Exhibit 10.1

MARAVAI LIFESCIENCES HOLDINGS, INC.

 

 

2020 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

 

 

ARTICLE I

PURPOSE

The purpose of this Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc. 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan is to promote the success of the Company’s business for the benefit of its stockholders by enabling the Company to offer Eligible Individuals cash and stock-based incentives in order to attract, retain, and reward such individuals and strengthen the mutuality of interests between such individuals and the Company’s stockholders. The Plan is effective as of the date set forth in Article XV.

ARTICLE II

DEFINITIONS

For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

2.1 “Affiliate” means a corporation or other entity controlled by, controlling, or under control with the Company. The term “control” (including, with correlative meaning, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as applied to any person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management and policies of such person, whether through the ownership of voting or other securities, by contract or otherwise.

2.2 “Applicable Law” means the requirements relating to the administration of equity-based awards and the related shares under U.S. state corporate law, U.S. federal and state securities laws, the rules of any stock exchange or quotation system on which the shares are listed or quoted, and any other applicable laws, including tax laws, of any U.S. or non-U.S. jurisdictions where Awards are, or will be, granted under the Plan.

2.3 “Award” means any award under the Plan of any Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Award, Other Stock-Based Award, or Cash Award. All Awards shall be granted by, confirmed by, and subject to the terms of a written or electronic agreement executed by the Company and the Participant.

2.4 “Award Agreement” means the written or electronic agreement, contract, certificate, or other instrument or document evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Award. Each Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

2.5 “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

2.6 “Cash Award” means an Award granted pursuant to Section 10.3 of the Plan and payable in cash at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

 

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2.7 “Cause” means, unless otherwise determined by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement, with respect to a Participant’s Termination of Service, the following: (a) in the case where there is no employment agreement, offer letter, consulting agreement, change in control agreement, or similar agreement in effect between the Company or an Affiliate and the Participant at the time of the grant of the Award (or where there is such agreement in effect but it does not define “cause” (or words of like import)), the Participant’s (i) commission of, or plea of guilty or no contest to, a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude or the commission of any other act involving willful malfeasance or material fiduciary breach with respect to the Company or an Affiliate; (ii) substantial and repeated failure to perform duties as reasonably directed by the person to whom the Participant reports; (iii) conduct that brings or is reasonably likely to bring the Company or an Affiliate negative publicity or into public disgrace, embarrassment, or disrepute; (iv) gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to the Company or an Affiliate; (v) material violation of the Company’s written policies or codes of conduct, including written policies related to discrimination, harassment, performance of illegal or unethical activities, or ethical misconduct; or (vi) any breach of any non-competition, non-solicitation, no-hire, or confidentiality covenant between the Participant and the Company or an Affiliate; or (b) in the case where there is an employment agreement, offer letter, consulting agreement, change in control agreement, or similar agreement in effect between the Company or an Affiliate and the Participant at the time of the grant of the Award that defines “cause” (or words of like import), “cause” as defined under such agreement; provided, however, that with regard to any agreement under which the definition of “cause” only applies on occurrence of a change in control, such definition of “cause” shall not apply until a change in control (as defined in such agreement) actually takes place and then only with regard to a termination thereafter.

2.8 “Change in Control” means and includes each of the following, unless otherwise determined by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement with a Participant approved by the Committee:

(a) any “person,” as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act (other than the Company, any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under any employee benefit plan of the Company, or any company owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Company), becoming the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities, excluding for purposes herein, acquisitions pursuant to a Business Combination (as defined below) that does not constitute a Change in Control as defined in Section 2.8(b);

(b) a merger, reorganization, or consolidation of the Company or in which equity securities of the Company are issued (each, a “Business Combination”), other than a merger, reorganization, or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or its direct or indirect Parent) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity (or, as applicable, a direct or indirect Parent of the Company or such surviving entity) outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation; provided, however, that a merger or consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in

 

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which no person (other than those covered by the exceptions in Section 2.8(a)) acquires more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities shall not constitute a Change in Control; or a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other entity, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or its direct or indirect Parent) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity (or, as applicable, a direct or indirect Parent of the Company or such surviving entity) outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation; provided, however, that a merger or consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no person (other than those covered by the exceptions in Section 2.8(a)) acquires more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities shall not constitute a Change in Control;

(c) during the period of two (2) consecutive years, individuals who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the Board together with any new director(s) (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Section 2.8(a) or 2.8(b)) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the two (2) year period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof; or

(d) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or the consummation of a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets other than the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to a person or persons who beneficially own, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the Company at the time of the sale.

For purposes of this Section 2.8, acquisitions of securities of the Company by GTCR, LLC, any of its respective Affiliates, or any investment vehicle or fund controlled by or managed by, or otherwise affiliated with GTCR, LLC shall not constitute a Change in Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Award that is characterized as “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, an event shall not be considered to be a Change in Control under the Plan for purposes of payment of such Award unless such event is also a “change in ownership,” a “change in effective control,” or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets” of the Company within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.

2.9 “Change in Control Price” means the highest price per Share paid in any transaction related to a Change in Control of the Company.

2.10 “Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. Any reference to any section of the Code shall also be a reference to any successor provision and any guidance and treasury regulation promulgated thereunder.

2.11 “Committee” means any committee of the Board duly authorized by the Board to administer the Plan; provided, however, that unless otherwise determined by the Board, the

 

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Committee shall consist solely of two or more Qualified Members. If no committee is duly authorized by the Board to administer the Plan, the term “Committee” shall be deemed to refer to the Board for all purposes under the Plan. The Board may abolish any Committee or re-vest in itself any previously delegated authority from time to time, and will retain the right to exercise the authority of the Committee to the extent consistent with Applicable Law.

2.12 “Common Stock” means the Class A common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company.

2.13 “Company” means Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its successors by operation of law.

2.14 “Consultant” means any natural person who is an advisor or consultant to the Company or any of its Affiliates.

2.15 “Disability” means, unless otherwise determined by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement, with respect to a Participant’s Termination of Service, that the Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment, provided, however, for purposes of an Incentive Stock Option, the term Disability shall have the meaning ascribed to it under Section 22(e)(3) of the Code. The determination of whether an individual has a Disability shall be determined by the Committee, and the Committee may rely on any determination that a Participant is disabled for purposes of benefits under any long-term disability plan in which a Participant participates that is maintained by the Company or any Affiliate.

2.16 “Dividend Equivalents” means a right granted to a Participant under the Plan to receive the equivalent value (in cash or Shares) of dividends paid on Shares.

2.17 “Effective Date” means the effective date of the Plan as defined in Article XV.

2.18 “Eligible Employees” means each employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates. An employee on a leave of absence may be an Eligible Employee.

2.19 “Eligible Individual” means an Eligible Employee, Non-Employee Director, or Consultant who is designated by the Committee in its discretion as eligible to receive Awards subject to the conditions set forth herein.

2.20 “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time. Reference to a specific section of the Exchange Act or regulation thereunder shall include such section or regulation, any valid regulation or interpretation promulgated under such section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing, or superseding such section or regulation.

2.21 “Fair Market Value” means, for purposes of the Plan, unless otherwise required by any applicable provision of the Code or any regulations issued thereunder, as of any date and except as provided below, the last sales price reported for the Common Stock on the applicable date: (a) as reported on the principal national securities exchange in the United States on which it is then traded or (b) if the Common Stock is not traded, listed, or otherwise reported or quoted, the Committee

 

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shall determine in good faith the Fair Market Value in whatever manner it considers appropriate taking into account the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. For purposes of the exercise of any Award, the applicable date shall be the date a notice of exercise is received by the Committee or, if not a date on which the applicable market is open, the next day that it is open. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Award granted on the pricing date of the Company’s initial public offering, the Fair Market Value shall mean the initial public offering price of a Share as set forth in the Company’s final prospectus relating to its initial public offering filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

2.22 “Family Member” means “family member” as defined in Section A.1.(a)(5) of the general instructions of Form S-8.

2.23 “Incentive Stock Option” means any Stock Option that is awarded to an Eligible Employee who is an employee of the Company, its Subsidiaries, or its Parents (if any) under the Plan and that is intended to be, and designated as, an “Incentive Stock Option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

2.24 “Non-Employee Director” means a director or a member of the Board of the Company who is not an employee of the Company.

2.25 “Non-Qualified Stock Option” means any Stock Option awarded under the Plan that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

2.26 “Other Stock-Based Award” means an Award under Article X of the Plan that is valued in whole or in part by reference to, or is payable in or otherwise based on, Shares.

2.27 “Parent” means any parent corporation of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(e) of the Code.

2.28 “Participant” means an Eligible Individual to whom an Award has been granted pursuant to the Plan.

2.29 “Performance Award” means an Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Article IX hereof contingent upon achieving certain Performance Goals.

2.30 “Performance Goals” means goals established by the Committee as contingencies for Awards to vest and/or become exercisable or distributable.

2.31 “Performance Period” means the designated period during which the Performance Goals must be satisfied with respect to the Award to which the Performance Goals relate.

2.32 “Plan” means this Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc. 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.

2.33 “Qualified Member” means a member of the Board who is (a) a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3(b)(3), and (b) “independent” under the listing standards or rules of the securities exchange upon which the Common Stock is traded, but only to the extent such independence is required in order to take the action at issue pursuant to such standards or rules.

 

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2.34 “Reference Stock Option” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.

2.35 “Restricted Stock” means an Award of Shares under the Plan that is subject to restrictions under Article VIII.

2.36 “Restricted Stock Units” means an unfunded, unsecured right to receive, on the applicable settlement date, one Share or an amount in cash or other consideration determined by the Committee to be of equal value as of such settlement date, subject to certain vesting conditions and other restrictions.

2.37 “Restriction Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.3(a) with respect to Restricted Stock.

2.38 “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act as then in effect or any successor provision.

2.39 “Section 409A of the Code” means the nonqualified deferred compensation rules under Section 409A of the Code and any applicable treasury regulations and other official guidance thereunder.

2.40 “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Reference to a specific section of the Securities Act or regulation thereunder shall include such section or regulation, any valid regulation or interpretation promulgated under such section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing, or superseding such section or regulation.

2.41 “Shares” means shares of Common Stock.

2.42 “Stock Appreciation Right” shall mean the right pursuant to an Award granted under Article VII.

2.43 “Stock Option” or “Option” means any option to purchase Shares granted to Eligible Individuals granted pursuant to Article VI.

2.44 “Subsidiary” means any subsidiary corporation of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code.

2.45 “Ten Percent Stockholder” means a person owning stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, its Subsidiaries or its Parent.

2.46 “Termination of Service” means the termination of the applicable Participant’s employment with, or performance of services for, the Company and its Affiliates. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, (a) if a Participant’s employment or services with the Company and its Affiliates terminates but such Participant continues to provide services to the Company and its Affiliates in a non-employee capacity, such change in status shall not be deemed a Termination of Service with the Company and its Affiliates and (b) a Participant employed by, or performing services for, an Affiliate that ceases to be an Affiliate shall also be deemed to have incurred a

 

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Termination of Service provided the Participant does not immediately thereafter become an employee of the Company or another Affiliate. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this definition, with respect to any Award that constitutes a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, a Participant shall not be considered to have experienced a “Termination of Service” unless the Participant has experienced a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.

ARTICLE III

ADMINISTRATION

3.1 Authority of the Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. Subject to the terms of the Plan and Applicable Law, the Committee shall have full authority to grant Awards to Eligible Individuals under the Plan. In particular, the Committee shall have the authority to:

(a) determine whether and to what extent Awards, or any combination thereof, are to be granted hereunder to one or more Eligible Individuals;

(b) determine the number of Shares to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;

(c) determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any Award granted hereunder (including, but not limited to, the exercise or purchase price (if any), any restriction or limitation, any vesting schedule or acceleration thereof, or any forfeiture restrictions or waiver thereof, regarding any Award and the Shares relating thereto, based on such factors, if any, as the Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion);

(d) determine the amount of cash to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;

(e) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances grants of Options and other Awards under the Plan are to operate on a tandem basis and/or in conjunction with or apart from other awards made by the Company outside of the Plan;

(f) determine whether and under what circumstances an Award may be settled in cash, Shares, other property, or a combination of the foregoing;

(g) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances cash, Shares, or other property and other amounts payable with respect to an Award under the Plan shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the Participant;

(h) modify, waive, amend, or adjust the terms and conditions of any Award, at any time or from time to time, including but not limited to Performance Goals;

(i) determine whether a Stock Option is an Incentive Stock Option or Non-Qualified Stock Option;

 

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(j) determine whether to require a Participant, as a condition of the granting of any Award, to not sell or otherwise dispose of Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise or vesting of an Award for a period of time as determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, following the date of the acquisition of such Award or Shares; and

(k) modify, extend, or renew an Award, subject to Article XII and Section 6.3(l).

3.2 Guidelines. Subject to Article XII hereof, the Committee shall have the authority to adopt, alter, and repeal such administrative rules, guidelines, and practices governing the Plan and perform all acts, including the delegation of its responsibilities (to the extent permitted by Applicable Law and applicable stock exchange rules), as it shall, from time to time, deem advisable; to construe and interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and any Award issued under the Plan (and any agreements or sub-plans relating thereto); and to otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan. The Committee may correct any defect, supply any omission, or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any agreement relating thereto in the manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary to effectuate the purpose and intent of the Plan. The Committee may adopt special rules, sub-plans, guidelines, and provisions for persons who are residing in or employed in, or subject to, the taxes of any domestic or foreign jurisdictions to satisfy or accommodate applicable foreign laws or to qualify for preferred tax treatment of such domestic or foreign jurisdictions.

3.3 Decisions Final. Any decision, interpretation, or other action made or taken in good faith by or at the direction of the Company, the Board, or the Committee (or any of its members) arising out of or in connection with the Plan shall be within the absolute discretion of all and each of them, as the case may be, and shall be final, binding, and conclusive on the Company and all employees and Participants and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and assigns.

3.4 Procedures. If the Committee is appointed, the Board shall designate one of the members of the Committee as chairman and the Committee shall hold meetings, subject to the by-laws of the Company, at such times and places as it shall deem advisable, including, without limitation, by telephone conference or by written consent to the extent permitted by Applicable Law. A majority of the Committee members shall constitute a quorum. All determinations of the Committee shall be made by a majority of its members. Any decision or determination reduced to writing and signed by all of the Committee members in accordance with the by-laws of the Company, shall be fully effective as if it had been made by a vote at a meeting duly called and held. The Committee shall keep minutes of its meetings and shall make such rules and regulations for the conduct of its business as it shall deem advisable.

3.5 Designation of Consultants/Liability; Delegation of Authority.

(a) The Committee may designate employees of the Company and professional advisors to assist the Committee in the administration of the Plan and (to the extent permitted by Applicable Law) may grant authority to officers of the Company to grant Awards and/or execute agreements or other documents on behalf of the Committee.

(b) The Committee may employ such legal counsel, consultants, and agents as it may deem desirable for the administration of the Plan and may rely upon any opinion received from

 

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any such counsel or consultant and any computation received from any such consultant or agent. Expenses incurred by the Committee or the Board in the engagement of any such counsel, consultant, or agent shall be paid by the Company. The Committee, its members, and any person designated pursuant to sub-section (a) above shall not be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan. To the maximum extent permitted by Applicable Law, no officer of the Company or member or former member of the Committee or of the Board shall be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award granted under it.

(c) The Committee may delegate any or all of its powers and duties under the Plan to a subcommittee of directors or to any officer of the Company, including the power to perform administrative functions and grant Awards; provided that such delegation does not (i) violate Applicable Law, or (ii) result in the loss of an exemption under Rule 16b-3(d)(1) for Awards granted to Participants subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act in respect of the Company. Upon any such delegation, all references in the Plan to the “Committee,” shall be deemed to include any subcommittee or officer of the Company to whom such powers have been delegated by the Committee. Any such delegation shall not limit the right of such subcommittee members or such an officer to receive Awards. The Committee may also appoint agents who are not executive officers of the Company or members of the Board to assist in administering the Plan, provided, however, that such individuals may not be delegated the authority to grant or modify any Awards that will, or may, be settled in Shares.

3.6 Indemnification. To the maximum extent permitted by Applicable Law and to the extent not covered by insurance directly insuring such person, each officer or employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates and member or former member of the Committee or the Board shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against any cost or expense (including reasonable fees of counsel acceptable to the Committee) or liability (including any sum paid in settlement of a claim with the approval of the Committee), and advanced amounts necessary to pay the foregoing at the earliest time and to the fullest extent permitted, arising out of any act or omission to act in connection with the administration of the Plan, except to the extent arising out of such officer’s, employee’s, member’s, or former member’s own fraud or bad faith. Such indemnification shall be in addition to any right of indemnification the employees, officers, directors, or members or former officers, directors, or members may have under Applicable Law or under the by-laws of the Company or any of its Affiliates. Notwithstanding anything else herein, this indemnification will not apply to the actions or determinations made by an individual with regard to Awards granted to such individual under the Plan.

ARTICLE IV

SHARE LIMITATION

4.1 Shares. The aggregate number of Shares that may be issued or used for reference purposes or with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan shall not exceed [•] Shares (subject to any increase or decrease pursuant to this Article IV), which may be either authorized and unissued Shares or Shares held in or acquired for the treasury of the Company or

 

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both. The number of Shares that may be issued or used for reference purposes or with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan shall be subject to an annual increase on January 1 of each calendar year during the term of the Plan, equal to the lesser of (a) 4% of the aggregate number of Shares and shares of Class B common stock of the Company outstanding on the final day of the immediately preceding calendar year and (b) such smaller number of Shares as is determined by the Board. The aggregate number of Shares that may be issued or used with respect to any Incentive Stock Option shall not exceed [•] Shares (subject to any increase or decrease pursuant to Section 4.3). The maximum number of Shares subject to Awards granted during a single fiscal year to any Non-Employee Director, taken together with any cash fees paid to that Non-Employee Director during the fiscal year and the value of awards granted to the Non-Employee Director under any other equity compensation plan of the Company during the fiscal year, shall not exceed a total value of $500,000 (calculating the value of any Awards based on the grant date fair value for financial reporting purposes), provided that, for any fiscal year in which a Non-Employee Director (i) first commences service on the Board, (ii) serves on a special committee of the Board, or (iii) serves as lead director or chairman of the Board, such limit shall be $750,000. Any Award under the Plan settled in cash shall not be counted against the foregoing maximum share limitations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Shares subject to an Award under the Plan shall again be made available for issuance or delivery under the Plan if such Shares are (A) Shares tendered in payment of an Option, (B) Shares delivered or withheld by the Company to satisfy any tax withholding obligation, (C) Shares covered by a stock-settled Stock Appreciation Right or other Awards that were not issued upon the settlement of the Award, or (D) Shares subject to an Award that expires or is canceled, forfeited, or terminated without issuance of the full number of Shares to which the Award related.

4.2 Substitute Awards. In connection with an entity’s merger or consolidation with the Company or the Company’s acquisition of an entity’s property or stock, the Committee may grant Awards in substitution for any options or other stock or stock-based awards granted before such merger or consolidation by such entity or its Affiliate (“Substitute Awards”). Substitute Awards may be granted on such terms as the Committee deems appropriate, notwithstanding limitations on Awards in the Plan. Substitute Awards will not count against the overall share limit (nor shall Shares subject to a Substitute Award be added to the Shares available for Awards under the Plan as provided above), except that Shares acquired by exercise of substitute Incentive Stock Options will count against the maximum number of Shares that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options under the Plan. Additionally, in the event that a company acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary or with which the Company or any Subsidiary combines has shares available under a pre-existing plan approved by stockholders and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or combination, the shares available for grants pursuant to the terms of such pre-existing plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, using the exchange ratio or other adjustment or valuation ratio or formula used in such acquisition or combination to determine the consideration payable to the holders of common stock of the entities party to such acquisition or combination) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not reduce the Shares authorized for grant under the Plan (and Shares subject to such Awards shall not be added to the Shares available for Awards under the Plan as provided above); provided that Awards using such available shares shall not be made after the date awards or grants could have been made under the terms of the pre-existing plan, absent the acquisition or combination, and shall only be made to individuals who were not Eligible Employees or Non-Employee Directors prior to such acquisition or combination.

 

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4.3 Adjustments.

(a) The existence of the Plan and the Awards granted hereunder shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Board or the stockholders of the Company to make or authorize (i) any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization, or other change in the Company’s capital structure or its business, (ii) any merger or consolidation of the Company or any Affiliate, (iii) any issuance of bonds, debentures, or preferred or prior preference stock ahead of or affecting the Shares, (iv) the dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any Affiliate, (v) any sale or transfer of all or part of the assets or business of the Company or any Affiliate, or (vi) any other corporate act or proceeding.

(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 11.1:

(i) If the Company at any time subdivides (by any split, recapitalization, or otherwise) the outstanding Shares into a greater number of Shares, or combines (by reverse split, combination, or otherwise) its outstanding Shares into a lesser number of Shares, then the respective exercise prices for outstanding Awards that provide for a Participant-elected exercise and the number of Shares covered by outstanding Awards shall be appropriately adjusted by the Committee to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights granted to, or available for, Participants under the Plan.

(ii) Excepting transactions covered by Section 4.3(b)(i), if the Company effects any merger, consolidation, statutory exchange, spin-off, reorganization, sale or transfer of all or substantially all the Company’s assets or business, or other corporate transaction or event in such a manner that the Company’s outstanding Shares are converted into the right to receive (or the holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive in exchange therefor), either immediately or upon liquidation of the Company, securities or other property of the Company or other entity, then, subject to the provisions of Section 11.1, (A) the aggregate number or kind of securities that thereafter may be issued under the Plan, (B) the number or kind of securities or other property (including cash) to be issued pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan (including as a result of the assumption of the Plan and the obligations hereunder by a successor entity, as applicable), or (C) the exercise or purchase price thereof, shall be appropriately adjusted by the Committee to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights granted to, or available for, Participants under the Plan.

(iii) If there shall occur any change in the capital structure of the Company other than those covered by Section 4.3(b)(i) or 4.3(b)(ii), any conversion, any adjustment, or any issuance of any class of securities convertible or exercisable into, or exercisable for, any class of equity securities of the Company, then the Committee shall adjust any Award and make such other adjustments to the Plan to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights granted to, or available for, Participants under the Plan.

(iv) The Committee may adjust the Performance Goals applicable to any Awards to reflect any unusual or non-recurring events and other extraordinary items, impact of charges for restructurings, discontinued operations, and the cumulative effects of accounting or tax changes, each as defined by generally accepted accounting principles or as identified in the Company’s financial statements, notes to the financial statements, management’s discussion and analysis, or other Company public filing.

 

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(v) Any such adjustment determined by the Committee pursuant to this Section 4.3(b) shall be final, binding, and conclusive on the Company and all Participants and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and permitted assigns. Any adjustment to, or assumption or substitution of, an Award under this Section 4.3(b) shall be intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and Treasury Regulation §1.424-1 (and any amendments thereto), to the extent applicable. Except as expressly provided in this Section 4.3 or in the applicable Award Agreement, a Participant shall have no additional rights under the Plan by reason of any transaction or event described in this Section 4.3.

ARTICLE V

ELIGIBILITY

5.1 General Eligibility. All current and prospective Eligible Individuals are eligible to be granted Awards. Eligibility for the grant of Awards and actual participation in the Plan shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

5.2 Incentive Stock Options. Notwithstanding the foregoing, only Eligible Employees who are employees of the Company, its Subsidiaries, or its Parents (if any) are eligible to be granted Incentive Stock Options under the Plan. Eligibility for the grant of an Incentive Stock Option and actual participation in the Plan shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

5.3 General Requirement. The vesting and exercise of Awards granted to a prospective Eligible Individual are conditioned upon such individual actually becoming an Eligible Employee, Consultant, or Non-Employee Director, as applicable.

ARTICLE VI

STOCK OPTIONS

6.1 Options. Stock Options may be granted alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan. Each Stock Option granted under the Plan shall be of one of two types: (a) an Incentive Stock Option or (b) a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

6.2 Grants. The Committee shall have the authority to grant to any Eligible Employee one or more Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, or both types of Stock Options; provided, however, that Incentive Stock Options may only be granted to an Eligible Employee who is an employee of the Company, its Subsidiaries, or its Parents (if any). The Committee shall have the authority to grant any Consultant or Non-Employee Director one or more Non-Qualified Stock Options. To the extent that any Stock Option does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option (whether because of its provisions or the time or manner of its exercise or otherwise), such Stock Option or the portion thereof which does not so qualify shall constitute a separate Non-Qualified Stock Option.

6.3 Terms of Options. Options granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement and subject to the following terms and conditions and shall be in such form and contain such additional terms and conditions not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Committee shall deem desirable:

 

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(a) Exercise Price. The exercise price per Share subject to a Stock Option shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant, provided that the per share exercise price of a Stock Option shall not be less than 100% (or, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Stockholder, 110%) of the Fair Market Value at the time of grant.

(b) Stock Option Term. The term of each Stock Option shall be fixed by the Committee, provided that no Stock Option shall be exercisable more than ten (10) years (or, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Stockholder, five (5) years) after the date the Option is granted.

(c) Exercisability. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.3, Stock Options granted under the Plan shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant. The Committee may, but shall not be required to, provide for an acceleration of vesting and exercisability in the terms of any Award Agreement upon the occurrence of a specified event.

(d) Method of Exercise. Subject to whatever installment exercise and waiting period provisions apply under Section 6.3(c), to the extent vested, Stock Options may be exercised in whole or in part at any time during the Option term, by giving written notice of exercise (which may be electronic) to the Company specifying the number of Shares to be purchased. Such notice shall be accompanied by payment in full of the exercise price (which shall equal the product of such number of Shares to be purchased multiplied by the applicable exercise price). The exercise price for the Stock Options may be paid upon such terms and conditions as shall be established by the Committee and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, the Committee may establish payment terms for the exercise of Stock Options pursuant to which the Company may withhold a number of Shares that otherwise would be issued to the Participant in connection with the exercise of the Stock Option having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the exercise price, or that permit the Participant to deliver cash or Shares with a Fair Market Value equal to the exercise price on the date of payment, or through a simultaneous sale through a broker of Shares acquired on exercise, all as permitted by Applicable Law. No Shares shall be issued until payment therefor, as provided herein, has been made or provided for.

(e) Non-Transferability of Options. No Stock Option shall be transferable by the Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and all Stock Options shall be exercisable, during the Participant’s lifetime, only by the Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may determine, in its sole discretion, at the time of grant or thereafter that a Non-Qualified Stock Option that is otherwise not transferable pursuant to this Section is transferable to a Family Member in whole or in part and in such circumstances, and under such conditions, as specified by the Committee. A Non-Qualified Stock Option that is transferred to a Family Member pursuant to the preceding sentence (i) may not be subsequently transferred other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and (ii) remains subject to the terms of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement. Any Shares acquired upon the exercise of a Non-Qualified Stock Option by a permissible transferee of a Non-Qualified Stock Option or a permissible transferee pursuant to a transfer after the exercise of the Non-Qualified Stock Option shall be subject to the terms of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.

 

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(f) Termination by Death or Disability. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, or otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of grant or, if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, if a Participant’s Termination of Service is by reason of death or Disability, all Stock Options that are held by such Participant that are vested and exercisable at the time of the Participant’s Termination of Service may be exercised by the Participant (or in the case of the Participant’s death, by the legal representative of the Participant’s estate) at any time within a period of one (1) year from the date of such Termination of Service, but in no event beyond the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Options; provided, however, that, in the event of a Participant’s Termination of Service by reason of Disability, if the Participant dies within such exercise period, all unexercised Stock Options held by such Participant shall thereafter be exercisable, to the extent to which they were exercisable at the time of death, for a period of one (1) year from the date of such death, but in no event beyond the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Options.

(g) Involuntary Termination Without Cause. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement or otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of grant or, if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, if a Participant’s Termination of Service is by involuntary termination by the Company without Cause, all Stock Options that are held by such Participant that are vested and exercisable at the time of the Participant’s Termination of Service may be exercised by the Participant at any time within a period of ninety (90) days from the date of such Termination of Service, but in no event beyond the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Options.

(h) Voluntary Resignation. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement or otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of grant or, if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, if a Participant’s Termination of Service is voluntary (other than a voluntary termination described in Section 6.3(i) hereof), all Stock Options that are held by such Participant that are vested and exercisable at the time of the Participant’s Termination of Service may be exercised by the Participant at any time within a period of ninety (90) days from the date of such Termination of Service, but in no event beyond the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Options.

(i) Termination for Cause. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement or determined by the Committee at the time of grant or, if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, if a Participant’s Termination of Service (x) is for Cause or (y) is a voluntary Termination of Service (as provided in Section 6.3(h)) after the occurrence of an event that would be grounds for a Termination of Service for Cause, all Stock Options, whether vested or not vested, that are held by such Participant shall thereupon immediately terminate and expire as of the date of such Termination of Service.

(j) Unvested Stock Options. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement or determined by the Committee at the time of grant or, if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, Stock Options that are not vested as of the date of a Participant’s Termination of Service for any reason shall terminate and expire as of the date of such Termination of Service.

 

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(k) Incentive Stock Option Limitations. To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time of grant) of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by an Eligible Employee during any calendar year under the Plan and/or any other stock option plan of the Company, any Subsidiary, or any Parent exceeds $100,000, such Options shall be treated as Non-Qualified Stock Options. In addition, if an Eligible Employee does not remain employed by the Company, any Subsidiary, or any Parent at all times from the time an Incentive Stock Option is granted until three (3) months prior to the date of exercise thereof (or such other period as required by Applicable Law), such Stock Option shall be treated as a Non-Qualified Stock Option. Should any provision of the Plan not be necessary in order for the Stock Options to qualify as Incentive Stock Options, or should any additional provisions be required, the Committee may amend the Plan accordingly, without the necessity of obtaining the approval of the stockholders of the Company.

(l) Modification, Extension, and Renewal of Stock Options. The Committee may (i) modify, extend, or renew outstanding Stock Options granted under the Plan (provided that the rights of a Participant are not reduced without such Participant’s consent and provided, further, that such action does not subject the Stock Options to Section 409A of the Code without the consent of the Participant), and (ii) accept the surrender of outstanding Stock Options (to the extent not theretofore exercised) and authorize the granting of new Stock Options in substitution therefor (to the extent not theretofore exercised). Notwithstanding the foregoing, an outstanding Option may not be modified to reduce the exercise price thereof nor may a new Option at a lower price be substituted for a surrendered Option (other than adjustments or substitutions in accordance with Article IV), unless such action is approved by the stockholders of the Company.

(m) Other Terms and Conditions. The Committee may include a provision in an Award Agreement providing for the automatic exercise of a Non-Qualified Stock Option on a cashless basis on the last day of the term of such Option if the Participant has failed to exercise the Non-Qualified Stock Option as of such date, with respect to which the Fair Market Value of the Shares underlying the Non-Qualified Stock Option exceeds the exercise price of such Non-Qualified Stock Option on the date of expiration of such Option, subject to Section 14.4. Stock Options may contain such other provisions, which shall not be inconsistent with any of the terms of the Plan, as the Committee shall deem appropriate.

ARTICLE VII

STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

7.1 Stock Appreciation Rights. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted alone (“Free Standing Stock Appreciation Right”) or in conjunction with all or part of any Stock Option (a “Reference Stock Option”) granted under the Plan (“Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights”). In the case of a Non-Qualified Stock Option, such rights may be granted either at or after the time of the grant of such Reference Stock Option. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, such rights may be granted only at the time of the grant of such Reference Stock Option.

7.2 Terms of Stock Appreciation Rights. Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement and subject to the following terms and conditions and shall be in such form and contain such additional terms not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Committee shall deem desirable:

 

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(a) Exercise Price. The exercise price per Share subject to a Stock Appreciation Right shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant, provided that the per share exercise price of a Stock Appreciation Right shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value at the time of grant, and provided, further, that the per share exercise price of a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall not be less than the per share exercise price of the Reference Stock Option.

(b) Term. The term of each Free Standing Stock Appreciation Right shall be fixed by the Committee, but shall not be greater than ten (10) years after the date the right is granted. A Tandem Stock Appreciation Right or applicable portion thereof granted with respect to a Reference Stock Option shall terminate and no longer be exercisable upon the termination or exercise of the Reference Stock Option, except that, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, at the time of grant, a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right granted with respect to less than the full number of Shares covered by the Reference Stock Option shall not be reduced until, and then only to the extent that the exercise or termination of the Reference Stock Option causes, the number of Shares covered by the Tandem Stock Appreciation Right to exceed the number of Shares remaining available and unexercised under the Reference Stock Option.

(c) Exercisability. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, Free Standing Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan shall be exercised at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant. The Committee may, but shall not be required to, provide for an acceleration of vesting and exercisability in terms of any Award Agreement upon the occurrence of a specified event. A Tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable only at such time or times and to the extent that the Reference Stock Options to which they relate shall be exercisable in accordance with the provisions of Article VI, and shall be subject to the provisions of Section 6.3(c).

(d) Method of Exercise. Subject to whatever installment and waiting period provisions applied under Section 6.3(c), to the extent vested, a Free Standing Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised in whole or in part at any time in accordance with the applicable Award Agreement, by given written notice of exercise (which may be electronic) to the Company specifying the number of Stock Appreciation Rights being exercised. A Tandem Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised by the Participant by surrendering the applicable portion of the Reference Stock Option. Upon such exercise and surrender, the Participant shall be entitled to receive an amount determined in the manner prescribed in this Section 7.2. Stock Options which have been so surrendered, in whole or in part, shall no longer be exercisable to the extent that the related Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights have been exercised.

(e) Payment. Upon the exercise of a Free Standing Stock Appreciation Right a Participant shall be entitled to receive, for each right exercised, up to, but no more than, an amount in cash and/or Shares (as chosen by the Committee in its sole discretion) equal in value to the excess of the Fair Market Value of one (1) Share on the date that the right is exercised over the Fair Market Value of one (1) Share on the date that the right was awarded to the Participant. Upon the exercise of a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right, a Participant shall be entitled to receive up to, but no more than, an amount in cash and/or Shares (as chosen by the Committee in its sole discretion) equal in value to the excess of the Fair Market Value of one (1) Share over the Stock Option exercise price per share specified in the Reference Stock Option Award Agreement multiplied by the number of Shares in respect of which the Tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall have been exercised, with the Committee having the right to determine the form of payment.

 

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(f) Deemed Exercise of Reference Stock Option. Upon the exercise of a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right, the Reference Stock Option or part thereof to which such Stock Appreciation Right is related shall be deemed to have been exercised for the purpose of the limitation set forth in Article IV of the Plan on the number of Shares to be issued under the Plan.

(g) Termination. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at grant or, if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, subject to the provisions of the applicable Award Agreement and the Plan, upon a Participant’s Termination of Service for any reason, Free Standing Stock Appreciation Rights may remain exercisable following a Participant’s Termination of Service on the same basis as Stock Options would be exercisable following a Participant’s Termination of Service in accordance with the provisions of Sections 6.3(f) through 6.3(j).

(h) Non-Transferability. No Free Standing Stock Appreciation Rights shall not be transferable by the Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and all such rights shall be exercisable, during the Participant’s lifetime, only by the Participant. Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights shall be transferable only when and to the extent that the underlying Stock Option would be transferable under Section 6.3(e) of the Plan.

(i) Modification, Extension, and Renewal of Stock Appreciation Rights. The Committee may (i) modify, extend, or renew outstanding Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan (provided that the rights of a Participant are not reduced without such Participant’s consent and provided, further, that such action does not subject the Stock Appreciation Rights to Section 409A of the Code without the consent of the Participant), and (ii) accept the surrender of outstanding Stock Appreciation Rights (to the extent not theretofore exercised) and authorize the granting of new Stock Appreciation Rights in substitution therefor (to the extent not theretofore exercised). Notwithstanding the foregoing, an outstanding Stock Appreciation Right may not be modified to reduce the exercise price thereof nor may a new Stock Appreciation Right at a lower price be substituted for a surrendered Stock Appreciation Right (other than adjustments or substitutions in accordance with Article IV), unless such action is approved by the stockholders of the Company.

(j) Other Terms and Conditions. The Committee may include a provision in an Award Agreement providing for the automatic exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right on a cashless basis on the last day of the term of such Stock Appreciation Right if the Participant has failed to exercise the Stock Appreciation Right as of such date, with respect to which the Fair Market Value of the Shares underlying the Stock Appreciation Right exceeds the exercise price of such Stock Appreciation Right on the date of expiration of such Stock Appreciation Right, subject to Section 14.4. Stock Appreciation Rights may contain such other provisions, which shall not be inconsistent with any of the terms of the Plan, as the Committee shall deem appropriate.

ARTICLE VIII

RESTRICTED STOCK; RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

8.1 Awards of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units. Shares of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units may be granted alone or in addition to other Awards granted under

 

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the Plan. The Committee shall determine the Eligible Individuals to whom, and the time or times at which, grants of Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Stock Units shall be made, the number of shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units to be awarded, the price (if any) to be paid by the Participant (subject to Section 8.2), the time or times within which such Awards may be subject to forfeiture, the vesting schedule and rights to acceleration thereof, and all other terms and conditions of the Awards. The Committee shall determine and set forth in the Award Agreement the terms and conditions for each Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit Award, subject to the conditions and limitations contained in the Plan, including any vesting or forfeiture conditions during the applicable restriction period. The Committee may condition the grant or vesting of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units upon the attainment of specified performance targets (including the Performance Goals) or such other factor as the Committee may determine in its sole discretion.

8.2 Awards and Certificates. Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement and subject to the following terms and conditions and shall be in such form and contain such additional terms and conditions not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Committee shall deem desirable:

(a) Restricted Stock:

(i) Purchase Price. The purchase price of Restricted Stock shall be fixed by the Committee. The purchase price for shares of Restricted Stock may be zero to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, and, to the extent not so permitted, such purchase price may not be less than par value.

(ii) Legend. Each Participant receiving Restricted Stock shall be issued a stock certificate in respect of such shares of Restricted Stock, unless the Committee elects to use another system, such as book entries by the transfer agent, as evidencing ownership of shares of Restricted Stock. Such certificate shall be registered in the name of such Participant, and shall, in addition to such legends required by Applicable Law, bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock.

(iii) Custody. If stock certificates are issued in respect of shares of Restricted Stock, the Committee may require that any stock certificates evidencing such shares be held in custody by the Company until the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed, and that, as a condition of any grant of Restricted Stock, the Participant shall have delivered a duly signed stock power or other instruments of assignment (including a power of attorney), each endorsed in blank with a guarantee of signature if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Company, which would permit transfer to the Company of all or a portion of the shares subject to the Restricted Stock Award in the event that such Award is forfeited in whole or part.

(iv) Rights as a Stockholder. Except as provided in Section 8.3(a) and this Section 8.2(a) or as otherwise determined by the Committee in an Award Agreement, the Participant shall have, with respect to the shares of Restricted Stock, all of the rights of a holder of Shares, including, without limitation, the right to receive dividends, the right to vote such shares, and, subject to and conditioned upon the full vesting of shares of Restricted Stock, the right to tender such shares; provided that the Award Agreement shall specify on what terms and conditions the applicable Participant shall be entitled to dividends payable on the Shares.

 

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(v) Lapse of Restrictions. If and when the Restriction Period expires without a prior forfeiture of the Restricted Stock, the certificates for such Shares shall be delivered to the Participant. All legends shall be removed from said certificates at the time of delivery to the Participant, except as otherwise required by Applicable Law or other limitations imposed by the Committee.

(b) Restricted Stock Units:

(i) Settlement. The Committee may provide that settlement of Restricted Stock Units will occur upon or as soon as reasonably practical after the Restricted Stock Units vest or will instead be deferred, on a mandatory basis or at the Participant’s election, in a manner intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code.

(ii) Right as a Stockholder. A Participant will have no rights of a stockholder with respect to Shares subject to any Restricted Stock Unit unless and until Shares are delivered in settlement of the Restricted Stock Units.

(iii) Dividend Equivalents. If the Committee so provides, a grant of Restricted Stock Units may provide a Participant with the right to receive Dividend Equivalents. Dividend Equivalents may be paid currently or credited to an account for the Participant, settled in cash or Shares, and subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the Restricted Stock Units with respect to which the Dividend Equivalents are granted and subject to other terms and conditions as set forth in the Award Agreement.

8.3 Restrictions and Conditions.

(a) Restriction Period. (i) The Participant shall not be permitted to transfer shares of Restricted Stock awarded under the Plan or vest in Restricted Stock Units during the period or periods set by the Committee (the “Restriction Period”) commencing on the date of such Award, as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement and such agreement shall set forth a vesting schedule and any event that would accelerate vesting of the Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Stock Units. Within these limits, based on service, attainment of Performance Goals pursuant to Section 8.3(a)(ii), and/or such other factors or criteria as the Committee may determine in its sole discretion, the Committee may condition the grant or provide for the lapse of such restrictions in installments in whole or in part, or may accelerate the vesting of all or any part of any Restricted Stock Award or Restricted Stock Unit and/or waive the deferral limitations for all or any part of any Award.

(ii) If the grant of shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units or the lapse of restrictions or vesting schedule is based on the attainment of Performance Goals, the Committee shall establish the objective Performance Goals and the applicable vesting percentage applicable to each Participant or class of Participants in the applicable Award Agreement prior to the beginning of the applicable fiscal year or at such later date as otherwise determined by the Committee and while the outcome of the Performance Goals are substantially uncertain. Such Performance Goals may incorporate provisions for disregarding (or adjusting for) changes in accounting methods, corporate transactions (including, without limitation, dispositions and acquisitions), and other similar types of events or circumstances.

 

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(b) Termination. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement or determined by the Committee at grant or, if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, upon a Participant’s Termination of Service for any reason during the relevant Restriction Period, all Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units still subject to restriction will be forfeited in accordance with the terms and conditions established by the Committee at grant or thereafter.

ARTICLE IX

PERFORMANCE AWARDS

9.1 Performance Awards. The Committee may grant a Performance Award to a Participant payable upon the attainment of specific Performance Goals either alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan. The Performance Goals to be achieved during the Performance Period and the length of the Performance Period shall be determined by the Committee upon the grant of each Performance Award. The conditions for grant or vesting and the other provisions of Performance Awards (including, without limitation, any applicable Performance Goals) need not be the same with respect to each Participant. Performance Awards may be paid in cash, Shares, other property, or any combination thereof, in the sole discretion of the Committee as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

ARTICLE X

OTHER STOCK-BASED AND CASH AWARDS

10.1 Other Stock-Based Awards. The Committee is authorized to grant to Eligible Individuals Other Stock-Based Awards that are payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to Shares, including but not limited to, Shares awarded purely as a bonus and not subject to restrictions or conditions, Shares in payment of the amounts due under an incentive or performance plan sponsored or maintained by the Company, stock equivalent units, and Awards valued by reference to book value of Shares. Other Stock-Based Awards may be granted either alone or in addition to or in tandem with other Awards granted under the Plan.

Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have authority to determine the Eligible Individuals to whom, and the time or times at which, such Awards shall be made, the number of Shares to be awarded pursuant to such Awards, and all other conditions of the Awards. The Committee may also provide for the grant of Shares under such Awards upon the completion of a specified Performance Period. The Committee may condition the grant or vesting of Other Stock-Based Awards upon the attainment of specified Performance Goals as the Committee may determine, in its sole discretion.

10.2 Terms and Conditions. Other Stock-Based Awards made pursuant to this Article X shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement and subject to the following terms and conditions and shall be in such form and contain such additional terms and conditions not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Committee shall deem desirable:

(a) Non-Transferability. Subject to the applicable provisions of the Award Agreement and the Plan, Shares subject to Awards made under this Article X may not be transferred prior to the date on which the Shares are issued or, if later, the date on which any applicable restriction, performance, or deferral period lapses.

 

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(b) Dividends. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of the grant of an Award, subject to the provisions of the Award Agreement and the Plan, the recipient of an Award under this Article X shall not be entitled to receive, currently or on a deferred basis, dividends or Dividend Equivalents in respect of the number of Shares covered by the Award.

(c) Vesting. Any Award under this Article X and any Shares covered by any such Award shall vest or be forfeited to the extent so provided in the Award Agreement, as determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion.

(d) Price. Shares under this Article X may be issued for no cash consideration. Shares purchased pursuant to a purchase right awarded under this Article X shall be priced as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

10.3 Cash Awards. The Committee may from time to time grant Cash Awards to Eligible Individuals in such amounts, on such terms and conditions, and for such consideration, including no consideration or such minimum consideration as may be required by Applicable Law, as it shall determine in its sole discretion. Cash Awards may be granted subject to the satisfaction of vesting conditions or may be awarded purely as a bonus and not subject to restrictions or conditions, and if subject to vesting conditions, the Committee may accelerate the vesting of such Awards at any time in its sole discretion. The grant of a Cash Award shall not require a segregation of any of the Company’s assets for satisfaction of the Company’s payment obligation thereunder.

ARTICLE XI

CHANGE IN CONTROL PROVISIONS

11.1 Benefits. In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, and except as otherwise provided by the Committee in an Award Agreement, a Participant’s unvested Awards shall not vest automatically and a Participant’s Awards shall be treated in accordance with one or more of the following methods as determined by the Committee:

(a) Awards, whether or not then vested, shall be continued, be assumed, or have new rights substituted therefor, as determined by the Committee in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, and restrictions to which shares of Restricted Stock or any other Award granted prior to the Change in Control are subject shall not lapse upon a Change in Control and the Restricted Stock or other Award shall, where appropriate in the sole discretion of the Committee, receive the same distribution as other Shares on such terms as determined by the Committee; provided that the Committee may decide to award additional Restricted Stock or other Awards in lieu of any cash distribution. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, for purposes of Incentive Stock Options, any assumed or substituted Stock Option shall comply with the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.424-1 (and any amendment thereto).

(b) The Committee, in its sole discretion, may provide for the purchase of any Awards by the Company for an amount of cash equal to the excess (if any) of the Change in Control Price of the Shares covered by such Awards, over the aggregate exercise price of such Awards; provided, however, that if the exercise price of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right exceeds the Change in Control Price, such Award may be cancelled for no consideration.

 

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(c) The Committee may, in its sole discretion, terminate all outstanding and unexercised Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, or any Other Stock-Based Award that provides for a Participant-elected exercise, effective as of the date of the Change in Control, by delivering notice of termination to each Participant at least twenty (20) days prior to the date of consummation of the Change in Control, in which case during the period from the date on which such notice of termination is delivered to the consummation of the Change in Control, each such Participant shall have the right to exercise in full all of such Participant’s Awards that are then outstanding (without regard to any limitations on exercisability otherwise contained in the Award Agreements), but any such exercise shall be contingent on the occurrence of the Change in Control, and, provided that, if the Change in Control does not take place within a specified period after giving such notice for any reason whatsoever, the notice and exercise pursuant thereto shall be null and void.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision herein to the contrary, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide for accelerated vesting or lapse of restrictions of an Award at any time.

ARTICLE XII

TERMINATION OR AMENDMENT OF PLAN

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Board or the Committee may at any time, and from time to time, amend, in whole or in part, any or all of the provisions of the Plan (including any amendment deemed necessary to ensure that the Company may comply with any Applicable Law), or suspend or terminate it entirely, retroactively or otherwise; provided, however, that, unless otherwise required by Applicable Law or specifically provided herein, the rights of a Participant with respect to Awards granted prior to such amendment, suspension, or termination may not be impaired without the consent of such Participant and, provided, further, that without the approval of the holders of the Shares entitled to vote in accordance with Applicable Law, no amendment may be made that would (i) increase the aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan (except by operation of Article IV); (ii) change the classification of individuals eligible to receive Awards under the Plan; (iii) reduce the exercise price of any Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right; (iv) grant a new Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right, or other Award in substitution for, or upon the cancellation of, any previously granted Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right that has the effect of reducing the exercise price thereof; (v) exchange any Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right for Common Stock, cash, or other consideration when the exercise price per Share under such Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right exceeds the Fair Market Value of a Share; or (vi) take any other action that would be considered a “repricing” of a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right under the applicable listing standards of the national exchange on which the Common Stock is listed (if any). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Board or the Committee may amend the Plan or any Award Agreement at any time without a Participant’s consent to comply with Applicable Law, including Section 409A of the Code. The Committee may amend the terms of any Award theretofore granted, prospectively or retroactively, but, subject to Article IV or as otherwise specifically provided herein, no such amendment or other action by the Committee shall impair the rights of any holder without the holder’s consent.

 

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ARTICLE XIII

UNFUNDED STATUS OF PLAN

The Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan for incentive and deferred compensation. With respect to any payment as to which a Participant has a fixed and vested interest but which is not yet made to a Participant by the Company, nothing contained herein shall give any such Participant any right that is greater than those of a general unsecured creditor of the Company.

ARTICLE XIV

GENERAL PROVISIONS

14.1 Legend. The Committee may require each person receiving Shares pursuant to a Stock Option or other Award under the Plan to represent to and agree with the Company in writing that the Participant is acquiring the Shares without a view to distribution thereof. In addition to any legend required by the Plan, the certificates for such Shares may include any legend that the Committee deems appropriate to reflect any restrictions on transfer. All certificates for Shares delivered under the Plan shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which the Common Stock is then listed or any national securities exchange system upon whose system the Common Stock is then quoted, and any Applicable Law, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions. If the Shares are held in book-entry form, then the book-entry will indicate any restrictions on such Shares.

14.2 Other Plans. Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, subject to stockholder approval if such approval is required, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

14.3 No Right to Employment/Directorship/Consultancy. Neither the Plan nor the grant of any Award hereunder shall give any Participant or other employee, Consultant, or Non-Employee Director any right with respect to continuance of employment, consultancy, or directorship by the Company or any Affiliate, nor shall there be a limitation in any way on the right of the Company or any Affiliate by which an employee is employed or a Consultant or Non-Employee Director is retained to terminate such employment, consultancy, or directorship at any time.

14.4 Withholding of Taxes. A Participant shall be required to pay to the Company or one of its Affiliates, as applicable, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Company regarding the payment of, any income tax, social insurance contribution or other applicable taxes that are required to be withheld in respect of an Award. The Committee may (but is not obligated to), in its sole discretion, permit or require a Participant to satisfy all or any portion of the applicable taxes that are required to be withheld with respect to an Award by (a) the delivery of Shares (which are not subject to any pledge or other security interest) that have been both held by the Participant and vested for

 

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at least six (6) months (or such other period as established from time to time by the Committee in order to avoid adverse accounting treatment under applicable accounting standards) having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to such withholding liability (or portion thereof); (b) having the Company withhold from the Shares otherwise issuable or deliverable to, or that would otherwise be retained by, the Participant upon the grant, exercise, vesting, or settlement of the Award, as applicable, a number of Shares with an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such withholding liability; or (c) by any other means specified in the applicable Award Agreement or otherwise determined by the Committee.

14.5 Fractional Shares. No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan. The Committee shall determine whether cash, additional Awards, or other securities or property shall be used or paid in lieu of fractional Shares or whether any fractional shares should be rounded, forfeited, or otherwise eliminated.

14.6 No Assignment of Benefits. No Award or other benefit payable under the Plan shall, except as otherwise specifically provided by law or permitted by the Committee, be transferable in any manner, and any attempt to transfer any such benefit shall be void, and any such benefit shall not in any manner be liable for or subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities, engagements, or torts of any person who shall be entitled to such benefit, nor shall it be subject to attachment or legal process for or against such person.

14.7 Clawback Provisions. All Awards (including any proceeds, gains, or other economic benefit the Participant actually or constructively receives upon receipt or exercise of any Award or the receipt or resale of any Shares underlying the Award) will be subject to any Company clawback policy, including any clawback policy adopted to comply with Applicable Law (including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder) as set forth in such clawback policy or the Award Agreement.

14.8 Listing and Other Conditions.

(a) Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, as long as the Common Stock is listed on a national securities exchange or system sponsored by a national securities association, the issuance of Shares pursuant to an Award shall be conditioned upon such Shares being listed on such exchange or system. The Company shall have no obligation to issue such Shares unless and until such Shares are so listed, and the right to exercise any Option or other Award with respect to such Shares shall be suspended until such listing has been effected.

(b) If at any time counsel to the Company shall be of the opinion that any sale or delivery of Shares pursuant to an Award is or may in the circumstances be unlawful or result in the imposition of excise taxes on the Company under Applicable Law, the Company shall have no obligation to make such sale or delivery, or to make any application or to effect or to maintain any qualification or registration under the Securities Act or otherwise, with respect to Shares or Awards, and the right to exercise any Option or other Award shall be suspended until, in the opinion of said counsel, such sale or delivery shall be lawful or will not result in the imposition of excise taxes on the Company.

 

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(c) Upon termination of any period of suspension under this Section 14.8, any Award affected by such suspension which shall not then have expired or terminated shall be reinstated as to all Shares available before such suspension and as to Shares which would otherwise have become available during the period of such suspension, but no such suspension shall extend the term of any Award.

(d) A Participant shall be required to supply the Company with certificates, representations, and information that the Company requests and otherwise cooperate with the Company in obtaining any listing, registration, qualification, exemption, consent, or approval the Company deems necessary or appropriate.

14.9 Governing Law. The Plan and actions taken in connection herewith shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to principles of conflict of laws.

14.10 Construction. Wherever any words are used in the Plan in the masculine gender they shall be construed as though they were also used in the feminine gender in all cases where they would so apply, and wherever words are used herein in the singular form they shall be construed as though they were also used in the plural form in all cases where they would so apply.

14.11 Other Benefits. No Award granted or paid out under the Plan shall be deemed compensation for purposes of computing benefits under any retirement plan of the Company or its Affiliates or affect any benefit or compensation under any other plan now or subsequently in effect under which the availability or amount of benefits is related to the level of compensation.

14.12 Costs. The Company shall bear all expenses associated with administering the Plan, including expenses of issuing Shares pursuant to Awards hereunder.

14.13 No Right to Same Benefits. The provisions of Awards need not be the same with respect to each Participant, and such Awards to individual Participants need not be the same in subsequent years.

14.14 Death/Disability. The Committee may in its discretion require the transferee of a Participant to supply it with written notice of the Participant’s death or Disability and to supply it with a copy of the will (in the case of the Participant’s death) or such other evidence as the Committee deems necessary to establish the validity of the transfer of an Award. The Committee may also require the agreement of the transferee to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of the Plan.

14.15 Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. It is the intent of the Company that the Plan satisfy, and be interpreted in a manner that satisfies, the applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3 as promulgated under Section 16 of the Exchange Act so that Participants will be entitled to the benefit of Rule 16b-3, or any other rule promulgated under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, and will not be subject to short-swing liability under Section 16 of the Exchange Act. Accordingly, if the operation of any provision of the Plan would conflict with the intent expressed in this Section 14.15, such provision to the extent possible shall be interpreted and/or deemed amended so as to avoid such conflict.

 

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14.16 Deferral of Awards. The Committee may establish one or more programs under the Plan to permit selected Participants the opportunity to elect to defer receipt of consideration upon exercise of an Award, satisfaction of performance criteria, or other event that absent the election would entitle the Participant to payment or receipt of Shares or other consideration under an Award. The Committee may establish the election procedures, the timing of such elections, the mechanisms for payments of, and accrual of interest or other earnings, if any, on amounts, Shares, or other consideration so deferred, and such other terms, conditions, rules, and procedures that the Committee deems advisable for the administration of any such deferral program.

14.17 Section 409A of the Code. The Plan and Awards are intended to comply with or be exempt from the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code and shall be limited, construed, and interpreted in accordance with such intent. To the extent that any Award is subject to Section 409A of the Code, it shall be paid in a manner that will comply with Section 409A of the Code, including proposed, temporary, or final regulations or any other guidance issued by the Secretary of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service with respect thereto. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any provision in the Plan that is inconsistent with Section 409A of the Code shall be deemed to be amended to comply with or be exempt from Section 409A of the Code and, to the extent such provision cannot be amended to comply therewith or be exempt therefrom, such provision shall be null and void. The Company shall have no liability to a Participant, or any other party, if an Award that is intended to be exempt from, or compliant with, Section 409A of the Code is not so exempt or compliant or for any action taken by the Committee or the Company and, in the event that any amount or benefit under the Plan becomes subject to penalties under Section 409A of the Code, responsibility for payment of such penalties shall rest solely with the affected Participants and not with the Company. Notwithstanding any contrary provision in the Plan or Award Agreement, any payment(s) of “nonqualified deferred compensation” (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) that are otherwise required to be made under the Plan to a “specified employee” (as defined under Section 409A of the Code) as a result of such employee’s separation from service (other than a payment that is not subject to Section 409A of the Code) shall be delayed for the first six (6) months following such separation from service (or, if earlier, until the date of death of the specified employee) and shall instead be paid (in a manner set forth in the Award Agreement) upon expiration of such delay period.

14.18 Successor and Assigns. The Plan shall be binding on all successors and permitted assigns of a Participant, including, without limitation, the estate of such Participant and the executor, administrator, or trustee of such estate.

14.19 Severability of Provisions. If any provision of the Plan shall be held invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions hereof, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if such provisions had not been included.

14.20 Headings and Captions. The headings and captions herein are provided for reference and convenience only, shall not be considered part of the Plan, and shall not be employed in the construction of the Plan.

 

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ARTICLE XV

EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN

The Plan shall become effective on [•], 2020, which is the date of its adoption by the Board, subject to the approval of the Plan by the stockholders of the Company in accordance with the requirements of the laws of the State of Delaware.

ARTICLE XVI

TERM OF PLAN

No Award shall be granted pursuant to the Plan on or after the tenth (10th) anniversary of the earlier of the date that the Plan is adopted or the date of stockholder approval, but Awards granted prior to such tenth (10th) anniversary may extend beyond that date.

 

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Exhibit 10.8

TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

BY AND AMONG

MARAVAI LIFESCIENCES HOLDINGS, INC.,

CERTAIN OTHER PERSONS NAMED HEREIN,

AND

THE AGENT

DATED AS OF [•], 2020

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

				Page
RECITALS					1
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS					2
Section 1.1		Definitions			2
Section 1.2		Other Definitional and Interpretative Provisions			10
ARTICLE II DETERMINATION OF CERTAIN REALIZED TAX BENEFITS					10
Section 2.1		Exchange Schedule			10
Section 2.2		NOL Schedule			10
Section 2.3		Tax Benefit Schedule			11
Section 2.4		Procedure: Amendments			12
ARTICLE III TAX BENEFIT PAYMENTS					13
Section 3.1		Payments			13
Section 3.2		No Duplicative Payments			13
Section 3.3		Coordination of Benefits.			13
ARTICLE IV TERMINATION					14
Section 4.1		Early Termination by the Corporation			14
Section 4.2		Early Termination upon Change of Control			14
Section 4.3		Breach of Agreement			15
Section 4.4		Early Termination Notice			15
Section 4.5		Payment upon Early Termination			16
ARTICLE V SUBORDINATION AND LATE PAYMENTS					16
Section 5.1		Subordination			16
Section 5.2		Late Payments by the Corporation			16
ARTICLE VI					17
PARTICIPATION IN TAX MATTERS; CONSISTENCY; COOPERATION					17
Section 6.1		Participation in the Corporation’s Tax Matters			17
Section 6.2		Consistency			17
Section 6.3		Cooperation			17
ARTICLE VII MISCELLANEOUS					18
Section 7.1		Notices			18
Section 7.2		Counterparts			18
Section 7.3		Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries			19
Section 7.4		Governing Law			19
Section 7.5		Severability			19
Section 7.6		Successors: Assignment			19

 

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Section 7.7		Amendments: Waivers			20
Section 7.8		Titles and Subtitles			20
Section 7.9		Reconciliation			20
Section 7.10		Consent to Jurisdiction			21
Section 7.11		Waiver of Jury Trial			21
Section 7.12		Withholding			21
Section 7.13		Admission of the Corporation into a Consolidated Group; Transfers of Corporate Assets			21
Section 7.14		Confidentiality			22
Section 7.15		No Similar Agreements			23
Section 7.16		Change in Law			23

 

 

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TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

This TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of [•], 2020 is hereby entered into by and among Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), Maravai Topco Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), Maravai Life Sciences Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“MLSH 1”), Maravai Life Sciences Holdings 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“MLSH 2”), and the Agent.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, prior to the date hereof, the TRA Holders held, directly or indirectly through one or more subsidiaries classified as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes, limited liability company interests (“Units”) in the Company, which is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

WHEREAS, the Corporation is the managing member of the Company;

WHEREAS, following the date hereof, the Corporation will issue shares of its Class A Common Stock, to certain purchasers in an initial public offering of its Class A Common Stock (the “IPO” and the date on which the IPO is consummated is referred to herein as the “Closing Date”);

WHEREAS, on the Closing Date, the Corporation will purchase Common Units (i) directly from the Company and (ii) from MLSH 1, in each case, using proceeds of the IPO (collectively, the “Purchase”);

WHEREAS, from and after the closing of the IPO, under certain circumstances, the member of the Company (other than the Corporation) may exchange its Units together with its shares of Class B Common Stock of the Corporation for a Cash Payment and/or Class A Common Stock (each such transaction an “Exchange”) pursuant to the terms of the Exchange Agreement and as a result of such Exchanges, the Corporation is expected to obtain or be entitled to certain Tax benefits as further described herein;

WHEREAS, the Company and each of its direct and indirect Subsidiaries that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes will have in effect an election under Section 754 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and any corresponding provisions of state and local Tax law for the Taxable Year that includes the Closing Date and each Taxable Year in which an Exchange (as defined below) occurs, which election is expected to result, with respect to the Corporation, in an adjustment to the Tax basis of the assets owned by the Company and such Subsidiaries in connection with the Purchase and each Exchange;

WHEREAS, each of NCP III Maravai Blocker Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Newstone Blocker”), and GTCR/Maravai Blocker Corp., a Delaware corporation (“GTCR Blocker”) (the Newstone Blocker and the GTCR Blocker, together, the “Blockers”), are taxable as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, immediately prior to the Reorganization Transactions (as defined below), are wholly owned by MLSH 2;

WHEREAS, MLSH 2 will enter into certain reorganization transactions with the Corporation in connection with the Blocker Mergers (the “Reorganization Transactions”), and as a result of such transactions the Corporation will succeed to certain Tax attributes of the Blockers as further described herein; and

WHEREAS, this Agreement is intended to set forth the agreements among the parties hereto regarding the sharing of the Tax benefits realized by the Corporation as a result of (i) the Purchase, (ii) the Exchanges, (iii) the Reorganization Transactions and (iv) certain of the payments made pursuant to this Agreement.

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

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

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

“Accrued Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b).

“Actual Tax Liability” means, with respect to any Taxable Year, the actual liability for Taxes of (i) the Corporation and (ii) without duplication, the Company, but only with respect to Taxes imposed on the taxable income of the Company that is allocable to the Corporation (or to the other members of the consolidated group of which the Corporation is a member for such Taxable Year).

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

“Agent” means MLSH 1 or such other Person designated as such pursuant to Section 7.6.

“Agreed Rate” means a per annum rate of LIBOR plus 100 basis points.

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

“Amended Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(b).

“Assumed State and Local Tax Rate” means the tax rate equal to the sum of the product of (x) the Company’s income and franchise Tax apportionment rate(s) for each state and local jurisdiction in which the Company files income or franchise Tax Returns for the relevant Taxable Year and (y) the highest corporate income and franchise Tax rate(s) for each such state and local jurisdiction in which the Company files income or franchise Tax Returns for each relevant Taxable Year; provided, that the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate calculated pursuant

 

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to the foregoing shall be reduced by the assumed federal income Tax benefit received by the Corporation with respect to state and local jurisdiction income and franchise Taxes (with such benefit calculated as the product of (a) the Corporation’s marginal U.S. federal income tax rate for the relevant Taxable Year and (b) the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate (without regard to this proviso)).

“Basis Adjustment” means any adjustment to the Tax basis of a Reference Asset as a result of (i) the Purchase or (ii) an Exchange and the payments made pursuant to this Agreement with respect to the Purchase or such Exchange (as calculated under Section 2.1), including, but not limited to:

(i) under Sections 734(b), 743(b), 754 and 755 of the Code (in situations where, following an Exchange, the Company remains classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes); and

(ii) under Sections 732(b), 734(b) and 1012 of the Code and, without duplication, as a result of any basis adjustment to which the Company succeeds, including pursuant to proposed Treasury Regulations Section 1.743-1(f) and any subsequent similar guidance and comparable sections of U.S. state and local income and franchise tax law (in situations where, as a result of one or more Exchanges, the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries becomes an entity that is disregarded as separate from its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes), and in each case, comparable sections of state and local Tax laws.

For the avoidance of doubt, (X) the amount of any Basis Adjustment resulting from an Exchange of Exchangeable Units shall be determined without regard to any Section 743(b) adjustment attributable to such Exchangeable Units prior to such Exchange and (Y) payments made under this Agreement shall not be treated as resulting in a Basis Adjustment to the extent such payments are (a) made to MLSH 2 or (b) treated as Imputed Interest.

“Beneficial Owner” means, with respect to a security, a Person who directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares:

(i) voting power, which includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of, such security and/or

(ii) investment power, which includes the power to dispose of, or to direct the disposition of, such security.

The terms “Beneficially Own” and “Beneficial Ownership” shall have correlative meanings.

“Blocker Mergers” means those certain merger transactions to be consummated on the date hereof which will result in each of the Blockers merging with and into the Corporation, in each case with the Corporation remaining as the surviving corporation.

“Blocker NOLs” means the net operating losses, capital losses, disallowed interest expense carryforwards under Section 163(j) of the Code and credit carryforwards of the Blockers relating to taxable periods ending on or prior to the Closing Date.

 

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“Blockers” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

“Board” means the board of directors of the Corporation.

“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which the banks in New York are authorized by law to be closed.

“Cash Payment” has the meaning set forth in the Exchange Agreement.

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

(i) any “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) of the Exchange Act (excluding any “person” or “group” who, on the Closing Date, is the Beneficial Owner of securities of the Corporation representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Corporation’s then outstanding voting securities)) becomes the Beneficial Owner of securities of the Corporation representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Corporation’s then outstanding voting securities;

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

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

(iv) the following individuals cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the number of directors of the Corporation then serving: individuals who were directors of the Corporation on the Closing Date or any new director whose appointment or election to the Board or nomination for election by the Corporation’s shareholders was approved or recommended by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors of the Corporation on the Closing Date or whose appointment, election or nomination for election was previously so approved or recommended by the directors referred to in this clause (iv).

 

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

“Change of Control Date” means the date on which a Change of Control occurs.

“Class A Common Stock” has the meaning set forth in the LLC Agreement.

“Class B Common Stock” has the meaning set forth in the LLC Agreement.

“Closing Date Basis” means, immediately prior to the Purchase, the Tax basis of any Reference Asset that is goodwill or any other intangible asset that is amortizable under Section 197 of the Code, including, for the avoidance of doubt, any adjustments in the Tax basis of such Reference Assets.

“Code” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

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

“Control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. The term “Controlled” shall have a correlative meaning.

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

“Corporation Letter” means a letter prepared by the Corporation in connection with the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, which states that the relevant Schedules, notices or other information to be provided by the Corporation to the Agent, along with all supporting schedules and work papers, were prepared in a manner that is consistent with the terms of this Agreement and, to the extent not expressly provided in this Agreement, on a reasonable basis in light of the facts and law in existence on the date such Schedules, notices or other information were delivered by the Corporation to the Agent. Such letter shall identify any material assumptions or operating procedures or principles that were used for purposes of the underlying calculations.

“Corporation Return” means the U.S. federal and/or state and local Tax Return of the Corporation (including any consolidated group of which the Corporation is a member, as further described in Section 7.13(a)) filed with respect to any Taxable Year.

“Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit” for a Taxable Year means the cumulative amount (but not less than zero) of Realized Tax Benefits for all Taxable Years of the Corporation, up to and including such Taxable Year, net of the cumulative amount of Realized Tax Detriments for the same period. The Realized Tax Benefit and Realized Tax Detriment for each Taxable Year shall be determined based on the most recent Tax Benefit Schedule or Amended Schedule, if any, in existence at the time of such determination.

“Default Rate” means a per annum rate of LIBOR plus 500 basis points.

 

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

“Disputing Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.9.

“Early Termination” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.

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

“Early Termination Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4.

“Early Termination Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4.

“Early Termination Payment” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.5(b).

“Early Termination Rate” means a per annum rate of LIBOR plus 100 basis points.

“Early Termination Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4.

“Exchange” has the meaning set forth in the recitals in the Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, this definition shall include any Exchange occurring in connection with a Change of Control.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

“Exchange Agreement” means that certain Exchange Agreement, to be dated as of the Closing Date, 2020, by and among the Corporation, MLSH 1, the Company and the other parties thereto.

“Exchange Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.

“Exchangeable Unit” has the meaning set forth in the Exchange Agreement.

“Expert” means a “Big 4” accounting firm not disqualified by conflicts or independence analysis or such nationally recognized expert in the particular area of disagreement as is mutually acceptable to both parties.

“GTCR Blocker” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

“Hypothetical Tax Liability” means, with respect to any Taxable Year, (x) the liability for Taxes of the Corporation and, without duplication, the Company, but only with respect to Taxes of the Company allocable to the Corporation or to the other members of the consolidated group of which the Corporation is a member for such Taxable Year (in each case, using the same methods, elections, conventions, and similar practices used on the relevant Corporation Return), but without taking into account (i) any Basis Adjustments, (ii) any Blocker NOLs, (iii) any Closing Date Basis and (iv) any deduction attributable to Imputed Interest for the Taxable Year. The

 

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Hypothetical Tax Liability shall be determined (A) without taking into account the carryover or carryback of any Tax item (or portions thereof) that is attributable to any Basis Adjustments, Blocker NOLs, the Closing Date Basis, and Imputed Interest, (B) using the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate, solely for purposes of calculating the state and local Hypothetical Tax Liability of the Corporation and (C), to the extent not addressed in clause (B) of this sentence, using reasonable estimation methodologies for calculating the portion of any of the foregoing items attributable to U.S. state or local Taxes.

“ICE LIBOR” has the meaning set forth below under “LIBOR.”

“Imputed Interest” means any interest imputed under Section 1272, 1274 or 483 or other provision of the Code and any similar provision of any state and local Tax law with respect to the Corporation’s payment obligations under this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, Imputed Interest shall not include any Accrued Amount.

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

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

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

“LLC Agreement” means the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, to be dated as of the Closing Date, as the same may be amended, amended and restated or replaced from time to time.

“Material Objection Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4.

“MLSH 1” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

“MLSH 2” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Net Tax Benefit” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b).

“Newstone Blocker” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

“NOL Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.

“Objection Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a).

“Payment Date” means any date on which a payment is required to be made pursuant to this Agreement.

 

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

“Purchase” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

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

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

“Reconciliation Dispute” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.9.

“Reconciliation Procedures” means the procedures described in Section 7.9.

“Reference Asset” means any asset that is held by the Company, or any of its direct or indirect Subsidiaries that is treated as a partnership or disregarded entity for purposes of the applicable Tax (but only to the extent such Subsidiaries are not held through any entity treated as a corporation for purposes of the applicable Tax), immediately prior to the Purchase or at the time of an Exchange, as applicable. A Reference Asset also includes any asset that is “substituted basis property” under Section 7701(a)(42) of the Code with respect to a Reference Asset.

“Reorganization Transactions” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

“Schedule” means any of the following: (i) an Exchange Schedule, (ii) a Tax Benefit Schedule, (iii) an NOL Schedule or (iv) the Early Termination Schedule.

“Senior Obligations” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1.

“Subsidiaries” means, with respect to any Person, as of any date of determination, any other Person as to which such Person, owns, directly or indirectly, or otherwise controls more than 50% of the voting power or other similar interests or the sole general partner interest or managing member or similar interest of such Person.

“Tax Benefit Payment” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b).

“Tax Benefit Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a).

“Tax Proceeding” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1.

 

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

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

“Taxes” means any and all U.S. federal, state and local taxes, assessments or similar charges that are based on or measured with respect to net income or profits, and any interest related to such Tax.

“Taxing Authority” means any federal, national, state, county or municipal or other local government, any subdivision, agency, commission or authority thereof, or any quasi-governmental body exercising any taxing authority or any other authority exercising Tax regulatory authority.

“TRA Holders” means MLSH 1, MLSH 2 and each of their respective successors and permitted assigns pursuant to Section 7.6.

“Treasury Regulations” means the final, temporary and proposed regulations under the Code promulgated from time to time (including corresponding provisions and succeeding provisions) as in effect for the relevant Taxable Year.

“Units” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

“Valuation Assumptions” means, as of an Early Termination Date, the assumptions that (i) in each Taxable Year ending on or after such Early Termination Date, the Corporation will have taxable income sufficient to fully utilize the deductions arising from all Basis Adjustments, Blocker NOLs, the Closing Date Basis, and the Imputed Interest during such Taxable Year or future Taxable Years (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Basis Adjustments and Imputed Interest that would result from future Tax Benefit Payments that would be paid in accordance with the Valuation Assumptions, further assuming such future Tax Benefit Payments would be paid on the due date, without extensions, for filing the Corporation Return for the applicable Taxable Year) in which such deductions would become available, (ii) any loss or credit carryovers generated by deductions or losses arising from any Basis Adjustment, Blocker NOLs, the Closing Date Basis or Imputed Interest that are available in the Taxable Year that includes the Early Termination Date and any Blocker NOLs that have not been previously utilized in determining a Tax Benefit Payment as of the Early Termination Date, will be utilized by the Corporation in the earliest possible Taxable Year permitted by the Code and the Treasury Regulations (iii) the U.S. federal income tax rates that will be in effect for each Taxable Year ending on or after such Early Termination Date will be those specified for each such Taxable Year by the Code and the tax rates for U.S. state and local income taxes shall be the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate, in each case as in effect on the Early Termination Date, except to the extent any change to such tax rates for such Taxable Years have already been enacted into law; (iv) any non-amortizable Reference Assets

 

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to which any Basis Adjustment is attributable will be disposed of for cash at their fair market value in a fully taxable transaction for Tax purposes on the later of (A) the fifteenth anniversary of the Exchange which gave rise to such Basis Adjustment and (B) the Early Termination Date, and (v) if, at the Early Termination Date, there are Exchangeable Units that have not been transferred in an Exchange, then all Exchangeable Units and (if applicable) shares of Class B Common Stock shall be deemed to be transferred in an Exchange effective on the Early Termination Date.

Section 1.2 Other Definitional and Interpretative Provisions. The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of like import used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. References to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules are to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules of this Agreement unless otherwise specified. All Exhibits and Schedules annexed hereto or referred to herein are hereby incorporated in and made a part of this Agreement as if set forth in full herein. Any capitalized terms used in any Exhibit or Schedule but not otherwise defined therein, shall have the meaning as defined in this Agreement. Any singular term in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the plural, and any plural term the singular. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation,” whether or not they are in fact followed by those words or words of like import. “Writing,” “written” and comparable terms refer to printing, typing and other means of reproducing words (including electronic media) in a visible form. References to any agreement or contract are to that agreement or contract as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof. References to any Person include the successors and permitted assigns of that Person. References from or through any date mean, unless otherwise specified, from and including or through and including, respectively.

ARTICLE II

DETERMINATION OF CERTAIN REALIZED TAX BENEFITS

Section 2.1 Exchange Schedule. Within ninety (90) calendar days after the extended due date of the U.S. federal Corporation Return for each Taxable Year in which any Exchange has been effected by a TRA Holder, the Corporation shall deliver to the Agent a schedule (the “Exchange Schedule”) that shows, in reasonable detail necessary to perform the calculations required by this Agreement, including with respect to each TRA Holder participating in any Exchange during such Taxable Year, (i) the Basis Adjustments with respect to the Reference Assets as a result of the Exchanges effected by such TRA Holder in such Taxable Year and (ii) the period (or periods) over which such Basis Adjustments are amortizable and/or depreciable.

Section 2.2 NOL Schedule. Within ninety (90) calendar days after the extended due date of the U.S. federal Corporation Return for the Taxable Year that includes the Closing Date, the Corporation shall deliver to the Agent a schedule (the “NOL Schedule”) that shows, in reasonable detail necessary to perform the calculations required by this Agreement, (i) the Blocker NOLs attributable to the Blockers as of the Closing Date and (ii) any applicable limitations on the use of the Blocker NOLs for Tax purposes (including under Section 382 of the Code).

 

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Section 2.3 Tax Benefit Schedule.

(a) Tax Benefit Schedule. Within ninety (90) calendar days after the extended due date of the U.S. federal Corporation Return for any Taxable Year in which there is a Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment, the Corporation shall provide to the Agent: (i) a schedule showing, in reasonable detail, (A) the calculation of the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year, (B) the portion of the Net Tax Benefit, if any, that is allocable to each TRA Holder, (C) the Accrued Amount with respect to any such Net Tax Benefit that is allocable to such TRA Holder, (D) the Tax Benefit Payment determined pursuant to Section 3.1(b) due to each such TRA Holder, and (E) the portion of such Tax Benefit Payment that the Corporation intends to treat as Imputed Interest (a “Tax Benefit Schedule”), (ii) a reasonably detailed calculation by the Corporation of the Hypothetical Tax Liability (the “without” calculation), (iii) a reasonably detailed calculation by the Corporation of the Actual Tax Liability (the “with” calculation), (iv) a copy of the Corporation Return for such Taxable Year, (v) a Corporation Letter supporting such Tax Benefit Schedule and (vi) any other work papers reasonably requested by the Agent. In addition, the Corporation shall allow the Agent reasonable access at no cost to the appropriate representatives of the Corporation in connection with a review of such Tax Benefit Schedule. The Tax Benefit Schedule will become final as provided in Section 2.4(a) and may be amended as provided in Section 2.4(b) (subject to the procedures set forth in Section 2.4(b)).

(b) Applicable Principles. The Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for each Taxable Year is intended to measure the decrease or increase in the Corporation’s actual liability for Taxes for such Taxable Year that is attributable to the Basis Adjustments, the Blocker NOLs, the Closing Date Basis, and Imputed Interest, determined using a “with and without” methodology. For the avoidance of doubt, (i) such actual liability for Taxes will take into account the deduction of the portion of the Tax Benefit Payment that must be accounted for as interest under the Code based upon the characterization of Tax Benefit Payments as additional consideration payable by the Corporation, and (ii) in addition to using the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate for purposes of determining the state and local Hypothetical Tax Liability, the Corporation may use reasonable estimation methodologies for calculating the portion of any Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment attributable to U.S. state or local Taxes. For purposes of calculating the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for any Taxable Year, carryforwards or carrybacks of any Tax item (such as a net operating loss) attributable to the Basis Adjustments, the Blocker NOLs, the Closing Date Basis, and Imputed Interest shall be considered to be subject to the rules of the Code and the Treasury Regulations and the corresponding provisions of state and local Tax laws, as applicable, governing the use, limitation, and expiration of carryforwards or carrybacks of the relevant type. If a carryforward or carryback of any Tax item includes a portion that is attributable to the Basis Adjustment, the Blocker NOLs, the Closing Date Basis, or Imputed Interest (a “TRA Portion”) and another portion that is not so attributable (a “Non-TRA Portion”), such respective portions shall be considered to be used in accordance with the “with and without” methodology so that: (i) the amount of any Non-TRA Portion is deemed utilized first, followed by the amount of any TRA Portion; and (ii) in the case of a carryback of a Non-TRA Portion, such carryback shall not affect the original “with and without” calculation made in the applicable prior Taxable Year. For the avoidance of doubt, the TRA Portion of any Tax item when such item is incurred shall be determined using a marginal “with and without” methodology by calculating (i) the amount of such Tax item for all Tax purposes taking into account the Basis Adjustments, the Closing Date Basis, the Blocker NOLs and Imputed Interest and (ii) the amount of such Tax item for all Tax purposes without taking into account the Basis Adjustments, the

 

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Closing Date Basis, the Blocker NOLs or Imputed Interest, with the TRA Portion equal to the excess of the amount specified in clause (i) over the amount specified in clause (ii) (but only if such excess is greater than zero). The parties agree that (i) any payment under this Agreement to MLSH 1 (or its successors or assigns), including the Accrued Amount (other than amounts accounted for as Imputed Interest) will be treated as a subsequent upward adjustment to the purchase price of the relevant Exchangeable Units and will have the effect of creating additional Basis Adjustments to Reference Assets for the Corporation in the year of payment, and (ii) as a result, such additional Basis Adjustments will be incorporated into the calculation for the year of payment and into future year calculations, as appropriate.

Section 2.4 Procedure: Amendments.

(a) An applicable Schedule or amendment thereto shall become final and binding on all parties thirty (30) calendar days from the first date on which the Agent has received the applicable Schedule or amendment thereto unless (i) the Agent, within thirty (30) calendar days after receiving an applicable Schedule or amendment thereto, provides the Corporation with notice of a material objection to such Schedule (“Objection Notice”) made in good faith or (ii) the Agent provides a written waiver of such right of any Objection Notice within the period described in clause (i) above, in which case such Schedule or amendment thereto becomes binding on the date a waiver from the Agent has been received by the Corporation. If the Corporation and Agent, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve the issues raised in an Objection Notice within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt by the Corporation of such Objection Notice, the Corporation and Agent shall employ the Reconciliation Procedures under Section 7.9.

(b) The applicable Schedule for any Taxable Year may be amended from time to time by the Corporation (i) in connection with a Determination affecting such Schedule, (ii) to correct inaccuracies in the Schedule identified as a result of the receipt of additional factual information relating to a Taxable Year after the date the Schedule was provided to the Agent, (iii) to comply with the Expert’s determination under the Reconciliation Procedures, (iv) to reflect a change in the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year attributable to a carryback or carryforward of a loss or other Tax item to such Taxable Year, (v) to reflect a change in the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year attributable to an amended Corporation Return filed for such Taxable Year or (vi) to adjust an Exchange Schedule to take into account payments made pursuant to this Agreement (any such Schedule, an “Amended Schedule”). Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Agent, the Corporation shall provide an Amended Schedule to the Agent (A) within sixty (60) calendar days of the occurrence of an event referenced in clauses (i) through (v) of the preceding sentence and (B) in connection with the delivery of the Tax Benefit Schedule for the year of the applicable payment in the event of an adjustment pursuant to clause (vi) of the preceding sentence. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event a Schedule is amended after such Schedule becomes final pursuant to Section 2.4(a), the Amended Schedule shall not be taken into account in calculating any Tax Benefit Payment in the Taxable Year to which the amendment relates but instead shall be taken into account in calculating the Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit for the Taxable Year in which the amendment actually occurs.

 

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ARTICLE III

TAX BENEFIT PAYMENTS

Section 3.1 Payments.

(a) Within five (5) calendar days after a Tax Benefit Schedule delivered to the Agent becomes final in accordance with Section 2.4(a), the Corporation shall pay to each TRA Holder the Tax Benefit Payment for such Taxable Year in the percentages set forth on Schedule A, which such schedule may be updated by the Corporation with the written consent of the Agent after the day hereof. Each such payment shall be made by check, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the bank account previously designated by the TRA Holder to the Corporation, or as otherwise agreed by the Corporation and the TRA Holder. For the avoidance of doubt, no Tax Benefit Payment shall be made in respect of estimated Tax payments, including, without limitation, U.S. federal or state estimated income Tax payments.

(b) A “Tax Benefit Payment” for a Taxable Year means an amount, not less than zero, equal to the sum of the Net Tax Benefit and the Accrued Amount with respect thereto for such Taxable Year. Subject to Section 3.3 the “Net Tax Benefit” for a Taxable Year shall be an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (i) 85% of the Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit as of the end of such Taxable Year over (ii) the total amount of payments previously made under this Section 3.1 (excluding payments attributable to Accrued Amounts); provided, for the avoidance of doubt, that no TRA Holder shall be required to return any portion of any previously made Tax Benefit Payment. The “Accrued Amount” with respect to any portion of a Net Tax Benefit shall equal an amount determined in the same manner as interest on such portion of the Net Tax Benefit for a Taxable Year calculated at the Agreed Rate from the due date (without extensions) for filing the Corporation Return for such Taxable Year until the Payment Date. For the avoidance of doubt, for Tax purposes, the Accrued Amount shall not be treated as interest but shall instead be treated as additional consideration for the acquisition of Exchangeable Units in an Exchange or the stock of the Blockers in the Reorganization Transactions (as applicable) unless otherwise required by law. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, unless otherwise specified by a TRA Holder in the Exchange Notice for any Exchange, the aggregate Tax Benefit Payments attributable to any Closing Date Basis and Basis Adjustments in respect of such Exchange (other than amounts accounted for as interest under the Code) shall not exceed [•]% of the fair market value of the consideration received on such Exchange.

Section 3.2 No Duplicative Payments. It is intended that the provisions of this Agreement will not result in duplicative payment of any amount (including interest) required under this Agreement. It is also intended that the provisions of this Agreement will result in 85% of the Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit, and the Accrued Amount thereon, being paid to the TRA Holders. The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed in the appropriate manner to achieve these fundamental results.

Section 3.3 Coordination of Benefits.

(a) If for any reason the Corporation does not fully satisfy its payment obligations to make all Tax Benefit Payments due under this Agreement in respect of a particular Taxable Year, then (i) the Corporation will pay the same proportion of each Tax Benefit Payment due to each TRA Holder in respect of such Taxable Year, without favoring one obligation over the other, and (ii) no Tax Benefit Payment shall be made in respect of any Taxable Year until all Tax Benefit Payments in respect of prior Taxable Years have been made in full.

 

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(b) To the extent the Corporation makes a payment to a TRA Holder in respect of a particular Taxable Year under Section 3.1(a) (taking into account Section 3.3(a) and (b), but excluding payments attributable to Accrued Amounts) in an amount in excess of the amount of such payment that should have been made to such TRA Holder in respect of such Taxable Year, then (i) such TRA Holder shall not receive further payments under Section 3.1(a) until such TRA Holder has foregone an amount of payments equal to such excess and (ii) the Corporation will pay the amount of such TRA Holder’s foregone payments to the other Persons to whom a payment is due under this Agreement in a manner such that each such Person to whom a payment is due under this Agreement, to the maximum extent possible, receives aggregate payments under Section 3.1(a) (taking into account Section 3.3(a) and this Section 3.3(b), but excluding payments attributable to Accrued Amounts) in the amount it would have received if there had been no excess payment to such TRA Holder.

ARTICLE IV

TERMINATION

Section 4.1 Early Termination by the Corporation. With the written approval of a majority of its independent directors, the Corporation may terminate this Agreement at any time by paying to each TRA Holder the Early Termination Payment due to such TRA Holder pursuant to Section 4.5(b), provided, however, that this Agreement shall only terminate upon the receipt of the Early Termination Payment by the TRA Holders (such termination, an “Early Termination”). Upon payment of the Early Termination Payment by the Corporation, the Corporation shall not have any further payment obligations under this Agreement, other than for any (i) Tax Benefit Payment previously due and payable but unpaid as of the Early Termination Notice and (ii) any Tax Benefit Payment due for any Taxable Year ending prior to, with or including the Early Termination Date (except to the extent that the amount described in clause (ii) is included in the Early Termination Payment).

Section 4.2 Early Termination upon Change of Control. In the event of a Change of Control, all obligations hereunder shall be accelerated and such obligations shall be calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the Change of Control Date and shall include, but not be limited to the following: (a) payment of the Early Termination Payment calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on such Change of Control Date, (b) payment of any Tax Benefit Payment in respect of a TRA Holder agreed to by the Corporation and such TRA Holder as due and payable but unpaid as of the Early Termination Notice, and (c) payment of any Tax Benefit Payment due for any Taxable Year ending prior to, with or including such Change of Control Date (except to the extent that the amount described in clause (c) is included in the Early Termination Payment). In the event of a Change of Control, the Early Termination Payment shall be calculated utilizing the Valuation Assumptions and by substituting in each case the term “Change of Control Date” for the term “Early Termination Date.”

 

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Section 4.3 Breach of Agreement.

(a) In the event that the Corporation breaches any of its material obligations under this Agreement, whether as a result of failure to make any payment when due, as a result of failure to honor any other material obligation required hereunder or by operation of law as a result of the rejection of this Agreement in a case commenced under the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise, then, unless otherwise waived in writing by a majority of the TRA Holders, such breach shall be treated as an Early Termination and all obligations hereunder shall be accelerated and such obligations shall be calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the date of such breach and shall include, but shall not be limited to, (i) the Early Termination Payment calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the date of a breach, (ii) any Tax Benefit Payment previously due and payable but unpaid as of the date of the breach, and (iii) any Tax Benefit Payment due for any Taxable Year ending prior to, with or including the date of the breach (except to the extent that the amount described in clause (iii) is included in the Early Termination Payment). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Corporation breaches any of its material obligations under this Agreement, a majority of the TRA Holders shall be entitled to elect to receive the amounts set forth in clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) above or to seek specific performance of the terms hereof.

(b) The parties agree that the failure to make any payment due pursuant to this Agreement within three (3) months of the date such payment is due shall be deemed to be a breach of a material obligation under this Agreement for all purposes of this Agreement, and that it shall not be considered to be a breach of a material obligation under this Agreement to make a payment due pursuant to this Agreement within three (3) months of the date such payment is due. The Corporation shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain sufficient available funds for the purpose of making required payments under this Agreement and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to avoid entering into credit agreements that could be reasonably anticipated to materially delay the timing of any payments under this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, it shall not be a breach of this Agreement if the Corporation fails to make any payment due pursuant to this Agreement as a result of and to the extent the Corporation has insufficient funds to make such payment; provided that the interest provisions of Section 5.2 shall apply to such late payment (unless the Corporation does not have sufficient cash to make such payment as a result of limitations imposed by debt agreements to which the Corporation or its Subsidiaries is a party, in which case Section 5.2 shall apply, but the Default Rate shall be replaced by the Agreed Rate); provided, further, that the Corporation shall promptly (and in any event, within two (2) Business Days), pay all such unpaid payments, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, immediately following such time that the Corporation has, and to the extent the Corporation has, sufficient funds to make such payment, and the failure of the Corporation to do so shall constitute a breach of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, all cash and cash equivalents used or to be used to pay dividends by, or repurchase equity securities of, the Corporation shall be deemed to be funds sufficient and available to pay such unpaid payments, together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon.

Section 4.4 Early Termination Notice. If the Corporation chooses to exercise its right of early termination under Section 4.1, the Corporation shall deliver to the Agent notice of such intention to exercise such right (the “Early Termination Notice”). Upon delivery of the Early Termination Notice or the occurrence of an event described in Section 4.2 or Section 4.3(a), the Corporation shall deliver (i) a schedule showing in reasonable detail the calculation of the Early

 

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Termination Payment (the “Early Termination Schedule”) and (ii) any other work papers reasonably requested by the Agent. In addition, the Corporation shall allow the Agent reasonable access at no cost to the appropriate representatives of the Corporation in connection with a review of such Early Termination Schedule. The Early Termination Schedule shall become final and binding on all parties thirty (30) calendar days from the first date on which the Agent has received such Schedule or amendment thereto unless (x) the Agent, within thirty (30) calendar days after receiving the Early Termination Schedule, provides the Corporation and each other Agent with notice of a material objection to such Schedule made in good faith (“Material Objection Notice”) or (y) the Agent provides a written waiver of such right of a Material Objection Notice within the period described in clause (x) above, in which case such Schedule becomes binding on the date a waiver from the Agent has been received by the Corporation (the “Early Termination Effective Date”). If the Corporation and Agent, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve the issues raised in such notice within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt by the Corporation of the Material Objection Notice, the Corporation and Agent shall employ the Reconciliation Procedures under Section 7.9.

Section 4.5 Payment upon Early Termination.

(a) Within three (3) calendar days after the Early Termination Effective Date, the Corporation shall pay to each TRA Holder its Early Termination Payment. Each such payment shall be made by check, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account or accounts designated by the TRA Holder, or as otherwise agreed by the Corporation and the TRA Holder.

(b) The “Early Termination Payment” shall equal, with respect to each TRA Holder, the present value, discounted at the Early Termination Rate as of the Early Termination Date, of all Tax Benefit Payments that would be required to be paid by the Corporation to such TRA Holder beginning from the Early Termination Date and assuming that the Valuation Assumptions are applied.

ARTICLE V

SUBORDINATION AND LATE PAYMENTS

Section 5.1 Subordination. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any Tax Benefit Payment, Early Termination Payment or any other payment required to be made by the Corporation to any TRA Holder under this Agreement shall rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to any principal, interest or other amounts due and payable in respect of any obligations in respect of indebtedness for borrowed money of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries (such obligations, “Senior Obligations”) and shall rank pari passu with all current or future unsecured obligations of the Corporation that are not Senior Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding the above, the determination of whether it is a breach of this Agreement if the Corporation fails to make any Tax Benefit Payment when due is governed by Section 4.3(a).

Section 5.2 Late Payments by the Corporation. The amount of all or any portion of any Tax Benefit Payment, Early Termination Payment or any other payment under this Agreement not made to any TRA Holder when due under the terms of this Agreement shall be payable together with any interest thereon, computed at the Default Rate (or, if so provided in Section 4.3(a), at the Agreed Rate) and commencing from the date on which such Tax Benefit Payment, Early Termination Payment or any other payment under this Agreement was due and payable.

 

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ARTICLE VI

PARTICIPATION IN TAX MATTERS; CONSISTENCY; COOPERATION

Section 6.1 Participation in the Corporation’s Tax Matters. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Corporation shall have full responsibility for, and sole discretion over, all Tax matters concerning the Corporation, including without limitation preparing, filing or amending any Tax Return and defending, contesting or settling any issue pertaining to Taxes of the Corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation (i) shall notify the Agent of, and keep the Agent reasonably informed with respect to, the portion of any audit, examination, or any other administrative or judicial proceeding (a “Tax Proceeding”) of the Corporation by a Taxing Authority the outcome of which is reasonably expected to affect the rights and obligations of the TRA Holders under this Agreement, (ii) shall provide the Agent with reasonable opportunity to provide information and other input to the Corporation and its advisors concerning the conduct of any such portion of a Tax Proceeding, and (iii) shall not enter into any settlement with respect to any such portion of a Tax Proceeding that could have a material effect on the TRA Holders’ rights (including the right to receive payments) under this Agreement without the written consent of the Agent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed; provided, however, that the Corporation shall not be required to take any action, or refrain from taking any action, that is inconsistent with any provision of the LLC Agreement; provided, further, that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Corporation shall prepare, file, and/or amend all Tax Returns in accordance with applicable law (including with respect to the calculation of taxable income and any calculations required to be made under this Agreement) and nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the Agent or any TRA Holder from disputing such Tax matters in accordance with Section 7.9.

Section 6.2 Consistency. The Corporation and the TRA Holders agree to report and cause to be reported for all purposes, including U.S. federal, state and local Tax purposes and financial reporting purposes, all Tax-related items (including, without limitation, the Basis Adjustments, Imputed Interest, and each Tax Benefit Payment), but, for financial reporting purposes, only in respect of items that are not explicitly characterized as “deemed” or in a similar manner by the terms of this Agreement, in a manner consistent with that set forth in any Schedule required to be provided by or on behalf of the Corporation under this Agreement, as finally determined pursuant to Section 2.4 unless otherwise required by applicable law. If the Corporation and any TRA Holder, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve any disagreement concerning such treatment within thirty (30) calendar days, the Corporation and such TRA Holder shall employ the Reconciliation Procedures under Section 7.9.

Section 6.3 Cooperation. Each TRA Holder shall (i) furnish to the Corporation in a timely manner such information, documents and other materials as the Corporation may reasonably request for purposes of making any determination or computation necessary or appropriate under this Agreement, preparing any Tax Return or contesting or defending any Tax Proceeding, (ii) make itself available to the Corporation and its representatives to provide explanations of documents and materials and such other information as the Corporation or its representatives may reasonably request in connection with any of the matters described in clause (i) above, and (iii) reasonably cooperate in connection with any such matter. The Corporation shall reimburse the TRA Holder for any reasonable third-party costs and expenses incurred pursuant to this Section 6.3.

 

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ARTICLE VII

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 7.1 Notices. All notices, demands or other communications to be given or delivered under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given or made when (a) delivered personally to the recipient, (b) delivered by means of electronic mail (with hard copy sent to the recipient by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid) that same day) if emailed before 5:00 p.m. Phoenix, Arizona time on a Business Day, and otherwise on the next Business Day, or (c) one (1) Business Day after being sent to the recipient by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid). All notices hereunder shall be delivered as set forth below, or pursuant to such other instructions as may be designated in writing by the party to receive such notice:

If to the Corporation or the Company, to:

Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc.

Wateridge Circle Suite 200

San Diego, CA 92121

Attention:

E-mail:

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

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

North LaSalle

Chicago, IL 60654

Attention:

E-mail:

If to a TRA Holder other than the Agent, to the address set forth in the records of the Company.

Any party may change its address or fax number by giving the other party written notice of its new address or fax number in the manner set forth above.

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

 

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Section 7.3 Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in Section 3.3.

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

Section 7.5 Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any law or public policy, all other terms and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

Section 7.6 Successors: Assignment. Each party agrees that each TRA Holder may assign, sell, transfer, delegate, or otherwise dispose of, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, or by operation of law, any right or obligation under this Agreement. Any purported assignment, transfer, or delegation in violation of this Section shall be null and void. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors and assigns. Except for those enumerated above, this Agreement does not create, and shall not be construed as creating, any rights or claims enforceable by any person or entity not a party to this Agreement. To the extent Units are transferred in accordance with the terms of the LLC Agreement, the transferring TRA Holder shall have the option to assign to the transferee of such Units the transferring TRA Holder’s rights under this Agreement as long as such transferee has executed and delivered, or, in connection with such transfer, executes and delivers, a joinder to this Agreement agreeing to become a “TRA Holder” for all purposes of this Agreement, and any and all payments payable or that may become payable to a TRA Holder pursuant to this Agreement that, once an Exchange has occurred, arise with respect to the Exchangeable Units transferred in such Exchange, may be assigned to any Person or Persons as long as any such Person has executed and delivered, or, in connection with such assignment, executes and delivers, a joinder to this Agreement agreeing to be bound by Section 7.14. For the avoidance of doubt, if a TRA Holder transfers Units but does not assign to the transferee of such Units such TRA Holder’s rights under this Agreement with respect to such transferred Units, such TRA Holder shall continue to be entitled to receive the Tax Benefit Payments arising in respect of a subsequent Exchange of such Units.

 

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Section 7.7 Amendments: Waivers. No provision of this Agreement may be amended unless such amendment is approved in writing by each of the Corporation and by TRA Holders who would be entitled to receive more than fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate amount of the Early Termination Payments payable to all TRA Holders hereunder if the Corporation had exercised its right of Early Termination on the date of the most recent Exchange prior to such amendment (excluding, for purposes of this sentence, all payments made to any TRA Holder pursuant to this Agreement since the date of such most recent Exchange); provided, however, that no such amendment shall be effective if such amendment would have a disproportionate effect on the payments certain TRA Holders will or may receive under this Agreement unless all such disproportionately affected TRA Holders consent in writing to such amendment.

Section 7.8 Titles and Subtitles. The titles of the sections and subsections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not to be considered in construing this Agreement.

Section 7.9 Reconciliation. In the event that the Corporation and the Agent or any TRA Holder (as applicable, the “Disputing Party”) are unable to resolve a disagreement with respect to the calculations required to produce the schedules described in Section 2.4, Section 4.4 and Section 6.2 within the relevant period designated in this Agreement (“Reconciliation Dispute”), the Reconciliation Dispute shall be submitted for determination to the Expert. The Expert shall be a partner or principal in a nationally recognized accounting or law firm, and unless the Corporation and the Disputing Party agree otherwise, the Expert shall not, and the firm that employs the Expert shall not, have any material relationship with the Corporation or the Disputing Party or other actual or potential conflict of interest. If the parties are unable to agree on an Expert within fifteen (15) calendar days of receipt by the respondents of written notice of a Reconciliation Dispute, the Expert shall be appointed by the International Chamber of Commerce Centre for Expertise. The Expert shall resolve (a) any matter relating to the Exchange Schedule or an amendment thereto or the Early Termination Schedule or an amendment thereto within thirty (30) calendar days, (b) any matter relating to a Tax Benefit Schedule or an amendment thereto within fifteen (15) calendar days, and (c) any matter related to treatment of any tax-related item as contemplated in Section 6.2 within fifteen (15) calendar days or, in each case, as soon thereafter as is reasonably practicable after such matter has been submitted to the Expert for resolution. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if the matter is not resolved before any payment that is the subject of a disagreement would be due (in the absence of such disagreement) or any Tax Return reflecting the subject of a disagreement is due, any portion of such payment that is not under dispute shall be paid on the date prescribed by this Agreement and such Tax Return may be filed as prepared by the Corporation, subject to adjustment or amendment upon resolution. The costs and expenses relating to the engagement of such Expert or amending any Tax Return shall be borne by the Corporation except as provided in the next sentence. The Corporation and the Disputing Party shall each bear its own costs and expenses of such proceeding, unless (i) the Expert adopts such Disputing Party’s position, in which case the Corporation shall reimburse such Disputing Party for any reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses in such proceeding, or (ii) the Expert adopts the Corporation’s position, in which case such Disputing Party shall reimburse the Corporation for any reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses in such proceeding. Any dispute as to whether a dispute is a Reconciliation Dispute within the meaning of this Section 7.9 shall be decided by the Expert. The Expert shall finally determine any Reconciliation Dispute and the determinations of the Expert pursuant to this Section 7.9 shall be binding on the Corporation and its Subsidiaries and the Disputing Party and may be entered and enforced in any court having jurisdiction.

 

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Section 7.10 Consent to Jurisdiction. Each party hereto irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the State of Delaware and the state courts of the State of Delaware for the purposes of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby. Each party hereto further agrees that service of any process, summons, notice or document by United States certified or registered mail (in each such case, prepaid return receipt requested) to such party’s respective address set forth in the Company’s books and records or such other address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party shall be effective service of process in any action, suit or proceeding in Delaware with respect to any matters to which it has submitted to jurisdiction as set forth above in the immediately preceding sentence. Each party hereto irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any action, suit or proceeding arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in the United States District Court for the State of Delaware or the state courts of the State of Delaware and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action, suit or proceeding brought in such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

Section 7.11 Waiver of Jury Trial. Because disputes arising in connection with complex transactions are most quickly and economically resolved by an experienced and expert person and the parties wish applicable state and federal laws to apply (rather than arbitration rules), the parties desire that their disputes be resolved by a judge applying such applicable laws. Therefore, to achieve the best combination of the benefits of the judicial system and of arbitration. Each party to this agreement (including the Company) hereby waives all rights to trial by jury in any action or proceeding brought to resolve any dispute between or among any of the parties hereto. Whether arising in contract, tort, or otherwise, arising out of, connected with, related or incidental to this agreement. The transactions contemplated hereby and/or the relationships established among the parties hereunder.

Section 7.12 Withholding. The Corporation shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any payment payable pursuant to this Agreement such amounts as the Corporation is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the Code or any provision of U.S. federal, state, local or non-U.S. Tax law. To the extent that amounts are so withheld and paid over to the appropriate Taxing Authority by the Corporation, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the relevant TRA Holder.

Section 7.13 Admission of the Corporation into a Consolidated Group; Transfers of Corporate Assets.

(a) If the Corporation becomes a member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined, or unitary group of corporations that files a consolidated, combined, or unitary income Tax Return pursuant to Sections 1501 et seq. of the Code or any corresponding provisions of U.S. state or local Tax law, or would be eligible to become a member of such a group at the election of one or members of that group, then, subject to the application of the Valuation Assumptions upon a Change of Control: (i) the provisions of this Agreement shall be applied with respect to the group as a whole; and (ii) Tax Benefit Payments, Early Termination Payments and other applicable items hereunder shall be computed with reference to the consolidated taxable income of the group as a whole.

 

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(b) If any entity that is obligated to make a Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment hereunder or the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company transfers one or more assets to a corporation (or a Person classified as a corporation for Tax purposes) with which the Corporation does not file a consolidated Tax Return pursuant to Section 1501 of the Code or any provisions of state or local Tax law, such entity, for purposes of calculating the amount of any Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment (e.g., calculating the gross income of the entity and determining the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment of such entity) due hereunder, shall be treated as having disposed of such asset in a fully taxable transaction on the date of such contribution. The consideration deemed to be received by such entity shall be equal to the fair market value of the contributed asset. Thus, for example, in determining the Hypothetical Tax Liability of the entity, the taxable income of the entity shall be determined by treating the entity as having sold the asset for its fair market value, recovering any basis applicable to such asset (using the Tax basis that such asset would have had at such time if no Basis Adjustments had been made), while the Actual Tax Liability of the entity would be determined by recovering the actual Tax basis of the asset that reflects any Basis Adjustments. For purposes of this Section 7.13, a transfer of a partnership interest shall be treated as a transfer of the transferring partner’s share of each of the assets and liabilities of that partnership. If any entity that is obligated to make a Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment hereunder or the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company transfers one or more assets to a partnership (or a Person classified as a partnership for Tax purposes), the principles of this Section 7.13(b) and this Agreement shall govern the treatment of such transfer and any subsequent allocations of income, gain, loss or deductions from such partnership to such entity.

Section 7.14 Confidentiality.

(a) The Agent, each TRA Holder and each of the TRA Holder’s assignees acknowledges and agrees that the information of the Corporation is confidential and, except in the course of performing any duties as necessary for the Corporation and its Affiliates, as required by law or legal process or to enforce the terms of this Agreement, such person shall keep and retain in the strictest confidence and not disclose to any Person any confidential matters, acquired pursuant to this Agreement, of the Corporation and its Affiliates and successors, concerning the Company and its Affiliates and successors or the TRA Holders, earned by the Agent or any TRA Holder heretofore or hereafter. This Section 7.14 shall not apply to (i) any information that has been made publicly available by the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, becomes public knowledge (except as a result of an act of the Agent or a TRA Holder in violation of this Agreement) or is generally known to the business community and (ii) the disclosure of information (A) as may be proper in the course of performing such TRA Holder’s obligations, or monitoring or enforcing such TRA Holder’s rights, under this Agreement, (B) as part of such TRA Holder’s normal reporting, rating or review procedure (including normal credit rating and pricing process), or in connection with such TRA Holder’s or such TRA Holder’s Affiliates’ normal fund raising, marketing, informational or reporting activities, or to such TRA Holder’s (or any of its Affiliates’) Affiliates, auditors, accountants, attorneys or other agents, (C) to any bona fide prospective assignee of such TRA Holder’s rights under this Agreement, or prospective merger or other business combination partner of such TRA Holder, provided that such assignee or merger partner agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Section 7.14. (D) as is required to be disclosed by order of a court of competent jurisdiction, administrative body or governmental body, or by subpoena, summons or legal process, or by law, rule or regulation; provided that any TRA Holder

 

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required to make any such disclosure to the extent legally permissible shall provide the Corporation prompt notice of such disclosure, or to regulatory authorities or similar examiners conducting regulatory reviews or examinations (without any such notice to the Corporation), or (E) to the extent necessary for a TRA Holder to prepare and file its Tax Returns, to respond to any inquiries regarding such Tax Returns from any Taxing Authority or to prosecute or defend any Tax Proceeding with respect to such Tax Returns. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Agent (and each employee, representative or other agent of Agent or its assignees, as applicable) and each TRA Holder and each of its assignees (and each employee, representative or other agent of such TRA Holder or its assignees, as applicable) may disclose to any and all Persons, without limitation of any kind, the Tax treatment and Tax structure of the Corporation, the Company, the Agent, the TRA Holders and their Affiliates, and any of their transactions, and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other Tax analyses) that are provided to the Agent or the TRA Holder relating to such Tax treatment and Tax structure.

(b) If the Agent or an assignee or a TRA Holder or an assignee commits a breach, or threatens to commit a breach, of any of the provisions of this Section 7.14 the Corporation shall have the right and remedy to have the provisions of this Section 7.14 specifically enforced by injunctive relief or otherwise by any court of competent jurisdiction without the need to post any bond or other security, it being acknowledged and agreed that any such breach or threatened breach shall cause irreparable injury to the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries or the TRA Holders and the accounts and funds managed by the Corporation and that money damages alone shall not provide an adequate remedy to such Persons. Such rights and remedies shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights and remedies available at law or in equity.

Section 7.15 No Similar Agreements. Neither the Corporation nor any of its Subsidiaries shall enter into any additional agreement providing rights similar to this Agreement to any Person (including any agreement pursuant to which the Corporation is obligated to pay amounts with respect to tax benefits resulting from any net operating losses or other tax attributes to which the Corporation becomes entitled as a result of a transaction) without the prior written consent of the TRA Holders who would be entitled to receive more than fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate amount of the Early Termination Payments payable to all TRA Holders hereunder if the Corporation had exercised its right of early termination on the date of the most recent Exchange (excluding, for purposes of this sentence, all payments made to any TRA Holder pursuant to this Agreement since the date of such most recent Exchange).

Section 7.16 Change in Law. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if, in connection with an actual or proposed change in law, a TRA Holder reasonably believes that the existence of this Agreement could cause income (other than income arising from receipt of a payment under this Agreement) recognized by such TRA Holder upon any Exchange to be treated as ordinary income rather than capital gain (or otherwise taxed at ordinary income rates) for U.S. federal income and all applicable state and local Tax purposes or would have other material adverse Tax consequences to the TRA Holder and/or its direct or indirect owners, then at the election of the TRA Holder and to the extent specified by the TRA Holder, this Agreement (i) shall cease to have further effect with respect to such TRA Holder, (ii) shall not apply to an Exchange by the TRA Holder occurring after a date specified by it, or (iii) shall otherwise be amended in a manner determined by the TRA Holder to waive any benefits to which such TRA Holder would otherwise be entitled under this Agreement, provided that such amendment shall not result in an increase in or acceleration of payments under this Agreement at any time as compared to the amounts and times of payments that would have been due in the absence of such amendment.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation, the Company, the Agent, and the TRA Holders have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

Signature Page to the Tax Receivable Agreement

Schedule A

Holders and Outstanding Units

MLSH 1 - [•]%

MLSH 2 - [•]%

Exhibit 10.9

EXCHANGE AGREEMENT

This EXCHANGE AGREEMENT (as it may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, this “Agreement”), dated as of [●], 2020 and effective as of immediately prior to the consummation of the IPO (as defined below) (the “Effective Time”), is made by and among Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), Maravai Topco Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), and Maravai Life Sciences Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Member”).

WHEREAS, in connection with the initial public offering of the Corporation’s Class A Common Stock (the “IPO”), the Corporation intends to consummate the transactions described in the Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (Registration No. 333-249733);

WHEREAS, immediately following the IPO, the Member owns the number of Common Units and shares of Class B Common Stock set forth on Exhibit A hereto; and

WHEREAS, the parties to this Agreement desire to provide for the exchange of Exchangeable Units together with shares of Class B Common Stock for shares of Class A Common Stock, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and undertakings contained herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

Section 1.1 Definitions.

As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings:

“Affiliate” has the meaning set forth in the LLC Agreement.

“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which the banks in New York, New York or San Diego, California are authorized by law to be closed.

“Cash Payment” means, an amount in cash equal to the product of (x) the Exchanged Unit Amount, (y) the then-applicable Exchange Rate, and (z) (i) solely in connection with a Change of Control Exchange, the Class A Common Stock Value, and (ii) with respect to any Exchange that is not a Change of Control Exchange, the price to the public or the private sale price, as applicable, of the Corporation’s Class A Common Stock in the substantially concurrent public offering or private sale, as applicable.

“Change of Control” has the meaning set forth in the Tax Receivable Agreement.

“Change of Control Exchange” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b)(i).

“Change of Control Exchange Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b)(iii).

“Class A Common Stock” means the Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation.

 

“Class A Common Stock Value” means, with respect to any Change of Control Exchange, the greater of (x) the arithmetic average of the volume weighted average prices for a share of Class A Common Stock on the principal U.S. securities exchange or automated or electronic quotation system on which the Class A Common Stock trades, as reported by Bloomberg, L.P., or its successor, for each of the three (3) consecutive full Trading Days ending on and including the last full Trading Day immediately prior to the related Exchange Date, subject to appropriate and equitable adjustment for any stock splits, reverse splits, stock dividends or similar events affecting the Class A Common Stock and (y) the price per share of Class A Common Stock offered by the Person or group that is the acquirer in the applicable Change of Control transaction. If the Class A Common Stock no longer trades on a securities exchange or automated or electronic quotation system, then the Class A Common Stock Value shall be determined in good faith by a majority of the directors of the Corporation that do not have an interest in the Exchangeable Units and shares of Class B Common Stock being Exchanged.

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

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

“Common Unit” has the meaning set forth in the LLC Agreement.

“Contribution Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a)(iv).

“Corporation” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

“Effective Time” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

“Exchange” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a)(i).

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

“Exchange Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a)(iii).

“Exchange Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a)(iii).

“Exchange Rate” means the number of shares of Class A Common Stock for which one Common Unit is entitled to be Exchanged. The Exchange Rate will also be used to determine the number of shares of Class B Common Stock that the Member must surrender upon an Exchange. On the date of this Agreement, the Exchange Rate shall be 1.00, subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 2.2.

“Exchangeable Unit” means a Common Unit held by the Member.

“Exchanged Unit Amount” means, with respect to an Exchange, the number of Common Units set forth in the applicable Exchange Notice.

“First Exchange Time” means the expiration or earlier waiver of any lockup agreement relating to the IPO.

“IPO” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

“Liens” means any and all liens, charges, security interests, options, claims, mortgages, pledges, proxies, voting trusts or agreements, obligations, understandings or arrangements, or other restrictions on title or transfer of any nature whatsoever.

 

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“LLC Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company dated as of the date hereof, as the same may be amended, amended and restated or replaced from time to time.

“Manager” has the meaning set forth in the LLC Agreement.

“Member” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

“Permitted Transferee” has the meaning set forth in the LLC Agreement.

“Person” means 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.

“Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement by and among the Corporation and the other parties thereto, dated as of the date hereof, as the same may be amended, amended and restated or replaced from time to time.

“Retraction Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a)(vi).

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or business entity of which (i) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, or (ii) if a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity (other than a corporation), a majority of partnership or other similar ownership interests thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof. For purposes hereof and without limitation, a Person or Persons shall be deemed to have a majority ownership interest in a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity (other than a corporation) if such Person or Persons shall be allocated a majority of limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity gains or losses or shall be or control the manager, managing member, managing director (or a board comprised of any of the foregoing) or general partner of such limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity. For purposes hereof, references to a “Subsidiary” of any Person shall be given effect only at such times that such Person has one or more Subsidiaries.

“Takeover Laws” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.

“Tax Receivable Agreement” means that certain Tax Receivable Agreement, dated on or about the date hereof, among the Corporation, the Company and the other parties thereto, as the same may be amended, amended and restated or replaced from time to time.

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

 

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“Voting Securities” means any equity securities of the Corporation that are entitled to vote generally in matters submitted for a vote of the Corporation’s stockholders or generally in the election of the Corporation’s Board of Directors.

ARTICLE II

Section 2.1 Exchange of Common Units.

(a) Elective Exchanges.

(i) From and after the First Exchange Time, the Member shall be entitled, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereof and the LLC Agreement, to surrender Exchangeable Units and a corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock after taking into account the Exchange Rate (in each case, free and clear of all Liens) to the Corporation in exchange for the delivery to the Member (or its designee) of either, at the option of the Corporation, (x) a number of shares of Class A Common Stock that is equal to the product of the applicable Exchanged Unit Amount multiplied by the Exchange Rate or (y) solely in connection with an Exchange (including a Change of Control Exchange) that coincides with a substantially concurrent public offering or private sale of Class A Common Stock, the applicable Cash Payment. Any exchange of Exchangeable Units and Class B Common Stock for Class A Common Stock or the Cash Payment, as applicable, is defined herein as an “Exchange.” Subject to Section 2.1(a)(ii), after the First Exchange Time the Member may Exchange Exchangeable Units at any time and from time to time. The minimum number of Exchangeable Units (and corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock after taking into account the Exchange Rate) that may be exchanged by the Member shall be the lesser of (A) [●] Common Units and (B) all of the Exchangeable Units (and corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock after taking into account the Exchange Rate) then held by the Member and its Affiliates, except that such minimum shall not apply if such Exchange is in connection with the exercise of any incidental registration rights pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, neither the Corporation nor the Company shall effectuate a Cash Payment pursuant to this Section 2.1(a) or Section 2.1(b) unless (A) the Corporation determines to consummate a private sale or public offering of Class A Common Stock on, or not later than five (5) Business Days after, the relevant Exchange Date and (B) the Corporation contributes sufficient proceeds from such private sale or public offering to the Company for payment by the Company of the applicable Cash Payment. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall have no obligation to make a Cash Payment that exceeds the cash contributed to the Company by the Corporation from the Corporation’s offering or sales of Class A Common Stock referenced earlier in this Section 2.1(a)(i).

(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Member shall not be entitled to effectuate an Exchange of Exchangeable Units (and a corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock after taking into account the Exchange Rate) as set forth in this Section 2.1(a), and the Corporation and Company shall have the right to refuse to honor any request for such an Exchange, if at any time the Corporation or the Company determines based on the advice of counsel that such Exchange (1) would be prohibited by law or regulation (including, without limitation, the unavailability of a registration of such Exchange under the Securities Act, or an exemption from the registration requirements thereof) or (2) would not be permitted under any agreement with the Corporation, the Company or any of their Subsidiaries to which the Member is party (including, without limitation, the LLC Agreement). Upon such determination, the Corporation or the Company (as applicable) shall notify the Member, which such notice shall include an explanation in reasonable detail as to the reason that the Exchange has not been honored.

 

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(iii) The Member shall exercise its right to effectuate an Exchange of Exchangeable Units, and a corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock after taking into account the Exchange Rate, as set forth in this Section 2.1(a) by delivering to the Company, with a contemporaneous copy delivered to the Corporation, during normal business hours, (A) a written election of exchange in respect of the Exchangeable Units to be exchanged substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto (an “Exchange Notice”), duly executed by the Member, (B) any certificates in the Member’s possession representing such Exchangeable Units, (C) any stock certificates in the Member’s possession representing such shares of Class B Common Stock and (D) if the Corporation, the Company or any exchanging Subsidiary requires the delivery of the certification contemplated by Section 2.4(b), such certification or written notice from the Member that it is unable to provide such certification. Unless the Member timely has delivered a Retraction Notice pursuant to Section 2.1(a)(vi), an Exchange pursuant to this Section 2.1(a) shall be effected on the fifth Business Day following the Business Day on which the Corporation and the Company have received the items specified in clauses (A)-(D) of the first sentence of this Section 2.1(a)(iii) or such later date that is a Business Day specified in the Exchange Notice (such Business Day, the “Exchange Date”); provided, that the Company may establish alternate exchange procedures as necessary in order to facilitate the establishment by the Member of a trading plan meeting the requirements of Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act. On the Exchange Date, all rights of the Member as a holder of the Exchangeable Units and shares of Class B Common Stock that are subject to the Exchange shall cease, and unless the Corporation has elected Cash Payment, the Member (or its designee) shall be treated for all purposes as having become the record holder of the shares of Class A Common Stock to be received by the Member in respect of such Exchange.

(iv) Within two (2) Business Days following the Business Day on which the Corporation and the Company have received the Exchange Notice, the Corporation shall give written notice (the “Contribution Notice”) to the Company (with a copy to the Member) of its intended settlement method; provided that if the Corporation does not timely deliver a Contribution Notice, the Corporation shall be deemed to have not elected the Cash Payment method.

(v) The Member may specify, in an applicable Exchange Notice, that the Exchange is to be contingent (including as to timing) upon the occurrence of any transaction or event, including the consummation of a purchase by another Person (whether in a tender or exchange offer, an underwritten offering, Change of Control transaction or otherwise) of shares of Class A Common Stock or any merger, consolidation or other business combination.

(vi) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Member may withdraw or amend its Exchange Notice, in whole or in part, at any time prior to 5:00 p.m. San Diego, California time, on the Business Day immediately prior to the Exchange Date by giving written notice (a “Retraction Notice”) to the Company (with a copy to the Corporation) specifying (A) the number of withdrawn Exchangeable Units (and corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock after taking into account the Exchange Rate), (B) the number of Exchangeable Units (and corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock after taking into account the Exchange Rate) as to which the Exchange Notice remains in effect, if any, and (C) if the Member so determines, a new Exchange Date or any other new or revised information permitted in the Exchange Notice.

(b) Change of Control. In connection with a Change of Control, and subject to any approval of the Change of Control by the holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock that may be required:

 

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(i) The Corporation shall have the right to require the Member to effectuate an Exchange of some or all of the Member’s Exchangeable Units, and a corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock after taking into account the Exchange Rate (in each case, free and clear of all Liens), with the Corporation or, at the option of the Corporation, with any Subsidiary of the Corporation, in each case, in exchange for the delivery to the Member (or its designee) of a number of shares of Class A Common Stock that is equal to the product of the applicable Exchanged Unit Amount and the Exchange Rate (such Exchange, a “Change of Control Exchange”); provided that, if the Corporation requires the Member to Exchange less than all of its outstanding Exchangeable Units (and corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock after taking into account the Exchange Rate), the Member’s participation in the required Exchange shall be reduced pro rata based on ownership of Exchangeable Units. For the avoidance of doubt, any Exchangeable Units and a corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock held by the Member that are not Exchanged pursuant to a Change of Control Exchange may be Exchanged by the Member after the Change of Control transaction pursuant to Section 2.1(a) subject to and in accordance with the terms thereof.

(ii) The election of the Corporation pursuant to this Section 2.1(b) shall be at the sole discretion of the Corporation upon the approval thereof by a majority of the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

(iii) Any Exchange pursuant to this Section 2.1(b) shall be effective immediately prior to the consummation of the Change of Control (and, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not be effective if such Change of Control is not consummated) (the “Change of Control Exchange Date”). From and after the Change of Control Exchange Date, (x) the Exchangeable Units and shares of Class B Common Stock Exchanged pursuant to this Section 2.1(b) shall be deemed to be transferred to the Corporation, or the exchanging Subsidiary, as applicable, on the Change of Control Exchange Date and (y) the Member shall cease to have any rights with respect to the Exchangeable Units and shares of Class B Common Stock Exchanged pursuant to this Section 2.1(b) (other than the right to receive shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to Section 2.1(b)(i) upon compliance with its obligations under Section 2.1(c)).

(iv) The Corporation shall provide written notice of an expected Change of Control to the Member within the earlier of (x) five (5) Business Days following the execution of the agreement with respect to such Change of Control and (y) ten (10) Business Days before the proposed date upon which the contemplated Change of Control is to be effected, indicating in such notice such information as may reasonably describe the Change of Control transaction, subject to applicable law, including the date of execution of such agreement or such proposed effective date, as applicable, the amount and types of consideration to be paid for Exchangeable Units and shares of Class B Common Stock or shares of Class A Common Stock, as applicable, in the Change of Control (which consideration shall be equivalent whether paid for Exchangeable Units and shares of Class B Common Stock or shares of Class A Common Stock), any election with respect to types of consideration that a holder of Exchangeable Units and shares of Class B Common Stock or shares of Class A Common Stock, as applicable, shall be entitled to make in connection with the Change of Control, the percentage of total Exchangeable Units and shares of Class B Common Stock or shares of Class A Common Stock, as applicable, to be transferred to the acquirer by all shareholders in the Change of Control, and the number of Exchangeable Units and shares of Class B Common Stock held by the Member that the Corporation intends to require to be Exchanged for shares of Class A Common Stock in connection with the Change of Control. The Corporation shall update such notice from time to time to reflect any material changes to such notice. The Corporation may satisfy any such notice and update requirements described in the preceding two sentences by providing such information on a Form 8-K, Schedule TO, Schedule 14D-9, Preliminary Merger Proxy on Schedule 14A, Definitive Merger Proxy on Schedule 14A or similar form filed with the SEC.

 

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(c) Exchange Procedure on Change of Control Exchange. On or prior to the Change of Control Exchange Date, the Member shall deliver to the Corporation or the exchanging Subsidiary, as applicable, with a contemporaneous copy delivered to the Company, in each case during normal business hours at the principal executive offices of the Company and the Corporation, respectively: (A) an Exchange Notice, duly executed by the Member, (B) any certificates in the Member’s possession representing all Exchangeable Units being surrendered by the Member, (C) any stock certificates in the Member’s possession representing all shares of Class B Common Stock being surrendered by the Member and (D) if the Corporation, the Company or the exchanging Subsidiary requires the delivery of the certification contemplated by Section 2.4(b), such certification or written notice from the Member that it is unable to provide such certification.

(d) Exchange Consideration. As promptly as practicable on or after the Exchange Date or Change of Control Exchange Date, as applicable, provided the Member has satisfied its obligations under Section 2.1(a)(iii) or Section 2.1(c), as applicable, the Company or the Corporation shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Member (or its designee), either certificates or evidence of book-entry shares representing the number of shares of Class A Common Stock deliverable upon the applicable Exchange, registered in the name of the Member (or its designee) or, if the Corporation has so elected, the Cash Payment. Notwithstanding anything set forth in this Section 2.1(d) to the contrary, to the extent the Class A Common Stock issued in the exchange will be settled through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company, the Company or the Corporation will, upon the written instruction of the Member, deliver the shares of Class A Common Stock deliverable to the Member through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company to the account of the participant of The Depository Trust Company designated by the Member in the Exchange Notice. Upon the Member exercising its right to Exchange in accordance with Section 2.1(a)(i) or the occurrence of a Change of Control Exchange, the Company or the Corporation shall take such actions as (A) may be required to ensure that the Member receives the shares of Class A Common Stock or the Cash Payment that the Member is entitled to receive in connection with such Exchange pursuant to this Section 2.1, and (B) may be reasonably within its control that would cause such Exchange to be treated for purposes of the Tax Receivable Agreement as an “Exchange” under the Tax Receivable Agreement.

(e) Legends.

(i) The shares of Class A Common Stock issued upon an Exchange, other than any such shares issued in an Exchange subject to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

THE TRANSFER OF THESE SECURITIES HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED OTHER THAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (OR OTHER APPLICABLE LAW), OR AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM.

 

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(ii) If (A) any shares of Class A Common Stock have been sold pursuant to a registration statement that has been declared effective by the SEC, (B) all of the applicable conditions of Rule 144 are met, or (C) the legend (or a portion thereof) otherwise ceases to be applicable, the Corporation, upon the written request of the holder thereof, shall promptly provide such holder or its respective transferees with new certificates (or evidence of book-entry share) for securities of like tenor not bearing the provisions of the legend with respect to which the restriction has terminated. In connection therewith, such holder shall provide the Corporation with such information in its possession as the Corporation may reasonably request (which may include an opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the Corporation) in connection with the removal of any such legend.

(f) Cancellation of Class B Common Stock. Any shares of Class B Common Stock surrendered in an Exchange shall automatically be deemed cancelled without any action on the part of any Person, including the Corporation. Any such cancelled shares of Class B Common Stock shall no longer be outstanding, and all rights with respect to such shares shall automatically cease and terminate.

(g) Expenses. Subject to any other arrangement or agreement among the Company and an applicable Member, the Corporation, the Company, any exchanging Subsidiary and the Member shall bear their own expenses in connection with the consummation of any Exchange, whether or not any such Exchange is ultimately consummated, except that the Corporation shall bear any transfer taxes, stamp taxes or duties, or other similar taxes in connection with, or arising by reason of, any Exchange; provided, however, that if any shares of Class A Common Stock are to be delivered in a name other than that of the Member that requested the Exchange (or The Depository Trust Company or its nominee for the account of a participant of The Depository Trust Company that will hold the shares for the account of the Member) or the Cash Payment is to be paid to a Person other than the Member that requested the Exchange, then the Member or the Person in whose name such shares are to be delivered or to whom the Cash Payment is to be paid shall pay to the Corporation the amount of any transfer taxes, stamp taxes or duties, or other similar taxes in connection with, or arising by reason of, such Exchange or shall establish to the reasonable satisfaction of the Corporation that such tax has been paid or is not payable.

(h) Publicly Traded Partnership. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if the Manager of the Company, after consultation with its outside legal counsel and tax advisor, shall determine in good faith that interests in the Company do not meet the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.7704-1(h) (or other provisions of those Regulations as determined by the Manager in its sole discretion), the Company may impose such restrictions on Exchanges as the Company may reasonably determine to be necessary or advisable so that the Company is not treated as a “publicly traded partnership” under Section 7704 of the Code.

Section 2.2 Adjustment.

The Exchange Rate shall be adjusted accordingly if there is: (a) any subdivision (by any stock or unit split, stock or unit dividend or distribution, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse stock or unit split, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) of the shares of Class B Common Stock or Common Units that is not accompanied by a substantively identical subdivision or combination of the Class A Common Stock; or (b) any subdivision (by any stock or unit split, stock or unit dividend or distribution, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse stock or unit split, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) of the shares of Class A Common Stock that is not accompanied by a substantively identical subdivision or combination of the shares of Class B Common Stock or Common Units. To the extent not reflected in an adjustment to the Exchange Rate, if there is any reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction in which the Class A Common Stock is

 

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converted or changed or exchanged into or for another security, securities or other property, then upon any subsequent Exchange, the Member shall be entitled to receive the amount of such security, securities or other property that the Member would have received if such Exchange had occurred immediately prior to the effective date of such reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction, taking into account any adjustment as a result of any subdivision (by any split, distribution or dividend, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse split, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) of such security, securities or other property that occurs after the effective time of such reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction. For the avoidance of doubt, if there is any reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction in which the Class A Common Stock is converted or changed or exchanged into or for another security, securities or other property, this Section 2.2 shall continue to be applicable, mutatis mutandis, with respect to such security or other property.

Section 2.3 Class A Common Stock to be Issued.

(a) The Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Class A Common Stock, solely for the purpose of issuance upon an Exchange, such number of shares of Class A Common Stock as shall be sufficient to effect the conversion of all outstanding Common Units; provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall be construed to preclude the Corporation from satisfying its obligations in respect of any such Exchange by delivery of unencumbered purchased shares of Class A Common Stock (which may or may not be held in the treasury of the Corporation or any subsidiary thereof).

(b) The Corporation has taken and will take all such steps as may be required to cause to qualify for exemption under Rule 16b-3(d) or (e), as applicable, under the Exchange Act, and be exempt for purposes of Section 16(b) under the Exchange Act, any acquisitions or dispositions of equity securities of the Corporation (including derivative securities with respect thereto) and any securities that may be deemed to be equity securities or derivative securities of the Corporation for such purposes that result from the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, by each director or officer of the Corporation (including directors-by-deputization) who may reasonably be expected to be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to the Corporation upon the registration of any class of equity security of the Corporation pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act (with the authorizing resolutions specifying the name of each such officer or director whose acquisition or disposition of securities is to be exempted and the number of securities that may be acquired and disposed of by each such Person pursuant to this Agreement).

(c) If any Takeover Law or other similar law or regulation becomes or is deemed to become applicable to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, the Corporation shall use its reasonable best efforts to render such law or regulation inapplicable to all of the foregoing.

(d) The Corporation covenants that all shares of Class A Common Stock issued upon an Exchange will, upon issuance, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and not subject to any preemptive right of stockholders of the Corporation or to any right of first refusal or other right in favor of any Person.

Section 2.4 Withholding; Certification of Non-Foreign Status.

(a) If the Corporation or the Company shall be required to withhold any amounts by reason of any federal, state, local or foreign tax rules or regulations in respect of any Exchange, the Corporation or the Company, as the case may be, shall be entitled to take such action as it deems

 

9

appropriate in order to ensure compliance with such withholding requirements, including, at its option, withholding shares of Class A Common Stock with a fair market value equal to the minimum amount of any taxes that the Corporation or the Company, as the case may be, may be required to withhold with respect to such Exchange. To the extent that amounts are (or property is) so withheld and paid over to the appropriate taxing authority, such withheld amounts (or property) shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid (or delivered) to the Member.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, each of the Corporation and the Company may, in its discretion, require that the Member deliver to the Corporation or the Company, as the case may be, a duly completed and executed IRS Form W-9) prior to an Exchange. In the event the Corporation or the Company has required delivery of such form but the Member does not provide such form, the Corporation or the Company, as the case may be, shall nevertheless deliver or cause to be delivered to the Member the Class A Common Stock or the Cash Payment in accordance with Section 2.1, but subject to withholding as provided in Section 2.4(a).

Section 2.5 Tax Treatment.

Unless otherwise required by applicable law, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that any Exchange with the Company or the Corporation shall be treated as a direct exchange between the Corporation and the Member for U.S. federal and applicable state and local income tax purposes. The parties hereto intend to treat any Exchange consummated hereunder as a taxable sale of the Exchangeable Units and Class B Common Stock (if any) by the Member to the Corporation for U.S. federal and applicable state and local income tax purposes except as otherwise mutually agreed to in writing by the Member and the Corporation and no party hereto shall take a position inconsistent with such intended tax treatment on any tax return, amendment thereof or any other communication with a taxing authority, in each case unless otherwise required by a “determination” within the meaning of Section 1313 of the Code.

Section 2.6 Contribution of the Corporation.

In connection with any Exchange between the Member and the Company, the Corporation shall contribute to the Company the shares of Class A Common Stock or Cash Payment that the Member is entitled to receive in such Exchange. Unless the Member has timely delivered a Retraction Notice as provided in Section 2.1(a)(vi), on the Exchange Date (to be effective immediately prior to the close of business on the Exchange Date) (i) the Corporation shall make a capital contribution to the Company (in the form of the shares of Class A Common Stock or the Cash Payment that the Member is entitled to receive in such Exchange) required under this Section 2.6, (ii) the Company shall transfer such shares of Class A Common Stock or Cash Payment to the Member in redemption of such Member’s Units in the Company, and (iii) in the case of an Exchange for Class A Common Stock and/or the Cash Payment (as applicable), the Company shall issue to the Corporation a number of Common Units equal to the Exchanged Unit Amount surrendered by the Member.

Section 2.7 Distributions.

No Exchange will impair the right of the Member to receive any distribution for periods ending on or prior to the Exchange Date for such Exchange (but for which payment had not yet been made with respect to the Exchangeable Units in question at the time the Exchange is consummated); provided that, for purposes of this Section 2.7, the Member’s right to receive its pro rata portion of any distribution by the Company in respect of such periods shall not be deemed impaired to the extent that the Company has not paid the Corporation its pro rata portion of such distribution prior to the consummation of the applicable Exchange.

 

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ARTICLE III

Section 3.1 Representations and Warranties of the Corporation.

The Corporation represents and warrants that (i) it is a corporation duly incorporated and is existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, (ii) it has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to deliver the Class A Common Stock in accordance with the terms hereof, (iii) the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Corporation and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Corporation, including all actions necessary to ensure that the acquisition of shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to the transactions contemplated hereby, to the fullest extent of each of the Corporation’s Board of Directors’ power and authority and to the extent permitted by law, shall not be subject to any “moratorium,” “control share acquisition,” “business combination,” “fair price” or other form of anti-takeover laws and regulations of any jurisdiction that may purport to be applicable to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (collectively, “Takeover Laws”), (iv) this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Corporation enforceable against the Corporation in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by equitable principles or by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally, and (v) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Corporation and the consummation by the Corporation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not (A) result in a violation of the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation or the bylaws of the Corporation or (B) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Corporation is a party, or (C) based on the representations to be made by the Member pursuant to the written election in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto in connection with Exchanges made pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree applicable to the Corporation or by which any property or asset of the Corporation is bound or affected, except with respect to clause (B) or (C) for any conflicts, defaults, accelerations, terminations, cancellations or violations that would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Corporation or its business, financial condition or results of operations.

Section 3.2 Representations and Warranties of the Company.

The Company represents and warrants that (i) it is a limited liability company duly formed and is existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, (ii) it has all requisite power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, (iii) the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Company, (iv) this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by equitable principles or by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally, (v) it is an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and is not classified as a “publicly traded partnership” as defined under Section 7704 of the Code, and (vi) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby will not (A) result in a violation of the certificate of formation of the Company or the LLC Agreement or (B) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Company is a party, or (C) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree applicable to the Company or by which any property or asset of the Company is bound or affected, except with respect to clause (B) or (C) for any conflicts, defaults, accelerations, terminations, cancellations or violations that would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company or its business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

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Section 3.3 Representations and Warranties of the Member.

The Member represents and warrants that (i) it is a limited liability company duly formed and is existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, (ii) it has all requisite power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, (iii) the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Member and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Member, (iv) this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Member enforceable against the Member in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by equitable principles or by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally and (v) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Member and the consummation by the Member of the transactions contemplated hereby will not (A) result in a violation of the certificate of formation or limited liability company agreement of the Member or (B) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Member is a party, or (C) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree applicable to the Member or by which any property or asset of the Member is bound or affected, except with respect to clause (B) or (C) for any conflicts, defaults, accelerations, terminations, cancellations or violations that would not in any material respect result in the unenforceability against the Member of this Agreement.

ARTICLE IV

Section 4.1 Notices.

All notices, demands or other communications to be given or delivered under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given or made when (a) delivered personally to the recipient, (b) delivered by means of electronic mail (with hard copy sent to the recipient by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid) that same day) if emailed before 5:00 p.m. San Diego, California time on a Business Day, and otherwise on the next Business Day, or (c) one (1) Business Day after being sent to the recipient by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid). Such notices, demands and other communications shall be sent to the address for such recipient set forth in the Company’s books and records (or below, with respect to the Corporation), or to such other address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party.

If to the Company or the Corporation:

Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc.

10770 Wateridge Circle Suite 200

San Diego, CA 92121

Attention:

E-mail:

 

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

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

300 North LaSalle

Chicago, IL 60654

Attention:

E-mail:

Section 4.2 Permitted Transferees.

To the extent that the Member (or an applicable Permitted Transferee of the Member) validly transfers after the date hereof any or all of its Common Units and corresponding shares of Class B Common Stock after taking into account the Exchange Rate, to a Permitted Transferee of such Person or to any other Person in a transaction not in contravention of, and in accordance with, the LLC Agreement, then the transferee thereof shall have the right to execute and deliver a joinder to this Agreement, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C. Upon execution of any such joinder, such transferee shall, with respect to such transferred Common Units and shares of Class B Common Stock, be entitled to all of the rights and bound by each of the obligations applicable to the relevant transferor hereunder; provided that the transferor shall remain entitled to all of the rights and bound by each of the obligations with respect to Common Units and shares of Class B Common Stock that were not so transferred.

Section 4.3 Severability.

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

Section 4.4 Counterparts.

This Agreement and any amendments may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts and delivered via facsimile or .pdf, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute one and the same document. The signature of any party to any counterpart shall be deemed a signature to, and may be appended to, any other counterpart.

Section 4.5 Entire Agreement.

This Agreement together with the LLC Agreement and the Tax Receivables Agreement (a) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all other prior agreements, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and (b) is not intended to confer upon any Person, other than the parties hereto and their Permitted Transferees, any rights or remedies hereunder.

 

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Section 4.6 Further Assurances.

Each party hereto shall execute, deliver, acknowledge and file such other documents and take such further actions as may be reasonably requested from time to time by any other party hereto to give effect to and carry out the transactions contemplated herein.

Section 4.7 Governing Law.

This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.

Section 4.8 Consent to Jurisdiction.

Each party hereto irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the State of Delaware and the state courts of the State of Delaware for the purposes of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby. Each party hereto further agrees that service of any process, summons, notice or document by United States certified or registered mail (in each such case, prepaid return receipt requested) to such party’s respective address set forth in the Company’s books and records or such other address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party shall be effective service of process in any action, suit or proceeding in Delaware with respect to any matters to which it has submitted to jurisdiction as set forth above in the immediately preceding sentence. Each party hereto irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any action, suit or proceeding arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in the United States District Court for the State of Delaware or the state courts of the State of Delaware and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action, suit or proceeding brought in such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

Section 4.9 Waiver of Jury Trial.

BECAUSE DISPUTES ARISING IN CONNECTION WITH COMPLEX TRANSACTIONS ARE MOST QUICKLY AND ECONOMICALLY RESOLVED BY AN EXPERIENCED AND EXPERT PERSON AND THE PARTIES WISH APPLICABLE STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS TO APPLY (RATHER THAN ARBITRATION RULES), THE PARTIES DESIRE THAT THEIR DISPUTES BE RESOLVED BY A JUDGE APPLYING SUCH APPLICABLE LAWS. THEREFORE, TO ACHIEVE THE BEST COMBINATION OF THE BENEFITS OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND OF ARBITRATION, EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT (INCLUDING THE COMPANY) HEREBY WAIVES ALL RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, SUIT, OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT TO RESOLVE ANY DISPUTE BETWEEN OR AMONG ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO, WHETHER ARISING IN CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE, ARISING OUT OF, CONNECTED WITH, RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND/OR THE RELATIONSHIPS ESTABLISHED AMONG THE PARTIES HEREUNDER.

Section 4.10 Amendments.

The provisions of this Agreement may be amended only by the affirmative vote or written consent of each of (i) the Corporation, (ii) the Company and (iii) the Member. No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.

 

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Section 4.11 Assignment.

Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the parties hereto without the prior written consent of the other parties. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties and their respective successors, assigns and Permitted Transferees.

Section 4.12 Specific Enforcement.

The parties hereto acknowledge that the remedies at law of the other parties for a breach or threatened breach of this Agreement would be inadequate and, in recognition of this fact, any party to this Agreement, without posting any bond, and in addition to all other remedies that may be available, shall be entitled to equitable relief in the form of specific performance, a temporary restraining order, a temporary or permanent injunction or any other equitable remedy that may then be available.

[Signature Pages to Follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized representatives as of the day and year first above written.

 

Signature Page to Exchange Agreement

Exhibit A

 

		Immediately Following IPO
		Number of Common Units Owned				Number of Shares of Class B Common Stock Owned
Name and Address of Member
Maravai Life Science Holdings, LLC 10770 Wateridge Circle Suite 200 San Diego, CA 92121			[●]				[●]

 

A-1

Exhibit B

[Form of]

Exchange Notice

Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc.

10770 Wateridge Circle Suite 200

San Diego, CA 92121

Attention: [●]

Email: [●]

Reference is hereby made to the Exchange Agreement, dated as of [●], 2020 (as amended from time to time, the “Exchange Agreement”), by and among Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), Maravai Topco Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), and Maravai Life Sciences Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Member”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Exchange Agreement.

The Member hereby transfers to the Corporation (or the Company, if applicable) effective as of the Exchange Date, the number of Exchangeable Units in Exchange for either shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued in its name or, at the option of the Corporation, the Cash Payment payable to the account set forth below, in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Agreement.

Number of Exchangeable Units to be Exchanged: [●]

Number of shares of Class B Common Stock to be Exchanged: [●]

If the Corporation elects a Cash Payment:

Account Number: [●]

Legal Name of Account Holder: [●]

The Member hereby represents and warrants that (i) it is a limited liability company duly formed and is existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, (ii) it has all requisite power and authority to enter into this Exchange Notice and to perform the Member’s obligations hereunder; (iii) the execution and delivery of this Exchange Notice by the Member and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Member; (iv) this Exchange Notice constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Member enforceable against the Member in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by equitable principles or by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally; (v) the Exchangeable Units and shares of Class B Common Stock subject to this Exchange Notice are being transferred to the Corporation (or the Company, if applicable) free and clear of any Liens; (vi) no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of any third party or with any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Member, the Exchanged Units or shares of Class B Common Stock subject to this Exchange Notice is required to be obtained by the Member for the transfer of such Exchanged Units or shares of Class B Common Stock to the Corporation; and (vii) the Member is either not currently in possession of material non-public information concerning the Corporation or will not be in possession of such material non-public information at the time the shares of Class A Common Stock are sold by the undersigned in any public sale.

 

B-1

The Member hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints any officer of the Corporation, the Corporation or the Company as the attorney of the undersigned, with full power of substitution and resubstitution in the premises, to do any and all things and to take any and all actions that may be necessary to transfer to the Corporation (or the Company, if applicable) the Exchanged Units and shares of Class B Common Stock subject to this Exchange Notice and to deliver to the Member the shares of Class A Common Stock or Cash Payment to be delivered in Exchange therefor.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Member, by authority duly given, has caused this Exchange Notice to be executed and delivered by the undersigned.

 

 

B-2

Exhibit C

[Form of]

Joinder

This Joinder (“Joinder”) is a joinder agreement to the Exchange Agreement, dated as of [●], 2020 (as amended from time to time, the “Exchange Agreement”), by and among Maravai LifeSciences Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), Maravai Topco Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), and Maravai Life Sciences Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Member”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Exchange Agreement.

The Company and the Corporation and the undersigned agree that all questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Joinder shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule, notwithstanding that public policy in Delaware or any other forum jurisdiction might indicate that the laws of that or any other jurisdiction should otherwise apply based on contacts with such state or otherwise. In the event of any conflict between this Joinder and the Exchange Agreement, the terms of this Joinder shall control.

The undersigned, having acquired Common Units and shares of Class B Common Stock, hereby joins and enters into the Exchange Agreement. By signing and returning this Joinder to the Company and the Corporation, the undersigned (i) accepts and agrees to be bound by and subject to all of the terms and conditions of and agreements of the Member contained in the Exchange Agreement, with all attendant rights, duties and obligations of the Member thereunder and (ii) makes each of the representations and warranties of the Member set forth in Section 3.3 of the Exchange Agreement as fully as if such representations and warranties were set forth herein. The parties to the Exchange Agreement shall treat the execution and delivery hereof by the undersigned as the execution and delivery of the Exchange Agreement by the undersigned and, upon receipt of this Joinder by the Company and the Corporation, the signature of the undersigned set forth below shall constitute a counterpart signature to the signature page of the Agreement.

 

 

C-1

Exhibit 10.10

 

 

 

 

MARAVAI TOPCO HOLDINGS, LLC

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

 

 

Dated as of [•], 2020

THE UNITS ISSUED PURSUANT TO THIS SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNDER ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS. SUCH UNITS MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF AT ANY TIME WITHOUT EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT AND LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM, AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE OTHER RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY SET FORTH HEREIN.

CERTAIN UNITS MAY ALSO BE SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SET FORTH HEREIN AND/OR IN A SEPARATE AGREEMENT WITH THE INITIAL HOLDER OF SUCH UNITS. A COPY OF SUCH AGREEMENT MAY BE OBTAINED BY THE HOLDER OF SUCH UNITS UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE COMPANY AND WITHOUT CHARGE.

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

				Page
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS					1
ARTICLE II ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS					9
Section 2.1		Formation of LLC			9
Section 2.2		Limited Liability Company Agreement			9
Section 2.3		Name			9
Section 2.4		Purpose			9
Section 2.5		Principal Office; Registered Office			9
Section 2.6		Term			10
Section 2.7		No State-Law Partnership			10
ARTICLE III UNITS, CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACCOUNTS					10
Section 3.1		Units; Capitalization			10
Section 3.2		Authorization and Issuance of Additional Units			11
Section 3.3		Repurchase or Redemption of Class A Common Stock			14
Section 3.4		Changes in Common Stock			14
Section 3.5		Capital Accounts			14
Section 3.6		Negative Capital Accounts; No Interest Regarding Positive Capital Accounts			15
Section 3.7		No Withdrawal			15
Section 3.8		Loans From Unitholders			15
Section 3.9		Adjustments to Capital Accounts for Distributions In-Kind			16
Section 3.10		Transfer of Capital Accounts			16
Section 3.11		Adjustments to Book Value			16
Section 3.12		Compliance With Section 1.704-1(b)			16
Section 3.13		Non-Convertible Preferred Units			17
Section 3.14		Convertible Preferred Units			17
ARTICLE IV DISTRIBUTIONS AND ALLOCATIONS					17
Section 4.1		Distributions			17
Section 4.2		Allocations			19
Section 4.3		Special Allocations			19
Section 4.4		Offsetting Allocations			20
Section 4.5		Tax Allocations			21
Section 4.6		Indemnification and Reimbursement for Payments on Behalf of a Unitholder			22
ARTICLE V MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL OF BUSINESS					22
Section 5.1		Management			22
Section 5.2		Investment Company Act			23
Section 5.3		Officers			23
Section 5.4		Fiduciary Duties			24

 

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ARTICLE VI EXCULPATION AND INDEMNIFICATION					25
Section 6.1		Exculpation			25
Section 6.2		Indemnification			26
Section 6.3		Expenses			26
Section 6.4		Non-Exclusivity; Savings Clause			26
Section 6.5		Insurance			27
ARTICLE VII ACCOUNTING AND RECORDS; TAX MATTERS					27
Section 7.1		Accounting and Records			27
Section 7.2		Preparation of Tax Returns			27
Section 7.3		Tax Elections			27
Section 7.4		Tax Controversies			27
Section 7.5		Code § 83 Safe Harbor Election			28
ARTICLE VIII TRANSFER OF UNITS; ADMISSION OF NEW MEMBERS					29
Section 8.1		Transfer of Units			29
Section 8.2		Recognition of Transfer; Substituted and Additional Members			30
Section 8.3		Expense of Transfer; Indemnification			31
Section 8.4		Exchange Agreement			32
Section 8.5		Change of Control Transactions			32
ARTICLE IX WITHDRAWAL AND RESIGNATION OF UNITHOLDERS					32
Section 9.1		Withdrawal and Resignation of Unitholders			32
ARTICLE X DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION					32
Section 10.1		Dissolution			32
Section 10.2		Liquidation and Termination			33
Section 10.3		Securityholders Agreement			34
Section 10.4		Cancellation of Certificate			34
Section 10.5		Reasonable Time for Winding Up			34
Section 10.6		Return of Capital			34
Section 10.7		Hart-Scott-Rodino			34
ARTICLE XI GENERAL PROVISIONS					34
Section 11.1		Power of Attorney			34
Section 11.2		Amendments			35
Section 11.3		Title to the Company Assets			35
Section 11.4		Remedies			35
Section 11.5		Successors and Assigns			35
Section 11.6		Severability			35
Section 11.7		Counterparts; Binding Agreement			36
Section 11.8		Descriptive Headings; Interpretation			36
Section 11.9		Applicable Law			36
Section 11.10		Addresses and Notices			36
Section 11.11		Creditors			37
Section 11.12		No Waiver			37
Section 11.13		Further Action			37
Section 11.14		Entire Agreement			37

 

ii