directly or indirectly, beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner, (iii) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of the stock of the Corporation at the time of the giving of the notice, will be entitled to vote at such meeting and will appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business or nomination, (iv) a representation whether the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, will be or is part of a group that will (x) deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the voting power of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or elect the nominee and/or (y) otherwise to solicit proxies or votes from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination, (v) a certification regarding whether such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, have complied with all applicable federal, state and other legal requirements in connection with (x) the stockholder’s and/or beneficial owner’s acquisition of shares of capital stock or other securities of the Corporation and/or the stockholder’s and/or (y) the beneficial owner’s acts or omissions as a stockholder of the Corporation and (vi) any other information relating to such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in an election contest pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; (d) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to the nomination or proposal and/or the voting of shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation between or among the stockholder giving the notice, the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made, any of their respective affiliates or associates and/or any others acting in concert with any of the foregoing (collectively, “proponent persons”); and (e) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including without limitation any contract to purchase or sell, acquisition or grant of any option, right or warrant to purchase or sell, swap or other instrument) to which any proponent person is a party, the intent or effect of which may be (i) to transfer to or from any proponent person, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any security of the Corporation, (ii) to increase or decrease the

 

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voting power of any proponent person with respect to shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation and/or (iii) to provide any proponent person, directly or indirectly, with the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from, or to otherwise benefit economically from, any increase or decrease in the value of any security of the Corporation. A stockholder providing notice of a proposed nomination for election to the Board of Directors or other business proposed to be brought before a meeting (whether given pursuant to this paragraph (A)(3) or paragraph (B) of this Section 2.03) shall update and supplement such notice from time to time to the extent necessary so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice shall be true and correct (x) as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting and (y) as of the date that is fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, provided that if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting is less than fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, the information shall be supplemented and updated as of such later date. Any such update and supplement shall be delivered in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) days after the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting (in the case of any update and supplement required to be made as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting), not later than ten (10) days prior to the date for the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof (in the case of any update or supplement required to be made as of fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting or adjournment or postponement thereof) and not later than five (5) days after the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, but no later than the date prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof (in the case of any update and supplement required to be made as of a date less than fifteen (15) days prior to the date of the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof). The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation and to determine the independence of such director under the Exchange Act and rules and regulations thereunder and applicable stock exchange rules.

(B) Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (1) as provided in the Stockholders Agreement, (2) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof or (3) provided that the Board of Directors (or KKR pursuant to Section B of Article VIII of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation) has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled to vote at the meeting, who (subject to paragraph (C)(4) of this Section 2.03) complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.03 and who is a stockholder of record at the time such notice is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation. In the event a special meeting of stockholders is called for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting if the stockholder’s notice as required by paragraph (A)(2) of this Section 2.03 shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the

 

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ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

(C) General. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (C)(4) of this Section 2.03, only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.03 or the Stockholders Agreement shall be eligible to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at an annual or special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.03. Except as otherwise provided by the DGCL, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these Amended and Restated Bylaws, the chairman of the meeting shall, in addition to making any other determination that may be appropriate for the conduct of the meeting, have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Amended and Restated Bylaws and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with these Amended and Restated Bylaws, to declare that such defective proposal or nomination shall be disregarded. 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 chairman of the meeting. 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 chairman of the meeting 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 chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the chairman of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (a) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting, (b) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (c) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chairman of the meeting shall determine; (d) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (e) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03, unless otherwise required by the DGCL, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination or business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this Section 2.03, to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

 

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(2) Whenever used in these Amended and Restated Bylaws, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure (a) in a press release released by the Corporation, provided such press release is released by the Corporation following its customary procedures, is reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service, or is generally available on internet news sites, or (b) in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 2.03; provided, however, that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any references in these Amended and Restated Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit any requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to these Amended and Restated Bylaws (including paragraphs (A)(1)(d) and (B) of this Section 2.03), and compliance with paragraphs (A)(1)(d) and (B) of this Section 2.03 shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or submit other business. Nothing in these Amended and Restated Bylaws shall be deemed to affect any rights of the holders of any class or series of stock having a preference over the Common Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation to elect directors under specified circumstances.

(4) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.03, for as long as (i) the Stockholders Agreement remains in effect with respect to KKR and/or (ii) KKR beneficially owns, in the aggregate, at least 40% in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, KKR (to the extent then subject to the Stockholders Agreement) shall not be subject to the notice procedures set forth in paragraphs (A)(2), (A)(3) or (B) of this Section 2.03 with respect to any annual or special meeting of stockholders.

SECTION 2.04 Notice of Meetings. Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a timely notice in writing or by electronic transmission, in the manner provided in Section 232 of the DGCL, of the meeting, which shall state the place, if any, date and time of the meeting, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, if such date is different from the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be mailed or transmitted electronically by the Secretary of the Corporation to each stockholder of record entitled to vote thereat as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting. Unless otherwise provided by law, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these Amended and Restated 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 such meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting.

 

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SECTION 2.05 Quorum. Unless otherwise required by law, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the rules of any stock exchange upon which the Corporation’s securities are listed, the holders of record of a majority of the voting power of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, where a separate vote by a class or series or classes or series is required, a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of such class or series or classes or series, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to the vote on that matter. Once a quorum is present to organize a meeting, it shall not be broken by the subsequent withdrawal of any stockholders.

SECTION 2.06 Voting. Except as otherwise provided by or pursuant to the provisions of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, each stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by such stockholder that has voting power upon the matter in question. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy in any manner provided under Section 212(c) of the DGCL or as otherwise provided by applicable law, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three (3) years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A stockholder may revoke any proxy that is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by delivering to the Secretary of the Corporation a revocation of the proxy or a new proxy bearing a later date. Unless required by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or applicable law, or determined by the chairman of the meeting to be advisable, the vote on any question need not be by ballot. On a vote by ballot, each ballot shall be signed by the stockholder voting, or by such stockholder’s proxy, if there be such proxy. When a quorum is present or represented at any meeting, the vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares of stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall decide any question brought before such meeting, unless the question is one upon which, by express provision of applicable law, of the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, of any regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities, of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or of these Amended and Restated Bylaws, a different vote is required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of such question. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence and subject to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, all elections of directors shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast in respect of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors.

SECTION 2.07 Chairman of Meetings. The Chairman of the Board of Directors, if one is elected, or, in his or her absence or disability, the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, or in the absence of the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer, a person designated by the Board of Directors shall be the chairman of the meeting and, as such, preside at all meetings of the stockholders.

SECTION 2.08 Secretary of Meetings. The Secretary of the Corporation shall act as secretary at all meetings of the stockholders. In the absence or disability of the Secretary, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the chairman of the meeting shall appoint a person to act as secretary at such meetings.

 

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SECTION 2.09 Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote only to the extent permitted by and in the manner provided in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and in accordance with applicable law.

SECTION 2.10 Adjournment. At any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, if less than a quorum be present, the chairman of the meeting or stockholders holding a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation, present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereat, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time without notice other than announcement at the meeting until a quorum shall be present. Any business may be transacted at the adjourned meeting that might have been transacted at the meeting originally noticed. 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 as the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, 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 so fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.

SECTION 2.11 Remote Communication. If authorized by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, and subject to such guidelines and procedures as the Board of Directors may adopt, stockholders and proxy holders not physically present at a meeting of stockholders may, by means of remote communication:

(A) participate in a meeting of stockholders; and

(B) be deemed present in person and vote at a meeting of stockholders whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication, provided, that

(1) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to verify that each person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a stockholder or proxyholder;

(2) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to provide such stockholders and proxyholders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings; and

(3) if any stockholder or proxyholder votes or takes other action at the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of such vote or other action shall be maintained by the Corporation.

 

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SECTION 2.12 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 chairman of the meeting 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. The inspector or inspectors so appointed or designated shall (a) ascertain the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation outstanding and the voting power of each such share, (b) determine the shares of capital stock of the Corporation represented at the meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots, (c) count all votes and ballots, (d) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors, and (e) certify their determination of the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation 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 of the Corporation, 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.

SECTION 2.13 Delivery to the Corporation. Whenever this Article II requires one or more persons (including a record or beneficial owner of stock) to deliver a document or information to the Corporation or any officer, employee or agent thereof (including any notice, request, questionnaire, revocation, representation or other document or agreement), such document or information shall be in writing exclusively (and not in an electronic transmission) and shall be delivered exclusively by hand (including, without limitation, overnight courier service) or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, and the Corporation shall not be required to accept delivery of any document not in such written form or so delivered. For the avoidance of doubt, the Corporation expressly opts out of Section 116 of the DGCL with respect the delivery of information and documents to the Corporation required by this Article II.

ARTICLE III

Board of Directors

SECTION 3.01 Powers. Except as otherwise provided in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the DGCL, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors or as provided in the Stockholders Agreement. The Board of Directors may exercise all such authority and powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by the DGCL or the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.

SECTION 3.02 Number and Term; Chairman. Subject to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Stockholders Agreement, the number of directors shall be fixed exclusively by resolution of the Board of Directors. Directors shall be elected by the stockholders at their annual meeting, and the term of each director so elected shall be as set forth in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Directors need not be stockholders. The Board of Directors shall elect a Chairman of the Board of Directors, who shall

 

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have the powers and perform such duties as provided in these Amended and Restated Bylaws and as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe. The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors at which he or she is present. If the Chairman of the Board of Directors is not present at a meeting of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer (if the Chief Executive Officer is a director and is not also the Chairman of the Board of Directors) shall preside at such meeting, and, if the Chief Executive Officer is not present at such meeting or is not a director, a majority of the directors present at such meeting shall elect one of their members to preside over such meeting.

SECTION 3.03 Resignations. Any director may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary of the Corporation. The resignation shall take effect at the time or upon the happening of any event specified therein, and if no specification is so made, at the time of its receipt. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless otherwise expressly provided in the resignation.

SECTION 3.04 Removal. Directors of the Corporation may be removed in the manner provided in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Stockholders Agreement and applicable law.

SECTION 3.05 Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law and subject to the Stockholders Agreement, vacancies occurring in any directorship (whether by death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal or other cause) and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors shall be filled in accordance with the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Any director elected to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship 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, or until his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.

SECTION 3.06 Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at such places and times as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation or the Chairman of the Board of Directors or as provided by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, and shall be called by the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary of the Corporation if directed by a majority of directors then in office and shall be at such places and times as they or he or she shall fix. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be also called by KKR at any time when KKR beneficially owns, in the aggregate, at least 40% in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, and shall be at such places and times as KKR shall fix. Notice need not be given of regular meetings of the Board of Directors. At least twenty-four (24) hours before each special meeting of the Board of Directors, either written notice, notice by electronic transmission or oral notice (either in person or by telephone) notice of the time, date and place of the meeting shall be given to each director. Unless otherwise indicated in the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting.

 

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SECTION 3.07 Quorum, Voting and Adjournment. Except as otherwise provided by the DGCL, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these Amended and Restated Bylaws, a majority of the total number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these Amended and Restated Bylaws, the act of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors. In the absence of a quorum, a majority of the directors present thereat may adjourn such meeting to another time and place. Notice of such adjourned meeting need not be given if the time and place of such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting so adjourned.

SECTION 3.08 Committees; Committee Rules. The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, including but not limited to an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Nominating and Governance Committee, each such committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation, subject to the terms of the Stockholders Agreement. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee to replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors establishing such committee, 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 that may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to the following matters: (a) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter (other than the election or removal of directors) expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval or (b) adopting, amending or repealing any Bylaw of the Corporation. All committees of the Board of Directors shall keep minutes of their meetings and shall report their proceedings to the Board of Directors when requested or required by the Board of Directors. Each committee of the Board of Directors may fix its own rules of procedure and shall hold its meetings as provided by such rules, except as may otherwise be provided by a resolution of the Board of Directors designating such committee. Unless otherwise provided in such a resolution, the presence of at least a majority of the members of the committee shall be necessary to constitute a quorum unless the committee shall consist of one or two members, in which event one member shall constitute a quorum; and all matters shall be determined by a majority vote of the members present at a meeting of the committee at which a quorum is present. Unless otherwise provided in such a resolution, in the event that a member and that member’s alternate, if alternates are designated by the Board of Directors, of such committee is or are absent or disqualified, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member.

SECTION 3.09 Action Without a Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, 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 any committee thereof, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission. After an action is taken, the consent or consents relating thereto shall be filed in the minutes of the proceedings of the Board of Directors. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form or shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

 

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SECTION 3.10 Remote Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, members of the Board of Directors, or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment in which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other. Participation in a meeting by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

SECTION 3.11 Compensation. The Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation, including fees and reimbursement of expenses, of directors for services to the Corporation in any capacity.

SECTION 3.12 Reliance on Books and Records. A member of the Board of Directors, or a member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors shall, in the performance of such person’s duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of the Corporation’s officers or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors, or by any other person as to matters the member reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.

ARTICLE IV

Officers

SECTION 4.01 Number. The officers of the Corporation shall include any officers required by the DGCL, each of whom shall be elected by the Board of Directors and who shall hold office for such terms as shall be determined by the Board of Directors and until their successors are elected and qualify or until their earlier resignation or removal. In addition, the Board of Directors may elect a Chief Executive Officer, a President, one or more Vice Presidents, including one or more Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents, a Treasurer, a Secretary, one or more Assistant Treasurers and one or more Assistant Secretaries, who shall hold their office for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. Any number of offices may be held by the same person.

SECTION 4.02 Other Officers and Agents. The Board of Directors may appoint such other officers and agents as it deems advisable, who shall hold their office for such terms and shall exercise and perform such powers and duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may appoint one or more officers called a Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, each of whom must be a member of the Board of Directors.

SECTION 4.03 Chief Executive Officer/President. The Chief Executive Officer, who may also be the President, subject to the determination of the Board of Directors, shall have general executive charge, management, and control of the properties and operations of the Corporation in the ordinary course of its business, with all such powers with respect to such properties and operations as may be reasonably incident to such responsibilities. If the Board of Directors has not elected a Chairman of the Board of Directors or in the absence or inability to act as the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer shall exercise all of the powers and discharge all of the duties of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, but only if the Chief Executive Officer is a director of the Corporation.

 

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SECTION 4.04 Vice Presidents. Each Vice President, if any are appointed, of whom one or more may be designated an Executive Vice President or Senior Vice President, shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to him or her by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors.

SECTION 4.05 Treasurer. The Treasurer, if any is appointed, shall have custody of the corporate funds, securities, evidences of indebtedness and other valuables of the Corporation and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation. The Treasurer shall deposit all moneys and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors or its designees selected for such purposes. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Corporation, taking proper vouchers therefor. The Treasurer shall render to the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors, upon their request, a report of the financial condition of the Corporation. If required by the Board of Directors, the Treasurer shall give the Corporation a bond for the faithful discharge of his or her duties in such amount and with such surety as the Board of Directors shall prescribe.

In addition, the Treasurer shall have such further powers and perform such other duties incident to the office of Treasurer as from time to time are assigned to him or her by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors.

SECTION 4.06 Secretary. The Secretary shall: (a) cause minutes of all meetings of the stockholders and directors to be recorded and kept properly; (b) cause all notices required by these Amended and Restated Bylaws or otherwise to be given properly; (c) see that the minute books, stock books, and other nonfinancial books, records and papers of the Corporation are kept properly; and (d) cause all reports, statements, returns, certificates and other documents to be prepared and filed when and as required. The Secretary shall have such further powers and perform such other duties as prescribed from time to time by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors.

SECTION 4.07 Assistant Treasurers and Assistant Secretaries. Each Assistant Treasurer and each Assistant Secretary, if any are appointed, shall be vested with all the powers and shall perform all the duties of the Treasurer and Secretary, respectively, in the absence or disability of such officer, unless or until the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors shall otherwise determine. In addition, Assistant Treasurers and Assistant Secretaries shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to them by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors.

 

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SECTION 4.08 Corporate Funds and Checks. The funds of the Corporation shall be kept in such depositories as shall from time to time be prescribed by the Board of Directors or its designees selected for such purposes. All checks or other orders for the payment of money shall be signed by the Chief Executive Officer, a Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary or such other person or agent as may from time to time be authorized and with such countersignature, if any, as may be required by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 4.09 Contracts and Other Documents. The Chief Executive Officer and the Secretary, or such other officer or officers as may from time to time be authorized by the Board of Directors, any committee given specific authority in the premises by the Board of Directors, or the Chief Executive Officer during the intervals between the meetings of the Board of Directors, shall have power to sign and execute on behalf of the Corporation deeds, conveyances and contracts, and any and all other documents requiring execution by the Corporation.

SECTION 4.10 Ownership of Stock of Another Corporation. Unless otherwise directed by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, a Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary, or such other officer or agent as shall be authorized by the Board of Directors, shall have the power and authority, on behalf of the Corporation, to attend and to vote at any meeting of securityholders of any entity in which the Corporation holds securities or equity interests and may exercise, on behalf of the Corporation, any and all of the rights and powers incident to the ownership of such securities or equity interests at any such meeting, including the authority to execute and deliver proxies and consents on behalf of the Corporation.

SECTION 4.11 Delegation of Duties. In the absence, disability or refusal of any officer to exercise and perform his or her duties, the Board of Directors may delegate to another officer such powers or duties.

SECTION 4.12 Resignation and Removal. Any officer of the Corporation may be removed from office for or without cause at any time by the Board of Directors. Any officer may resign at any time in the same manner prescribed under Section 3.03 of these Amended and Restated Bylaws.

SECTION 4.13 Vacancies. The Board of Directors shall have the power to fill vacancies occurring in any office.

ARTICLE V

Stock

SECTION 5.01 Shares With Certificates. The shares of stock of the Corporation 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 the Corporation’s 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 in the Corporation represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by any two authorized officers of the Corporation (it being understood that each of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, a President, the Chief Financial Officer, a Vice President, the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary and an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation shall be an authorized officer for such purpose). Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile or other electronic signature. The Board of Directors shall have the power to appoint one or more transfer agents and/or registrars for the transfer or registration of certificates of stock of any class, and may require stock certificates to be countersigned or registered by one or more of such transfer agents and/or registrars.

 

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SECTION 5.02 Shares Without Certificates. If the Board of Directors chooses to issue shares of stock without certificates, the Corporation, if required by the DGCL, shall, within a reasonable time after the issue or transfer of shares without certificates, give a notice to the registered owner thereof containing the information required to be set forth or stated on stock certificates by the applicable provisions of the DGCL. The Corporation may adopt a system of issuance, recordation and transfer of its shares of stock by electronic or other means not involving the issuance of certificates, provided the use of such system by the Corporation is permitted in accordance with applicable law.

SECTION 5.03 Transfer of Shares. Shares of stock of the Corporation shall be transferable upon its books by the holders thereof, in person or by their duly authorized attorneys or legal representatives, in the manner prescribed by law, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and in these Amended and Restated Bylaws, upon surrender to the Corporation by delivery thereof (to the extent evidenced by a physical stock certificate) to the person in charge of the stock and transfer books and ledgers. Certificates representing such shares, if any, shall be cancelled and new certificates, if the shares are to be certificated, shall thereupon be issued. Shares of capital stock of the Corporation that are not represented by a certificate shall be transferred in accordance with any procedures adopted by the Corporation or its agents and applicable law. A record shall be made of each transfer. Whenever any transfer of shares shall be made for collateral security, and not absolutely, it shall be so expressed in the entry of the transfer if, when the certificates are presented to the Corporation for transfer or uncertificated shares requested to be transferred, both the transferor and transferee request the Corporation to do so. The Board of Directors shall have power and authority to make such rules and regulations as it may deem necessary or proper concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificates representing shares of stock of the Corporation and uncertificated shares.

SECTION 5.04 Lost, Stolen, Destroyed or Mutilated Certificates. A new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares may be issued in the place of any certificate previously issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Corporation may, in its discretion, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or his or her legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond, in such sum as the Corporation may direct, in order to indemnify the Corporation against any claims that may be made against it in connection therewith. A new certificate or uncertificated shares of stock may be issued in the place of any certificate previously issued by the Corporation that has become mutilated upon the surrender by such owner of such mutilated certificate and, if required by the Corporation, the posting of a bond by such owner in an amount sufficient to indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against it in connection therewith.

SECTION 5.05 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, that 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

 

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number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. 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 (a) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of meeting, or (b) during ordinary business hours at the principal place of business of the Corporation. In the event that the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders 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 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 5.05 or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.

SECTION 5.06 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 or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for 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 herewith at the adjourned meeting.

(B) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board 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.

 

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(C) Unless otherwise restricted by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, in order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board 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 express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting is fixed by the Board of Directors, (a) when no prior action of the Board of Directors is required by law, the record date for such purpose shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation in accordance with applicable law, and (b) if prior action by the Board of Directors is required by law, 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 5.07 Registered Stockholders. Prior to the surrender to the Corporation of the certificate or certificates for a share or shares of stock or notification to the Corporation of the transfer of uncertificated shares with a request to record the transfer of such share or shares, the Corporation may treat the registered owner of such share or shares as the person entitled to receive dividends, to vote, to receive notifications and otherwise to exercise all the rights and powers of an owner of such share or shares. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Corporation shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof.

ARTICLE VI

Notice and Waiver of Notice

SECTION 6.01 Notice.

(A) Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of the DGCL, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these Amended and Restated Bylaws may be given in writing directed to the stockholder’s mailing address (or by electronic transmission directed to the stockholder’s electronic mail address, as applicable) as it appears on the records of the Corporation. Notice shall be given (i) if mailed, when deposited in the United States mail, (ii) if delivered by courier service, the earlier of when the notice is received or left at the stockholder’s address, or (iii) if given by electronic mail, when directed to such stockholder’s electronic mail address (unless the stockholder has notified the Corporation in writing or by electronic transmission of an objection to receiving notice by electronic mail or such notice is prohibited by the DGCL to be given by electronic transmission). A notice by electronic mail must include a prominent legend that the communication is an important notice regarding the Corporation. A notice by electronic mail will include any files attached thereto and any information hyperlinked to a website if such electronic mail includes the contact information of an officer or agent of the Corporation who is available to assist with accessing such files or information. Any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws provided by means of electronic transmission (other than any such notice given by electronic mail) may only be given in a form consented to by such stockholder, and any such notice by such means of electronic transmission shall be deemed to be given as provided by the DGCL.

 

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(B) Except as otherwise provided herein or permitted by applicable law, notices to any director may be in writing and delivered personally or mailed to such director at such director’s address appearing on the books of the Corporation, or may be given by telephone or by any means of electronic transmission (including, without limitation, electronic mail) directed to an address for receipt by such director of electronic transmissions appearing on the books of the Corporation.

(C) 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 Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, or these Amended and Restated 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 6.01(C), shall be deemed to have consented to receiving such single written notice.

SECTION 6.02 Waiver of Notice. A written waiver of any notice, signed by a stockholder or director, or waiver by electronic transmission by such person, whether given before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to the notice required to be given to such person. Neither the business nor the purpose of any meeting need be specified in such a waiver. Attendance at any meeting (in person or by remote communication) shall constitute waiver of notice except attendance 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.

ARTICLE VII

Indemnification

SECTION 7.01 Right to Indemnification. Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or an 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, agent or trustee of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee, agent or trustee or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee, agent or trustee, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the

 

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Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, if permitted, 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), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 7.03 of these Amended and Restated Bylaws with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification or advancement of expenses or with respect to any compulsory counterclaim brought by such indemnitee, the Corporation shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors.

Any reference to an officer of the Corporation in this Article VII shall be deemed to refer exclusively to the Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel, Treasurer and Secretary of the Corporation appointed pursuant to Article IV of these Bylaws, and to any Vice President, Assistant Secretary, Assistant Treasurer or other officer of the Corporation appointed by the Board of Directors pursuant to Article IV of these Bylaws, and any reference to an officer of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall be deemed to refer exclusively to an officer appointed by the board of directors or equivalent governing body of such other entity pursuant to the certificate of incorporation and bylaws or equivalent organizational documents of such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise. The fact that any person who is or was an employee of the Corporation or an employee of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, but not an officer thereof as described in the preceding sentence, has been given or has used the title of “Vice President” or any other title that could be construed to suggest or imply that such person is or may be such an officer of the Corporation or of such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall not result in such person being constituted as, or being deemed to be, such an officer of the Corporation or of such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise for purposes of this Article VII.

SECTION 7.02 Right to Advancement of Expenses. In addition to the right to indemnification conferred in Section 7.01, an indemnitee shall also have the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses (including attorney’s fees) incurred in appearing at, participating in or defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition or in connection with a proceeding brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Article VII (which shall be governed by Section 7.03 (hereinafter an “advancement of expenses”); provided, however, that, if the DGCL requires or in the case of an advance made in a proceeding brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification or advancement, an advancement of expenses incurred by an indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such indemnitee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made solely upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking (hereinafter an “undertaking”), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a “final adjudication”) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified or entitled to advancement of expenses under Sections 7.01 and 7.02 or otherwise.

 

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SECTION 7.03 Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit. If a claim under Section 7.01 or 7.02 of these Amended and Restated Bylaws is not paid in full by the Corporation within (a) sixty (60) days after a written claim for indemnification has been received by the Corporation or (b) twenty (20) days after a claim for an advancement of expenses has been received by the Corporation, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim or to obtain advancement of expenses, as applicable. To the fullest extent permitted by law, if the indemnitee is successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that the indemnitee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL, and in any suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that the indemnitee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including by its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including by its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Article VII or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.

SECTION 7.04 Indemnification Not Exclusive.

(A) The provision of indemnification to or the advancement of expenses and costs to any indemnitee under this Article VII, or the entitlement of any indemnitee to indemnification or advancement of expenses and costs under this Article VII, shall not limit or restrict in any way the power of the Corporation to indemnify or advance expenses and costs to such indemnitee in any other way permitted by law or be deemed exclusive of, or invalidate, any right to which any indemnitee seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses and costs may be entitled under any law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such indemnitee’s capacity as an officer, director, employee or agent of the Corporation and as to action in any other capacity.

 

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(B) Given that certain jointly indemnifiable claims (as defined below) may arise due to the service of the indemnitee as a director and/or officer of the Corporation at the request of the indemnitee-related entities (as defined below), the Corporation shall be fully and primarily responsible for the payment to the indemnitee in respect of indemnification or advancement of all expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement to the extent legally permitted and as required by the terms of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Corporation (or any other agreement between the Corporation and such persons, including the Stockholders Agreement, as applicable) in connection with any such jointly indemnifiable claims, pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of this Article VII, irrespective of any right of recovery the indemnitee may have from the indemnitee-related entities. Any obligation on the part of any indemnitee-related entities to indemnify or advance expenses to any indemnitee shall be secondary to the Corporation’s obligation and shall be reduced by any amount that the indemnitee may collect as indemnification or advancement from the Corporation. The Corporation irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases the indemnitee-related entities from any and all claims it may have against the indemnitee-related entities for contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect thereof. Under no circumstance shall the Corporation be entitled to any right of subrogation or contribution by the indemnitee-related entities and no right of advancement or recovery the indemnitee may have from the indemnitee-related entities shall reduce or otherwise alter the rights of the indemnitee or the obligations of the Corporation hereunder. In the event that any of the indemnitee-related entities shall make any payment to the indemnitee in respect of indemnification or advancement of expenses with respect to any jointly indemnifiable claim, the indemnitee-related entity making such payment shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the indemnitee against the Corporation, and the indemnitee shall execute all papers reasonably required and shall do all things that may be reasonably necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents as may be necessary to enable the indemnitee-related entities effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights. Each of the indemnitee-related entities shall be third-party beneficiaries with respect to this Section 7.04(B) of Article VII, entitled to enforce this Section 7.04(B) of Article VII.

For purposes of this Section 7.04(B) of Article VII, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(1) The term “indemnitee-related entities” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise (other than the Corporation or any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise for which the indemnitee has agreed, on behalf of the Corporation or at the Corporation’s request, to serve as a director, officer, employee or agent and which service is covered by the indemnity described herein) from whom an indemnitee may be entitled to indemnification or advancement of expenses with respect to which, in whole or in part, the Corporation may also have an indemnification or advancement obligation (other than as a result of obligations under an insurance policy) .

 

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(2) The term “jointly indemnifiable claims” shall be broadly construed and shall include, without limitation, any action, suit or proceeding for which the indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification or advancement of expenses from both the indemnitee-related entities and the Corporation pursuant to Delaware law or other comparable governing law, or any agreement or certificate of incorporation, bylaws, partnership agreement, operating agreement, certificate of formation, certificate of limited partnership or other comparable organizational documents of the Corporation or the indemnitee-related entities, as applicable.

SECTION 7.05 Corporate Obligations; Reliance. The rights granted pursuant to the provisions of this Article VII shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of this Article VII that adversely affects any right of an indemnitee or its successors shall be prospective only and shall not limit, eliminate, or impair any such right with respect to any proceeding involving any occurrence or alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that took place prior to such amendment or repeal.

SECTION 7.06 Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.

SECTION 7.07 Indemnification of Employees and Agents of the Corporation. The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to any employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article VII with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors and officers of the Corporation.

ARTICLE VIII

Miscellaneous

SECTION 8.01 Electronic Transmission, etc. For purposes of these Amended and Restated Bylaws, “electronic transmission,” “electronic mail,” and “electronic mail address” shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the DGCL.

SECTION 8.02 Corporate Seal. The Board of Directors may provide a suitable seal, containing the name of the Corporation, which seal shall be in the charge of the Secretary. If and when so directed by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof, duplicates of the seal may be kept and used by the Treasurer or by an Assistant Secretary or Assistant Treasurer.

SECTION 8.03 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on the Saturday closest to January 31 of each year (which Saturday may occur on a date following January 31), or such other day as the Board of Directors may designate.

SECTION 8.04 Section Headings; Section References. Section headings in these Amended and Restated Bylaws are for convenience of reference only and shall not be given any substantive effect in limiting or otherwise construing any provision herein. Except as otherwise indicated, section references herein refer to sections of these Amended and Restated Bylaws.

 

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SECTION 8.05 Inconsistent Provisions. In the event that any provision of these Amended and Restated Bylaws is or becomes inconsistent with any provision of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the DGCL or any other applicable law, such provision of these Amended and Restated Bylaws shall not be given any effect to the extent of such inconsistency but shall otherwise be given full force and effect.

ARTICLE IX

Amendments

SECTION 9.01 Amendments. The Board of Directors is authorized to make, repeal, alter, amend and rescind, in whole or in part, these Amended and Restated Bylaws without the assent or vote of the stockholders in any manner not inconsistent with the laws of the State of Delaware or the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. For so long as KKR beneficially owns, in the aggregate, at least 40% in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock (as defined in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation)), by these Amended and Restated Bylaws or applicable law, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required in order for the stockholders of the Corporation to alter, amend, repeal or rescind, in whole or in part, any provision of these Amended and Restated Bylaws or to adopt any provision inconsistent therewith. Notwithstanding any other provisions of these Amended and Restated Bylaws or any provision of law that might otherwise permit a lesser vote of the stockholders, at any time when KKR beneficially owns, in the aggregate, less than 40% in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock (as defined in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation)), these Amended and Restated Bylaws or applicable law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 6623% in voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required in order for the stockholders of the Corporation to alter, amend, repeal or rescind, in whole or in part, any provision of these Amended and Restated Bylaws (including, without limitation, this Section 9.01) or to adopt any provision inconsistent herewith.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

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Exhibit 4.1

AMENDMENT TO THE

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This AMENDMENT TO THE REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”), dated as of October 6, 2020, by and among Allstar LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ( “Allstar”), Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Corporation”), and New Academy Holding Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“NAHC”), amends and restates in its entirety that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of August 3, 2011, by and among Allstar, NAHC and Academy Holdings, Inc. (as amended by that certain Addendum Agreement, dated as of August 30, 2011, by and between NAHC and Allstar Managers LLC, the “Existing Registration Rights Agreement”).

WHEREAS, the Corporation is currently contemplating an underwritten initial public offering (the “Initial Public Offering”) of shares of its common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”);

WHEREAS, in connection with the Initial Public Offering, each Shareholder (as defined in the Existing Registration Rights Agreement) that is a unitholder of NAHC will contribute its equity interests in NAHC to the Corporation in exchange for shares of Common Stock and NAHC will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation;

WHEREAS, the Corporation constitutes the “IPO Corporation” and the Initial Public Offering constitutes the “Initial Public Offering” under each of the Existing Registration Rights Agreement and the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of NAHC (as amended or supplemented from time to time through the date hereof, the “LLC Agreement”);

WHEREAS, Sections 4.8(a) and 14.11 of the LLC Agreement and Section 11(k) of the Existing Registration Rights Agreement require NAHC (if it is not the IPO Corporation thereunder) to cause the Corporation to become a party to and grant registration rights described in the Existing Registration Rights Agreement with respect to securities of the Corporation;

WHEREAS, Section 11(a) of the Existing Registration Rights Agreement further permits amendments, modifications, supplements, waivers and/or consents to departures from the provisions of the Existing Registration Rights Agreement with the written consent of Allstar, so long as such amendments, modifications, supplements, waivers and/or consents to departures would not (i) subject a Shareholder (for purposes of clauses (i) and (ii), as defined therein) to adverse differential treatment relative to other Shareholders, (ii) be adverse to a right specifically granted to a specific Shareholder but not to other Shareholders and (iii) adversely affect any Gochman Member (as defined therein); and

WHEREAS, in connection with the Initial Public Offering, each of Allstar, the Corporation and NAHC desires to amend and restate the Existing Registration Rights Agreement to, among other things, add the Corporation as a party thereto and grant the registration rights described therein to the Shareholders with respect to securities of the Corporation.


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

Section 1.    Amendments to Existing Registration Rights Agreement. Each of the parties hereto agrees that, effective as of the date hereof, the Existing Registration Rights Agreement shall be amended and restated in its entirety in the form attached hereto as Schedule I.

Section 2.    Defined Terms. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein (including in the Preamble and Recitals hereto) shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in Schedule I hereto. Section 1 of Schedule I hereto is incorporated herein by reference and applies mutatis mutandis.

Section 3.    Miscellaneous. Section 11 of Schedule I hereto is incorporated herein by reference and applies mutatis mutandis.

Section 4.    Effectiveness. This Amendment shall become effective on and as of the date hereof.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

ALLSTAR LLC
By:  

/s/ Terence Gallagher

  Name: Terence Gallagher
  Title: Vice President, Finance

 

[Amendment to Registration Rights Agreement Signature Page]


ACADEMY SPORTS AND OUTDOORS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Rene G. Casares

  Name:   Rene G. Casares
  Title:   Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

 

[Amendment to Registration Rights Agreement Signature Page]


NEW ACADEMY HOLDING COMPANY, LLC
By:  

/s/ Rene G. Casares

  Name:   Rene G. Casares
  Title:   Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

 

[Amendment to Registration Rights Agreement Signature Page]


Schedule I

AMENDED AND RESTATED

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of October 6, 2020, is by and among Allstar LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (together with its Affiliates (as defined below) that hold Common Stock (as defined below) or other Registrable Securities (as defined below) received in respect of Common Stock, “Allstar”), Allstar Co-Invest Blocker L.P., a Delaware limited liability company, KKR 2006 Allstar Blocker L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Corporation”), New Academy Holding Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“NAHC”), Allstar Managers LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, MG Family Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership, and MSI 2011 LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and any other Person who may become a party hereto pursuant to Section 11(c).

WHEREAS, in connection with the underwritten initial public offering of the Corporation’s Common Stock (the “Initial Public Offering”), the Corporation desires to grant, and the Shareholders desire to have, certain registration and other rights with respect to their Registrable Securities, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.

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

Section 1.    Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings, and terms used herein but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the LLC Agreement:

Affiliate” shall mean, with respect to any Person, an “affiliate” as defined in Rule 405 of the regulations promulgated under the Securities Act and, with respect to the KKR Shareholders only, any investment fund, vehicle or holding company of which a KKR Shareholder or an Affiliate of a KKR Shareholder serves as the general partner, managing member or discretionary manager or advisor; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, an Affiliate shall not include any portfolio company of the KKR Shareholders.

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

Allstar” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Allstar Managers” shall mean Allstar Managers LLC and its Permitted Transferees.

Board” shall mean the board of directors of the Corporation.


Change of Control” shall have the meaning set forth in the LLC Agreement.

Common Stock” shall mean all shares existing or hereafter authorized of any class of common stock of the Corporation, which has the right (subject always to the rights of any class or series of preferred stock of the Corporation) to participate in the distribution of the assets and earnings of the Corporation without limit as to per share amount, including any shares of capital stock into which Common Stock may be converted (as a result of recapitalization, share exchange or similar event) or are issued with respect to Common Stock, including with respect to any stock split or stock dividend, or a successor security.

Corporation” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Demand Cutback” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(b) hereof.

Demand Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) hereof.

Demand Registration” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) hereof.

Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

Existing Registration Rights Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Gochman Affiliates” means (a) any Gochman family member, (b) any Affiliate of a Gochman Shareholder that is directly or indirectly controlled by either one or both of David Gochman or Molly Gochman, and (c) any eligible person. For purposes of this definition, (i) “control” (including with correlative meanings, the term “controlled by”), as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, contract or otherwise; (ii) “Gochman family member” means a lawful descendant of one or more parents of David Gochman and Molly Gochman (including David Gochman and Molly Gochman) and the spouse of such descendant; and (iii) “eligible person” means (A) (t) Gochman Descendants’ Trust No. One f/b/o Molly Gochman created u/a/d October 31, 1994 between Arthur M. Gochman, as Grantor, and David E. Gochman, as Trustee, (u) Molly Gochman Grantor Trust created u/a/d August 5, 1995 between Molly Gochman, as Grantor, and David E. Gochman, as Trustee, (v) Gochman Descendants’ Trust No. One f/b/o David E. Gochman created u/a/d October 31, 1994 between Arthur M. Gochman, as Grantor, and David E. Gochman, as Trustee, (w) David E. Gochman 2007 Family Trust created u/a/d April 27, 2007, between David E. Gochman, as Grantor, and Charles F. Herring, Jr., as Trustee, (x) 2009 DG GRAT created u/a/d December 16, 2009, by David E. Gochman, as Grantor and Trustee, (y) 2010 DG GRAT created u/a/d December 16, 2010, by David E. Gochman, as Grantor and Trustee and (z) any trust for the primary benefit of one or more Gochman family members (collectively, the trusts referred to in clauses (t) through (z) are “qualified trusts”), (B) the estate of any Gochman family member, (C) any custodian for the benefit of a Gochman family member under the Delaware Uniform Transfers to Minors Act or the comparable laws of any other jurisdiction, and (D) other entities, including but not limited to partnerships, corporations and limited liability companies, in each case, where the majority of the equity interests are directly or indirectly owned by one or more of the Persons described in (a) through (c) of this definition.

 

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Gochman Shareholders” shall mean, collectively, MG Family Limited Partnership and MSI 2011 LLC and any of their respective Permitted Transferees.

FINRA” shall mean the U.S. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

Indemnified Party” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(c) hereof.

Indemnifying Party” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(c) hereof.

KKR Shareholders” shall mean, collectively, Allstar, Allstar Co-Invest Blocker L.P. and KKR 2006 Allstar Blocker L.P. and any of their respective Permitted Transferees.

Law” shall mean any applicable federal, state, local or foreign law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, order, writ, decree or agency requirement of any governmental entity.

LLC Agreement” shall mean the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of NAHC, as amended or supplemented from time to time through the date hereof.

Long-Form Registrations” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) hereof.

Losses” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(a) hereof.

NAHC” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).

Other Securities” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(b).

Permitted Transferee” shall mean (i) any Affiliate of such Shareholder and/or, in the case of a KKR Shareholder, any Affiliate of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P., (ii) any successor entity of such Shareholder, (iii) in the case of any Gochman Shareholder, any Gochman Affiliate and (iv) with respect to any Shareholder that is an investment fund or controlled by an investment fund, any other investment fund or vehicle of which such Shareholder or an Affiliate serves as the general partner or discretionary manager or advisor (so long as such investment fund or vehicle was not established for the purpose of acquiring Common Stock) and in which such Shareholder or an Affiliate retains sole voting and dispositive power.

Person” shall mean any natural person, corporation, limited partnership, general partnership, limited liability company, joint stock company, joint venture, association, company, estate, trust, bank trust company, land trust, business trust, or other organization, whether or not a legal entity, custodian, trustee-executor, administrator, nominee or entity in a representative capacity and any government or agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

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Piggyback Cutback” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(b) hereof.

Piggyback Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.

Piggyback Registration” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.

Proceeding” shall mean an action, claim, suit, arbitration or proceeding (including an investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.

Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement (including a prospectus that discloses information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, and all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such prospectus.

Public Offering” shall mean the sale of Common Stock to the public pursuant to an effective Registration Statement (other than a Registration Statement on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or any similar or successor form) filed under the Securities Act.

Registrable Securities” shall mean any shares of Common Stock currently held or hereafter acquired by the Shareholders and any other securities issued with respect to (or issuable upon the conversion or exercise of any warrant, right or other security which is issued with respect to) any such shares by way of share or equity split, share or equity dividend, recapitalization, exchange or similar event or otherwise. As to any particular Registrable Securities, once issued such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when (a) they are sold pursuant to an effective Registration Statement under the Securities Act, (b) they are sold pursuant to Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in force under the Securities Act), (c) they shall have ceased to be outstanding, or (d) they have been sold in a private transaction in which the transferor’s rights under this Agreement are not assigned to the transferee of the securities. No Registrable Securities may be registered under more than one Registration Statement at any one time.

Registration Statement” shall mean any registration statement of the Corporation under the Securities Act which covers any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

Rule 144” shall mean Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time.

SEC” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency having jurisdiction under the Securities Act.

 

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Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

Shareholders” shall mean the KKR Shareholders, the Gochman Shareholders, Allstar Managers and any other Person who may become a party hereto pursuant to Section 11(c).

Shelf Registration Statement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) hereof.

Shelf Underwritten Offering” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(c) hereof.

Short-Form Registrations” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) hereof.

Take-Down Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(c) hereof.

underwritten registration” or “underwritten offering” shall mean a registration in which securities of the Corporation are sold to an underwriter for reoffering to the public.

Section 2.    Holders of Registrable Securities. A Person is deemed, and shall only be deemed, to be a holder of Registrable Securities if such Person owns Registrable Securities or has a right to acquire such Registrable Securities and such Person is a Shareholder.

Section 3.    Demand Registrations.

(a)    Requests for Registration. Subject to the following paragraphs of this Section 3(a), (i) upon the requisite approval of the Board, Allstar shall have the right, by delivering or causing to be delivered a written notice to the Corporation, to require the Corporation to register, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, under and in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act, the offer and sale in an Initial Public Offering of a number of shares of Common Stock specified by Allstar (which offer and sale may include an offering of newly issued Common Stock by the Corporation and/or, at the request of Allstar, an offering of Registrable Securities) and (ii) following the Initial Public Offering, each of KKR Shareholders and Gochman Shareholders shall have the right, by delivering or causing to be delivered a written notice to the Corporation, to require the Corporation to register, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, under and in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act, the offer and sale of the number of Registrable Securities requested to be so registered pursuant to the terms of this Agreement on Form S-1 or any similar or successor long-form registration (“Long-Form Registrations”) or, if the Corporation is then eligible, on Form S-3 or any similar or successor short-form registration (“Short-Form Registrations”) (any such written notice, a “Demand Notice” and any such registration, a “Demand Registration”); provided, however, that a Demand Notice may only be made if the sale of the Registrable Securities requested to be registered by any such demanding Shareholder (or all such demanding Shareholders if more than one Shareholder makes a demand) is reasonably expected to result in aggregate gross cash proceeds in excess of $50,000,000 (without regard to any underwriting discount or commission) in the case of any Long-Form Registration and at least $20,000,000 (without regard to any

 

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underwriting discount or commission) in the case of any Short-Form Registration; provided, further that, unless the Board shall otherwise consent, subject to Section 3(e), the Corporation shall not be obligated to file a registration statement relating to any registration request under this Section 3(a) within a period of 90 days after the effective date of any other registration statement relating to any registration request under this Section 3(a) (except if the underwriters shall require a longer period, but in any event no more than 180 days). A KKR Shareholder or a Gochman Shareholder may, in connection with any Demand Registration requested by such holder that is a Short-Form Registration, require the Corporation to file such registration statement with the SEC in accordance with and pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act including, if the Corporation is a well-known seasoned issuer at the time of filing of the Short-Form Registration (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act), as an automatic shelf registration (a “Shelf Registration Statement”). Following receipt of a Demand Notice for a Demand Registration in accordance with this Section 3(a), the Corporation shall use its reasonable best efforts to file a Registration Statement as promptly as practicable and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable after the filing thereof.

No Demand Registration shall be deemed to have occurred for purposes of this Section 3, and shall not count as a Demand Notice for purposes of Section 3(e), if (w) the Registration Statement relating thereto does not become effective, or is not maintained effective by the Corporation for the period required pursuant to this Section 3, (x) the offering of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement is not completed for any reason (other than solely by reason of some act or omission by the holder exercising its Demand Notice, including the withdrawal of such registration request pursuant to Section 3(d)), including because it was subject to a stop order, injunction, or similar order or requirement of the SEC during such period or (y) the holder exercising its Demand Notice has fewer than 60% of the amount of Registrable Securities originally requested to be included in such Registration Statement as a result of a Demand Cutback or (z) the conditions to closing specified in the purchase agreement or underwriting agreement entered into in connection with such Demand Registration are not satisfied, other than solely by reason of some act or omission by the holder exercising its Demand Notice to fail to perform its obligations under this Agreement or such purchase or underwriting agreement.

Within 10 days after receipt by the Corporation of a Demand Notice in accordance with this Section 3(a) (other than a Demand Notice provided to effect an Initial Public Offering in which Allstar is not selling (or causing to be sold) Common Stock on a secondary basis, in which case no Notice shall be required), the Corporation shall give written notice (the “Notice”) of such Demand Notice to all other holders of Registrable Securities and shall, subject to the provisions of Section 3(b) hereof, include in such registration all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Corporation received written requests for inclusion therein within 20 days after such Notice is given by the Corporation to such holders, it being understood that any such request for inclusion of Registrable Securities given by a holder (including if given by a Gochman Shareholder) shall not be considered a Demand Notice for purposes of Section 3(e). The parties agree that, if the Corporation is effecting an Initial Public Offering in which Allstar or any of its Affiliates is selling (or causing to be sold) Common Stock on a secondary basis, then Allstar shall have be deemed to have made a Demand Notice for purposes of this Agreement.

 

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All requests made pursuant to this Section 3 will specify the number of Registrable Securities to be registered and/or, in the case of an Initial Public Offering, the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued by the Corporation (if any), and the intended methods of disposition thereof.

The Corporation shall be required to maintain the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed in connection with any Demand Registration for a period of at least 180 days after the effective date thereof or such shorter period during which all Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement have actually been sold; provided, however, that such period shall be extended for a period of time equal to the period the holder of Registrable Securities refrains from selling any securities included in such Registration Statement at the request of the Corporation or an underwriter of the Corporation pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement. The Corporation shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep any Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until the earlier of (A) the date when all of the Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold and (B) the date on which the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement are eligible to be sold or transferred without being subject to any holding period or volume limitations pursuant to Rule 144.

(b)    Priority on Demand Registration. If any of the Registrable Securities registered pursuant to a Demand Registration are to be sold in an underwritten offering, and the managing underwriter or underwriters of such underwritten offering advise the holders of such securities in writing that, in its good-faith opinion, the total number or dollar amount of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in such offering exceeds the total number or dollar amount of Registrable Securities that can be sold without adversely affecting the price, timing or distribution of the Registrable Securities to be included in such offering (including securities proposed to be included by other holders of securities entitled to include securities in such Registration Statement pursuant to incidental or piggyback registration rights), then there shall be included in such underwritten offering the number or dollar amount of Registrable Securities that in the opinion of such managing underwriter or underwriters can be sold without so adversely affecting such offering (such reduction in the number of Registrable Securities to be included in such underwritten offering, the “Demand Cutback”), and such number of Registrable Securities shall be allocated as follows (provided that if such offering is an Initial Public Offering, clauses (i) and (ii) below shall be reversed such that securities requested to be included by the Corporation shall be given priority over Registrable Securities to be included by Shareholders):

(i)    first, pro rata among the holders of Registrable Securities on the basis of the percentage of the Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Registration Statement by such holders; provided that if such offering is an Initial Public Offering, and if (1) prior to giving effect to any Demand Cutback the Gochman Shareholders collectively would hold a number of shares of Common Stock and other Registrable Securities in the aggregate after consummation of the Initial Public Offering equal to less than three percent (3%) of the total common equity of the Corporation then outstanding, calculated (I) assuming that the Gochman Shareholders sell in the Initial Public Offering a percentage of their Registrable Securities equal to the percentage of Registrable

 

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Securities proposed to be sold by Allstar in the Initial Public Offering, (II) taking into account any dilution to the Gochman Shareholders’ ownership in the Corporation due to any proposed primary issuance of common equity of the Corporation in the Initial Public Offering, and (III) treating as outstanding for such purposes any such common equity issuable upon exchange of Membership Interests (as defined in the Existing Registration Rights Agreement) of NAHC, or (2) the Initial Public Offering would result in a Change of Control, then, in each of cases (1) and (2), the Gochman Shareholders shall have priority over other holders of Registrable Securities in the Initial Public Offering and shall be entitled first to sell up to a number of Registrable Securities equal to the lesser of (x) all of the Registrable Securities held by the Gochman Shareholders, (y) that number of Registrable Securities requested to be sold by Allstar in the Initial Public Offering and (z) the maximum number of Registrable Securities held by Shareholders (including Allstar and the Gochman Shareholders) that in the opinion of such managing underwriter or underwriters can be sold without adversely affecting the Initial Public Offering, and thereafter, such allocation shall be as set forth above excluding the Gochman Shareholders; and

(ii)    second, the securities for which inclusion in such Demand Registration was requested by the Corporation, together with all Other Securities requested to be included in such Demand Registration.

No securities excluded from the underwriting pursuant to this Section 3(b) shall be included in such registration.

(c)    Postponement of Demand Registration. The Corporation shall be entitled to postpone (but not more than once in any 12-month period), for a reasonable period of time not in excess of 60 days, the filing of a Registration Statement if the Corporation delivers to the holders requesting registration a certificate signed by both the president and chief financial officer of the Corporation certifying that, in the good-faith judgment of the Board, such registration and offering would reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect or materially interfere with any bona fide material financing of the Corporation or any material transaction under consideration by the Corporation or would require disclosure of information that has not been disclosed to the public, the premature disclosure of which would materially adversely affect the Corporation. Such certificate shall contain a statement of the reasons for such postponement and an approximation of the anticipated delay. The holders receiving such certificate shall keep the information contained in such certificate confidential subject to the same terms set forth in Section 6(p). If the Corporation shall so postpone the filing of a Registration Statement, the Person exercising its right to request a Demand Registration shall have the right to withdraw the request for registration by giving written notice to the Corporation within 20 days of the anticipated termination date of the postponement period, as provided in the certificate delivered to the holders, and such request for a demand registration shall not be considered a Demand Notice for purposes of Section 3(e).

(d)    Cancellation of a Demand Registration. Holders of the Registrable Securities who initially requested a Demand Registration shall have the right to notify the Corporation that they have determined that the registration statement be abandoned or withdrawn, in which event the Corporation shall abandon or withdraw such registration statement.

 

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(e)    Number of Demand Notices. In connection with the provisions of this Section 3, (i) the KKR Shareholders shall have an unlimited number of Demand Notices which it is permitted to deliver (or cause to be delivered) to the Corporation hereunder and (ii) the Gochman Shareholders as a group shall be entitled to deliver (or cause to be delivered) to the Corporation no more than three Demand Notices pursuant to Section 3(a)(ii); provided that the Gochman Shareholders shall not be permitted to deliver more than one Demand Notice pursuant to Section 3(a)(ii) in any 365 day period and the right of the Gochman Shareholders under Section 3(a)(ii) shall terminate on the sixth month anniversary of the date that the Gochman Shareholders in the aggregate cease to own more than 3% of the outstanding Common Stock of the Corporation; and provided, further, that any Demand Notice of the Gochman Shareholders shall be valid only if delivered by the Gochman Shareholder(s) holding a majority of the Common Stock then owned by all Gochman Shareholders.

(f)    Registration Statement Form. If any registration requested pursuant to this Section 3 which is proposed by the Corporation to be effected by the filing of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (or any successor or similar short-form registration statement) shall be in connection with an underwritten Public Offering, and if the managing underwriter shall advise the Corporation in writing that, in its opinion, the use of another form of Registration Statement is of material importance to the success of such proposed offering or is otherwise required by applicable law, then such registration shall be effected on such other form.

Section 4.    Piggyback Registration.

(a)    Right to Piggyback. Except with respect to a Demand Registration, the procedures for which are addressed in Section 3, if the Corporation proposes to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of Common Stock whether or not for sale for its own account (other than a registration statement (x) on Form S-4, Form S-8 or any successor forms thereto or (y) filed solely in connection with an exchange offer or any employee benefit or dividend reinvestment plan), then, each such time after the Initial Public Offering, the Corporation shall give prompt written notice of such filing no later than ten days after the filing date (the “Piggyback Notice”) to all of the holders of Registrable Securities. The Piggyback Notice shall offer such holders the opportunity to include (or cause to be included) in such registration statement the number of Registrable Securities as each such holder may request (a “Piggyback Registration”). Subject to Section 4(b) hereof, the Corporation shall include in each such Piggyback Registration all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Corporation has received written requests for inclusion therein within ten days after notice has been given to the applicable holder. The Corporation shall not be required to maintain the effectiveness of the Registration Statement for a Piggyback Registration beyond the earlier to occur of (A) 180 days after the effective date thereof and (B) consummation of the distribution by the holders of all of the Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement.

 

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Any holder of Registrable Securities shall have the right to withdraw its Piggyback Request by giving written notice to the Corporation of its request to withdraw at least ten business days prior to the planned effective date of the related Registration Statement.

(b)    Priority on Piggyback Registrations. If any of the Registrable Securities to be registered pursuant to the registration giving rise to rights under this Section 4 are to be sold in an underwritten offering, the Corporation shall use reasonable best efforts to cause the managing underwriter or underwriters of a proposed underwritten offering to permit holders of Registrable Securities who have submitted a Piggyback Request in connection with such offering to include in such offering all Registrable Securities included in each holder’s Piggyback Request on the same terms and conditions as any other interests, if any, of the Corporation included in the offering. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the managing underwriter or underwriters of such underwritten offering advise the Corporation in writing that, in their good-faith opinion, the total number or dollar amount of securities proposed to be sold in such offering exceeds the total number or dollar amount of such securities that can be sold without adversely affecting the price, timing or distribution of the securities to be included in such offering (including securities proposed to be included by other holders of securities entitled to include securities in such Registration Statement pursuant to incidental or piggyback registration rights, the “Other Securities”), then there shall be included in such underwritten offering the number or dollar amount of securities that in the opinion of such managing underwriter or underwriters can be sold without so adversely affecting such offering (such reduction in the number of Registrable Securities to be included in such underwritten offering, the “Piggyback Cutback”), and such number of Registrable Securities shall be allocated as follows: (i) first, all securities proposed to be sold by the Corporation for its own account; (ii) second, all Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration pursuant to Section 4, pro rata among such holders on the basis of the percentage of the Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Registration Statement by such holders; and (iii) third, all Other Securities requested to be included in such Registration Statement.

(c)    Shelf Take-Downs. At any time that a Shelf Registration Statement covering Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 3 or Section 4 is effective, if any holder or group of holders of Registrable Securities delivers a notice to the Corporation (a “Take-Down Notice”) stating that it intends to sell all or part of its Registrable Securities included by it on the Shelf Registration Statement (a “Shelf Underwritten Offering”), then, the Corporation shall, as promptly as practicable, amend or supplement the Shelf Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to enable such Registrable Securities to be distributed pursuant to the Shelf Underwritten Offering (taking into account the inclusion of Registrable Securities by any other holders pursuant to this Section 4(c)). In connection with any Shelf Underwritten Offering:

(i)    such proposing holder(s) shall also deliver the Take-Down Notice to all other holders of Registrable Securities included on such Shelf Registration Statement and permit each such holder to include its Registrable Securities included on the Shelf Registration Statement in the Shelf Underwritten Offering if such holder notifies the proposing holders and the Corporation within five business days after delivery of the Take-Down Notice to such holder; and

 

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(ii)    if any of the Registrable Securities to be sold pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement are to be sold in an underwritten offering that was initially requested by a holder or holders pursuant to a Take-Down Notice, and the managing underwriter or underwriters of such underwritten offering advise such holder(s) in writing that it is their good-faith opinion that the total number or dollar amount of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in such offering exceeds the total number or dollar amount of such securities that can be sold without having an adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the Registrable Securities to be so included, then there shall be included in such underwritten offering the number or dollar amount of Registrable Securities that in the opinion of such managing underwriter or underwriters can be sold without so adversely affecting such offering, and such number of Registrable Securities and Other Securities shall be allocated for inclusion in the same manner as described in Section 3(b) with respect to a limitation of shares to be included in a Demand Registration.

Section 5.    Restrictions on Public Sale by Holders of Registrable Securities. Each Shareholder agrees, in connection with the Initial Public Offering, and each holder of Registrable Securities agrees, in connection with any underwritten offering made pursuant to a Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 3 or Section 4 hereof (whether or not such holder elected to include Registrable Securities in such Registration Statement), if requested (pursuant to a written notice) by the managing underwriter or underwriters in an underwritten offering, not to effect any public sale or distribution of any of the Corporation’s securities (except as part of such underwritten offering), including a sale pursuant to Rule 144 or any swap or other economic arrangement that transfers to another any of the economic consequences of owning the Common Stock, or to give any Demand Notice during the period commencing on the date of the request (which shall be no earlier than 14 days prior to the expected “pricing” of such offering) and continuing for not more than 180 days (with respect to the Initial Public Offering) or 90 days after the date of the Prospectus (or Prospectus supplement if the offering is made pursuant to a “shelf” registration), pursuant to which such public offering shall be made, plus an extension period as may be proposed by the managing underwriter to address FINRA regulations regarding the publishing of research, or such lesser period as is required by the managing underwriter. Subject to the limitations set forth in the prior sentence, the Corporation shall be responsible for negotiating all “lock-up” agreements with the underwriters and, in addition to the foregoing provisions of this Section 5, the Shareholders and holders of Registrable Securities agree to execute the form so negotiated; provided that no Gochman Shareholder shall be obligated to execute any “lock-up” agreement for any underwritten public offering that is more restrictive than the “lock-up” executed by KKR Shareholders for such underwritten public offering.

If any registration pursuant to Section 3 of this Agreement shall be in connection with any underwritten Public Offering, the Corporation will not effect any public sale or distribution of any common equity (or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for common equity) (other than a registration statement (i) on Form S-4, Form S-8 or any successor forms thereto or (ii) filed solely in connection with an exchange offer or any employee benefit or dividend reinvestment plan) for its own account, within 90 days (plus an extension period as may be proposed by the managing underwriter to address FINRA regulations regarding the publishing of research, or such shorter periods as the managing underwriters may agree to

 

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with the Corporation) after the effective date of such registration, provided that such period may be extended as may be proposed by the managing underwriter to address FINRA regulations regarding the publishing of research.

Section 6.    Registration Procedures. If and whenever the Corporation is required to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act as provided in Section 3 and Section 4 hereof, the Corporation shall effect such registration to permit the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method or methods of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto the Corporation shall cooperate in the sale of the securities and shall, as expeditiously as possible:

(a)    prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement or Registration Statements on such form as shall be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the holders thereof or by the Corporation in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof and in accordance with this Agreement, and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and to remain effective as provided herein; provided, however, that before filing a Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto (including documents that would be incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference), the Corporation shall furnish or otherwise make available to the holders of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement, their counsel and the managing underwriters, if any, copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents will be subject to the reasonable review and comment of such counsel, and such other documents reasonably requested by such counsel, including any comment letter from the SEC, and, if requested by such counsel, provide such counsel reasonable opportunity to participate in the preparation of such Registration Statement and each Prospectus included therein and such other opportunities to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of the Securities Act, including reasonable access to the Corporation’s books and records, officers, accountants and other advisors. The Corporation shall not file any such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto (including such documents that, upon filing, would be incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein) with respect to a Demand Registration to which the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement, their counsel, or the managing underwriters, if any, shall reasonably object, in writing, on a timely basis, unless, in the opinion of the Corporation, such filing is necessary to comply with applicable Law;

(b)    prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective during the period provided herein and comply in all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement; and cause the related Prospectus to be supplemented by any Prospectus supplement as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of the securities covered by such Registration Statement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provisions then in force) under the Securities Act;

(c)    notify each selling holder of Registrable Securities, its counsel and the managing underwriters, if any, promptly, and (if requested by any such Person) confirm such

 

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notice in writing, (i) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective, (ii) of any request by the SEC or any other federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or related Prospectus or for additional information, (iii) of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (iv) if at any time the Corporation has reason to believe that the representations and warranties of the Corporation contained in any agreement (including any underwriting agreement) contemplated by Section 6(o) below cease to be true and correct, (v) of the receipt by the Corporation of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, and (vi) if the Corporation has knowledge of the happening of any event that makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement, Prospectus or documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, not misleading, and that in the case of the Prospectus, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (which notice shall notify the selling holders only of the occurrence of such an event and shall provide no additional information regarding such event to the extent such information would constitute material non-public information);

(d)    use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or to prevent or obtain the lifting of any suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction at the earliest date reasonably practicable;

(e)    if requested by the managing underwriters, if any, or the holders of a majority of the then outstanding Registrable Securities being sold in connection with an underwritten offering, promptly include in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as the managing underwriters, if any, and such holders may reasonably request in order to permit the intended method of distribution of such securities and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Corporation has received such request; provided, however, that the Corporation shall not be required to take any actions under this Section 6(e) that are not, in the opinion of counsel for the Corporation, in compliance with applicable Law;

(f)    furnish or make available to each selling holder of Registrable Securities, its counsel and each managing underwriter, if any, without charge, at least one conformed copy of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and Prospectus supplements, if applicable, and each post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements (but excluding schedules, all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and all exhibits, unless requested in writing by such holder, counsel or underwriter); provided that the Corporation may furnish or make available any such documents in electronic format;

 

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(g)    deliver to each selling holder of Registrable Securities, its counsel, and the underwriters, if any, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of Prospectus) and each amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons may reasonably request from time to time in connection with the distribution of the Registrable Securities; provided that the Corporation may furnish or make available any such documents in electronic format; and the Corporation, subject to the last paragraph of this Section 6, hereby consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling holders of Registrable Securities and the underwriters, if any, in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus and any such amendment or supplement thereto;

(h)    use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the selling holders of Registrable Securities, the underwriters, if any, and their respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from such registration or qualification) of such Registrable Securities for offer and sale under the securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as any seller or underwriter reasonably requests in writing and to keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the period such Registration Statement is required to be kept effective pursuant to this Agreement and to take any other action that may be necessary or advisable to enable such holders of Registrable Securities to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdiction; provided, however, that the Corporation will not be required to (i) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Agreement or (ii) take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be subject to such service but for this Agreement;

(i)    cooperate with the selling holders of Registrable Securities and the managing underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any legends) representing Registrable Securities to be sold after receiving written representations from each holder of such Registrable Securities that the Registrable Securities represented by the certificates so delivered by such holder will be transferred in accordance with the Registration Statement, and enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the managing underwriters, if any, or holders may request at least two business days prior to any sale of Registrable Securities in a firm commitment public offering, but in any other such sale, within ten business days prior to having to issue the securities;

(j)    use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities within the United States, except as may be required solely as a consequence of the nature of such selling holder’s business, in which case the Corporation will cooperate in all reasonable respects with the filing of such Registration Statement and the granting of such approvals, as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof or the underwriters, if any, to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended methods of disposition set forth in such Registration Statement;

 

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(k)    upon the occurrence of, and its knowledge of, any event contemplated by Section 6(c)(vi) above, prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Securities being sold thereunder, such Prospectus will 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 light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

(l)    prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement relating to the Registrable Securities, provide a CUSIP number for the Registrable Securities;

(m)    provide and cause to be maintained a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement from and after a date not later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;

(n)    use its reasonable best efforts to cause all shares of Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be listed on a national securities exchange if shares of the particular class of Registrable Securities are at that time listed on such exchange, as the case may be, prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement (or, if such Registration is an initial public offering, use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registrable Securities to be so listed within ten business days following the effectiveness of such Registration Statement);

(o)    enter into such agreements (including an underwriting agreement in form, scope and substance as is customary in underwritten offerings) and take all such other actions reasonably requested by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold in connection therewith (including those reasonably requested by the managing underwriters, if any) to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities, and in such connection, whether or not an underwriting agreement is entered into and whether or not the registration is an underwritten registration, (i) make such representations and warranties to the holders of such Registrable Securities and the underwriters, if any, with respect to the business of the Corporation and its subsidiaries, and the Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents, if any, incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, in each case, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings, and, if true, confirm the same if and when requested, (ii) use its reasonable best efforts to furnish to the selling holders of such Registrable Securities opinions of counsel to the Corporation and updates thereof (which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance) shall be reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriters, if any, and counsels to the selling holders of the Registrable Securities), addressed to each selling holder of Registrable Securities and each of the underwriters, if any, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such counsel and underwriters, (iii) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain “comfort” letters and updates thereof from the independent certified public accountants of the Corporation (and, if

 

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necessary, any other independent certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the Corporation or of any business acquired by the Corporation for which financial statements and financial data are, or are required to be, included in the Registration Statement) who have certified the financial statements included in such Registration Statement, addressed to each selling holder of Registrable Securities (unless such accountants shall be prohibited from so addressing such letters by applicable standards of the accounting profession) and each of the underwriters, if any, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in “comfort” letters in connection with underwritten offerings, (iv) if an underwriting agreement is entered into, the same shall contain indemnification provisions and procedures substantially to the effect set forth in Section 8 hereof with respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant to said Section except as otherwise agreed by Purchaser and (v) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold pursuant to such Registration Statement, their counsel and the managing underwriters, if any, to evidence the continued validity of the representations and warranties made pursuant to Section 6(o)(i) above and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the Corporation. The above shall be done at each closing under such underwriting or similar agreement, or as and to the extent required thereunder;

(p)    make available for inspection by a representative of the selling holders of Registrable Securities, any underwriter participating in any such disposition of Registrable Securities, if any, and any counsel or accountants retained by such selling holders or underwriter, at the offices where normally kept, during reasonable business hours, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Corporation and its subsidiaries, and cause the officers, directors and employees of the Corporation and its subsidiaries to supply all information in each case reasonably requested by any such representative, underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with such Registration Statement; provided, however, that any information that is not generally publicly available at the time of delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by such Persons unless (i) disclosure of such information is required by court or administrative order, (ii) disclosure of such information, in the opinion of counsel to such Person, is required by Law or applicable legal process, or (iii) such information becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a non-permitted disclosure or failure to safeguard by such Person. In the case of a proposed disclosure pursuant to (i) or (ii) above, such Person shall be required to give the Corporation written notice of the proposed disclosure prior to such disclosure and, if requested by the Corporation, assist the Corporation in seeking to prevent or limit the proposed disclosure. Without limiting the foregoing, no such information shall be used by such Person as the basis for any market transactions in securities of the Corporation or its subsidiaries in violation of Law;

(q)    cause its officers to use their reasonable best efforts to support the marketing of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement (including participation in conference calls and “road shows”); provided that any such support shall not be required if it would, in the Corporation’s reasonable judgment, interfere with the normal business operations of the Corporation in any substantial respect; and

 

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(r)    cooperate with each seller of Registrable Securities 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.

The Corporation may require each holder of Registrable Securities as to which any registration is being effected to furnish to the Corporation in writing such information required in connection with such registration regarding such seller and the distribution of such Registrable Securities as the Corporation may, from time to time, reasonably request in writing and the Corporation may exclude from such registration the Registrable Securities of any holder who unreasonably fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving such request. The Corporation shall provide any holder of Registrable Securities the opportunity to review and provide comments to the Registration Statement to the extent practicable.

Each holder of Registrable Securities agrees if such holder has Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement that, upon receipt of any notice from the Corporation of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 6(c)(ii), 6(c)(iii), 6(c)(iv) or 6(c)(v) hereof, such holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement or Prospectus until such holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(k) hereof, or until it is advised in writing by the Corporation that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus; provided, however, that the time periods under Section 3 with respect to the length of time that the effectiveness of a Registration Statement must be maintained shall automatically be extended by the amount of time the holder is required to discontinue disposition of such securities.

Section 7.    Registration Expenses. All reasonable fees and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance with this Agreement by the Corporation (including (i) all registration and filing fees (including fees and expenses with respect to (A) filings required to be made with the FINRA and (B) compliance with securities or “blue sky” laws, including any fees and disbursements of counsel for the underwriters in connection with “blue sky” qualifications of the Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 6(h)), (ii) printing expenses (including expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Securities in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company and of printing Prospectuses if the printing of Prospectuses is requested by the managing underwriters, if any, or by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in any Registration Statement), (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses of the Corporation, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Corporation, (v) expenses of the Corporation incurred in connection with any road show, (vi) fees and disbursements of all independent certified public accountants referred to in Section 6(o)(iii) hereof (including the expenses of any “comfort” letters required by this Agreement) and any other Persons, including special experts retained by the Corporation, and (vii) fees and disbursements of one counsel for KKR Shareholders and the holders of Registrable Securities whose shares are included in a Registration Statement, which counsel shall be selected by KKR Shareholders if making the Demand Registration (and otherwise, by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold in connection therewith) shall be borne by the Corporation whether or not any Registration Statement is filed or becomes effective; provided that if such counsel is selected by the KKR Shareholders and in the good-faith opinion of the Gochman Shareholders participating

 

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in any such offer there is a conflict or potential conflict of interest between such counsel’s representation of the KKR Shareholders and such Gochman Shareholders, such Gochman Shareholders shall be entitled to select separate counsel reasonably acceptable to the Corporation to represent them and the Corporation shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel in addition to the fees and disbursements of counsel to the KKR Shareholders. In addition, the Corporation shall pay its internal expenses (including all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit, the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the securities to be registered on any securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Corporation are then listed and rating agency fees and the fees and expenses of any Person, including special experts, retained by the Corporation.

The Corporation shall not be required to pay (i) fees and disbursements of any counsel retained by any holder of Registrable Securities or by any underwriter (except as set forth in clauses 7(i)(B) and 7(vii)), (ii) any underwriter’s fees (including discounts, commissions or fees of underwriters, selling brokers, dealer managers or similar securities industry professionals) relating to the distribution of the Registrable Securities (other than with respect to Registrable Securities sold by the Corporation), or (iii) any other expenses of the holders of Registrable Securities not specifically required to be paid by the Corporation pursuant to the first paragraph of this Section 7 (including, without limitation, capital gains, income and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale of Registrable Securities).

Section 8.    Indemnification.

(a)    Indemnification by the Corporation. The Corporation shall, without limitation as to time, indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, each holder of Registrable Securities whose Registrable Securities are covered by a Registration Statement or Prospectus, the officers, directors, partners, members, managers, shareholders, accountants, attorneys, agents, representatives and employees of each of them, each Person who controls each such holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and the officers, directors, partners, affiliates, members, managers, shareholders, accountants, attorneys, agents, representatives and employees of each such controlling person, each underwriter, if any, and each Person who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) such underwriter, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including costs of preparation and reasonable attorneys’ fees and any legal or other fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or Proceeding), expenses, judgments, fines, penalties, charges and amounts paid in settlement (collectively, “Losses”), as incurred, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact contained in any Prospectus (including without limitation preliminary or final), offering circular, or other document (including any related Registration Statement, notification, or the like) incident to any such registration, qualification, or compliance, or based on any omission (or alleged omission) to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or any violation by the Corporation or any of its affiliates, employees, officers, directors or agents of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any state securities law, or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder applicable to the Corporation and (without limitation of the preceding portions of this Section 8(a)) will reimburse

 

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each such holder, each of its officers, directors, partners, members, managers, shareholders, accountants, attorneys, agents, representatives and employees and each Person who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) each such holder and the officers, directors, partners, affiliates, members, managers, shareholders, accountants, attorneys, agents, representatives and employees of each such controlling person, each such underwriter, and each Person who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) any such underwriter, for any legal and any other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating and defending or settling any such Loss or action; provided that the Corporation will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such Loss arises out of or is based on (i) any untrue statement or omission by such holder or underwriter, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) or omission (or alleged omission) is made in such Registration Statement, Prospectus, offering circular, or other document in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Corporation by such holder for use therein, (ii) offers or sales effected by or on behalf of such holder “by means of” (as defined in Rule 159A under the Securities Act) a “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) that was not authorized in writing by the Corporation or (iii) the failure of any holder to deliver or make available to a purchaser of Registrable Securities a copy of any Registration Statement, including any preliminary or final Prospectus contained therein or any amendments or supplements thereto (if the same was required by applicable Law to be delivered or made available); provided that the Corporation shall have delivered to such holder such Registration Statement, including such preliminary or final Prospectus contained therein and any amendments or supplements thereto. It is agreed that the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 8(a) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such Loss or action if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Corporation (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld).

(b)    Indemnification by Holder of Registrable Securities. The Corporation may require, as a condition to including any Registrable Securities in any Registration Statement filed in accordance with this Agreement, that the Corporation shall have received an undertaking reasonably satisfactory to it from the prospective seller of such Registrable Securities to indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, severally and not jointly with any other holders of Registrable Securities, the Corporation, its directors and officers and each Person who controls the Corporation (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and all other prospective sellers from and against all Losses, as incurred, arising out of or based on any untrue statement of a material fact contained in any such Registration Statement, Prospectus, offering circular, or other document, or any omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and to (without limitation of the portions of this Section 8(b)) reimburse the Corporation, its directors and officers and each Person who controls the Corporation (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and all other prospective sellers for any legal or any other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending any such Loss or action, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is made in such Registration Statement, Prospectus, offering circular, or other document in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Corporation by such holder expressly for inclusion in such Registration Statement, Prospectus, offering circular or other document; provided, however, that the obligations of such holder under such undertaking shall not apply to

 

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amounts paid in settlement of any such Losses (or actions in respect thereof) if such settlement is effected without the consent of such holder (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld); and provided, further, that the liability of such holder of Registrable Securities shall be limited to the net proceeds received by such selling holder from the sale of Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement.

(c)    Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. If any Person shall be entitled to indemnity hereunder or under the undertaking contemplated by Section 8(b) (an “Indemnified Party”), such Indemnified Party shall give prompt notice to the party from which such indemnity is sought (the “Indemnifying Party”) of any claim or of the commencement of any Proceeding with respect to which such Indemnified Party seeks indemnification or contribution pursuant hereto; provided, however, that the delay or failure to so notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party from any obligation or liability except to the extent that the Indemnifying Party has been materially prejudiced by such delay or failure. The Indemnifying Party shall have the right, exercisable by giving written notice to an Indemnified Party promptly after the receipt of written notice from such Indemnified Party of such claim or Proceeding, to, unless in the Indemnified Party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party may exist in respect of such claim, assume, at the Indemnifying Party’s expense, the defense of any such claim or Proceeding, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party; provided, however, that an Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such claim or Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such separate counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party unless: (i) the Indemnifying Party agrees to pay such fees and expenses; or (ii) the Indemnifying Party fails promptly to assume, or in the event of a conflict of interest cannot assume, the defense of such claim or Proceeding or fails to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party, in which case the Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel and to assume the defense of such claim or proceeding at the Indemnifying Party’s expense; provided, further, however, that the Indemnifying Party shall not, in connection with any one such claim or Proceeding or separate but substantially similar or related claims or Proceedings in the same jurisdiction, arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one firm of attorneys (together with appropriate local counsel) at any time for all of the Indemnified Parties, or for fees and expenses that are not reasonable. Whether or not such defense is assumed by the Indemnifying Party, such Indemnifying Party will not be subject to any liability for any settlement made without its consent (but such consent will not be unreasonably withheld). The Indemnifying Party shall not consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement that does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such Indemnified Party of a release, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party, from all liability in respect of such claim or litigation for which such Indemnified Party would be entitled to indemnification hereunder.

(d)    Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable to an Indemnified Party in respect of any Losses (other than in accordance with its terms), then each applicable Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party, on the one hand, and such Indemnified Party, on the other hand, in connection with the actions,

 

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statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses. The relative fault of such Indemnifying Party, on the one hand, and Indemnified Party, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, has been made (or omitted) by, or relates to information supplied by, such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent any such action, statement or omission.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8(d), an Indemnifying Party that is a selling holder of Registrable Securities shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount that such Indemnifying Party has otherwise been, or would otherwise be, required to pay pursuant to Section 8(b) 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 Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

(e)    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; provided that in all cases the Gochman Shareholders, on the one hand, and KKR Shareholders, on the other hand, shall be treated in the same manner.

Section 9.    Rule 144.

(a)    After an Initial Public Offering, the Corporation shall (i) use reasonable best efforts to file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act in a timely manner (including the reports under Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act referred to in subparagraph (c)(1) of Rule 144), (ii) take such further action as any holder of Registrable Securities may reasonably request, and (iii) furnish to each holder of Registrable Securities forthwith upon written request, (A) a written statement by the Corporation as to its compliance with the reporting requirements of Rule 144, the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, (B) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Corporation, and (C) such other reports and documents so filed by the Corporation as such holder may reasonably request in availing itself of Rule 144, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such holder to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitations of the exemption provided by Rule 144. Upon the request of any holder of Registrable Securities, the Corporation shall deliver to such holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements.

(b)    The foregoing provisions of this Section 9 are not intended to modify or otherwise affect any restrictions on transfers of securities contained in the LLC Agreement.

 

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Section 10.    Underwritten Registrations.

(a)    In connection with any underwritten offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and managers shall be selected by (i) the KKR Shareholder(s) in any Demand Registration or in the Initial Public Offering, which selection shall be subject to approval by the Corporation, not to be unreasonably withheld, and (ii) the Corporation to administer any other offering, including any Piggyback Registration (other than the Initial Public Offering).

(b)    No Person may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder unless such Person (i) agrees to sell the Registrable Securities it desires to have covered by a Registration Statement on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements in customary form and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements, provided that such Person shall not be required to make any representations or warranties other than those related to title and ownership of such Person’s Registrable Securities being sold and as to the accuracy and completeness of statements made in a Registration Statement, Prospectus, offering circular, or other document in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Corporation or the managing underwriter by such Person for use therein.

Section 11.    Miscellaneous.

(a)    Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given without the written consent of the KKR Shareholders; provided, however, that (i) any amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent to departures from the provisions of this Agreement that would subject a Shareholder to adverse differential treatment relative to the other Shareholders shall require the prior written agreement of the differentially treated Shareholder and (ii) any amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent to departures from the provisions of this Agreement that would be adverse to a right specifically granted to a specific Shareholder herein (but not to other Shareholders) shall require the prior written agreement of that Shareholder; provided, further, that any amendments, modifications, supplements, restatements or waivers to the following provisions of this Agreement that would adversely affect any Gochman Shareholder (or any other provision of this Agreement if such amendment, modification, supplement, restatement or waiver would be inconsistent with or conflict with the following provisions of this Agreement in a manner adverse to a Gochman Shareholder) shall not be effective as to such Gochman Shareholder without such Gochman Shareholder’s prior written consent: Sections 1, 3, 4, 7, 8(a), 8(e) and this Section 11(a). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of holders of Registrable Securities whose securities are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, the right of any Shareholder to exercise its right to participate in such offering) and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other holders of Registrable Securities may be given by holders of at least a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold by such holders pursuant to such Registration Statement; provided that any right that is personal to a specific Shareholder may not be waived by such majority and shall require the waiver of such specific Shareholder (it being understood that a right specific to the Gochman Shareholders as a group shall be considered to be specific to each Gochman Shareholder).

 

22


(b)    Notices. All notices required to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to be duly given if personally delivered, telecopied and confirmed, or mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, or overnight delivery service with proof of receipt maintained, at the following address (or any other address that any such party may designate by written notice to the other parties):

If to the Corporation, to the address of its principal executive offices. If to any Shareholder, at such Shareholder’s address as set forth on the records of the Corporation. Any such notice shall, if delivered personally, be deemed received upon delivery; shall, if delivered by telecopy, be deemed received on the first business day following confirmation; shall, if delivered by overnight delivery service, be deemed received the first business day after being sent; and shall, if delivered by mail, be deemed received upon the earlier of actual receipt thereof or five business days after the date of deposit in the United States mail.

(c)    Successors and Assigns; Shareholder Status. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of the parties, including the Corporation and subsequent holders of Registrable Securities acquired, directly or indirectly, from the Shareholders; provided, however, that such successor or assign shall not be entitled to such rights unless the successor or assign shall have executed and delivered to the Corporation an Addendum Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (which shall also be executed by the Corporation) promptly following the acquisition of such Registrable Securities, in which event such successor or assign shall be deemed a Shareholder for purposes of this Agreement. Except as provided in Section 8 with respect to an Indemnified Party, nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any Person other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under, in or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained.

(d)    Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. The 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.

(e)    Headings; Construction. The section and paragraph headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Unless the context requires otherwise: (a) pronouns in the masculine, feminine and neuter genders shall be construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular form shall be construed to include the plural and vice versa; (b) the term “including” shall be construed to be expansive rather than limiting in nature and to mean

 

23


“including, without limitation,”; (c) references to sections and paragraphs refer to sections and paragraphs of this Agreement; and (d) the words “this Agreement,” “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereunder” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole, including Exhibit A hereto, and not to any particular subdivision unless expressly so limited.

(f)    Governing Law. The provisions of and any claim, controversy or dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without reference to the choice-of-law or conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the laws of a different jurisdiction.

(g)    Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their best efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.

(h)    Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement, and are intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein, with respect to the registration rights granted by the Corporation with respect to Registrable Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.

(i)    Securities Held by the Corporation or its Subsidiaries. Whenever the consent or approval of holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the Corporation or its subsidiaries shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the holders of such required percentage.

(j)    Remedies. The parties hereto recognize and agree that money damages are insufficient to compensate the holders of any Registrable Securities for breaches by the Corporation of the terms hereof and, consequently, that the equitable remedies of specific performance of the terms hereof and of injunctive relief will be available in the event of any such breach, in addition to all rights provided in this Agreement and granted by Law, and that any defense or objection in any action for specific performance or injunctive relief for which a remedy at Law would be adequate is waived.

(k)     [Reserved]

(l)    Term. This Agreement shall terminate with respect to a Shareholder on the date on which such Shareholder ceases to hold Registrable Securities;

 

24


provided, that such Shareholder’s rights and obligations pursuant to Section 8, as well as the Corporation’s obligations to pay expenses pursuant to Section 7, shall survive with respect to any Registration Statement in which any Registrable Securities of such Shareholders were included and, for the avoidance of doubt, any underwriter lock-up agreement that a Shareholder has executed prior to a Shareholder’s termination in accordance with this clause shall remain in effect in accordance with its terms.

(m)    Consent to Jurisdiction. The parties hereto hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York and the federal courts of the United States of America located in New York, and appropriate appellate courts therefrom, over any claim, controversy or dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, and each party hereby irrevocably agrees that all claims in respect of such claim, controversy, dispute or proceeding may be heard and determined in such federal or state courts. The parties hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, any objection which they may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any claim, controversy or dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby brought in such courts or any defense of inconvenient forum for the maintenance of such claim, controversy or dispute. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final and unappealable judgment in any such claim, controversy or dispute shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment, a certified copy of which shall be conclusive evidence of the fact and amount of such judgment, or in any other manner provided by Law.

Each of the parties hereto hereby consents to process being served by any party to this Agreement in any suit, action, or Proceeding of the nature specified in the paragraph above by the mailing of a copy thereof in the manner specified by the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section 11.

EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

25


EXHIBIT A

ADDENDUM AGREEMENT

This Addendum Agreement is made this     day of             , 20    , by and between                     (the “New Shareholder”) and Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), pursuant to an Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement dated as of October 6, 2020 (the “Agreement”), by and among the Corporation and the Shareholders. Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Agreement.

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, the Corporation has agreed to provide registration rights with respect to the Registrable Securities as set forth in the Agreement;

WHEREAS, the New Shareholder has acquired Registrable Securities directly or indirectly from a Shareholder; and

WHEREAS, the Corporation and the Shareholders have required in the Agreement that all persons desiring registration rights must enter into an Addendum Agreement binding the New Shareholder to the Agreement to the same extent as if it were an original party thereto;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises of the parties, the New Shareholder acknowledges that it has received and read the Agreement and that the New Shareholder shall be bound by, and shall have the benefit of, all of the terms and conditions set out in the Agreement to the same extent as if it were an original party to the Agreement and shall be deemed to be a Shareholder thereunder.

 

 

New Shareholder

 

Address:

 

 

 

Exhibit A-1


AGREED TO on behalf of the Corporation pursuant to Section 11(c) of the Agreement.

 

ACADEMY SPORTS AND OUTDOORS, INC.
By:  

                                                             

 

Printed Name and Title

 

Exhibit A-2

Exhibit 10.1

STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT

of

ACADEMY SPORTS AND OUTDOORS, INC.

Dated as of October 6, 2020


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

Article I Definitions

     2  

SECTION 1.1.

 

Definitions

     2  

SECTION 1.2.

 

Construction

     5  

Article II Corporate Governance

     5  

SECTION 2.1.

 

Board of Directors

     5  

SECTION 2.2.

 

Committees

     7  

SECTION 2.3.

 

Consent Rights

     7  

SECTION 2.4.

 

Controlled Company

     8  

SECTION 2.5.

 

Permitted Disclosure

     8  

Article III Information

     9  

SECTION 3.1.

 

Books and Records; Access; Certain Reports

     9  

Article IV Miscellaneous

     9  

SECTION 4.1.

 

Termination

     9  

SECTION 4.2.

 

Indemnification

     10  

SECTION 4.3.

 

Amendments and Waivers

     11  

SECTION 4.4.

 

Successors, Assigns and Transferees

     11  

SECTION 4.5.

 

Third Parties

     11  

SECTION 4.6.

 

Notices

     12  

SECTION 4.7.

 

Further Assurances

     12  

SECTION 4.8.

 

Entire Agreement

     12  

SECTION 4.9.

 

Restrictions on Other Agreements; Bylaws

     13  

SECTION 4.10.

 

Delays or Omissions

     13  

SECTION 4.11.

 

Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial

     13  

SECTION 4.12.

 

Severability

     14  

SECTION 4.13.

 

Enforcement

     14  

SECTION 4.14.

 

Titles and Subtitles

     14  

SECTION 4.15.

 

No Recourse

     14  

SECTION 4.16.

 

Counterparts; Facsimile Signatures

     14  

SECTION 4.17.

 

Effectiveness

     14  

Exhibits

Exhibit A — Assignment and Assumption Agreement

 

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STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT

OF

ACADEMY SPORTS AND OUTDOORS, INC.

This STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT (as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with its terms, the “Agreement”) is entered into as of October 6, 2020, by and among Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and each of the stockholders of the Company whose name appears on the signature pages hereto (each, a “Stockholder” and collectively, the “Stockholders”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Company is currently contemplating an underwritten initial public offering (the “IPO”) of shares of its Common Stock (as defined below);

WHEREAS, in connection with the IPO, each Stockholder that is a unitholder of New Academy Holding Company, LLC (“NAHC”) will contribute its equity interests in NAHC to the Company in exchange for shares of Common Stock and NAHC will become a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company;

WHEREAS, Section 4.8(a) of the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of NAHC (as amended, supplemented or modified from time to time, the “LLC Agreement”) provides that the board of managers of NAHC (the “NAHC Board”) may, without the need for any action or consent of any Person (as defined in the LLC Agreement), including any Members (as defined in the LLC Agreement), take any and all actions reasonably necessary or advisable to create and implement the IPO of the Company, subject to the requirements of Section 4.8 and Section 14.5 of the LLC Agreement;

WHEREAS, the NAHC Board has determined that the IPO of the Company complies with the requirements of Section 4.8 and Section 14.5 of the LLC Agreement; and

WHEREAS, in connection with, and effective upon, the date of completion of the IPO (the “Closing Date”), the parties hereto desire to enter into this Agreement to govern certain of their rights, duties and obligations with respect to their ownership of Common Stock after consummation of the IPO.

 

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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:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein shall have the following meanings:

Affiliate” shall mean, (i) with respect to any Person (other than the KKR Investor), an “affiliate” as defined in Rule 405 of the regulations promulgated under the Securities Act, and (ii) with respect to the KKR Investor, an “affiliate” as defined in Rule 405 of the regulations promulgated under the Securities Act and any investment fund, vehicle or holding company of which the KKR Investor or an Affiliate of the KKR Investor serves as the general partner, managing member or discretionary manager or advisor; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, except as used in Section 4.2, an Affiliate of the KKR Investor shall not include any Portfolio Company or other investment of any Person or the KKR Investor or any investment fund, vehicle or holding company or any investment fund, vehicle or holding company or any limited partners of the KKR Investor.

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

beneficial owner” or “beneficially own” shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that no Stockholder shall be deemed to beneficially own any securities of the Company held by any other Stockholder solely by virtue of the provisions of this Agreement (other than this definition which shall be deemed to be read for this purpose without the proviso hereto).

Board” shall mean the board of directors of the Company.

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

Bylaws” shall mean the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as in effect on the date hereof and as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, the terms of the Charter and the terms of this Agreement.

Change in Control” shall mean any transaction or series of related transactions (whether by merger, consolidation, recapitalization, liquidation or sale or transfer of Common Stock or assets (including equity securities of the Subsidiaries) or otherwise) as a result of which any Person or group, within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act (other than (x) the KKR Investor and its Affiliates, any group of which the foregoing are members and any other members of such a group and (y) an employee benefit plan (or trust forming a part thereof) maintained by the Company or its controlled Affiliates), obtains ownership, directly or indirectly, of (i) Common Stock that represent more than 50% of the total voting power of the outstanding capital stock of the Company or applicable successor entity or (ii) all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. For purposes of this definition, the term “Affiliates” shall include Portfolio Companies.

Charter” shall mean the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as in effect on the date hereof and as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof and the terms of this Agreement.

Closing Date” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

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Common Stock” shall mean the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company and any securities issued in respect thereof, or in substitution therefor, in connection with any stock split, dividend or combination, or any reclassification, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, exchange or other similar reorganization.

Company” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

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

Director” shall mean any member of the Board.

Equity Securities” shall mean any and all shares of (i) Common Stock, (ii) preferred stock of the Company, and (iii) any equity securities (including, without limitation, preferred stock) of the Company convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, any of the foregoing shares, and options, warrants or other rights to acquire any of the foregoing shares or other securities. In the event any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company issues directly to any Stockholder any common stock of such Subsidiary or any equity securities of the type described in clauses (ii) and (iii), the term “Equity Securities” shall also include the common stock and equity securities of the type described in clauses (ii) and (iii) of such Subsidiary.

Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto.

Governmental Authority” shall mean any: (i) nation, state, commonwealth, province, territory, county, municipality, district or other jurisdiction of any nature; (ii) U.S. and other federal, state, local, municipal, foreign or other government; or (iii) governmental or quasi-governmental authority of any nature (including any governmental division, department, agency, commission, instrumentality, official, organization, unit, body or entity and any court or other tribunal).

IPO” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

KKR Designee(s)” shall mean any Director designated by the KKR Investor pursuant to Section 2.1(a) of this Agreement.

KKR Investor” shall mean, collectively, Allstar LLC, Allstar Co-Invest Blocker L.P. and KKR 2006 Allstar Blocker L.P., and their Permitted Transferees.

Law” shall mean any applicable constitutional provision, statute, act, code, law, regulation, rule, ordinance, order, decree, ruling, proclamation, resolution, judgment, decision, declaration, or interpretative or advisory opinion or letter of a Governmental Authority.

 

- 3 -


LLC Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

NAHC Board” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Permitted Transferee” shall mean, with respect to the KKR Investor, any Transferee that is an Affiliate of the KKR Investor; provided, however, that such Transferee shall agree in a writing in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto to be bound by and to comply with all applicable provisions of this Agreement.

Person” shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, trust, joint stock company, business trust, unincorporated association, joint venture or other entity of any nature whatsoever.

Portfolio Company” shall mean, with respect to any Person, a “portfolio company” (as such term is customarily used among institutional investors), or any entity controlled by any “portfolio company”, of such Person or one of its Affiliates.

Registration Rights Agreement” shall mean the Amendment to the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of            , 2020, among the Company, New Academy Holding Company, LLC, the KKR Investor, and each of the other stockholders party thereto, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with its terms.

Repurchase” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(f).

Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto.

Stock Exchange” shall mean The NASDAQ Global Select Market or such other securities exchange or interdealer quotation system on which shares of Common Stock are then listed or quoted.

Stockholder” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Subsidiary” shall mean, with respect to an entity, (i) any corporation of which a majority of the securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors thereof, at the time as of which any determination is being made, are owned by such entity, either directly or indirectly, and (ii) any joint venture, general or limited partnership, limited liability company or other legal entity in which the entity is the record or beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of a majority of the voting interests or the general partner.

Total Number of Directors” shall mean, at any time of determination, the total number of Directors comprising the Board.

Transfer” shall mean, directly or indirectly, to sell, transfer, assign, encumber, hypothecate or similarly dispose of, either voluntarily or involuntarily, or to enter into any contract, option or other arrangement or understanding with respect to the sale, transfer, assignment, encumbrance, hypothecation or similar disposition of, any shares of Equity Securities beneficially owned by a Person or any interest in any shares of Equity Securities beneficially owned by a

 

- 4 -


Person. In the event that the KKR Investor that is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other legal entity (other than an individual, trust or estate) ceases to be controlled by the Person controlling the KKR Investor or a Permitted Transferee thereof, such event shall be deemed to constitute a “Transfer” subject to the restrictions on Transfer contained or referenced herein.

Transferee” shall mean any Person to whom any Stockholder or any Transferee thereof Transfers Equity Securities of the Company in accordance with the terms hereof.

Voting Securities” shall mean, at any time of determination, shares of any class of Equity Securities of the Company that are then entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors.

SECTION 1.2. Construction. Whenever the context requires, the gender of all words used in this Agreement includes the masculine, feminine and neuter forms and the singular form of words shall include the plural and vice versa. All references to Articles and Sections refer to articles and sections of this Agreement. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” This Agreement shall be construed without regard to any presumption or rule requiring construction or interpretation against the party drafting or causing any instrument to be drafted. Any percentage set forth herein shall be deemed to be automatically adjusted without any action on the part of any party hereto to take into account any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date of this Agreement so that the rights provided to the Stockholders shall continue to apply to the same extent such rights would have applied absent such stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction.

ARTICLE II

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Section 2.1. Board of Directors.

(a) Following the Closing Date, the KKR Investor shall have the right, but not the obligation, to nominate to the Board a number of designees equal to at least: (i) a majority of the Total Number of Directors, so long as the KKR Investor and its Affiliates collectively beneficially own 50% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock; (ii) 40% of the Total Number of Directors, in the event that the KKR Investor and its Affiliates collectively beneficially own 40% or more, but less than 50%, of the outstanding shares of Common Stock; (iii) 30% of the Total Number of Directors, in the event that the KKR Investor and its Affiliates collectively beneficially own 30% or more, but less than 40%, of the outstanding shares of Common Stock; (iv) 20% of the Total Number of Directors, in the event that the KKR Investor and its Affiliates collectively beneficially own 20% or more, but less than 30%, of the outstanding shares of Common Stock; and (v) 10% of the Total Number of Directors, in the event that the KKR Investor and its Affiliates collectively beneficially own 5% or more, but less than 20%, of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. For purposes of calculating the number of Directors that the KKR Investor is entitled to designate pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, any fractional amounts shall automatically be rounded up to the nearest whole number (e.g., one and one quarter (1 and 1/4) Directors shall equate to two (2) Directors), and any such calculations shall be made after taking into account any increase in the Total Number of Directors.

 

- 5 -


(b) Effective as of the Closing Date, the KKR Designees shall initially be Nathaniel H. Taylor, Vishal V. Patel, Aileen X. Yan, Brian T. Marley and William S. Simon.

(c) The Company agrees, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law (including with respect to fiduciary duties under Delaware law), to include the individuals designated pursuant to this Section 2.1 in the slate of nominees recommended by the Board for election at any meeting of stockholders called for the purpose of electing Directors and to use its best efforts to cause the election of each such designee to the Board, including nominating each such individual to be elected as a Director as provided herein, recommending such individual’s election and soliciting proxies or consents in favor thereof.

(d) In the event that the KKR Investor has nominated less than the total number of designees that it shall be entitled to nominate pursuant to Section 2.1(a), then the KKR Investor shall have the right, at any time, to nominate such additional designee(s) to which it is entitled, in which case, the Company and the Directors shall take all necessary corporate action, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law (including with respect to fiduciary duties under Delaware law), to (x) enable the KKR Investor to nominate and effect the election or appointment of such additional individuals, whether by increasing the size of the Board or otherwise, and (y) designate such additional individuals nominated by the KKR Investor to fill such newly created vacancies or to fill any other existing vacancies.

(e) In the event that a vacancy is created at any time by the death, disability, retirement, resignation or removal (with or without cause) of any Director designated by the KKR Investor pursuant to this Section 2.1, the remaining Directors and the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law (including with respect to fiduciary duties under Delaware law), cause the vacancy created thereby to be filled by a new designee of the KKR Investor as soon as possible, and the Company hereby agrees to take, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law (including with respect to fiduciary duties under Delaware law), at any time and from time to time, all actions necessary to accomplish the same.

(f) In the event that the KKR Investor shall cease to have the right to designate a Director pursuant to this Section 2.1, the designee of the KKR Investor selected by the KKR Investor shall (i) at the request of a majority of the Directors then in office or the Chairman of the Board resign immediately or the KKR Investor shall take all action necessary to remove such designee or (ii) if no such request is made, continue to serve until his or her term expires at the next annual meeting of stockholders of the Company. In the event such designee resigns or is removed at the request of a majority of the Directors then in office or the Chairman of the Board, the Directors remaining in office shall be entitled to decrease the size of the Board to eliminate such vacancy and no consent under Section 2.3 shall be required in connection with such decrease.

(g) The KKR Investor shall have the right to representation on the board of directors or other similar governing body (or any committee thereof) of any Subsidiary of the Company in proportion to its representation on the Board.

 

- 6 -


(h) The Company shall reimburse the KKR Designee(s) for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with performing his or her duties as a member of the Board (or any committee thereof), including the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such person for attending meetings of the Board (or any committee thereof), or in connection with their service on the board or other similar governing body of any Subsidiary of the Company (or any committee thereof).

(i) The rights of the Stockholders pursuant to this Section 2.1 are personal to the Stockholders and shall not be exercised by any Transferee other than a Permitted Transferee.

SECTION 2.2. Committees. For so long as the KKR Investor has the right to designate at least one (1) Director pursuant to Section 2.1, the KKR Investor shall have the right, but not the obligation, to designate one member of each committee of the Board; provided that the right of any Director to serve on a committee shall be subject to applicable Law and the Company’s obligation to comply with any applicable independence requirements of the Stock Exchange.

SECTION 2.3. Consent Rights. For so long as the KKR Investor and its Affiliates collectively beneficially own at least 25% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, the following actions by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall require the approval, in addition to any approval by the stockholders of the Company or the Board’s approval (or the approval of the required governing body of any Subsidiary of the Company), of the KKR Investor:

(a) entering into or effecting a Change in Control;

(b) entering into any agreement providing for the acquisition or divestiture of assets or equity security of any Person, in each case providing for aggregate consideration in excess of $100 million;

(c) entering into any joint venture or similar business alliance having a fair market value as of the date of formation thereof (as reasonably determined by the Board) in excess of $100 million;

(d) initiating a voluntary liquidation, dissolution, receivership, bankruptcy or other insolvency proceeding involving the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company that is a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act;

(e) any material change in the nature of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(f) any redemption, acquisition or other purchase of any shares of Equity Securities (a “Repurchase”) other than (x) open market Repurchases made pursuant to a share repurchase plan approved by the Board or (y) Repurchases in accordance with any existing compensation plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or a Repurchase from an employee in connection with such employee’s termination of employment with the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or otherwise in accordance with such employee’s management stockholder’s agreement with the Company;

 

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(g) the incurrence of indebtedness for borrowed money (including through the issuance of debt securities or the guarantee of indebtedness of another Person) in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $100 million in any transaction or series of related transactions, other than borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility (or amendments, extensions, or replacements thereof);

(h) terminating the employment of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company or hiring a new Chief Executive Officer of the Company;

(i) subject to Section 2.1, any increase or decrease in the size or composition of the Board, committees of the Board, and boards and committees of Subsidiaries of the Company; and

(j) any transaction with or involving any Affiliate of the Company (other than the KKR Investor and its Affiliates), other than (A) a Transfer to a Permitted Transferee, (B) transactions pursuant to any agreement in effect on the Closing Date, including, without limitation, the Registration Rights Agreement and this Agreement, and any amendment, termination or material waiver under such agreements, (C) customary indemnification agreements with Directors and officers of the Company or any Subsidiary, (D) transactions permitted by Section 2.3(f)(y) above and other customary compensation arrangements with employees of the Company; and (E) any transaction or series of related transactions in the ordinary course of business and on arms-length third-party terms and not involving amounts in excess of $25 million per annum.

SECTION 2.4. Controlled Company.

(a) Each of the entities who fall under the definition of “KKR Investor” acknowledge and agree that, (i) by virtue of this Article II, they are acting as a “group” within the meaning of the Stock Exchange rules as of the date hereof, and (ii) by virtue of the combined voting power of Common Stock held by them representing more than 50% of the total voting power of the Common Stock outstanding as of the Closing Date, the Company qualifies as a “controlled company” within the meaning of Stock Exchange rules as of the Closing Date.

(b) So long as the Company qualifies as a “controlled company” for purposes of Stock Exchange rules, the Company will elect to be a “controlled company” for purposes of Stock Exchange rules, and will disclose in its annual meeting proxy statement that it is a “controlled company” and the basis for that determination. If the Company ceases to qualify as a “controlled company” for purposes of Stock Exchange rules, the KKR Investor and the Company will take whatever action may be reasonably necessary in relation to such party, if any, to cause the Company to comply with Stock Exchange rules as then in effect within the timeframe for compliance available under such rules.

SECTION 2.5. Permitted Disclosure. Each KKR Designee is permitted to disclose to the KKR Investor information about the Company and its Affiliates that he or she receives as a result of being a Director, subject to his or her fiduciary duties under Delaware law.

 

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ARTICLE III

INFORMATION

SECTION 3.1. Books and Records; Access; Certain Reports.

(a) The Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, keep proper books, records and accounts, in which full and correct entries shall be made of all financial transactions and the assets and business of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. For so long as the KKR Investor has the right to designate at least one (1) Director pursuant to Section 2.1, the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, permit the KKR Investor and its designated representatives, at reasonable times and upon reasonable prior notice to the Company, to review the books and records of the Company or any of such Subsidiaries and to discuss the affairs, finances and condition of the Company or any of such Subsidiaries with the officers of the Company or any such Subsidiary; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to disclose any privileged information of the Company so long as the Company has used its best efforts to provide such information to the KKR Investor, without the loss of any such privilege, and notified the KKR Investor that such information has not been provided.

(b) So long as the KKR Investor has the right to designate at least one (1) Director pursuant to Section 2.1, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the KKR Investor at its request:

(i) to the extent otherwise prepared by the Company, operating and capital expenditure budgets and periodic information packages relating to the operations and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries; and

(ii) such other reports and information as may be reasonably requested by the KKR Investor;

provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to disclose any privileged information of the Company so long as the Company has used its best efforts to provide such information to the KKR Investor, without the loss of any such privilege, and notified the KKR Investor that such information has not been provided.

ARTICLE IV

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 4.1. Termination. Subject to the early termination of any provision as a result of an amendment to this Agreement agreed to by the Board and the Stockholders as provided under Section 4.3, (i) the provisions of Article II shall, with respect to each Stockholder, terminate as provided in the applicable Section of Article II, (ii) the provisions of Article III shall, with respect to each Stockholder, terminate as provided in the applicable Section of Article III, and (iii) this Article IV shall not terminate. Nothing herein shall relieve any party from any liability for the breach of any of the agreements set forth in this Agreement.

 

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SECTION 4.2. Indemnification.

(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Stockholder, their respective directors, officers, partners, members, direct and indirect owners, managers, Affiliates and controlling persons (each, an “Stockholder Indemnitee”) from and against any and all liability, including, without limitation, all obligations, costs, fines, claims, actions, injuries, demands, suits, judgments, proceedings, investigations, arbitrations (including stockholder claims, actions, injuries, demands, suits, judgments, proceedings, investigations or arbitrations) and reasonable expenses, including reasonable accountant’s and reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses (together the “Losses”), incurred by such Stockholder Indemnitee before or after the date of this Agreement to the extent arising out of, resulting from, or relating to (i) such Stockholder Indemnitee’s purchase and/or ownership of any Equity Securities or (ii) any litigation to which any Stockholder Indemnitee is made a party in its capacity as a stockholder or owner of securities (or as a director, officer, partner, member, manager, Affiliate or controlling person of any Stockholder) of the Company; provided that the foregoing indemnification rights in this Section 4.2 shall not be available to the extent that (a) any such Losses are incurred as a result of such Stockholder Indemnitee’s willful misconduct or gross negligence; (b) any such Losses are incurred as a result of non-compliance by such Stockholder Indemnitee with any laws or regulations applicable to any of them; or (c) subject to the rights of contribution provided for below, indemnification for any Losses would violate any applicable Law or public policy. For purposes of this Section 4.2, none of the circumstances described in the limitations contained in the proviso in the immediately preceding sentence shall be deemed to apply absent a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to such effect, in which case to the extent any such limitation is so determined to apply to any Stockholder Indemnitee as to any previously advanced indemnity payments made by the Company under this Section 4.2, then such payments shall be promptly repaid by such Stockholder Indemnitee to the Company. The rights of any Stockholder Indemnitee to indemnification hereunder will be in addition to any other rights any such party may have under any other agreement or instrument to which such Stockholder Indemnitee is or becomes a party or is or otherwise becomes a beneficiary or under law or regulation. In the event of any payment of indemnification pursuant to this Section 4.2, to the extent that any Stockholder Indemnitee is indemnified for Losses, the Company will be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the related rights of recovery of the Stockholder Indemnitee to which such payment is made against all other Persons. Such Stockholder Indemnitee shall execute all papers reasonably required to evidence such rights. The Company will be entitled at its election to participate in the defense of any third party claim upon which indemnification is due pursuant to this Section 4.2 or to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Stockholder Indemnitee unless, in the reasonable judgment of the Stockholder Indemnitee, a conflict of interest between the Company and such Stockholder Indemnitee may exist, in which case such Stockholder Indemnitee shall have the right to assume its own defense and the Company shall be liable for all reasonable expenses therefor. Except as set forth above, should the Company assume such defense all further defense costs of the Stockholder Indemnitee in respect of such third party claim shall be for the sole account of such party and not subject to indemnification hereunder. The Company will not without the prior written consent of the Stockholder Indemnitee (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) effect any settlement of any threatened or pending third party claim in which such Stockholder Indemnitee is or could have been a party and be entitled to indemnification hereunder unless such settlement solely involves the payment of money and includes an unconditional release of such Stockholder Indemnitee from all liability and claims that are the subject matter of such claim. If the indemnification provided for above is unavailable in respect of any Losses, then the Company, in lieu of indemnifying a Stockholder Indemnitee, shall, if and to the extent permitted by Law, contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Stockholder Indemnitee in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Company and such Stockholder Indemnitee in connection with the actions which resulted in such Losses, as well as any other equitable considerations.

 

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(b) The Company agrees to pay or reimburse (i) the Stockholders for (A) all reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees, charges, disbursement and expenses) incurred in connection with any amendment, supplement, modification or waiver of or to any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement or any related agreements and (B) in connection with any stamp, transfer, documentary or other similar taxes, assessments or charges levied by any governmental or revenue authority in respect of this Agreement or any related agreements; and (ii) each Stockholder for all costs and expenses of such Stockholder (including reasonable attorneys’ fees, charges, disbursement and expenses) incurred in connection with (1) the consent to any departure by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from the terms of any provision of this Agreement or any related agreements and (2) the enforcement or exercise by such Stockholder of any right granted to it or provided for hereunder.

SECTION 4.3. Amendments and Waivers. Except as otherwise provided herein, no modification, amendment, restatement, amendment and restatement, or waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective without the approval of the Board and the KKR Investor; provided, however, that any Stockholder may waive (in writing) the benefit of any provision of this Agreement with respect to itself for any purpose; provided, further, that any such modification, amendment, restatement, amendment and restatement or waiver that would disproportionately and adversely affect the rights of any Stockholder hereunder (in its capacity as a Stockholder) without similarly affecting the rights hereunder of all Stockholders (in their capacities as Stockholders) having the same rights or obligations under this Agreement to which such modification, amendment, restatement, amendment and restatement or waiver relates, as the case may be, shall not be effective as to such Stockholder without such Stockholders prior written consent. The failure of any party to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall in no way be construed as a waiver of such provisions and shall not affect the right of such party thereafter to enforce each and every provision of this Agreement in accordance with its terms. Any written amendment, restatement, amendment and restatement, or waiver to this Agreement that receives the vote or consent of the Stockholders provided herein need not be signed by all Stockholders, but shall be effective in accordance with its terms and shall be binding upon all Stockholders and any Transferees.

SECTION 4.4. Successors, Assigns and Transferees. This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns. This Agreement may not be assigned 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 the KKR Investor shall be entitled to assign, in whole or in part, any of its rights hereunder to any of its Permitted Transferees without such prior written consent.

SECTION 4.5. Third Parties. Except as may otherwise be expressly provided in this Agreement, this Agreement does not create any rights, claims or benefits inuring to any person that is not a party hereto nor create or establish any third party beneficiary hereto.

 

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SECTION 4.6. Notices. All notices and other communications required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given: (a) when delivered personally by hand to the party to be notified (with written confirmation of receipt), (b) when sent by e-mail (with written confirmation of transmission), (c) when received or rejected by the addressee if sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or (d) one Business Day following the day sent by reputable overnight courier (with written confirmation of receipt), in each case at the following addresses (or to such other address as a party may have specified by notice given to the other party pursuant to this provision):

 

  (i)

if to the Company, to:

Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc.

1800 North Mason Road

Katy, Texas 77449

Attention: General Counsel

Email: legal@academy.com

 

  (ii)

if to the KKR Investor, to:

Allstar LLC

Allstar Co-Invest Block L.P.

KKR 2006 Allstar Blocker L.P.

c/o Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P.

9 West 57th Street

New York, New York 10019

Attention:

Email:

SECTION 4.7. Further Assurances. At any time or from time to time after the date hereof, the parties agree to cooperate with each other, and at the request of any other party, to execute and deliver any further instruments or documents and to take all such further action as the other party may reasonably request in order to evidence or effectuate the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and to otherwise carry out the intent of the parties hereunder.

SECTION 4.8. Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. There are no agreements, representations, warranties, covenants or understandings with respect to the subject matter hereof or thereof other than those expressly set forth herein and therein. This Agreement supersedes all other prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.

 

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SECTION 4.9. Restrictions on Other Agreements; Bylaws.

(a) Following the date hereof, no Stockholder or any of its Permitted Transferees shall enter into or agree to be bound by any stockholder agreements or arrangements of any kind with any Person with respect to any Equity Securities except pursuant to the agreements specifically contemplated herein and the Registration Rights Agreement.

(b) The provisions of this Agreement shall be controlling if any such provisions or the operation thereof conflict with the provisions of the Company’s Bylaws. Each of the parties covenants and agrees to vote their Equity Securities and to take any other action reasonably requested by the Company or any Stockholder to amend the Company’s Bylaws so as to avoid any conflict with the provisions hereof.

SECTION 4.10. Delays or Omissions. It is agreed that no delay or omission to exercise any right, power or remedy accruing to any party, upon any breach, default or noncompliance by another party under this Agreement, shall impair any such right, power or remedy, nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of any such breach, default or noncompliance, or any acquiescence therein, or of or in any similar breach, default or noncompliance thereafter occurring. It is further agreed that any waiver, permit, consent or approval of any kind or character on the part of any party hereto of any breach, default or noncompliance under this Agreement or any waiver on such party’s part of any provisions or conditions of this Agreement, must be in writing and shall be effective only to the extent specifically set forth in such writing. All remedies, either under this Agreement, by law, or otherwise afforded to any party, shall be cumulative and not alternative.

SECTION 4.11. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.

(a) This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, applicable to contracts executed in and to be performed entirely within that State, without giving effect to principles or rules of conflict of laws.

(b) In any judicial proceeding involving any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, each of the parties unconditionally accepts the jurisdiction and venue of the Delaware Court of Chancery or, if the Delaware Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction over this matter, the Superior Court of the State of Delaware (Complex Commercial Division) or, if jurisdiction over the matter is vested exclusively in federal courts, the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, and the appellate courts to which orders and judgments thereof may be appealed. In any such judicial proceeding, the parties agree that in addition to any method for the service of process permitted or required by such courts, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, service of process may be made by delivery provided pursuant to the directions in Section 4.6.

(c) EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING INVOLVING ANY DISPUTE, CONTROVERSY OR CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT.

 

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SECTION 4.12. Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable Law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable Law in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision or any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

SECTION 4.13. Enforcement. Each party hereto acknowledges that money damages would not be an adequate remedy in the event that any of the covenants or agreements in this Agreement are not performed in accordance with its terms, and it is therefore agreed that in addition to and without limiting any other remedy or right it may have, the non-breaching party will have the right to an injunction, temporary restraining order or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction enjoining any such breach and enforcing specifically the terms and provisions hereof.

SECTION 4.14. Titles and Subtitles. The titles of the sections and subsections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not to be considered in construing this Agreement.

SECTION 4.15. No Recourse. This Agreement may only be enforced against, and any claims or cause of action that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement, or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement, may be made only against the entities that are expressly identified as parties hereto, and no past, present or future Affiliate, director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, manager, partner, stockholder, agent, attorney or representative of any party hereto shall have any liability for any obligations or liabilities of the parties to this Agreement or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of the transactions contemplated hereby.

SECTION 4.16. Counterparts; Electronic Signatures. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one 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.

SECTION 4.17. Effectiveness. This Agreement shall become effective upon the Closing Date.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank; Signatures follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Stockholders’ Agreement as of the date set forth in the first paragraph hereof.

 

ACADEMY SPORTS AND OUTDOORS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Rene G. Casares

  Name:   Rene G. Casares
  Title:   Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

 

[Signature Page Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. Stockholders’ Agreement]


ALLSTAR LLC
By:   /s/ Terence Gallagher
  Name: Terence Gallagher
  Title:   Vice President, Finance

 

ALLSTAR CO-INVEST BLOCKER L.P.
By:   /s/ Terence Gallagher
  Name: Terence Gallagher
  Title:   Vice President, Finance

 

KKR 2006 ALLSTAR BLOCKER L.P.
By:   /s/ Terence Gallagher
  Name: Terence Gallagher
  Title:   Vice President, Finance

 

[Signature Page Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. Stockholders’ Agreement]


Exhibit A

Assignment and Assumption Agreement

Pursuant to the Stockholders’ Agreement, dated as of October 6, 2020 (the “Stockholders’ Agreement”), among Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and each of the stockholders of the Company whose name appears on the signature pages listed therein (each, a “Stockholder” and collectively, the “Stockholders”), _________, (the “Transferor”) hereby assigns to the undersigned the rights that may be assigned thereunder, and the undersigned hereby agrees that, having acquired Equity Securities as permitted by the terms of the Stockholders’ Agreement, the undersigned shall assume the obligations of the Transferor under the Stockholders’ Agreement. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Stockholders’ Agreement.

Listed below is information regarding the Equity Securities:

Number of Shares of

Common Stock

 

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Assumption Agreement as of __________ ___, ________.

 

[NAME OF TRANSFEROR]
 

 

Name:
Title:

 

[NAME OF TRANSFEREE]
 

 

Name:
Title:

Acknowledged by:

 

ACADEMY SPORTS AND OUTDOORS, INC.
By:    
  Name:
  Title: