UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 22, 2021
The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 001-40240 | 81-3866305 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
1201 Dowdell Lane, Saint Helena, CA 94574
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (707) 302-2658
Not applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
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Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a12) |
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Precommencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d2(b)) |
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Precommencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e 4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class |
Trading Symbol |
Name of each exchange on which registered |
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Common stock, par value $0.01 per share | NAPA | New York Stock Exchange |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☒
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
In connection with the initial public offering (the Offering) by The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc. (the Company) of its common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the Common Stock), described in the prospectus (the Prospectus), dated March 17, 2021, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), which is deemed to be part of the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-253412) (as amended, the Registration Statement), the following agreements were entered into:
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the Registration Rights Agreement, dated March 17, 2021, by and among the Company and each of the other persons from time to time party thereto (the Registration Rights Agreement); and |
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the Stockholders Agreement, dated March 17, 2021, by and among the Company and each of the other persons from time to time party thereto (the Stockholders Agreement). |
The Registration Rights Agreement and the Stockholders Agreement are filed herewith as Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference. The terms of these agreements are substantially the same as the terms set forth in the forms of such agreements previously filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement and as described therein. Certain parties to certain of these agreements have various relationships with the Company. For further information, see Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions in the Prospectus.
Item 3.03 Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.
The information set forth under Item 5.03 below is incorporated by reference in this Item 3.03.
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
2021 Equity Incentive Plan
Effective March 17, 2021, the Companys Board of Directors and its sole stockholder as of that date adopted and approved The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the 2021 Plan) substantially in the form previously filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Registration Statement. The 2021 Plan provides for the granting of restricted or unrestricted Common Stock, stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units, and other stock-based and cash-based awards to current and prospective employees and directors of, and consultants and advisors to, the Company and its affiliates. For further information regarding the 2021 Plan, see Executive and Director CompensationEquity plans2021 Equity Plan in the Prospectus.
A copy of the 2021 Plan is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.3 and incorporated herein by reference. The above description of the 2021 Plan is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such exhibit.
2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Effective March 17, 2021, the Companys Board of Directors and its sole stockholder as of that date adopted and approved The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc. 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the ESPP) substantially in the form previously filed as Exhibit 10.20 to the Registration Statement. The ESPP provides eligible employees of the Company and its participating affiliates with an opportunity to purchase the Companys Common Stock. For further information regarding the ESPP, see Executive and Director CompensationEquity plans2021 ESPP in the Prospectus.
A copy of the ESPP is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.4 and incorporated herein by reference. The above description of the ESPP is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such exhibit.
Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.
On March 22, 2021, the Companys Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the Charter), in the form previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registration Statement, and the Companys Amended and Restated
Bylaws (the Bylaws), in the form previously filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement, became effective. The Charter, among other things, provides that the Companys authorized capital stock consists of 500,000,000 shares of Common Stock and 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock. A description of the Companys capital stock, after giving effect to the adoption of the Charter and Bylaws, has previously been reported by the Company in the Registration Statement. The Charter and Bylaws are filed herewith as Exhibit 3.1 and Exhibit 3.2, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Date: March 29, 2021 | The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc. | |||
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By: |
/s/ Sean Sullivan |
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Name: | Sean Sullivan | ||
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Title: | Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel |
Exhbit 3.1
AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
THE DUCKHORN PORTFOLIO, INC.
The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Corporation), hereby certifies that this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been duly adopted in accordance with Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the DGCL), and that:
A. The name of the Corporation is: The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc.
B. The original Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Secretary of the State of Delaware on September 15, 2016, under the name Mallard Intermediate, Inc. (the Original Certificate of Incorporation).
C. This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation amends and restates the Original Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation.
D. The Certificate of Incorporation upon the filing of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, shall read in full as follows:
ARTICLE I NAME
The name of the corporation is The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc. (the Corporation).
ARTICLE II REGISTERED OFFICE AND AGENT
The address of the Corporations registered office in the State of Delaware is 251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19808. The name of the Corporations registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.
ARTICLE III PURPOSE
The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the DGCL).
ARTICLE IV CAPITALIZATION
(a) Authorized Shares. The total number of shares of all classes of stock that the Corporation is authorized to issue is 600,000,000 shares of stock, consisting of (i) 100,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (Preferred Stock) and (ii) 500,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (Common Stock).
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(b) Common Stock. Subject to the powers, preferences and rights of any Preferred Stock, including any series thereof, having any preference or priority over, or rights superior to, the Common Stock and except as otherwise provided by law and this Article IV, the holders of the Common Stock shall have and possess all powers and voting and other rights pertaining to the stock of the Corporation.
(i) Voting.
a) Each holder of shares of Common Stock, as such, shall be entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock held of record by such holder on all matters on which stockholders generally are entitled to vote; provided, however, that to the fullest extent permitted by law, holders of shares of Common Stock, as such, shall have no voting power with respect to, and shall not be entitled to vote on, any amendment to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if only the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) or pursuant to the DGCL.
b) Except as otherwise required in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) or by applicable law, the holders of Common Stock shall vote together as a single class on all matters (or, if any holders of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote together with the holders of Common Stock, as a single class with such holders of Preferred Stock). There shall be no cumulative voting.
(ii) Dividends. Dividends of cash or property may be declared and paid on the Common Stock from funds lawfully available therefor as and when determined by the Board of Directors and subject to any preferential dividend rights of any then outstanding Preferred Stock. Except as otherwise provided by the DGCL or this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of record of shares of Common Stock shall share ratably in all dividends payable in cash, stock or otherwise and other distributions, whether in respect of liquidation or dissolution (voluntary or involuntary) or otherwise.
(iii) Liquidation Rights. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation and of the preferential and other amounts, if any, to which the holders of Preferred Stock shall be entitled, the holders of all outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution ratably in proportion to the number of shares held by each such stockholder.
(iv) No Preemptive Rights. Holders of Common Stock shall have no preemptive rights to subscribe for any shares of any class of stock of the Corporation whether now or hereafter authorized.
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(v) No Conversion Rights. The Common Stock shall not be convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or classes or of any other series of the same class of the Corporations capital stock.
(c) Preferred Stock. Shares of Preferred Stock may be issued in one or more series, from time to time, with each such series to consist of such number of shares and to have such voting powers relative to other classes or series of Preferred Stock, if any, or Common Stock, full or limited or no voting powers, and such designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, as shall be stated in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of such series adopted by the Board of Directors, and the Board of Directors is hereby expressly vested with the authority, to the full extent now or hereafter provided by applicable law, to adopt any such resolution or resolutions. Except as otherwise provided in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, no vote of the holders of the Preferred Stock or Common Stock shall be a prerequisite to the designation or issuance of any shares of any series of the Preferred Stock authorized by and complying with the conditions of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the right to have such vote being expressly waived by all present and future holders of the capital stock of the Corporation. Any shares of Preferred Stock that are redeemed, purchased or acquired by the Corporation may be reissued except as otherwise provided by law or this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Different series of Preferred Stock shall not be construed to constitute different classes of shares for the purposes of voting by classes unless expressly provided in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such series adopted by the Board of Directors.
(d) No Class Vote on Changes in Authorized Number of Shares of Stock. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock pursuant to the terms of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, any certificate of designations or any resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of such series of stock adopted by the Board of Directors, the number of authorized shares of a class of stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL.
ARTICLE V BOARD OF DIRECTORS
(a) Number of Directors; Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships. The number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall be not fewer than three (3) and not more than fifteen (15), each of whom shall be a natural person. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, the precise number of directors shall be fixed exclusively pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors. Subject to the terms of the Stockholders Agreement, dated as of March 17, 2021, by and among the Corporation and the other signatories thereto (so long as such agreement remains in effect), vacancies and newly-created directorships shall be filled exclusively by vote of a majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, except that any vacancy created by the removal of a director by the stockholders for cause shall only be filled, in addition to any other vote otherwise required by law, by vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock.
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No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director. A director elected to fill a vacancy shall be elected for the unexpired term of his or her predecessor in office, and a director chosen to fill a position resulting from an increase in the number of directors shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such director shall have been chosen, subject to the election and qualification of his or her successor and to his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.
(b) Classified Board of Directors. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, the Board of Directors (other than those directors elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock) shall be classified into three classes: Class I; Class II; and Class III. Each class shall consist, as nearly equal in number as possible, of one-third of the total number of directors constituting the entire Board of Directors and the allocation of directors among the three classes shall be determined by the Board of Directors. The initial Class I Directors shall serve for a term expiring at the first annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation following the filing of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation; the initial Class II Directors shall serve for a term expiring at the second annual meeting of stockholders following the filing of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation; and the initial Class III Directors shall serve for a term expiring at the third annual meeting of stockholders following the filing of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Each director in each class shall hold office until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. At each annual meeting of stockholders beginning with the first annual meeting of stockholders following the filing of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the successors of the class of directors whose term expires at that meeting shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in the third year following the year of their election, with each director in each such class to hold office until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. If the number of directors is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible and such apportionment shall be determined by the Board of Directors.
(c) Removal. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, the directors of the Corporation may be removed only for cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, at a meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose; provided, however, that prior to the first date (the Trigger Date) on which investment funds affiliated with TSG Consumer Partners LLC and their respective successors, Transferees and Affiliates (collectively, the TSG Entities) cease collectively to beneficially own (directly or indirectly) more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, the directors of the Corporation may be removed with or without cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. Affiliate means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such Person; the term control, as used in this definition, means the power to direct
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or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and controlled and controlling have meanings correlative to the foregoing. Person means an individual, any general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust, business trust, joint stock company, joint venture, unincorporated association, cooperative or association or any other legal entity or organization of whatever nature, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity. Transferee means any Person who (i) becomes a beneficial owner of Common Stock upon having purchased such shares of Common Stock from an investment fund affiliated with a TSG Entity and (ii) is designated in writing by the transferor as a Transferee and a copy of such writing is provided to the Corporation at or prior to the time of such purchase; provided, however, that a purchaser of Common Stock in a registered offering or in a transaction effected pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (or any similar or successor provision thereto) shall not be a Transferee. For the purpose of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation beneficial ownership shall be determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act).
ARTICLE VI LIMITATION OF DIRECTOR LIABILITY
To the fullest extent that the DGCL or any other law of the State of Delaware (as they exist on the date hereof or as they may hereafter be amended) permits the limitation or elimination of the liability of directors, no director of the Corporation shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director. No amendment to, or modification or repeal of, this Article VI shall adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation existing hereunder with respect to any state of facts existing or act or omission occurring, or any cause of action, suit or claim that, but for this Article VI, would accrue or arise, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal. If, after this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation is filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, the DGCL or such other law is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL or such other law, as so amended.
ARTICLE VII MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
(a) No Action by Written Consent. From and after the Trigger Date, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation may be effected only at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such stockholders.
(b) Special Meetings of Stockholders. Subject to any rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, and to the requirements of applicable law, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only (i) by or at the direction of the chairperson of the Board of Directors, (ii) by or at the direction of the chief executive officer of the Corporation, (iii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors pursuant to a written resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of directors which the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies, or (iv)
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prior to the Trigger Date, by the Secretary of the Corporation at the request of the holders of fifty percent (50%) or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. Any business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to matters relating to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice of meeting.
(c) Election of Directors by Written Ballot. Election of directors need not be by written ballot.
ARTICLE IX AMENDMENTS TO THE
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS
(a) Bylaws. In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by law, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, alter, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation subject to the power of the stockholders of the Corporation entitled to vote with respect thereto to make, alter, amend or repeal the bylaws both before and after the Trigger Date; provided, that with respect to the powers of stockholders entitled to vote with respect thereto to make, alter, amend or repeal the bylaws, (i) prior to the Trigger Date, in addition to any other vote otherwise required by law, the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote with respect thereto, voting together as a single class, shall be required to make, alter, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation and (ii) from and after the Trigger Date, in addition to any other vote otherwise required by law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote with respect thereto, voting together as a single class, shall be required to make, alter, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation.
(b) Amendments to the Certificate of Incorporation. The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation both before and after the Trigger Date, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by the DGCL, and all rights conferred upon stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, and notwithstanding that a lesser percentage may be permitted from time to time by applicable law, from and after the Trigger Date, no provision of Article IV, Article V, Article VI, paragraphs (a) and (b) of Article VII, Article VIII, Article IX, Article X and Article XI may be altered, amended or repealed in any respect, nor may any provision or bylaw inconsistent therewith be adopted, unless, in addition to any other vote required by this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or otherwise required by law, such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption is approved (i) prior to the Trigger Date, by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, at a meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose and (ii) from and after the Trigger Date, by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, at a meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose.
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ARTICLE X BUSINESS COMBINATIONS
(a) Limitations on Business Combinations. The Corporation shall not engage in any business combination (as defined below), at any point in time at which any class of the Corporations Common Stock is registered under Section 12(b) or Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, with any interested stockholder (as defined below) for a period of three (3) years following the time that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:
(i) prior to such time, the Board of Directors approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;
(ii) upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least eighty-five percent (85%) of the voting stock (as defined below) of the Corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) those shares owned by (i) persons who are directors of the Corporation and also officers of the Corporation or (ii) employee stock plans of the Corporation in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or
(iii) at or subsequent to such time, the business combination is approved by the Board of Directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation which is not owned by the interested stockholder.
(b) Definitions. For purposes of this Article X, references to:
(i) affiliate means a person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, another person.
(ii) associate, when used to indicate a relationship with any person, means: (i) any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity of which such person is a director, officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of twenty percent (20%) or more of any class of voting stock; (ii) any trust or other estate in which such person has at least a twenty percent (20%) beneficial interest or as to which such person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and (iii) any relative or spouse of such person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same residence as such person.
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(iii) business combination, when used in reference to the Corporation and any interested stockholder of the Corporation, means:
(1) any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation (a) with the interested stockholder, or (b) with any other corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity if the merger or consolidation is caused by the interested stockholder and as a result of such merger or consolidation paragraph (b) of this Article X is not applicable to the surviving entity;
(2) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions), except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation, to or with the interested stockholder, whether as part of a dissolution or otherwise, of assets of the Corporation or of any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which assets have an aggregate market value equal to ten percent (10%) or more of either the aggregate market value of all the assets of the Corporation determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding stock of the Corporation;
(3) any transaction which results in the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or by any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation of any stock of the Corporation or of such subsidiary to the interested stockholder, except: (a) pursuant to the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which securities were outstanding prior to the time that the interested stockholder became such; (b) pursuant to a merger under Section 251(g) or Section 253 of the DGCL; (c) pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made, or the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which security is distributed, pro rata to all holders of a class or series of stock of the Corporation subsequent to the time the interested stockholder became such; (d) pursuant to an exchange offer by the Corporation to purchase stock made on the same terms to all holders of such stock; or (e) any issuance or transfer of stock by the Corporation; provided, however, that in no case under clauses (c) through (e) of this subsection (3) shall there be an increase in the interested stockholders proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the Corporation or of the voting stock of the Corporation (except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments);
(4) any transaction involving the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series, or securities convertible into the stock of any class or series, of the Corporation or of any such subsidiary which is owned by the interested stockholder, except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments or as a result of any purchase or redemption of any shares of stock not caused, directly or indirectly, by the interested stockholder; or
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(5) any receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation), of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges, or other financial benefits (other than those expressly permitted in subsections (1) through (4) above) provided by or through the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary.
(iv) control, including the terms controlling, controlled by and under common control with, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting stock, by contract, or otherwise. A person who is the owner of twenty percent (20%) or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity shall be presumed to have control of such entity, in the absence of proof by a preponderance of the evidence to the contrary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a presumption of control shall not apply where such person holds voting stock, in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing this Article X, as an agent, bank, broker, nominee, custodian or trustee for one or more owners who do not individually or as a group have control of such entity.
(v) interested stockholder means any person (other than the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation) that (i) is the owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation, or (ii) is an affiliate or associate of the Corporation and was the owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation at any time within the three (3) year period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be determined whether such person is an interested stockholder, and the affiliates and associates of such person; provided, however, that the term interested stockholder shall not include (a) the TSG Entities, (b) a stockholder that becomes an interested stockholder inadvertently and (i) as soon as practicable divests itself of ownership of sufficient shares so that such stockholder ceases to be an interested stockholder and (ii) would not, at any time within the three-year period immediately prior to a business combination between the Corporation and such stockholder, have been an interested stockholder but for the inadvertent acquisition of ownership or (c) any person whose ownership of shares in excess of the fifteen percent (15%) limitation set forth herein is the result of any action taken solely by the Corporation; provided that such person specified in this clause (c) shall be an interested stockholder if thereafter such person acquires additional shares of voting stock of the Corporation, except as a result of further corporate action not caused, directly or indirectly, by such person. For the purpose of determining whether a person is an interested stockholder, the voting stock of the Corporation deemed to be outstanding shall include stock deemed to be owned by the person through application of the definition of owner below but shall not include any other unissued stock of the Corporation which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise.
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(vi) owner, including the terms own and owned, when used with respect to any stock, means a person that individually or with or through any of its affiliates or associates:
(1) beneficially owns such stock, directly or indirectly; or
(2) has (a) the right to acquire such stock (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of stock tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such person or any of such persons affiliates or associates until such tendered stock is accepted for purchase or exchange; or (b) the right to vote such stock pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of any stock because of such persons right to vote such stock if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such stock arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to ten (10) or more persons; or
(3) has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent as described in item (b) of subsection (2) above), or disposing of such stock with any other person that beneficially owns, or whose affiliates or associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, such stock.
(vii) person means any individual, corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity.
(viii) stock means, with respect to any corporation, capital stock and, with respect to any other entity, any equity interest.
(ix) voting stock means stock of any class or series entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.
ARTICLE XI RENOUNCEMENT OF CORPORATE OPPORTUNITY
(a) Scope. The provisions of this Article XI are set forth to define, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the duties of Exempted Persons (as defined below) to the Corporation with respect to certain classes or categories of business opportunities. Exempted Persons means each of the TSG Entities (other than the Corporation and its subsidiaries) and all of their respective partners, principals, directors, officers, members, managers, managing directors and/or employees, including any of the foregoing who serve as employees, officers or directors of the Corporation.
(b) Competition and Allocation of Corporate Opportunities. The Exempted Persons shall not have any fiduciary duty or other duty to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Corporation, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries, renounces any interest or expectancy of the Corporation and its subsidiaries in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, business opportunities that are from time to
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time available or presented to the Exempted Persons, even if the opportunity is in the line of business of the Corporation or its subsidiaries or is otherwise one that the Corporation or its subsidiaries might reasonably be deemed to have pursued or had the ability or desire to pursue if granted the opportunity to do so, and each such Exempted Person shall have no duty to communicate or offer such business opportunity to the Corporation (and there shall be no restriction on the Exempted Persons using the general knowledge and understanding of the Corporation and the industry in which it operates which it has gained as an Exempted Person in considering and pursuing such opportunities or in making investment, voting, monitoring, governance or other decisions relating to other entities or securities) and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, shall not be liable to the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or, to the extent applicable, any of its or their stockholders for breach of any fiduciary or other duty, as a director or officer or otherwise, by reason of the fact that such Exempted Person pursues or acquires such business opportunity, directs such business opportunity to another person or fails to present such business opportunity, or information regarding such business opportunity, to the Corporation or its subsidiaries, or uses such knowledge and understanding in the manner described herein.
(c) Certain Matters Deemed Not Corporate Opportunities. In addition to and notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article XI, a corporate opportunity shall not be deemed to belong to the Corporation if it is a business opportunity that the Corporation is not financially able or contractually permitted or legally able to undertake, or that is, from its nature, not in the line of the Corporations business or is of no practical advantage to it or that is one in which the Corporation has no interest or reasonable expectancy.
(d) Amendment of this Article. No amendment or repeal of this Article XI in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (b) of Article IX shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any Exempted Person for or with respect to any activities or opportunities of which such Exempted Person becomes aware prior to such amendment or repeal. This Article XI shall not limit any protections or defenses available to, or indemnification or advancement rights of, any director or officer of the Corporation under this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Corporations bylaws or applicable law.
ARTICLE XII EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION FOR CERTAIN ACTIONS
(a) Exclusive Forum. Unless the Board of Directors or one of its committees otherwise approves, in accordance with Section 141 of the DGCL, this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the bylaws of the Corporation, to the selection of an alternate forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware does not have jurisdiction, the Superior Court of the State of Delaware, or, if the Superior Court of the State of Delaware also does not have jurisdiction, the United States District Court for the District of Delaware) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other
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employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporations stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or the Corporations Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or bylaws, (iv) any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the bylaws of the Corporation or (v) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine (each, a Covered Proceeding); provided that, the provisions of this Article XII(a) will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction; and provided further that, if and only if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware dismisses any such action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, such action may be brought in another state or federal court sitting in the State of Delaware.
(b) Personal Jurisdiction. If any action the subject matter of which is a Covered Proceeding is filed in a court other than the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or, where permitted in accordance with paragraph (a) above, the Superior Court of the State of Delaware or the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, (each, a Foreign Action) in the name of any person or entity (a Claiming Party) without the prior approval of the Board of Directors or one of its committees in the manner described in paragraph (a) above, such Claiming Party shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or, where applicable, the Superior Court of the State of Delaware and the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, in connection with any action brought in any such courts to enforce paragraph (a) above (an Enforcement Action) and (ii) having service of process made upon such Claiming Party in any such Enforcement Action by service upon such Claiming Partys counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such Claiming Party.
(c) Federal Forum. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(d) Notice and Consent. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any security of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article XII and waived any defense of personal jurisdiction and argument relating to the inconvenience of the forums referenced above in connection with any Covered Proceeding.
ARTICLE XIII SEVERABILITY
If any provision or provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever: (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (ii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Amended
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and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each such portion of any paragraph of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their good faith service to or for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be executed by the officer below this 17th day of March, 2021.
THE DUCKHORN PORTFOLIO, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ Alex Ryan |
|
Name: | Alex Ryan | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation]
Exhibit 3.2
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
THE DUCKHORN PORTFOLIO, INC.
SECTION 1 - STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1.1. Annual Meeting.
An annual meeting of the stockholders of The Duckhorn Portfilio, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Corporation), for the election of directors to succeed those whose terms expire and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting shall be held at the place, if any, within or without the State of Delaware, on the date and at the time that the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the Board of Directors) shall each year fix. Unless stated otherwise in the notice of the annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, such annual meeting shall be at the principal office of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that any meeting of the stockholders shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication in the manner authorized by Section 211 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the DGCL).
Section 1.2. Advance Notice of Nominations and Proposals of Business.
(a) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and proposals for other business to be transacted by the stockholders at an annual meeting of stockholders may be made (i) pursuant to the Corporations notice with respect to such meeting (or any supplement thereto), (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof or (iii) by any stockholder of record of the Corporation who (A) was a stockholder of record at the time of the giving of the notice contemplated in Section 1.2(b), (B) is entitled to vote at such meeting and (C) has complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 1.2. Subject to Section 1.2(i) and except as otherwise required by law, clause (iii) of this Section 1.2(a) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or propose other business (other than nominations and proposals properly brought pursuant to applicable provisions of federal law, including the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (as amended from time to time, the Act) and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder) before an annual meeting of stockholders.
(b) Except as otherwise required by law, for nominations or proposals to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of Section 1.2(a), (i) the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation with the information contemplated by Section 1.2(c) including, where applicable, delivery to the Corporation of timely and completed questionnaires as contemplated by Section 1.2(c), and (ii) the business must be a proper matter for stockholder action under the DGCL. The notice requirements of this Section 1.2 shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder with respect to business other than a nomination if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of his, her or its intention to present a proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Act and such stockholders proposal has been included in a proxy statement prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting.
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(c) To be timely for purposes of Section 1.2(b), a stockholders notice must be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation on a date (i) not later than the close of business on the 90th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the anniversary date of the prior years annual meeting or (ii) if there was no annual meeting in the prior year or if the date of the current years annual meeting is more than 30 days before or after the anniversary date of the prior years annual meeting, on or before 10 days after the day on which the date of the current years annual meeting is first disclosed in a public announcement. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the delivery of such notice. Such notice from a stockholder must state (i) as to each nominee that the stockholder proposes for election or reelection as a director, (A) all information relating to such nominee that would be required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for the election of such nominee as a director pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Act and such nominees written consent to serve as a director if elected, and (B) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary arrangements, agreements or understandings during the past three years, and any other material relationship, if any, between or concerning such stockholder, any Stockholder Associated Person (as defined below) or any of their respective affiliates or associates, on the one hand, and the proposed nominee or any of his or her affiliates or associates, on the other hand; (ii) as to each proposal that the stockholder seeks to bring before the meeting, a brief description of such proposal, the reasons for making the proposal at the meeting, the text of the proposal (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that it includes a proposal to amend the bylaws of the Corporation, the language of the proposed amendment) and any material interest that the stockholder has in the proposal; and (iii) (A) the name and address of the stockholder giving the notice and the Stockholder Associated Persons, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made, (B) the class (and, if applicable, series) and number of shares of stock of the Corporation that are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially or of record by the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person, (C) any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right or similar instrument, right, agreement, arrangement or understanding with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class (or, if applicable, series) of shares of stock of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class (or, if applicable, series) of shares of stock of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument, right, agreement, arrangement or understanding shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of capital stock of the Corporation or otherwise, and any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares of stock of the Corporation of the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person (each, a Derivative Instrument) directly or indirectly owned beneficially or of record by such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person, (D) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person has a right to vote any securities of the Corporation, (E) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person is a general partner or beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, an interest in a general partner, (F) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such
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stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of the shares of stock of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments, (G) any other information relating to such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person, if any, required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in an election contest pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, (H) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business or nomination and has complied with the provisions of this Section 1.2(c), (I) a certification as to whether or not the stockholder and all Stockholder Associated Persons, have complied with all applicable federal, state and other legal requirements in connection with the stockholders and each Stockholder Associated Persons acquisition of shares of capital stock or other securities of the Corporation and the stockholders and each Stockholder Associated Persons acts or omissions as a stockholder (or beneficial owner of securities) of the Corporation, and (J) whether the stockholder intends to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of, in the case of a proposal, at least the percentage of the Corporations voting shares required under applicable law to carry the proposal or, in the case of a nomination or nominations, a sufficient number of holders of the Corporations voting shares reasonably believed by such stockholder to be sufficient to elect such nominee or nominees or otherwise to solicit proxies or votes from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination. For purposes of these bylaws, a Stockholder Associated Person of any stockholder means (i) any affiliate or associate (as those terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Act) of such stockholder, (ii) any beneficial owner of any capital stock or other securities of the Corporation owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder, (iii) any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with any such Stockholder Associated Person referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above, and (iv) any person acting in concert in respect of any matter involving the Corporation or its securities with either such stockholder or any beneficial owner of any capital stock or other securities of the Corporation owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder. In addition, in order for a nomination to be properly brought before an annual or special meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of Section 1.2(a), any nominee proposed by a stockholder shall complete a questionnaire, in a form provided by the Corporation, and deliver a signed copy of such completed questionnaire to the Corporation within 10 days of the date that the Corporation makes available to the stockholder seeking to make such nomination or such nominee the form of such questionnaire. The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may be reasonably requested by the Corporation to determine the eligibility of the proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the Corporation or that could be material to a reasonable stockholders understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of the nominee. The information required to be included in a notice pursuant to this Section 1.2(c) shall be provided as of the date of such notice and shall be supplemented by the stockholder not later than 10 days after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting to disclose any changes to such information as of the record date. The information required to be included in a notice pursuant to this Section 1.2(c) shall not include any ordinary course business activities of any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who is directed to prepare and submit the notice required by this Section 1.2(c) on behalf of a beneficial owner of the shares held of record by such broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee and who is not otherwise affiliated or associated with such beneficial owner.
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(d) Subject to the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation (the Certificate of Incorporation), Section 1.2(i) and applicable law, only persons nominated in accordance with procedures stated in this Section 1.2 shall be eligible for election as and to serve as members of the Board of Directors and the only business that shall be conducted at an annual meeting of stockholders is the business that has been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.2. The chairperson of the meeting shall have the power and the duty to determine whether a nomination or any proposal has been made according to the procedures stated in this Section 1.2 and, if any nomination or proposal does not comply with this Section 1.2, unless otherwise required by law, the nomination or proposal shall be disregarded.
(e) For purposes of this Section 1.2, public announcement means disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or a comparable news service or in a document publicly filed or furnished by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Act.
(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.2, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to matters set forth in this Section 1.2. Nothing in this Section 1.2 shall affect any rights, if any, of stockholders to request inclusion of nominations or proposals in the Corporations proxy statement pursuant to applicable provisions of federal law, including the Act.
(g) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.2, unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination or proposed business or does not provide the information required by Section 1.2(c), including any required supplement thereto, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this Section 1.2, to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders.
(h) Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporations notice of meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporations notice of meeting (1) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof or (2) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time the
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notice provided for in this Section 1.2 is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation, who is entitled to vote at the meeting upon such election and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 1.2. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporations notice of meeting, if the stockholders notice required by paragraph (b) of this Section 1.2 shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such special meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholders notice as described above.
(i) All provisions of this Section 1.2 are subject to, and nothing in this Section 1.2 shall in any way limit the exercise, or the method or timing of the exercise of, the rights of any person granted by the Corporation to nominate directors, including such rights granted by the terms of the Stockholders Agreement (the Stockholders Agreement), dated as of March 17, 2021, by and among the Corporation and the other signatories thereto (so long as such agreement remains in effect) which rights may be exercised without compliance with the provisions of this Section 1.2.
Section 1.3. Special Meetings; Notice.
Special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called only to the extent and in the manner set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation. Notice of every special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall state the purpose or purposes of such meeting. Except as otherwise required by law, the business conducted at a special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation shall be limited exclusively to the business set forth in the Corporations notice of meeting, and the individual or group calling such meeting shall have exclusive authority to determine the business included in such notice.
Section 1.4. Notice of Meetings.
Notice of the place, if any, date and time of all meetings of stockholders of the Corporation, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different from the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting) and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed present and vote at such meeting, and, in the case of all special meetings of stockholders, the purpose or purposes of the meeting, shall be given, not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date on which such meeting is to be held (unless a different time is specified by law), to each stockholder entitled to notice of the meeting.
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The Corporation may postpone or cancel any previously called annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation by making a public announcement (as defined in Section 1.2(e)) of such postponement or cancellation prior to the meeting. When a previously called annual or special meeting is postponed to another time, date or place, if any, notice of the place (if any), date and time of the postponed meeting, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different from the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting) and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed present and vote at such postponed meeting, shall be given in conformity with this Section 1.4 unless such meeting is postponed to a date that is not more than 60 days after the date that the initial notice of the meeting was provided in conformity with this Section 1.4.
When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place, if any, thereof and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken; provided, however, that if the adjournment is for more than 30 days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting, or if after the adjournment a new record date for stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting the Board of Directors shall fix a new record date for notice of such adjourned meeting in conformity herewith and such notice shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting as of the record date for notice of such adjourned meeting. At any adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted that may have been transacted at the original meeting.
Section 1.5. Quorum.
At any meeting of the stockholders, the holders of shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to cast a majority of the total votes entitled to be cast by the holders of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (Voting Stock), present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for all purposes, unless or except to the extent that the presence of a larger number is required by applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation. If a separate vote by one or more classes or series is required, the holders of shares entitled to cast a majority of the total votes entitled to be cast by the holders of the shares of the class or classes or series, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to that vote on that matter. A quorum, once established, shall not be broken by the subsequent withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum.
If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, the chairperson of the meeting may adjourn the meeting to another place, if any, date and time. At any such adjourned meeting at which there is a quorum, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the meeting originally called.
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Section 1.6. Organization.
The chairperson of the Board of Directors or, in his or her absence, the person whom the Board of Directors designates or, in the absence of that person or the failure of the Board of Directors to designate a person, the President of the Corporation or, in his or her absence, the person chosen by the holders of a majority of the shares of capital stock entitled to vote who are present, in person or by proxy, shall call to order any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation and act as chairperson of the meeting. In the absence of the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, the secretary of the meeting shall be the person the chairperson appoints.
Section 1.7. Conduct of Business.
The chairperson of any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation shall determine the order of business and the rules of procedure for the conduct of such meeting, including the manner of voting and the conduct of discussion as he or she determines to be in order. The chairperson shall have the power to adjourn the meeting to another place, if any, date and time. The date and time of the opening and closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at the meeting shall be announced at the meeting. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the chairperson of the meeting shall have the right and authority to convene and (for any or no reason) to adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairperson, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the chairperson of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chairperson of the meeting shall determine; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. The chairperson of the meeting of stockholders, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a nomination or matter of business was not properly brought before the meeting and if such chairperson should so determine, such chairperson shall so declare to the meeting and any such matter or business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted or considered. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the chairperson of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.
Section 1.8. Proxies; Inspectors.
(a) At any meeting of the stockholders, every stockholder entitled to vote may vote in person or by proxy authorized by an instrument in writing or by a transmission permitted by applicable law, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A stockholder may revoke any proxy which is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by delivering to the Secretary of the Corporation a revocation of the proxy or a new proxy bearing a later date.
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(b) Prior to a meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, the Corporation shall appoint one or more inspectors, who may be employees of the Corporation, to act at a meeting of stockholders of the Corporation and make a written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the person presiding at the meeting may, and to the extent required by applicable law, shall, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before beginning the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspectors may appoint or retain other persons or entities to assist the inspectors in the performance of the duties of inspectors. The inspectors shall have the duties prescribed by applicable law. Unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, the date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting. No ballot, proxies, votes or any revocation thereof or change thereto shall be accepted by the inspectors after the closing of the polls unless the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware upon application by a stockholder shall determine otherwise. In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots cast at any meeting of stockholders, the inspectors may consider such information as is permitted by applicable law. No person who is a candidate for office at an election may serve as an inspector at such election.
Section 1.9. Voting.
Except as otherwise required by the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation or pursuant to any law or regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities or by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, all matters other than the election of directors shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast on the matter affirmatively or negatively. All elections of directors shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast.
Section 1.10. Stock List.
A complete list of stockholders of the Corporation entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, arranged in alphabetical order for each class of stock and showing the address of each such stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of such stockholder, shall be open to the examination of any such stockholder, for any purpose germane to a meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, for a period of at least ten (10) days before the meeting (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting or (ii) during ordinary business hours at the principal place of business of the Corporation; provided, however, if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten (10) days before the meeting date, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth (10th) day before such meeting date. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then a list of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof and may be examined by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting.
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Except as otherwise provided by law, the stock ledger shall be the sole evidence of the identity of the stockholders entitled to vote at a meeting and the number of shares held by each stockholder.
SECTION 2 - BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 2.1. General Powers and Qualifications of Directors.
The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. In addition to the powers and authorities these bylaws expressly confer upon them, the Board of Directors may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by the DGCL or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these bylaws required to be exercised or done by the stockholders. Directors need not be stockholders of the Corporation to be qualified for election or service as a director of the Corporation.
Section 2.2. Removal; Resignation.
The directors of the Corporation may be removed in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and the DGCL. Any director may resign at any time upon notice given in writing, including by electronic transmission, to the Corporation.
Section 2.3. Regular Meetings.
Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at the place (if any), on the date and at the time as shall have been established by the Board of Directors and publicized among all directors. A notice of a regular meeting, the date of which has been so publicized, shall not be required.
Section 2.4. Special Meetings.
Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by (i) the chairperson of the Board of Directors, (ii) the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, (iii) two or more directors then in office, or, if the Board of Directors then includes a director nominated or designated for nomination by investment funds affiliated with TSG Consumer Partners LLC and their respective successors, Transferees and Affiliates (collectively, the TSG Entities), (iv) by any director nominated or designated for nomination by the TSG Entities, and shall be held at the place, if any, on the date and at the time as he, she or they shall fix. Notice of the place, if any, date and time of each special meeting shall be given to each director either (a) by mailing written notice thereof not less than five days before the meeting, or (b) by telephone, facsimile or other means of electronic transmission providing notice thereof not less than twenty-four hours before the meeting. Any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting of the Board of Directors. Affiliate means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such Person; the term control, as used in this definition, means the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and controlled and controlling have meanings correlative to the foregoing. Person means an individual, any general partnership, limited partnership, limited
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liability company, corporation, trust, business trust, joint stock company, joint venture, unincorporated association, cooperative or association or any other legal entity or organization of whatever nature, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity. Transferee means any Person who (i) becomes a beneficial owner of Common Stock upon having purchased such shares of Common Stock from a TSG Entity and (ii) is designated in writing by the transferor as a Transferee and a copy of such writing is provided to the Corporation at or prior to the time of such purchase; provided, however, that a purchaser of Common Stock in a registered offering or in a transaction effected pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (or any similar or successor provision thereto) shall not be a Transferee. For the purpose of these bylaws, beneficial ownership shall be determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Act.
Section 2.5. Quorum.
At any meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of the total number of directors then in office shall constitute a quorum for all purposes; provided that prior to the first date (the Trigger Date) on which the TSG Entities cease collectively to beneficially own (directly or indirectly) at least than 10% of the Voting Stock, it shall be necessary to constitute a quorum, in addition to a majority of the total number of directors then in office that (a) at least one director nominated or designated for nomination by the TSG Entities be present (other than attendance for the sole purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened) and (b) for an action of the Board of Directors taken at a meeting to be valid, directors that constitute a quorum must be present (as described in Section 2.6 below) at the time that the vote on such action is taken. For the avoidance of doubt, prior to the Trigger Date, if directors that constitute a quorum are not present (as described in Section 2.6 below) at the time that the vote on any action is taken, a quorum shall not be constituted with respect to such action, and any vote taken with respect to such action shall not be a valid action of the Board of Directors, notwithstanding that a quorum of the Board of Directors may have been present at the commencement of such meeting. If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting to another place, if any, date or time, without further notice or waiver thereof.
Section 2.6. Participation in Meetings by Conference Telephone or Other Communications Equipment.
Members of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or committee thereof by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all directors participating in the meeting can hear each other director, and such participation shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
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Section 2.7. Conduct of Business.
At any meeting of the Board of Directors, business shall be transacted in the order and manner that the Board of Directors may from time to time determine, and all matters shall be determined by the vote of a majority of the directors present, provided a quorum is present at the time such matter is acted upon, except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws or required by applicable law. The Board of Directors or any committee thereof may take action without a meeting if all members thereof consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings, or electronic transmission or electronic transmissions, are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.
Section 2.8. Compensation of Directors.
The Board of Directors shall be authorized to fix the compensation of directors. The directors of the Corporation shall be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors and may be reimbursed a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors, paid an annual retainer or paid other compensation, including equity compensation, as the Board of Directors determines. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of committees shall have their expenses, if any, of attendance of each meeting of such committee reimbursed and may be paid compensation for attending committee meetings or being a member of a committee.
SECTION 3 - COMMITTEES
The Board of Directors may designate committees of the Board of Directors, with such lawfully delegable powers and duties as it thereby confers, to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and shall, for those committees, appoint a director or directors to serve as the member or members, designating, if it desires, other directors as alternate members who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of such committee. In the absence or disqualification of any member of any committee and any alternate member in his or her place, the member or members of the committee present at the meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or she or they constitute a quorum, may by unanimous vote appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of the absent or disqualified member. All provisions of this Section 3.1 are subject to, and nothing in this Section 3.1 shall in any way limit the exercise, or method or timing of the exercise of, the rights of any person granted by the Corporation with respect to the existence, duties, composition or conduct of any committee of the Board of Directors, including those rights granted pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement.
SECTION 4 - OFFICERS
Section 4.1. Generally.
The officers of the Corporation shall consist of a Chief Executive Officer, President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary, one or more Assistant Secretaries, a Treasurer, one or more Assistant Treasurers, a Chief Financial Officer and other officers as may from time to time be appointed by the Board of Directors. Each officer shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation or removal. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. The compensation of officers appointed by the Board of Directors shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof or by the officers as may be designated by resolution of the Board of Directors.
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Section 4.2. President.
Unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, the President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. Subject to the provisions of these bylaws and to the direction of the Board of Directors, he or she shall have the responsibility for the general management and control of the business and affairs of the Corporation and shall perform all duties and have all powers that are commonly incident to the office of chief executive or which are delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors. He or she shall have the power to sign all stock certificates, contracts and other instruments of the Corporation that are authorized and shall have general supervision and direction of all of the other officers, employees and agents of the Corporation.
Section 4.3. Vice President.
Each Vice President shall have the powers and duties delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors or the President. One Vice President may be designated by the Board of Directors to perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President in the event of the Presidents absence or disability.
Section 4.4. Secretary and Assistant Secretaries.
The Secretary shall issue all authorized notices for, and shall keep minutes of, all meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors. He or she shall have charge of the corporate books and shall perform other duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.
Any Assistant Secretary shall perform such duties and possess such powers as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary may from time to time prescribe. In the event of the absence, inability or refusal to act of the Secretary, the Assistant Secretary, (or if there shall be more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in the order determined by the Board of Directors) shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary.
Section 4.5. Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurers.
The Chief Financial Officer shall keep or cause to be kept the books of account of the Corporation in a thorough and proper manner and shall render statements of the financial affairs of the Corporation in such form and as often as required by the Board of Directors or the President. The Chief Financial Officer, subject to the order of the Board of Directors, shall have the custody of all funds and securities of the Corporation. The Chief Financial Officer shall perform other duties commonly incident to his office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or the President shall designate from time to time. The President may direct the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer to assume and perform the duties of the Chief Financial Officer in the absence or disability of the Chief Financial Officer, and each Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer shall perform other duties commonly incident to his office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or the President shall designate from time to time.
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Section 4.6. Delegation of Authority.
The Board of Directors may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officer or agent, notwithstanding any provision hereof.
Section 4.7. Removal.
The Board of Directors may remove any officer of the Corporation at any time, with or without cause.
Section 4.8. Action with Respect to Securities of Other Companies.
Unless otherwise directed by the Board of Directors, the President, or any officer of the Corporation authorized by the President, shall have power to vote and otherwise act on behalf of the Corporation, in person or by proxy, at any meeting of stockholders or equityholders of, or with respect to any action of, stockholders or equityholders of any other entity in which the Corporation may hold securities and otherwise to exercise any and all rights and powers which the Corporation may possess by reason of its ownership of securities in such other entity.
SECTION 5 - STOCK
Section 5.1. Certificates of Stock.
Shares of the capital stock of the Corporation may be certificated or uncertificated, as provided in the DGCL. Stock certificates shall be signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by, (i) the chairperson of the Board (if any), the President or a Vice President, and (ii) the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Chief Financial Officer, certifying the number of shares owned by such stockholder. Any signatures on a certificate may be by facsimile. Although any officer, transfer agent or registrar whose manual or facsimile signature is affixed to such a certificate ceases to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate has been issued, it may nevertheless be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such officer, transfer agent or registrar were still such at the date of its issue.
Section 5.2. Transfers of Stock.
Transfers of stock shall be made only upon the transfer books of the Corporation kept at an office of the Corporation (within or without the State of Delaware) or by transfer agents designated to transfer shares of the stock of the Corporation.
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Section 5.3. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates.
In the event of the loss, theft or destruction of any certificate of stock, another may be issued in its place pursuant to regulations as the Board of Directors may establish concerning proof of the loss, theft or destruction and concerning the giving of a satisfactory bond or indemnity, if deemed appropriate.
Section 5.4. Regulations.
The issue, transfer, conversion and registration of certificates of stock of the Corporation shall be governed by other regulations as the Board of Directors may establish.
Section 5.5. Record Date.
(a) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall, unless otherwise required by law, not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting. If the Board of Directors so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board of Directors determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any postponement or adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the postponed or adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such postponed or adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance herewith at the postponed or adjourned meeting.
(b) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which shall not be more than 60 days prior to such other action. If no such record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.
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SECTION 6 - INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES
Section 6.1. Indemnification.
The Corporation shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), any person who was or is made, or is threatened to be made, a party or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a Proceeding), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director of the Corporation or an officer of the Corporation elected by the Board of Directors in a duly adopted resolution of the Board of Directors (each, an Officer) or, while a director of the Corporation or an Officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, member, trustee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, nonprofit entity or other enterprise (including service with respect to employee benefit plans) (any such entity, an Other Entity) (each such person, an Indemnitee), against all expense, liability and loss suffered (including, but not limited to, expenses (including attorneys fees and expenses), judgments, fines, ERISA excise tax and penalties and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such Indemnitee in connection with such Proceeding) by such Indemnitee in connection therewith. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the Corporation shall be required to indemnify an Indemnitee in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such Indemnitee only if the commencement of such Proceeding (or part thereof) by the Indemnitee was authorized by the Board of Directors or the Proceeding (or part thereof) relates to the enforcement of the Corporations obligations under this Section 6.1.
Section 6.2. Advancement of Expenses.
The Corporation shall to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law pay, on an as-incurred basis, all expenses (including attorneys fees and expenses) actually and reasonably incurred by an Indemnitee in defending any proceeding, which may be indemnifiable pursuant to this Section 6, in advance of its final disposition. Such advancement shall be unconditional, unsecured and interest free and shall be made without regard to Indemnitees ability to repay any expenses advanced; provided, however, that, to the extent required by the DGCL, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an unsecured undertaking by the Indemnitee to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section 6 or otherwise.
Section 6.3. Claims.
If a claim for indemnification (following the final disposition of such proceeding) or advancement of expenses under this Section 6 is not paid in full within sixty (60) days after a written claim therefor by the Indemnitee has been received by the Corporation, the Indemnitee may file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim to the fullest extent permitted by law. In any such action the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the Indemnitee is not entitled to the requested indemnification or advancement of expenses under applicable law.
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Section 6.4. Insurance.
The Corporation shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, trustee, employee, member or agent of the Corporation, or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, trustee, employee, member or agent of an Other Entity, against any liability asserted against the person and incurred by the person in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power or the obligation to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Section 6 or the DGCL.
Section 6.5. Non-Exclusivity of Rights; Other Indemnification.
The rights conferred on any Indemnitee by this Section 6 are not exclusive of other rights arising under any bylaw, agreement, vote of directors or stockholders or otherwise, and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs and legal representatives of such Indemnitee. This Section 6 shall not limit the right of the Corporation, to the extent and in the manner permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to Indemnitees or persons other than Indemnitees when and as authorized by appropriate corporate action, including by separate agreement with the Corporation.
Section 6.6. Amounts Received from an Other Entity.
Subject to any written agreement between the Indemnitee and the Corporation to the contrary, the Corporations obligation, if any, to indemnify or to advance expenses to any Indemnitee who was or is serving at the Corporations request as a director, officer, employee, member, trustee or agent of an Other Entity shall be reduced by any amount such Indemnitee may collect as indemnification or advancement of expenses from such Other Entity.
Section 6.7. Amendment or Repeal.
The provisions of this Section 6 shall constitute a contract between the Corporation, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, each individual who serves or has served as an Indemnitee (whether before or after the adoption of these bylaws), in consideration of such persons performance of such services, and pursuant to this Section 6, the Corporation intends to be legally bound to each such current or former Indemnitee. With respect to current and former Indemnitees, the rights conferred under this Section 6 are present contractual rights and such rights are fully vested, and shall be deemed to have vested fully, immediately upon adoption of these bylaws. With respect to any Indemnitee who commences service following adoption of these bylaws, the rights conferred under this Section 6 shall be present contractual rights, and such rights shall fully vest, and be deemed to have vested fully, immediately upon such Indemnitees service in the capacity which is subject to the benefits of this Section 6. Any right to indemnification or to advancement of expenses of any Indemnitee arising hereunder shall not be eliminated or impaired by an amendment to or repeal of this Section 6 after the occurrence of the act or omission that is the subject of the civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit, proceeding or other matter for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought.
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Section 6.8. Reliance.
Indemnitees who after the date of the adoption of this Section 6 become or remain an Indemnitee described in Section 6.1 will be conclusively presumed to have relied on the rights to indemnity, advancement of expenses and other rights contained in this Section 6 in entering into or continuing the service. The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this Section 6 will apply to claims made against any Indemnitee described in Section 6.1 arising out of acts or omissions that occurred or occur either before or after the adoption of this Section 6 in respect of service as a director or officer of the corporation or other service described in Section 6.1.
Section 6.9. Successful Defense.
In the event that any proceeding to which an Indemnitee is a party is resolved in any manner other than by adverse judgment against the Indemnitee (including settlement of such proceeding with or without payment of money or other consideration) it shall be presumed that the Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in such proceeding for purposes of Section 145(c) of the DGCL. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion by clear and convincing evidence.
Section 6.10. Merger or Consolidation.
For purposes of this Section 6, references to the Corporation shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this Section 6 with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as he or she would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.
Section 6.11. Continuation of Indemnification.
The rights to indemnification and to advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Section 6 shall continue notwithstanding that the person has ceased to be an Indemnitee and shall inure to the benefit of his or her estate, heirs, executors, administrators, legatees and distributees; provided, however, that the Corporation shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnity in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
Section 6.12. Indemnification Contracts.
The Board of Directors is authorized to cause the Corporation to enter into indemnification contracts with any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or any person serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including employee benefit plans, providing indemnification rights to such person. Such rights may be greater than those provided in this Section 6.
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Section 6.13. Savings Clause.
If this Section 6 or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify and advance expenses to each person entitled to indemnification under Section 6.1 to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Section 6 that shall not have been invalidated and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.
SECTION 7 - NOTICES
Section 7.1. Notices.
Except as otherwise provided herein or permitted by applicable law, notices to directors and stockholders shall be in writing and delivered personally or mailed to the directors or stockholders at their addresses appearing on the books of the Corporation. If mailed, notice to a stockholder of the Corporation shall be deemed given when deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, directed to a stockholder at such stockholders address as it appears on the records of the Corporation. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders of the Corporation may be given by electronic transmission in the manner provided in Section 232 of the DGCL.
Section 7.2. Waivers.
A written waiver of any notice, signed by a stockholder or director, or a waiver by electronic transmission by such person or entity, whether given before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to the notice required to be given to such person or entity. Neither the business nor the purpose of any meeting need be specified in the waiver. Attendance at any meeting shall constitute waiver of notice except attendance for the sole purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.
SECTION 8 - MISCELLANEOUS
Section 8.1. Corporate Seal.
The Board of Directors may provide a suitable seal, containing the name of the Corporation, which seal shall be in the charge of the Secretary of the Corporation. If and when so directed by the Board of Directors, duplicates of the seal may be kept and used by the Treasurer or by an Assistant Secretary, Assistant Treasurer or the Chief Financial Officer.
Section 8.2. Reliance upon Books, Reports, and Records.
Each director and each member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall, in the performance of his or her duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the books and records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of its officers, agents or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors so designated, or by any other person or entity as to matters which such director or committee member reasonably believes are within such other persons or entitys professional or expert competence and that has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.
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Section 8.3. Fiscal Year.
The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be as fixed by the Board of Directors.
Section 8.4. Time Periods.
In applying any provision of these bylaws that requires that an act be done or not be done a specified number of days before an event or that an act be done during a specified number of days before an event, calendar days shall be used, the day of the doing of the act shall be excluded, and the day of the event shall be included.
SECTION 9 - AMENDMENTS
These bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and the DGCL.
SECTION 10 - SEVERABILITY
If any provision or provisions of these bylaws shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever: (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of these bylaws (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of these bylaws containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (ii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of these bylaws (including, without limitation, each such portion of any paragraph of these bylaws containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their good faith service to or for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.
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Exhibit 10.1
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
BY AND AMONG
THE DUCKHORN PORTFOLIO, INC.
AND
CERTAIN STOCKHOLDERS
DATED AS OF MARCH 17, 2021
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I EFFECTIVENESS | 1 | |||||
Section 1.1. |
Effectiveness | 1 | ||||
ARTICLE II DEFINITIONS. | 1 | |||||
Section 2.1. |
Definitions | 1 | ||||
Section 2.2. |
Other Interpretive Provisions | 5 | ||||
ARTICLE III REGISTRATION RIGHTS | 5 | |||||
Section 3.2. |
Demand Registration | 5 | ||||
Section 3.3. |
Shelf Registration | 8 | ||||
Section 3.4. |
Piggyback Registration | 11 | ||||
Section 3.5. |
Lock-Up Agreements | 12 | ||||
Section 3.6. |
Registration Procedures | 13 | ||||
Section 3.7. |
Underwritten Offerings | 18 | ||||
Section 3.8. |
No Inconsistent Agreements; Additional Rights | 20 | ||||
Section 3.9. |
Registration Expenses | 20 | ||||
Section 3.10. |
Indemnification | 20 | ||||
Section 3.11. |
Rules 144 and 144A and Regulation S | 23 | ||||
Section 3.12. |
Existing Registration Statements | 24 | ||||
ARTICLE IV MISCELLANEOUS | 24 | |||||
Section 4.1. |
Authority: Effect | 24 | ||||
Section 4.2. |
Notices | 24 | ||||
Section 4.3. |
Termination and Effect of Termination | 25 | ||||
Section 4.4. |
Permitted Transferees | 26 | ||||
Section 4.5. |
Remedies | 26 | ||||
Section 4.6. |
Amendments | 26 | ||||
Section 4.7. |
Governing Law | 26 | ||||
Section 4.8. |
Consent to Jurisdiction | 27 | ||||
Section 4.9. |
WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL | 27 | ||||
Section 4.10. |
Merger; Binding Effect, Etc | 27 | ||||
Section 4.11. |
Counterparts | 28 | ||||
Section 4.12 |
Severability | 28 | ||||
Section 4.13. |
No Recourse | 28 |
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This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (as it may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, the Agreement), dated as of March 17, 2021, is made by and among:
i. The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company); and
ii. each Person executing this Agreement and listed as an Investor on the signature pages hereto (collectively, together with their Permitted Transferees that become party hereto, the Investors).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, (a) certain of the Investors own shares of the Companys common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the Common Stock), which, subject to certain restrictions;
WHEREAS, on the date hereof, the Company has priced an initial public offering of shares of its Common Stock (the IPO); and
WHEREAS, the parties believe that it is in the best interests of the Company and the other parties hereto to set forth their agreements regarding registration rights following the IPO;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual promises, covenants and agreements of the parties hereto, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
EFFECTIVENESS
Section 1.1. Effectiveness. This Agreement shall become effective upon the closing of the IPO.
ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS
Section 2.1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
Adverse Disclosure means public disclosure of material non-public information that, in the good faith judgment of the board of directors of the Company: (i) would be required to be made in any Registration Statement filed with the SEC by the Company so that such Registration Statement, from and after its effective date, does not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; (ii) would not be required to be made at such time but for the filing, effectiveness or continued use of such Registration Statement; and (iii) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for not disclosing publicly.
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Affiliate means, with respect to any specified Person, (a) any Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person, (b) a Member of the Immediate Family of such Person, and (c) any investment fund advised or managed by, or under common control or management with, such specified Person; provided that the Company and each of its subsidiaries shall be deemed not to be Affiliates of any Investor. As used in this definition, the term control means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
Business Day means any day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which banks are required or authorized by law to be closed in the City of New York.
Common Stock shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
Demand Notice shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.3.
Demand Registration shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.1(a).
Demand Registration Request shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.1(a).
Demand Registration Statement shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.1(c).
Demand Suspension shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.6.
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any successor thereto, and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect from time to time.
FINRA means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
Holders means Investors who then hold Registrable Securities under this Agreement.
Investor shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
IPO shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus means an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act, relating to an offer of the Registrable Securities.
Loss shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.9.1.
Member of the Immediate Family means, with respect to any Person who is an individual, (a) each parent, spouse (but not including a former spouse or a spouse from whom such Person is legally separated) or child (including those adopted) of such individual and (b) each trust naming only one or more of the Persons listed in sub-clause (a) as beneficiaries.
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Participation Conditions shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2.5(b).
Permitted Transferee means (i) any Affiliate of a Holder and (ii) such other Persons designated by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities under this Agreement.
Person means any individual, partnership, corporation, company, association, trust, joint venture, limited liability company, unincorporated organization, entity or division, or any government, governmental department or agency or political subdivision thereof.
Piggyback Notice shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.3.1.
Piggyback Registration shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.3.1.
Potential Takedown Participant shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2.5(b).
Pro Rata Portion means, with respect to each Holder requesting that its shares be registered or sold in an Underwritten Public Offering, a number of such shares equal to the aggregate number of Registrable Securities requested to be registered or sold in such Public Offering (excluding any shares to be registered or sold for the account of the Company) multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the aggregate number of Registrable Securities then held by such Holder, and the denominator of which is the aggregate number of Registrable Securities then held by all Holders requesting that their Registrable Securities be registered or sold.
Prospectus means (i) the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, all amendments and supplements to such prospectus, including post-effective amendments and supplements, and all other material incorporated by reference in such prospectus, and (ii) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.
Public Offering means the offer and sale of Registrable Securities for cash pursuant to an effective Registration Statement under the Securities Act (other than a Registration Statement on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or any successor form).
Registrable Securities means (i) all shares of Common Stock that are not then subject to forfeiture to the Company, (ii) all shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon exercise, conversion or exchange of any option, warrant or convertible security not then subject to vesting or forfeiture to the Company and (iii) all shares of Common Stock directly or indirectly issued or then issuable with respect to the securities referred to in clauses (i) or (ii) above by way of unit or stock dividend or unit or stock split, or in connection with a combination of units or shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization. As to any particular Registrable Securities, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when (w) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been disposed of in accordance with such Registration Statement, (x) such securities shall have been Transferred pursuant to Rule 144, (y) such holder is able to immediately sell such securities under Rule 144 without any restrictions on transfer (including without application of paragraphs (c), (d), (e), (f) and (h) of Rule 144), as determined in the reasonable opinion of the holder (it being understood that a written opinion of the Companys outside legal counsel to the effect that such securities may be so sold removed shall be conclusive evidence this clause has been satisfied), or (z) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding.
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Registration means registration under the Securities Act of the offer and sale of shares of Common Stock under a Registration Statement. The terms register, registered and registering shall have correlative meanings.
Registration Expenses shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.8.
Registration Statement means any registration statement of the Company filed with, or to be filed with, the SEC under the Securities Act, including the related Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including pre- and post-effective amendments, and all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference in such registration statement other than a registration statement (and related Prospectus) filed on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or any successor form thereto.
Representatives means, with respect to any Person, any of such Persons officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys, accountants, actuaries, consultants, equity financing partners or financial advisors or other Person associated with, or acting on behalf of, such Person.
Requisite Investors means any of the Investors.
Rule 144 means Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any successor rule).
SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency having jurisdiction under the Securities Act.
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any successor thereto, and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect from time to time.
Selling Stockholder Information shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.9.1.
Shelf Period shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2.3.
Shelf Registration shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2.1(a).
Shelf Registration Notice shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2.2.
Shelf Registration Request shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2.1(a).
Shelf Registration Statement shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2.1(a).
Shelf Suspension shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2.4.
Shelf Takedown Notice shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2.5(b).
Shelf Takedown Request shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2.5(a).
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Transfer means, with respect to any Registrable Security, any interest therein, or any other securities or equity interests relating thereto, a direct or indirect transfer, sale, exchange, assignment, pledge, hypothecation or other encumbrance or other disposition thereof, including the grant of an option or other right, whether directly or indirectly, whether voluntarily, involuntarily, by operation of law, pursuant to judicial process or otherwise. Transferred shall have a correlative meaning.
Underwritten Public Offering means an underwritten Public Offering, including any bought deal or block sale to a financial institution conducted as an underwritten Public Offering.
Underwritten Shelf Takedown means an Underwritten Public Offering pursuant to an effective Shelf Registration Statement.
WKSI means any Securities Act registrant that is a well-known seasoned issuer as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act at the most recent eligibility determination date specified in paragraph (2) of that definition.
Section 2.2. Other Interpretive Provisions. (a) The meanings of defined terms are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.
(b) The words hereof, herein, hereunder and similar words refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; and any subsection and section references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified.
(c) The term including is not limiting and means including without limitation.
(d) The captions and headings of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.
(e) Whenever the context requires, any pronouns used herein shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms.
ARTICLE III
REGISTRATION RIGHTS
The Company will perform and comply, and cause each of its subsidiaries to perform and comply, with such of the following provisions as are applicable to it. Each Holder will perform and comply with such of the following provisions as are applicable to such Holder.
Section 3.1. Demand Registration.
Section 3.1.1. Request for Demand Registration.
(a) |
Following the consummation of the IPO, each Requisite Investor shall have the right to make a written request from time to time (a Demand Registration Request) to the Company for Registration of all or part of the Registrable Securities held by such Holder. Any such Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration Request shall hereinafter be referred to as a Demand Registration. |
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(b) |
Each Demand Registration Request shall specify (x) the aggregate amount of Registrable Securities to be registered, and (y) the intended method or methods of disposition thereof. |
(c) |
Upon receipt of a Demand Registration Request, the Company shall as promptly as practicable file a Registration Statement (a Demand Registration Statement) relating to such Demand Registration, and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Demand Registration Statement to be promptly declared effective under the Securities Act. |
Section 3.1.2. Limitation on Demand Registrations. The Company shall not be obligated to take any action to effect any Demand Registration if (x) a Demand Registration or Piggyback Registration was declared effective or an Underwritten Shelf Takedown was consummated within the preceding ninety (90) days or (y) the value of the Registrable Securities proposed to be sold by the initiating Holders is not at least the lesser of twenty-five million dollars ($25 million) and all of such Holders Registrable Securities.
Section 3.1.3. Demand Notice. Promptly upon receipt of a Demand Registration Request pursuant to Section 3.1.1 (but in no event more than three (3) Business Days thereafter), the Company shall deliver a written notice (a Demand Notice) of any such Demand Registration Request to all other Holders and the Demand Notice shall offer each such Holder the opportunity to include in the Demand Registration that number of Registrable Securities as each such Holder may request in writing. Subject to Section 3.1.7, Company shall include in the Demand Registration all such Registrable Securities with respect to which the Company has received written requests for inclusion therein within three (3) Business Days after the date that the Demand Notice was delivered.
Section 3.1.4. Demand Withdrawal. Each Requisite Investor that has requested the inclusion of Registrable Securities in a Demand Registration pursuant to Section 3.1.3 may withdraw all or any portion of its Registrable Securities included in a Demand Registration from such Demand Registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of the applicable Demand Registration Statement. Upon receipt of a notice to such effect with respect to all of the Registrable Securities included in such Demand Registration by such Requisite Investors, the Company shall cease all efforts to secure effectiveness of the applicable Demand Registration Statement. Any such withdrawn Demand Registration Statement shall count as a Demand Registration with respect to any participating Requisite Investor unless such Requisite Investor reimburses the Company its pro rata portion (based on shares requested to be included in such Registration) of the Registration Expenses incurred prior to the withdrawal.
Section 3.1.5. Effective Registration. The Company shall use reasonable best efforts to cause the Demand Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective for not less than one hundred eighty (180) days (or such shorter period as will
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terminate when all Registrable Securities covered by such Demand Registration Statement have been sold or withdrawn), or, if such Demand Registration Statement relates to an Underwritten Public Offering, such longer period as in the opinion of counsel for the underwriter or underwriters a Prospectus is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales of Registrable Securities by an underwriter or dealer.
Section 3.1.6. Delay in Filing; Suspension of Registration. If the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Demand Registration Statement at any time would require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure, the Company may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders, delay the filing or initial effectiveness of, or suspend use of, the Demand Registration Statement (a Demand Suspension); provided, however, that the Company shall not be permitted to exercise a Demand Suspension (i) more than twice during any twelve (12)-month period, (ii) for a period exceeding sixty (60) days on any one occasion or (iii) for an aggregate of more than ninety (90) days in any twelve (12)-month period. In the case of a Demand Suspension, the Holders agree to suspend use of the applicable Prospectus in connection with any sale or purchase, or offer to sell or purchase, Registrable Securities, upon receipt of the notice referred to above. The Company shall immediately notify the Holders in writing upon the termination of any Demand Suspension, amend or supplement the Prospectus, if necessary, so it does not contain any untrue statement or omission and furnish to the Holders such numbers of copies of the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented as the Holders may reasonably request. The Company shall, if necessary, supplement or amend the Demand Registration Statement, if required by the registration form used by the Company for the Demand Registration or by the instructions applicable to such registration form or by the Securities Act or the rules or regulations promulgated thereunder or as may reasonably be requested by the Holders of a majority of Registrable Securities that are included in such Demand Registration Statement.
Section 3.1.7. Priority of Securities Registered Pursuant to Demand Registrations. If the managing underwriter or underwriters of a proposed Underwritten Public Offering of the Registrable Securities included in a Demand Registration, advise the Company in writing that, in its or their opinion, the number of securities requested to be included in such Demand Registration exceeds the number that can be sold in such offering without being likely to have an adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the securities offered or the market for the securities offered, then the securities to be included in such Registration shall be in the case of any Demand Registration (x) first, allocated to each Holder that has requested to participate in such Demand Registration an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the number of such Registrable Securities requested to be registered or sold by such Holder, and (ii) a number of such shares equal to such Holders Pro Rata Portion, and (y) second, and only if all the securities referred to in clause (x) have been included, the number of other securities that, in the opinion of such managing underwriter or underwriters can be sold without having such adverse effect.
Section 3.1.8. Resale Rights. In the event that an Investor requests to participate in a Registration pursuant to this Section 3.1 in connection with a distribution of Registrable Securities to its partners or members, the Registration shall provide for resale by such partners or members, if requested by such Investor.
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Section 3.2. Shelf Registration.
Section 3.2.1. Request for Shelf Registration.
(a) |
At such time as the Company is eligible to file a Registration Statement on Form S-3, upon the written request of any Requisite Investor from time to time (a Shelf Registration Request), the Company shall promptly file with the SEC a shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (Shelf Registration Statement) relating to the offer and sale of Registrable Securities by any Holders thereof from time to time in accordance with the methods of distribution elected by such Holders and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to promptly become effective under the Securities Act. Any such Registration pursuant to a Shelf Registration Request shall hereinafter be referred to as a Shelf Registration. |
(b) |
If on the date of the Shelf Registration Request the Company is a WKSI, then the Shelf Registration Request may request Registration of an unspecified amount of Registrable Securities to be sold by unspecified Holders. If on the date of the Shelf Registration Request the Company is not a WKSI, then the Shelf Registration Request shall specify the aggregate amount of Registrable Securities to be registered. The Company shall provide to the Holders the information necessary to determine the Companys status as a WKSI upon request. |
Section 3.2.2. Shelf Registration Notice. Promptly upon receipt of a Shelf Registration Request (but in no event more than three (3) Business Days thereafter (or such shorter period as may be reasonably requested in connection with an underwritten block trade), the Company shall deliver a written notice (a Shelf Registration Notice) of any such request to all other Holders, which notice shall specify, if applicable, the amount of Registrable Securities to be registered, and the Shelf Registration Notice shall offer each such Holder the opportunity to include in the Shelf Registration that number of Registrable Securities as each such Holder may request in writing. The Company shall include in such Shelf Registration all such Registrable Securities with respect to which the Company has received written requests for inclusion therein within three (3) Business Days (or such shorter period as may be reasonably requested in connection with an underwritten block trade) after the date that the Shelf Registration Notice has been delivered.
Section 3.2.3. Continued Effectiveness. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep such Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act in order to permit the Prospectus forming part of the Shelf Registration Statement to be usable by Holders until the earlier of: (i) the date as of which all Registrable Securities have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement or another Registration Statement filed under the Securities Act (but in no event prior to the applicable period referred to in Section 4(a)(3) of the Securities Act and Rule 174 thereunder); and (ii) the date as of which no Holder holds Registrable Securities (such
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period of effectiveness, the Shelf Period). Subject to Section 3.2.4, the Company shall be deemed not to have used its reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement effective during the Shelf Period if the Company voluntarily takes any action or omits to take any action that would result in Holders of the Registrable Securities covered thereby not being able to offer and sell any Registrable Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement during the Shelf Period, unless such action or omission is required by applicable law.
Section 3.2.4. Suspension of Registration. If the continued use of such Shelf Registration Statement at any time would require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure, the Company may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders, suspend use of the Shelf Registration Statement (a Shelf Suspension); provided, however, that the Company shall not be permitted to exercise a Shelf Suspension more than (i) more than twice during any twelve (12)-month period, (ii) for a period exceeding sixty (60) days on any one occasion or (iii) for an aggregate of more than ninety (90) days in any twelve (12)-month period. In the case of a Shelf Suspension, the Holders agree to suspend use of the applicable Prospectus in connection with any sale or purchase of, or offer to sell or purchase, Registrable Securities, upon receipt of the notice referred to above. The Company shall immediately notify the Holders in writing upon the termination of any Shelf Suspension, amend or supplement the Prospectus, if necessary, so it does not contain any untrue statement or omission and furnish to the Holders such numbers of copies of the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented as the Holders may reasonably request. The Company shall, if necessary, supplement or amend the Shelf Registration Statement, if required by the registration form used by the Company for the Shelf Registration Statement or by the instructions applicable to such registration form or by the Securities Act or the rules or regulations promulgated thereunder or as may reasonably be requested by the Holders of a majority of Registrable Securities that are included in such Shelf Registration Statement.
Section 3.2.5. Shelf Takedown.
(a) |
At any time the Company has an effective Shelf Registration Statement with respect to Registrable Securities, by notice to the Company specifying the intended method or methods of disposition thereof, any Requisite Investor may make a written request (a Shelf Takedown Request) to the Company to effect a Public Offering, including an Underwritten Shelf Takedown, of all or a portion of such Holders Registrable Securities that are registered on such Shelf Registration Statement, and as soon as practicable the Company shall amend or supplement the Shelf Registration Statement as necessary for such purpose. No Holder, other than a Requisite Investor, may effect a Public Offering pursuant to this Section 3.2, except pursuant to Section 3.2.5(b) as a Potential Takedown Participant. |
(b) |
Promptly upon receipt of a Shelf Takedown Request (but in no event more than three (3) Business Days thereafter (or such shorter period as may be reasonably requested in connection with an underwritten block trade) |
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for any Underwritten Shelf Takedown, the Company shall deliver a notice (a Shelf Takedown Notice) to each other Holder with Registrable Securities covered by the applicable Registration Statement, or to all other Holders if such Registration Statement is undesignated (each a Potential Takedown Participant). The Shelf Takedown Notice shall offer each such Potential Takedown Participant the opportunity to include in any Underwritten Shelf Takedown such number of Registrable Securities as each such Potential Takedown Participant may request in writing. The Company shall include in the Underwritten Shelf Takedown all such Registrable Securities with respect to which the Company has received written requests for inclusion therein within three (3) Business Days (or such shorter period as may be reasonably requested in connection with an underwritten block trade) after the date that the Shelf Takedown Notice has been delivered. Any Potential Takedown Participants request to participate in an Underwritten Shelf Takedown shall be binding on the Potential Takedown Participant; provided that each such Potential Takedown Participant that elects to participate may condition its participation on the Underwritten Shelf Takedown being completed within ten (10) Business Days of its acceptance at a price per share (after giving effect to any underwriters discounts or commissions) to such Potential Takedown Participant of not less than ninety percent (90%) (or such lesser percentage specified by such Potential Takedown Participant) of the closing price for the shares on their principal trading market on the Business Day immediately prior to such Potential Takedown Participants election to participate (the Participation Conditions). Notwithstanding the delivery of any Shelf Takedown Notice, but subject to the Participation Conditions (to the extent applicable), all determinations as to whether to complete any Underwritten Shelf Takedown and as to the timing, manner, price and other terms of any Underwritten Shelf Takedown contemplated by this Section 3.2.5 shall be determined by the initiating Requisite Investors. |
(c) |
The Company shall not be obligated to take any action to effect any Underwritten Shelf Takedown if (x) a Demand Registration or Piggyback Registration was declared effective or an Underwritten Shelf Takedown was consummated within the preceding ninety (90) days or (y) the value of the Registrable Securities proposed to be sold by the initiating Holders is not at least the lesser of twenty-five million dollars ($25 million) and all of such Holders Registrable Securities. |
Section 3.2.6. Priority of Securities Sold Pursuant to Shelf Takedowns. If the managing underwriter or underwriters of a proposed Underwritten Shelf Takedown pursuant to Section 3.2.5 advise the Company in writing that, in its or their opinion, the number of securities requested to be included in the proposed Underwritten Shelf Takedown exceeds the number that can be sold in such Underwritten Shelf Takedown without being likely to have an adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the securities offered or the market for the securities offered, the number of Registrable
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Securities to be included in such offering shall be (x) first, allocated to each Holder that has requested to participate in such Underwritten Shelf Takedown an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the number of such Registrable Securities requested to be registered or sold by such Holder, and (ii) a number of such shares equal to such Holders Pro Rata Portion, and (y) second, and only if all the securities referred to in clause (x) have been included, the number of other securities that, in the opinion of such managing underwriter or underwriters can be sold without having such adverse effect.
Section 3.2.7. Resale Rights. In the event that an Investor elects to request a Registration pursuant to this Section 3.2 in connection with a distribution of Registrable Securities to its partners or members, the Registration shall provide for resale by such partners or members, if requested by such Investor.
Section 3.3. Piggyback Registration.
Section 3.3.1. Participation. If the Company at any time proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act or to conduct a Public Offering with respect to any offering of its equity securities for its own account or for the account of any other Persons (other than (i) a Registration under Sections 3.1 or 3.2, (ii) a Registration on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or any successor form to such forms or (iii) a Registration of securities solely relating to an offering and sale to employees or directors of the Company or its subsidiaries pursuant to any employee stock plan, employee stock purchase plan, dividend reinvestment program or other employee benefit plan arrangement), then, as soon as practicable (but in no event less than ten (10) Business Days prior to the proposed date of filing of such Registration Statement or, in the case of a Public Offering under a Shelf Registration Statement, the anticipated pricing or trade date), the Company shall give written notice (a Piggyback Notice) of such proposed filing or Public Offering to all Holders, and such Piggyback Notice shall offer the Holders the opportunity to register under such Registration Statement, or to sell in such Public Offering, such number of Registrable Securities as each such Holder may request in writing (a Piggyback Registration). Subject to Section 3.3.2, the Company shall include in such Registration Statement or in such Public Offering as applicable, all such Registrable Securities that are requested to be included therein within five (5) Business Days after the receipt by such Holder of any such notice; provided, however, that if at any time after giving written notice of its intention to register or sell any securities and prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement filed in connection with such Registration, or the pricing or trade date of a Public Offering under a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company determines for any reason not to register or sell or to delay Registration or the sale of such securities, the Company shall give written notice of such determination to each Holder and, thereupon, (i) in the case of a determination not to register or sell, shall be relieved of its obligation to register or sell any Registrable Securities in connection with such Registration or Public Offering (but not from its obligation to pay the Registration Expenses in connection therewith), without prejudice, however, to the rights of any Holders entitled to request that such Registration or sale be effected as a Demand Registration under Section 3.1 or an Underwritten Shelf Takedown under Section 3.2, as the case may be, and (ii) in the case of a determination to delay Registration or sale, in the absence of a request for a Demand Registration or an
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Underwritten Shelf Takedown, as the case may be, shall also be permitted to delay registering or selling any Registrable Securities. Any Holder shall have the right to withdraw all or part of its request for inclusion of its Registrable Securities in a Piggyback Registration by giving written notice to the Company of its request to withdraw.
Section 3.3.2. Priority of Piggyback Registration. If the managing underwriter or underwriters of any proposed offering of Registrable Securities included in a Piggyback Registration informs the Company and the participating Holders in writing that, in its or their opinion, the number of securities that such Holders and any other Persons intend to include in such offering exceeds the number that can be sold in such offering without being likely to have a significant adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the securities offered or the market for the securities offered, then the securities to be included in such Registration shall be (i) first, one hundred percent (100%) of the securities that the Company proposes to sell, and (ii) second, and only if all the securities referred to in clause (i) have been included, the number of Registrable Securities that, in the opinion of such managing underwriter or underwriters, can be sold without having such adverse effect, with such number to be allocated among the Holders that have requested to participate in such Registration based on an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the number of such Registrable Securities requested to be sold by such Holder, and (ii) a number of such shares equal to such Holders Pro Rata Portion and (iii) third, and only if all of the Registrable Securities referred to in clause (ii) have been included in such Registration, any other securities eligible for inclusion in such Registration.
Section 3.3.3. No Effect on Other Registrations. No Registration of Registrable Securities effected pursuant to a request under this Section 3.3 shall be deemed to have been effected pursuant to Sections 3.1 and 3.2 or shall relieve the Company of its obligations under Sections 3.1 and 3.2.
Section 3.4. Lock-Up Agreements. In connection with each Registration or sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 3.1, 3.2 or 3.3 conducted as an Underwritten Public Offering, each Holder agrees, if requested, to become bound by and to execute and deliver a lock-up agreement with the underwriter(s) of such Public Offering restricting such Holders right to (a) Transfer, directly or indirectly, any equity securities of the Company held by such Holder or (b) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another any of the economic consequences of ownership of such securities during the period commencing on the date of the final Prospectus relating to such Public Offering and ending on the date specified by the underwriters (such period not to exceed ninety (90) days plus such additional period as may be requested by the Company or an underwriter due to regulatory restrictions on the publication or other distribution of research reports and analyst recommendations and opinions, if applicable). The terms of such lock-up agreements shall be negotiated among the Requisite Investors, the Company and the underwriters and shall include customary carve-outs from the restrictions on Transfer set forth therein.
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Section 3.5. Registration Procedures.
Section 3.5.1. Requirements. In connection with the Companys obligations under Sections 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to effect such Registration and to permit the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof as expeditiously as reasonably practicable, and in connection therewith the Company shall:
(a) |
as promptly as practicable, prepare the required Registration Statement, including all exhibits and financial statements required under the Securities Act to be filed therewith and Prospectus, and, before filing a Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, (x) furnish to the underwriters, if any, and to the Holders of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement, copies of all documents prepared to be filed, which documents shall be subject to the review of such underwriters and such Holders and their respective counsel, (y) make such changes in such documents concerning the Holders prior to the filing thereof as such Holders, or their counsel, may reasonably request and (z) except in the case of a Registration under Section 3.3, not file any Registration Statement or Prospectus or amendments or supplements thereto to which the participating Holders, in such capacity, or the underwriters, if any, shall reasonably object; |
(b) |
prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to such Registration Statement and supplements to the Prospectus as may be (x) reasonably requested by any participating Holder with Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement, (y) reasonably requested by any participating Holder (to the extent such request relates to information relating to such Holder), or (z) necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the period of time required by this Agreement, and comply with provisions of the applicable securities laws with respect to the sale or other disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement during such period in accordance with the intended method or methods of disposition by the sellers thereof set forth in such Registration Statement; |
(c) |
notify the participating Holders and the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, and (if requested) confirm such notice in writing and provide copies of the relevant documents, as soon as reasonably practicable after notice thereof is received by the Company (a) when the applicable Registration Statement or any amendment thereto has been filed or becomes effective, and when the applicable Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto has been filed, (b) of any written comments by the SEC, or any request by the SEC or other federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to such Registration Statement or such Prospectus, or for additional information (whether before or after the effective date of the Registration Statement) or any other correspondence with the SEC relating to, or which may affect, the Registration, (c) of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order |
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suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or any order by the SEC or any other regulatory authority preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary or final Prospectus or the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for such purposes, (d) if, at any time, the representations and warranties of the Company in any applicable underwriting agreement cease to be true and correct in all material respects and (e) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; |
(d) |
promptly notify each selling Holder and the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, when the Company becomes aware of the happening of any event as a result of which the applicable Registration Statement or the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (as then in effect) contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of such Prospectus or any preliminary Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, when any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus includes information that may conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary during such time period to amend or supplement such Registration Statement or Prospectus in order to comply with the Securities Act and, as promptly as reasonably practicable thereafter, prepare and file with the SEC, and furnish without charge to the selling Holders and the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, an amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or Prospectus, which shall correct such misstatement or omission or effect such compliance; |
(e) |
to the extent the Company is eligible under the relevant provisions of Rule 430B under the Securities Act, if the Company files any Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall include in such Shelf Registration Statement such disclosures as may be required by Rule 430B under the Securities Act (referring to the unnamed selling security holders in a generic manner by identifying the initial offering of the securities to the Holders) in order to ensure that the Holders may be added to such Shelf Registration Statement at a later time through the filing of a Prospectus supplement rather than a post-effective amendment; |
(f) |
to prevent, or obtain the withdrawal of, any stop order or other order or notice preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary or final Prospectus; |
(g) |
promptly incorporate in a Prospectus supplement, Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or post-effective amendment such information as the managing underwriter or underwriters and the participating Requisite Investors agree |
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should be included therein relating to the plan of distribution with respect to such Registrable Securities; and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement, Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or post-effective amendment as soon as reasonably practicable after being notified of the matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus supplement, Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or post-effective amendment; |
(h) |
furnish to each selling Holder and each underwriter, if any, without charge, as many conformed copies as such Holder or underwriter may reasonably request of the applicable Registration Statement and any amendment or post-effective amendment or supplement thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated therein by reference and all exhibits (including those incorporated by reference); |
(i) |
deliver to each selling Holder and each underwriter, if any, without charge, as many copies of the applicable Prospectus (including each preliminary Prospectus) and any amendment or supplement thereto and such other documents as such Holder or underwriter may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities by such Holder or underwriter (it being understood that the Company shall consent to the use of such Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders and the underwriters, if any, in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto); |
(j) |
on or prior to the date on which the applicable Registration Statement becomes effective, use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify, and cooperate with the selling Holders, the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, and their respective counsel, in connection with the Registration or qualification of such Registrable Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of each state and other jurisdiction as any such selling Holder or managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, or their respective counsel reasonably request in writing and do any and all other acts or things reasonably necessary or advisable to keep such Registration or qualification in effect for such period as required by Section 3.1 or Section 3.2, as applicable, provided that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or to take any action which would subject it to taxation or general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject; |
(k) |
cooperate with the selling Holders and the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends; and enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the managing underwriters may request prior to any sale of Registrable Securities to the underwriters; |
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(l) |
to cause the Registrable Securities covered by the applicable Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof or the underwriter or underwriters, if any, to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities; |
(m) |
make such representations and warranties to the Holders being registered, and the underwriters or agents, if any, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers in public offerings similar to the offering then being undertaken; |
(n) |
enter into such customary agreements (including underwriting and indemnification agreements) and take all such other actions as the participating Requisite Investors or the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate the Registration and disposition of such Registrable Securities; |
(o) |
obtain for delivery to the Holders being registered and to the underwriter or underwriters, if any, an opinion or opinions from counsel for the Company dated the most recent effective date of the Registration Statement or, in the event of an Underwritten Public Offering, the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement, in customary form, scope and substance, which opinions shall be reasonably satisfactory to such Holders or underwriters, as the case may be, and their respective counsel; |
(p) |
in the case of an Underwritten Public Offering, obtain for delivery to the Company and the managing underwriter or underwriters, with copies to the Holders included in such Registration or sale, a comfort letter from the Companys independent certified public accountants or independent auditors (and, if necessary, any other independent certified public accountants or independent auditors of any subsidiary of the Company or any business acquired by the Company for which financial statements and financial data are, or are required to be, included in the Registration Statement) in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by comfort letters as the managing underwriter or underwriters reasonably request, dated the date of execution of the underwriting agreement and brought down to the closing under the underwriting agreement; |
(q) |
cooperate with each seller of Registrable Securities and each underwriter, if any, participating in the disposition of such Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA; |
(r) |
to comply with all applicable securities laws and, if a Registration |
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Statement was filed, make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; |
(s) |
provide and cause to be maintained a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities covered by the applicable Registration Statement; |
(t) |
to cause all Registrable Securities covered by the applicable Registration Statement to be listed on each securities exchange on which any of the Companys equity securities are then listed or quoted and on each inter-dealer quotation system on which any of the Companys equity securities are then quoted. |
(u) |
make available upon reasonable notice at reasonable times and for reasonable periods for inspection by a representative appointed by the participating Requisite Investors, by any underwriter participating in any disposition to be effected pursuant to such Registration Statement and by any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by such Holders or any such underwriter, all pertinent financial and other records and pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company, and cause all of the Companys officers, directors and employees and the independent public accountants who have certified its financial statements to make themselves available to discuss the business of the Company and to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Person in connection with such Registration Statement; |
(v) |
in the case of an Underwritten Public Offering, cause the senior executive officers of the Company to participate in the customary road show presentations that may be reasonably requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters in any such offering and otherwise to facilitate, cooperate with, and participate in each proposed offering contemplated herein and customary selling efforts related thereto; |
(w) |
take no direct or indirect action prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act; |
(x) |
take all reasonable action to ensure that any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus utilized in connection with any Registration complies in all material respects with the Securities Act, is filed in accordance with the Securities Act to the extent required thereby, is retained in accordance with the Securities Act to the extent required thereby and, when taken together with the related Prospectus, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and |
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(y) |
take all such other commercially reasonable actions as are necessary or advisable in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. |
Section 3.5.2. Company Information Requests. The Company may require each seller of Registrable Securities as to which any Registration or sale is being effected to furnish to the Company such information regarding the distribution of such securities and such other information relating to such Holder and its ownership of Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request in writing and the Company may exclude from such Registration or sale the Registrable Securities of any such Holder who unreasonably fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving such request. Each Holder agrees to furnish such information to the Company and to cooperate with the Company as reasonably necessary to enable the Company to comply with the provisions of this Agreement.
Section 3.5.3. Discontinuing Registration. Each Holder agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3.5.1(d), such Holder will discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement until such Holders receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 3.5.1(d), or until such Holder is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements thereto, and if so directed by the Company, such Holder shall deliver to the Company (at the Companys expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such Holders possession, of the Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice. In the event the Company shall give any such notice, the period during which the applicable Registration Statement is required to be maintained effective shall be extended by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when each seller of Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement either receives the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 3.5.1(d) or is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed.
Section 3.6. Underwritten Offerings.
Section 3.6.1. Shelf and Demand Registrations. If requested by the underwriters for any Underwritten Public Offering, pursuant to a Registration or sale under Sections 3.1 or 3.2, the Company shall enter into an underwriting agreement with such underwriters, such agreement to be reasonably satisfactory in substance and form to each of the Company, the participating Requisite Investors and the underwriters, and to contain such representations and warranties by the Company and such other terms as are generally prevailing in agreements of that type, including indemnities no less favorable to the recipient thereof than those provided in Section 3.9. The Holders of the Registrable Securities proposed to be distributed by such underwriters shall cooperate with the Company in the negotiation of the underwriting agreement and shall give consideration to the reasonable suggestions of the Company regarding the form thereof, and such Holders
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shall complete and execute all questionnaires, powers of attorney and other documents reasonably requested by the underwriters and required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements. Any such Holder shall not be required to make any representations or warranties to or agreements with the Company or the underwriters other than representations, warranties or agreements regarding such Holder, such Holders title to the Registrable Securities, such Holders intended method of distribution and any other representations to be made by the Holder as are generally prevailing in agreements of that type, and the aggregate amount of the liability of such Holder under such agreement shall not exceed such Holders proceeds from the sale of its Registrable Securities in the offering, net of underwriting discounts and commissions but before expenses.
Section 3.6.2. Piggyback Registrations. If the Company proposes to register or sell any of its securities under the Securities Act as contemplated by Section 3.3 and such securities are to be distributed through one or more underwriters, the Company shall, if requested by any Holder pursuant to Section 3.3 and, subject to the provisions of Section 3.3.2, use its reasonable best efforts to arrange for such underwriters to include on the same terms and conditions that apply to the other sellers in such Registration or sale all the Registrable Securities to be offered and sold by such Holder among the securities of the Company to be distributed by such underwriters in such Registration or sale. The Holders of Registrable Securities to be distributed by such underwriters shall be parties to the underwriting agreement between the Company and such underwriters and shall complete and execute all questionnaires, powers of attorney and other documents reasonably requested by the underwriters and required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements. Any such Holder shall not be required to make any representations or warranties to or agreements with the Company or the underwriters other than representations, warranties or agreements regarding such Holder, such Holders title to the Registrable Securities, such Holders intended method of distribution and any other representations to be made by the Holder as are generally prevailing in agreements of that type, and the aggregate amount of the liability of such Holder shall not exceed such Holders proceeds from the sale of its Registrable Securities in the offering, net of underwriting discounts and commissions but before expenses.
Section 3.6.3. Selection of Underwriters; Selection of Counsel. In the case of an Underwritten Public Offering under Sections 3.1 or 3.2, the managing underwriter or underwriters to administer the offering shall be determined by the Investors, or, if not participating, by any other Requisite Investor; provided that such underwriter or underwriters shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company. In the case of an Underwritten Public Offering under Section 3.3, the managing underwriter or underwriters to administer the offering shall be determined by the Company; provided that such underwriter or underwriters shall be reasonably acceptable to the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold. In the case of an Underwritten Public Offering under Sections 3.1, 3.2 or 3.3, legal counsel for Investor shall be selected by the Investor and legal counsel for the other Holders shall be selected by participating Holders holding a majority of the Registrable Securities proposed to be included in the Public Offering.
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Section 3.7. No Inconsistent Agreements; Additional Rights. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall hereafter enter into, and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is currently a party to, any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders by this Agreement. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall enter into any agreement granting registration or similar rights to any Person, and the Company hereby represents and warrants that, as of the date hereof, no registration or similar rights have been granted to any other Person other than pursuant to this Agreement.
Section 3.8. Registration Expenses. All expenses incident to the Companys performance of or compliance with this Agreement shall be paid by the Company, including (i) all registration and filing fees, and any other fees and expenses associated with filings required to be made with the SEC or FINRA, (ii) all fees and expenses in connection with compliance with any securities or Blue Sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the underwriters in connection with blue sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities), (iii) all printing, duplicating, word processing, messenger, telephone, facsimile and delivery expenses (including expenses of printing certificates for the Registrable Securities in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company and of printing Prospectuses), (iv) all fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and of all independent certified public accountants or independent auditors of the Company and any subsidiaries of the Company (including the expenses of any special audit and comfort letters required by or incident to such performance), (v) Securities Act liability insurance or similar insurance if the Company so desires or the underwriters so require in accordance with then-customary underwriting practice, (vi) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on any securities exchange or quotation of the Registrable Securities on any inter-dealer quotation system, (vii) all reasonable fees and disbursements of legal counsel for the Investors and one counsel for other Holders (in the case of such other Holders, up to a maximum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) per Public Offering), (vii) all fees and expenses of any special experts or other Persons retained by the Company in connection with any Registration or sale, (ix) all of the Companys internal expenses (including all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties) and (x) all expenses related to the road show for any Underwritten Public Offering (including the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of the Holders and underwriters, if so requested. All such expenses are referred to herein as Registration Expenses. The Company shall not be required to pay any fees and disbursements to underwriters not customarily paid by the issuers of securities in an offering similar to the applicable offering, including underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, attributable to the sale of Registrable Securities.
Section 3.9. Indemnification.
Section 3.9.1. Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the full extent permitted by law, each Holder, each shareholder, member, limited or general partner of such Holder, each shareholder, member, limited or general partner of each such shareholder, member, limited or general partner, each of their respective Affiliates, officers, directors, shareholders, employees, advisors, and agents and each Person who controls (within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act) such Persons and each of their respective Representatives from and against any and all losses, penalties, judgments, suits, costs, claims, damages, liabilities
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and expenses, joint or several (including reasonable costs of investigation and legal expenses) (each, a Loss and collectively Losses) arising out of or based upon (i) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement under which such Registrable Securities are registered or sold under the Securities Act (including any final, preliminary or summary Prospectus contained therein or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any documents incorporated by reference therein) or any other disclosure document produced by or on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries including any report and other document filed under the Exchange Act, (ii) any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of a Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any federal, state, foreign or common law rule or regulation applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries and relating to action or inaction in connection with any such registration, disclosure document or other document or report; provided, that no selling Holder shall be entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section 3.9.1 in respect of any untrue statement or omission contained in any information relating to such selling Holder furnished in writing by such selling Holder to the Company specifically for inclusion in a Registration Statement and used by the Company in conformity therewith (such information, Selling Stockholder Information). This indemnity shall be in addition to any liability the Company may otherwise have. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Holder or any indemnified party and shall survive the Transfer of such securities by such Holder and regardless of any indemnity agreed to in the underwriting agreement that is less favorable to the Holders. The Company shall also indemnify underwriters, selling brokers, dealer managers and similar securities industry professionals participating in the distribution, their officers and directors and each Person who controls such Persons (within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act) to the same extent as provided above (with appropriate modification) with respect to the indemnification of the indemnified parties.
Section 3.9.2. Indemnification by the Selling Holders. Each selling Holder agrees (severally and not jointly) to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company, its directors and officers and each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act) from and against any Losses resulting from (i) any untrue statement of a material fact in any Registration Statement under which such Registrable Securities were registered or sold under the Securities Act (including any final, preliminary or summary Prospectus contained therein or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any documents incorporated by reference therein) or (ii) any omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of a Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is contained in such selling Holders Selling Stockholder Information. In no event shall the liability of any selling Holder hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds from the sale of its Registrable Securities in the offering giving rise to such indemnification obligation, net of underwriting
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discounts and commissions but before expenses, less any amounts paid by such Holder pursuant to Section 3.9.4 and any amounts paid by such Holder as a result of liabilities incurred under the underwriting agreement, if any, related to such sale.
Section 3.9.3. Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that any delay or failure to so notify the indemnifying party shall relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations hereunder only to the extent, if at all, that it is actually and materially prejudiced by reason of such delay or failure) and (ii) permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; provided, however, that any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall have the right to select and employ separate counsel and to participate in the defense of such claim, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Person unless (i) the indemnifying party has agreed in writing to pay such fees or expenses, (ii) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense of such claim within a reasonable time after receipt of notice of such claim from the Person entitled to indemnification hereunder and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Person, (iii) the indemnified party has reasonably concluded (based upon advice of its counsel) that there may be legal defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party, or (iv) in the reasonable judgment of any such Person (based upon advice of its counsel) a conflict of interest may exist between such Person and the indemnifying party with respect to such claims (in which case, if the Person notifies the indemnifying party in writing that such Person elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such claim on behalf of such Person). If the indemnifying party assumes the defense, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to settle such action without the consent of the indemnified party. No indemnifying party shall consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of an unconditional release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation without the prior written consent of such indemnified party. If such defense is not assumed by the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party will not be subject to any liability for any settlement made without its prior written consent, but such consent may not be unreasonably withheld. It is understood that the indemnifying party or parties shall not, except as specifically set forth in this Section 3.9.3, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees, disbursements or other charges of more than one separate firm admitted to practice in such jurisdiction at any one time unless (x) the employment of more than one counsel has been authorized in writing by the indemnifying party or parties, (y) an indemnified party has reasonably concluded (based on the advice of counsel) that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the other indemnified parties or (z) a conflict or potential conflict exists or may exist (based upon advice of counsel to an indemnified party) between such indemnified party and the other indemnified parties, in each of which cases the indemnifying party shall be obligated to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such additional counsel or counsels.
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Section 3.9.4. Contribution. If for any reason the indemnification provided for in Section 3.9.1 and Section 3.9.2 is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any Losses referred to therein (other than as a result of exceptions or limitations on indemnification contained in Section 3.9.1 and Section 3.9.2), then the indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such Loss in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and the indemnified party or parties on the other hand in connection with the acts, statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. In connection with any Registration Statement filed with the SEC by the Company, the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or by the indemnified party and the parties relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 3.9.4 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 3.9.4. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the Losses referred to in Sections 3.9.1 and 3.9.2 shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 3.9.4, in connection with any Registration Statement filed by the Company, a selling Holder shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the dollar amount of the proceeds from the sale of its Registrable Securities in the offering giving rise to such contribution obligation, net of underwriting discounts and commissions but before expenses, less any amounts paid by such Holder pursuant to Section 3.9.2 and any amounts paid by such Holder as a result of liabilities incurred under the underwriting agreement, if any, related to such sale. If indemnification is available under this Section 3.9, the indemnifying parties shall indemnify each indemnified party to the full extent provided in Sections 3.9.1 and 3.9.2 hereof without regard to the provisions of this Section 3.9.4. The remedies provided for in this Section 3.9 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.
Section 3.10. Rules 144 and 144A and Regulation S. The Company shall file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations adopted by the SEC thereunder (or, if the Company is not required to file such reports, it will, upon the request of any Holder, make publicly available such necessary information for so long as necessary to permit sales that would otherwise be permitted by this Agreement pursuant to Rule 144, Rule 144A or Regulation S under the Securities Act, as such rules may be amended from time to time or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC), and it will take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell Registrable Securities without
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Registration under the Securities Act in transactions that would otherwise be permitted by this Agreement and within the limitation of the exemptions provided by (i) Rule 144, Rule 144A or Regulation S under the Securities Act, as such rules may be amended from time to time, or (ii) any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC. Upon the request of any Holder, the Company will deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements and, if not, the specifics thereof.
Section 3.11. Existing Registration Statements. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary and subject to applicable law and regulation, the Company may satisfy any obligation hereunder to file a Registration Statement or to have a Registration Statement become effective by a specified date by designating, by notice to the Holders, a Registration Statement that previously has been filed with the SEC or become effective, as the case may be, as the relevant Registration Statement for purposes of satisfying such obligation, and all references to any such obligation shall be construed accordingly; provided that such previously filed Registration Statement may be, and is, amended or, subject to applicable securities laws, supplemented to add the number of Registrable Securities, and, to the extent necessary, to identify as selling stockholders those Holders demanding the filing of a Registration Statement pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. To the extent this Agreement refers to the filing or effectiveness of other Registration Statements, by or at a specified time and the Company has, in lieu of then filing such Registration Statements or having such Registration Statements become effective, designated a previously filed or effective Registration Statement as the relevant Registration Statement for such purposes, in accordance with the preceding sentence, such references shall be construed to refer to such designated Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented in the manner contemplated by the immediately preceding sentence.
ARTICLE IV
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 4.1. Authority: Effect. Each party hereto represents and warrants to and agrees with each other party that the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized on behalf of such party and do not violate any agreement or other instrument applicable to such party or by which its assets are bound. This Agreement does not, and shall not be construed to, give rise to the creation of a partnership among any of the parties hereto, or to constitute any of such parties members of a joint venture or other association. The Company and its subsidiaries shall be jointly and severally liable for all obligations of each such party pursuant to this Agreement.
Section 4.2. Notices. Any notices, requests, demands and other communications required or permitted in this Agreement shall be effective if in writing and (i) delivered personally, (ii) sent by facsimile or e-mail, or (iii) sent by overnight courier, in each case, addressed as follows:
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If to the Company to:
The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc.
1201 Dowdell Lane
Saint Helena, CA 94574
Email: ssullivan@duckhorn.com and legal@duckhorn.com
Attn: Sean Sullivan
with a copy to:
Ropes & Gray LLP
Three Embarcadero Center
San Francisco, CA 94111-4006
Fax: (415) 315-4823
Email: thomas.holden@ropesgray.com
Attn: Thomas Holden
If to an Investor to:
c/o TSG Consumer Partners LLC
600 Montgomery Street
Suite 2900
San Francisco, CA 94111
Fax: (415) 217-2350
Email: johara@tsgconsumer.com
Attn: Jamie OHara
with a copy to:
Ropes & Gray LLP
Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02199-3600
Fax: (617) 951-7050
Email: christopher.comeau@ropesgray.com and charles.boer@ropesgray.com
Attn: Christopher D. Comeau and Charles F. Boer
Notice to the holder of record of any Registrable Securities shall be deemed to be notice to the holder of such securities for all purposes hereof.
Unless otherwise specified herein, such notices or other communications shall be deemed effective (i) on the date received, if personally delivered, (ii) on the date received if delivered by facsimile or e-mail on a Business Day, or if not delivered on a Business Day, on the first Business Day thereafter and (iii) three (3) Business Days after being sent by overnight courier. Each of the parties hereto shall be entitled to specify a different address by giving notice as aforesaid to each of the other parties hereto.
Section 4.3. Termination and Effect of Termination. This Agreement shall terminate upon the date on which no Holder holds any Registrable Securities, except for the provisions of
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Sections 3.9 and 3.10, which shall survive any such termination. No termination under this Agreement shall relieve any Person of liability for breach or Registration Expenses incurred prior to termination. In the event this Agreement is terminated, each Person entitled to indemnification rights pursuant to Section 3.9 hereof shall retain such indemnification rights with respect to any matter that (i) may be an indemnified liability thereunder and (ii) occurred prior to such termination.
Section 4.4. Permitted Transferees. The rights of a Holder hereunder may be assigned (but only with all related obligations as set forth below) in connection with a Transfer of Registrable Securities to a Permitted Transferee of that Holder. Without prejudice to any other or similar conditions imposed hereunder with respect to any such Transfer, no assignment permitted under the terms of this Section 4.4 will be effective unless the Permitted Transferee to which the assignment is being made, if not a Holder, has delivered to the Company a written acknowledgment and agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company that the Permitted Transferee will be bound by, and will be a party to, this Agreement. A Permitted Transferee to whom rights are transferred pursuant to this Section 4.4 may not again transfer those rights to any other Permitted Transferee, other than as provided in this Section 4.4.
Section 4.5. Remedies. The parties to this Agreement shall have all remedies available at law, in equity or otherwise in the event of any breach or violation of this Agreement or any default hereunder. The parties acknowledge and agree that in the event of any breach of this Agreement, in addition to any other remedies that may be available, each of the parties hereto shall be entitled to specific performance of the obligations of the other parties hereto and, in addition, to such other equitable remedies (including preliminary or temporary relief) as may be appropriate in the circumstances. No delay of or omission in the exercise of any right, power or remedy accruing to any party as a result of any breach or default by any other party under this Agreement shall impair any such right, power or remedy, nor shall it be construed as a waiver of or acquiescence in any such breach or default, or of any similar breach or default occurring later; nor shall any such delay, omission nor waiver of any single breach or default be deemed a waiver of any other breach or default occurring before or after that waiver.
Section 4.6. Amendments. This Agreement may not be orally amended, modified, extended or terminated, nor shall any oral waiver of any of its terms be effective. This Agreement may be amended, modified, extended or terminated, and the provisions hereof may be waived, only by an agreement in writing signed by the Company and the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities under this Agreement, which must include the Investor for as long as such Investor holds Registrable Securities; provided, however, that any amendment, modification, extension or termination that disproportionately and adversely affects any Holder shall require the prior written consent of such Holder. Each such amendment, modification, extension or termination shall be binding upon each party hereto. In addition, each party hereto may waive any right hereunder by an instrument in writing signed by such party.
Section 4.7. Governing Law. This Agreement and all claims arising out of or based upon this Agreement or relating to the subject matter hereof shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the domestic substantive laws of the State of New York without giving effect to any choice or conflict of laws provision or rule that would cause the application of the domestic substantive laws of any other jurisdiction.
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Section 4.8. Consent to Jurisdiction. Each party to this Agreement, by its execution hereof, (i) hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the State of New York for the purpose of any action, claim, cause of action or suit (in contract, tort or otherwise), inquiry, proceeding or investigation arising out of or based upon this Agreement or relating to the subject matter hereof, (ii) hereby waives to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, and agrees not to assert, and agrees not to allow any of its subsidiaries to assert, by way of motion, as a defense or otherwise, in any such action, any claim that it is not subject personally to the jurisdiction of the above-named courts, that its property is exempt or immune from attachment or execution, that any such proceeding brought in one of the above-named courts is improper, or that this Agreement or the subject matter hereof or thereof may not be enforced in or by such court and (iii) hereby agrees not to commence or maintain any action, claim, cause of action or suit (in contract, tort or otherwise), inquiry, proceeding or investigation arising out of or based upon this Agreement or relating to the subject matter hereof or thereof other than before one of the above-named courts nor to make any motion or take any other action seeking or intending to cause the transfer or removal of any such action, claim, cause of action or suit (in contract, tort or otherwise), inquiry, proceeding or investigation to any court other than one of the above-named courts whether on the grounds of inconvenient forum or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any party hereto is or becomes a party in any litigation in connection with which it may assert indemnification rights set forth in this Agreement, the court in which such litigation is being heard shall be deemed to be included in clause (i) above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any party to this Agreement may commence and maintain an action to enforce a judgment of any of the above-named courts in any court of competent jurisdiction. Each party hereto hereby consents to service of process in any such proceeding in any manner permitted by New York law, and agrees that service of process by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, at its address specified pursuant to Section 4.2 hereof is reasonably calculated to give actual notice.
Section 4.9. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. TO THE EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW WHICH CANNOT BE WAIVED, EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES AND COVENANTS THAT IT WILL NOT ASSERT (WHETHER AS PLAINTIFF, DEFENDANT OR OTHERWISE) ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY FORUM IN RESPECT OF ANY ISSUE OR ACTION, CLAIM, CAUSE OF ACTION OR SUIT (IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE), INQUIRY, PROCEEDING OR INVESTIGATION ARISING OUT OF OR BASED UPON THIS AGREEMENT OR THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING. EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT HAS BEEN INFORMED BY THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO THAT THIS SECTION 4.9 CONSTITUTES A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT UPON WHICH THEY ARE RELYING AND WILL RELY IN ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT. ANY PARTY HERETO MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS SECTION 4.9 WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF EACH SUCH PARTY TO THE WAIVER OF ITS RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.
Section 4.10. Merger; Binding Effect, Etc. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with respect to its subject matter, supersedes all prior or contemporaneous oral or written agreements or discussions with respect to such subject matter,
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and shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and thereto and their respective heirs, representatives, successors and permitted assigns. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no Holder or other party hereto may assign any of its respective rights or delegate any of its respective obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other parties hereto, and any attempted assignment or delegation in violation of the foregoing shall be null and void.
Section 4.11. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one instrument.
Section 4.12. Severability. In the event that any provision hereof would, under applicable law, be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, such provision shall be construed by modifying or limiting it so as to be valid and enforceable to the maximum extent compatible with, and possible under, applicable law. The provisions hereof are severable, and in the event any provision hereof should be held invalid or unenforceable in any respect, it shall not invalidate, render unenforceable or otherwise affect any other provision hereof.
Section 4.13. No Recourse. Notwithstanding anything that may be expressed or implied in this Agreement, the Company and each Holder covenant, agree and acknowledge that no recourse under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection with this Agreement shall be had against any current or future director, officer, employee, general or limited partner or member of any Holder or of any Affiliate or assignee thereof, as such, whether by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding, or by virtue of any statute, regulation or other applicable law, it being expressly agreed and acknowledged that no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, be imposed on or otherwise be incurred by any current or future officer, agent or employee of any Holder or any current or future member of any Holder or any current or future director, officer, employee, partner or member of any Holder or of any Affiliate or assignee thereof, as such, for any obligation of any Holder under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection with this Agreement for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation.
[Signature pages follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has duly executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
Company: | THE DUCKHORN PORTFOLIO, INC. | |||
By: |
/s/ Alex Ryan |
|||
Name: Alex Ryan Title: President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman |
[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]
Investors:
MALLARD HOLDCO, LLC | ||
By: |
/s/ James OHara |
|
Name: James OHara | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory |
[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]
Exhibit 10.2
STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT
of
THE DUCKHORN PORTFOLIO, INC.
dated as of March 17, 2021
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||
RECITALS |
1 | |||||
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS |
1 | |||||
SECTION 1.1. |
Effective Date | 1 | ||||
SECTION 1.2. |
Certain Defined Terms | 1 | ||||
SECTION 1.3. |
Other Interpretive Provisions | 2 | ||||
ARTICLE II CORPORATE GOVERNANCE |
3 | |||||
SECTION 2.1. |
The Board | 3 | ||||
SECTION 2.2. |
D&O Insurance; Director Indemnification | 4 | ||||
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
5 | |||||
Section 3.1 |
Existence; Authority; Enforceability | 5 | ||||
Section 3.2 |
Absence of Conflicts | 5 | ||||
Section 3.3 |
Consents. | 6 | ||||
ARTICLE IV MISCELLANEOUS |
6 | |||||
SECTION 4.1. |
Cooperation | 6 | ||||
SECTION 4.2. |
Termination | 6 | ||||
SECTION 4.3. |
Amendments and Waivers | 6 | ||||
SECTION 4.4. |
Assignment; Benefit | 6 | ||||
SECTION 4.5. |
Notices | 6 | ||||
SECTION 4.6. |
Further Assurances | 7 | ||||
SECTION 4.7. |
Entire Agreement. | 8 | ||||
SECTION 4.8. |
Delays or Omissions | 8 | ||||
SECTION 4.9. |
Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial | 8 | ||||
SECTION 4.10. |
Severability | 8 | ||||
SECTION 4.11. |
Enforcement. | 9 | ||||
SECTION 4.12. |
No Recourse | 9 | ||||
SECTION 4.13. |
Counterparts | 9 |
Exhibits |
||||||
Exhibit A Form of Director Indemnification Agreement |
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THIS STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT (this Agreement) is entered as of March 17. 2021, among The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company) and Mallard Holdco, LLC (together with its Affiliates, the TSG Investor).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, in connection with the Companys initial public offering of its shares of Common Stock (the IPO), the Company and the TSG Investor desire to set forth their agreement regarding certain governance matters.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and of the mutual promises hereinafter set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company and the TSG Investor hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1. Effective Date. This Agreement shall become effective upon the closing of the IPO.
SECTION 1.2. Certain Defined Terms. As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
Affiliate means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with, such Person; provided that the Company and its subsidiaries shall not be deemed to be Affiliates of the TSG Investor.
Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.
Business Day means any day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which banks are required or authorized by law to be closed in the City of New York.
Common Stock means collectively the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company and any securities issued in respect thereof, or in substitution therefor, in connection with any stock split, dividend or combination, or any reclassification, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, exchange or other similar reorganization.
Company has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble.
Company Charter means the certificate of incorporation of the Company in effect on the date hereof, as may be amended from time to time.
Director means any member of the Board.
Director Indemnification Agreement means an indemnification agreement in the form attached as Exhibit A.
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any successor thereto, and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect from time to time.
Group has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.
IPO has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
Necessary Action means, with respect to a specified result, all actions necessary to cause such result, including (i) voting or providing a written consent or proxy with respect to the Common Stock, (ii) causing the adoption of stockholders resolutions and amendments to the organizational documents of the Company, (iii) executing agreements and instruments, and (iv) making, or causing to be made, with governmental, administrative or regulatory authorities, all filings, registrations or similar actions that are required to achieve such result.
Person means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, limited or general partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivisions thereof or any Group comprised of two or more of the foregoing.
TSG Designee has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.1(a).
TSG Investor has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
SECTION 1.3. Other Interpretive Provisions.
(a) The meanings of defined terms are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.
(b) The words hereof, herein, hereunder and similar words refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; and any subsection and section references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified.
(c) The term including is not limiting and means including without limitation.
(d) The captions and headings of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.
(e) Whenever the context requires, any pronouns used herein shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms.
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ARTICLE II
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
SECTION 2.1. The Board.
(a) TSG Designees.
(i) For so long as the TSG Investor holds a number of shares of Common Stock representing at least the percentage set forth below of shares of Common Stock held by them immediately prior to the closing of the IPO, the Company shall take all Necessary Action to include in the slate of nominees recommended by the Board for election as Directors at each annual or special meeting of shareholders at which Directors are to be elected that number of individuals designated by the TSG Investor (each, a TSG Designee) such that, if each such TSG Designee is elected, will result in the number of TSG Designees then serving on the Board as shown below across from such percentage.
Percent |
Number of Directors | |||
50% or greater |
4 | |||
Less than 50% but greater than or equal to 25% |
3 | |||
Less than 25% but greater than or equal to 10% |
2 | |||
Less than 10% but greater than or equal to 5% |
1 |
(ii) In addition, for so long as the TSG Investor holds at least fifty percent (50%) of the shares of Common Stock held by them immediately prior to the closing of the IPO, upon receiving a written request from the TSG Investor, the Company will take all Necessary Action to cause the Board as soon as practicable to: (a) increase the size of the Board to permit the inclusion on the Board of a number of additional directors specified by the TSG Investor such that TSG Designees comprise a majority of the Board; and (b) appoint such directors to fill the vacancies created thereby as are specified by the TSG Investor. Thereafter, for so long as the TSG Investor holds at least fifty percent (50%) of the shares of Common Stock held by them immediately prior to the closing of the IPO, in addition to any directors designated in accordance with Section 2.1(a)(i), the Company shall take all Necessary Action to include in the slate of nominees recommended by the Board for election as directors at each applicable annual or special meeting of shareholders at which directors are to be elected that number of individuals designated by the TSG Investor that, if elected, will result in the TSG Investor having the number of additional TSG Designees serving on the Board that is nominated in accordance with this Section 2.1(a)(ii).
(iii) Upon any decrease in the number of Directors that the TSG Investor is entitled to designate for election to the Board, the TSG Investor shall take all Necessary Action to cause the appropriate number of TSG Designees to offer to tender a
resignation. If such resignation is then accepted by the Board, the Company and the TSG Investor shall take all Necessary Action to cause the authorized size of the Board of Directors to be reduced accordingly.
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(b) Vacancies. The TSG Investor shall have the exclusive right to designate for election to the Board Directors to fill vacancies created by reason of death, removal or resignation of its designees to the Board, and the Company shall take all Necessary Action to cause any such vacancies to be filled by replacement Directors designated by the TSG Investor as promptly as reasonably practicable.
(c) Additional Directors. For so long as the TSG Investor holds at least forty percent (40%) of the shares of Common Stock held by them immediately prior to the closing of the IPO, the Company will take all Necessary Action to ensure that the number of Directors serving on the Board shall not exceed eight (8) without the consent of the TSG Investor; provided, that the number of Directors may be increased by the Company if necessary to satisfy the requirements of applicable law and stock exchange regulation.
(d) Committees. Subject to applicable laws and stock exchange regulations, the Company shall take all Necessary Action to have a TSG Designee then serving on the Board appointed to serve on each committee of the Board for so long as the TSG Investor has the right to at least one (1) TSG Designee. The TSG Investor shall have the right to appoint a representative as an observer to any committee of the Board to which the TSG Investor (i) does not elect to have a representative appointed or (ii) is prohibited by applicable laws or stock exchange regulations from having a representative appointed, in each case for so long as the TSG Investor has the right pursuant to this Article II to designate at least one (1) TSG Designee.
(e) Reimbursement of Expenses. In accordance with Company policy, and on terms no less favorable than as afforded to any other Director, the Company shall reimburse each TSG Designee for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with his or her participation in the meetings of the Board or any committee of the Board, including reasonable travel, lodging and meal expenses.
SECTION 2.2. D&O Insurance; Director Indemnification. On or prior to the date of this Agreement, the Company shall obtain customary director and officer indemnity insurance on commercially reasonable terms. On or prior to the date of this Agreement, the Company shall execute and deliver to each Director serving on the Board as of the date hereof a Director Indemnification Agreement. From and after the date hereof, concurrently with or prior to any TSG Designee joining the Board, the Company shall execute and deliver to each such TSG Designee a Director Indemnification Agreement.
SECTION 2.3. Sharing of Information. Any TSG Designee may share any information received in his or her capacity as a Board member with the TSG Investor. The TSG Investor agrees that it will keep confidential and will not disclose, divulge or use for any purpose, other than to monitor and make voting and investment decisions with respect to its investment in the Company and its subsidiaries, any confidential information obtained from the Company, unless such confidential information (a) is known or becomes known to the public in general (other than as a result of a breach of this Section2.3 by the TSG Investor or its Affiliates), (b) is or has been independently developed or conceived by the TSG Investor without use of the Companys
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confidential information or (c) is or has been made known or disclosed to the TSG Investor by a third party (other than an Affiliate of the TSG Investor) without a breach of any obligation of confidentiality such third party may have to the Company that is known to the TSG Investor; provided, however, that the TSG Investor may disclose confidential information (x) to its attorneys, accountants, consultants, and other professionals to the extent necessary to obtain their services in connection with monitoring and making voting and investment decisions with respect to its investment in the Company, (y) to any Affiliate, partner, member or related investment fund of the TSG Investor and their respective directors, employees and consultants, in each case in the ordinary course of business, or (z) as may otherwise be required by law or legal, judicial or regulatory process, provided that the TSG Investor takes reasonable steps to minimize the extent of any required disclosure described in this clause (z); and provided, further, however, that the acts and omissions of any Person to whom the TSG Investor may disclose confidential information pursuant to clauses (x) and (y) of the preceding proviso will be attributable to the TSG Investor for purposes of determining the TSG Investors compliance with this Section 2.3(b). Each party hereto acknowledges that the TSG Investor or any of its Affiliates and related investment funds may review the business plans and related proprietary information of many enterprises, including enterprises which may have products or services which compete directly or indirectly with those of the Company and its subsidiaries, and may trade in the securities of such enterprises. Nothing in this Section 2.3(b) will preclude or in any way restrict the TSG Investor or its Affiliates or related investment funds from investing or participating in any particular enterprise, or trading in the securities thereof, whether or not such enterprise has products or services that compete with those of the Company and its subsidiaries.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Each of the parties to this Agreement hereby represents and warrants to each other party to this Agreement that as of the date such party executes this Agreement:
SECTION 3.1. Existence; Authority; Enforceability. Such party has the power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to carry out its obligations hereunder. Such party is duly organized and validly existing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, and the execution of this Agreement, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein, have been authorized by all necessary action on the part of its board of directors (or equivalent) and shareholders (or other holders of equity interests), if required, and no other act or proceeding on its part is necessary to authorize the execution of this Agreement or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly executed by it and constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.
SECTION 3.2. Absence of Conflicts. The execution and delivery by such party of this Agreement and the performance of its obligations hereunder does not and will not (a) conflict with, or result in the breach of any provision of the constitutive documents of such party, (b) result in any violation, breach, conflict, default or an event of default (or an event which with notice, lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default or an event of default), or give rise to any right of acceleration or termination or any additional payment obligation, under the terms of any contract, agreement or permit to which such party is a party or by which such partys assets or operations are bound or affected, or (c) violate any law applicable to such party.
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SECTION 3.3. Consents. Other than as expressly required herein or any consents which have already been obtained, no consent, waiver, approval, authorization, exemption, registration, license or declaration is required to be made or obtained by such party in connection with (a) the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or (b) the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated herein.
ARTICLE IV
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 4.1. Cooperation If requested by the TSG Investor, the Company shall cooperate with (and not impede) the TSG Investor in connection with any proposed transfer of shares Common Stock (or equity securities exercisable or convertible into, or exchangeable for, common stock) to another Person in a private sale transaction (including a transaction that does not require registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended), including, without limitation, by providing information and access to management to potential transferees for due diligence or other relevant purposes.
SECTION 4.2. Termination. If not otherwise stipulated, this Agreement shall terminate automatically (without any action by any party hereto) at such time that the TSG Investor has no rights pursuant to Article II hereof to designate any TSG Designees. Nothing herein shall relieve any party from any liability for the breach of any of the agreements set forth in this Agreement.
SECTION 4.3. Amendments and Waivers. Except as otherwise provided herein, no modification, amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective without the approval of the Company and the TSG Investor. The failure of any party to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall in no way be construed as a waiver of such provisions and shall not affect the right of such party thereafter to enforce each and every provision of this Agreement in accordance with its terms.
SECTION 4.4. Assignment; Benefit.
(a) The rights and obligations hereunder shall not be assignable without the prior written consent of the other parties hereto. Any attempted assignment of rights or obligations in violation of this Section 4.4 shall be null and void.
(b) This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto, and their respective successors and permitted assigns, and there shall be no third-party beneficiaries to this Agreement other than the TSG Designees under Section 2.2.
SECTION 4.5. Notices. All notices and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given: (a) upon personal delivery to the party to be notified; (b) when sent by e-mail or confirmed facsimile if sent during
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normal business hours of the recipient, and, if not, then on the next Business Day; (c) five days after having been sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid; or (d) one Business Day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, specifying next day delivery, with written verification of receipt. All communications shall be sent to such partys address as set forth below or at such other address as the party shall have furnished to each other party in writing in accordance with this provision:
If to the Company, to:
The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc.
1201 Dowdell Lane
Saint Helena, CA 94574
Email: ssullivan@duckhorn.com and legal@duckhorn.com
Attn: Sean Sullivan
with a copy to:
Ropes & Gray LLP
Three Embarcadero Center
San Francisco, CA 94111-4006
Fax: (415) 315-4823
Email: thomas.holden@ropesgray.com
Attn: Thomas Holden
If to the TSG Investor:
c/o TSG Consumer Partners LLC
600 Montgomery Street
Suite 2900
San Francisco, CA 94111
Fax: (415) 217-2350
Email: johara@tsgconsumer.com Attn: Jamie OHara
with a copy to:
Ropes & Gray LLP
Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02199-3600
Fax: (617) 951-7050
Email: christopher.comeau@ropesgray.com and charles.boer@ropesgray.com
Attn: Christopher D. Comeau and Charles F. Boer
SECTION 4.6. Further Assurances. At any time or from time to time after the date hereof, the parties agree to cooperate with each other, and at the request of any other party, to execute and deliver any further instruments or documents and to take all such further action as
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the other party may reasonably request in order to evidence or effectuate the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and to otherwise carry out the intent of the parties hereunder.
SECTION 4.7. Entire Agreement. Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, this Agreement sets forth the complete agreement and understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and preempts any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties, written or oral, that may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way.
SECTION 4.8. Delays or Omissions. It is agreed that no delay or omission to exercise any right, power or remedy accruing to any party, upon any breach, default or noncompliance by another party under this Agreement, shall impair any such right, power or remedy, nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of any such breach, default or noncompliance, or any acquiescence therein, or of or in any similar breach, default or noncompliance thereafter occurring. It is further agreed that any waiver, permit, consent or approval of any kind or character on the part of any party hereto of any breach, default or noncompliance under this Agreement or any waiver on such partys part of any provisions or conditions of this Agreement, must be in writing and shall be effective only to the extent specifically set forth in such writing. All remedies, either under this Agreement, by law, or otherwise afforded to any party, shall be cumulative and not alternative.
SECTION 4.9. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED IN ALL RESPECTS BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE REGARDLESS OF THE LAW THAT MIGHT BE APPLIED UNDER PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT OF LAWS TO THE EXTENT SUCH PRINCIPLES WOULD REQUIRE OR PERMIT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION. NO SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE BROUGHT IN ANY COURT OR BEFORE ANY SIMILAR AUTHORITY OTHER THAN IN A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE, AND THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY SUBMIT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUCH SUIT, PROCEEDING OR JUDGMENT. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE HAD TO BRING SUCH AN ACTION IN ANY OTHER COURT, DOMESTIC OR FOREIGN, OR BEFORE ANY SIMILAR DOMESTIC OR FOREIGN AUTHORITY. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN RELATION TO THIS AGREEMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.
SECTION 4.10. Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision or any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.
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SECTION 4.11. Enforcement. Each party hereto acknowledges that money damages would not be an adequate remedy in the event that any of the covenants or agreements in this Agreement are not performed in accordance with its terms, and it is therefore agreed that in addition to and without limiting any other remedy or right it may have, the non-breaching party will have the right to an injunction, temporary restraining order or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction enjoining any such breach and enforcing specifically the terms and provisions hereof.
SECTION 4.12. No Recourse. Notwithstanding anything that may be expressed or implied in this Agreement, the Company and the TSG Investor covenant, agree and acknowledge that no recourse under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection with this Agreement shall be had against any current or future director, officer, employee, general or limited partner or member of any TSG Investor or of any Affiliate or assignee thereof, whether by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding, or by virtue of any statute, regulation or other applicable law, it being expressly agreed and acknowledged that no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, be imposed on or otherwise be incurred by any current or future officer, agent or employee of any TSG Investor or any current or future member of any TSG Investor or any current or future director, officer, employee, partner or member of any TSG Investor or of any Affiliate or assignee thereof, as such for any obligation of any TSG Investor under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection with this Agreement for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation.
SECTION 4.13. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of separate counterparts each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Counterpart signature pages to this Agreement may be delivered by facsimile or electronic delivery (i.e., by email of a PDF signature page) and each such counterpart signature page will constitute an original for all purposes.
[Signature pages follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Stockholders Agreement as of the date first set forth above.
THE DUCKHORN PORTFOLIO, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ Alex Ryan |
|
Name: Alex Ryan | ||
Title: President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT
MALLARD HOLDCO, LLC | ||
By: |
/s/ James OHara |
|
Name: James OHara | ||
Title: Authorized Signatory |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT
Exhibit A
Form of Director Indemnification Agreement
(Attached)
Exhibit 10.3
THE DUCKHORN PORTFOLIO, INC.
2021 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
1. DEFINED TERMS
Exhibit A, which is incorporated by reference, defines certain terms used in the Plan and includes certain operational rules related to those terms.
2. |
PURPOSE |
The Plan has been established to advance the interests of the Company by providing for the grant to Participants of Stock and Stock-based Awards.
3. |
ADMINISTRATION |
The Plan will be administered by the Administrator. The Administrator has discretionary authority, subject only to the express provisions of the Plan, to administer and interpret the Plan and any Awards; to determine eligibility for and grant Awards; to determine the exercise price, base value from which appreciation is measured, or purchase price, if any, applicable to any Award, to determine, modify, accelerate or waive the terms and conditions of any Award; to determine the form of settlement of Awards (whether in cash, shares of Stock, other Awards or other property); to prescribe forms, rules and procedures relating to the Plan and Awards; and to otherwise do all things necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of the Plan or any Award. Determinations of the Administrator made with respect to the Plan or any Award are conclusive and bind all persons.
4. |
SHARE POOL; LIMITS ON AWARDS |
(a) Number of Shares. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 7(b) below, the maximum number of shares of Stock that may be delivered in satisfaction of Awards under the Plan is 14,003,560 shares (the Share Pool). Up to 14,003,560 shares of Stock from the Share Pool may be delivered in satisfaction of ISOs, but nothing in this Section 4(a) will be construed as requiring that any, or any fixed number of, ISOs be granted under the Plan. For purposes of this Section 4(a), shares of Stock shall not be treated as delivered under the Plan, and will not reduce the Share Pool, unless and until, and to the extent, they are actually delivered to a Participant. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Share Pool shall not be reduced by (i) any shares of Stock withheld by the Company in payment of the exercise price or purchase price of an Award or in satisfaction of tax withholding requirements with respect to an Award or (ii) any shares of Stock underlying any portion of an Award that is settled in cash or that expires, becomes unexercisable, terminates or is forfeited to or repurchased by the Company, in any case, without the delivery (or retention, in the case of Restricted Stock or Unrestricted Stock) of Stock. For the avoidance of doubt, the Share Pool will not be increased by any shares of Stock delivered under the Plan that are subsequently repurchased using proceeds directly attributable to Stock Option exercises. The limits set forth in this Section 4(a) will be construed to comply with the applicable requirements of Section 422.
(b) Substitute Awards. The Administrator may grant Substitute Awards under the Plan. To the extent consistent with the requirements of Section 422 and the regulations thereunder and other applicable legal requirements (including applicable stock exchange requirements), shares of Stock delivered in respect of Substitute Awards will be in addition to and will not reduce the Share Pool. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything in Section 4(a) above to the contrary, if any Substitute Award is settled in cash or expires, becomes unexercisable, terminates or is forfeited to or repurchased by the Company without the delivery (or retention, in the case of Restricted Stock or Unrestricted Stock) of Stock, the shares of Stock previously subject to such Award will not increase the Share Pool or otherwise be available for future delivery under the Plan. The Administrator will determine the extent to which the terms and conditions of the Plan apply to Substitute Awards, if at all; provided, however, that Substitute Awards will not be subject to the limits described in Section 4(d) below.
(c) Type of Shares. Stock delivered by the Company under the Plan may be authorized but unissued Stock, treasury Stock or previously issued Stock acquired by the Company. No fractional shares of Stock will be delivered under the Plan.
(d) Director Limits. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary under the Plan, the aggregate value of all compensation granted or paid to any Director with respect to any fiscal year, including Awards granted under the Plan and cash fees or other compensation paid by the Company to such Director outside of the Plan for his or her services as a Director during such fiscal year, may not exceed $750,000 in the aggregate ($1 million in the aggregate with respect to a Directors first fiscal year of service on the Board), calculating the value of any Awards based on the grant date fair value in accordance with the Accounting Rules, assuming a maximum payout. For the avoidance of doubt, the limitation in this Section 4(d)(2) will not apply to any compensation granted or paid to a Director for his or her services to the Company or a subsidiary other than as a Director, including, without limitation, as a consultant or advisor to the Company or a subsidiary.
5. |
ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION |
The Administrator will select Participants from among Employees and Directors of, and consultants to, the Company and its subsidiaries. Eligibility for ISOs is limited to individuals described in the first sentence of this Section 5 who are employees of the Company or of a parent corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company as those terms are defined in Section 424 of the Code. Eligibility for Stock Options, other than ISOs, and SARs is limited to individuals described in the first sentence of this Section 5 who are providing direct services on the date of grant of the Award to the Company or to a subsidiary of the Company that would be described in the first sentence of Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iii)(E) of the Treasury Regulations.
6. |
RULES APPLICABLE TO AWARDS |
(a) All Awards.
(1) Award Provisions. The Administrator will determine the terms and conditions of all Awards, subject to the limitations provided herein. No term of an Award shall provide for automatic reload grants of additional Awards upon the exercise of an Option or SAR. By accepting (or, under such rules as the Administrator may prescribe, being deemed to have accepted) an Award, the Participant will be deemed to have agreed to the terms and conditions of the Award and the Plan. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, Substitute Awards may contain terms and conditions that are inconsistent with the terms and conditions specified herein, as determined by the Administrator.
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(2) Term of Plan. No Awards may be made after ten years from the Date of Adoption, but previously granted Awards may continue beyond that date in accordance with their terms.
(3) Transferability. Neither ISOs nor, except as the Administrator otherwise expressly provides in accordance with the third sentence of this Section 6(a)(3), other Awards may be transferred other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. During a Participants lifetime, ISOs and, except as the Administrator otherwise expressly provides in accordance with the third sentence of this Section 6(a)(3), SARs and NSOs may be exercised only by the Participant. The Administrator may permit the gratuitous transfer (i.e., transfer not for value) of Awards other than ISOs, subject to applicable securities and other laws and such terms and conditions as the Administrator may determine.
(4) Vesting; Exercisability. The Administrator will determine the time or times at which an Award vests or becomes exercisable and the terms and conditions on which a Stock Option or SAR remains exercisable. Without limiting the foregoing, the Administrator may at any time accelerate the vesting and/or exercisability of an Award (or any portion thereof), regardless of any adverse or potentially adverse tax or other consequences resulting from such acceleration. Unless the Administrator expressly provides otherwise, however, the following rules will apply if a Participants Employment ceases:
(A) Except as provided in (B) and (C) below, immediately upon the cessation of the Participants Employment, each Stock Option and SAR (or portion thereof) that is then held by the Participant or by the Participants permitted transferees, if any, will cease to be exercisable and will terminate and each other Award that is then held by the Participant or by the Participants permitted transferees, if any, to the extent not then vested, will be forfeited.
(B) Subject to (C) and (D) below, each vested and unexercised Stock Option and SAR (or portion thereof) held by the Participant or the Participants permitted transferees, if any, immediately prior to the cessation of the Participants Employment, to the extent then exercisable, will remain exercisable for the lesser of (i) a period of three months following such cessation of Employment or (ii) the period ending on the latest date on which such Stock Option or SAR could have been exercised without regard to this Section 6(a)(4), and will thereupon immediately terminate.
(C) Subject to (D) below, each vested and unexercised Stock Option and SAR (or portion thereof) held by a Participant or the Participants permitted transferees, if any, immediately prior to the cessation of the Participants Employment due to his or her death or by the Company due to his or her Disability, to the extent then exercisable, will remain exercisable for the lesser of (i) the one-year period ending on the first anniversary of such cessation of Employment or (ii) the period ending on the latest date on which such Stock Option or SAR could have been exercised without regard to this Section 6(a)(4), and will thereupon immediately terminate.
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(D) All Awards (whether or not vested or exercisable) held by a Participant or the Participants permitted transferees, if any, immediately prior to the cessation of the Participants Employment will immediately terminate upon such cessation of Employment if the termination is for Cause or occurs in circumstances that in the determination of the Administrator would have constituted grounds for the Participants Employment to be terminated for Cause (in each case, without regard to the lapsing of any required notice or cure periods in connection therewith).
(5) Recovery of Compensation. The Administrator may provide in any case that any outstanding Award (whether or not vested or exercisable), the proceeds from the exercise or disposition of any Award or Stock acquired under any Award, and any other amounts received in respect of any Award or Stock acquired under any Award will be subject to forfeiture and disgorgement to the Company, with interest and other related earnings, if the Participant to whom the Award was granted is not in compliance with any provision of the Plan or any applicable Award or any non-competition, non-solicitation, no-hire, non-disparagement, confidentiality, invention assignment or other restrictive covenant by which he or she is bound. Each Award will be subject to any policy of the Company or any of its subsidiaries that relates to trading on non-public information and permitted transactions with respect to shares of Stock, including limitations on hedging and pledging. In addition, each Award will be subject to any policy of the Company or any of its affiliates that provides for forfeiture, disgorgement, or clawback with respect to incentive compensation that includes Awards under the Plan and will be further subject to forfeiture and disgorgement to the extent required by law or applicable stock exchange listing standards, including, without limitation, Section 10D of the Exchange Act. Each Participant, by accepting or being deemed to have accepted an Award under the Plan, agrees (or will be deemed to have agreed) to the terms of this Section 6(a)(5) and to any clawback, recoupment or similar policy of the Company or any of its subsidiaries and further agrees (or will be deemed to have further agreed) to cooperate fully with the Administrator, and to cause any and all permitted transferees of the Participant to cooperate fully with the Administrator, to effectuate any forfeiture or disgorgement described in this Section 6(a)(5). Neither the Administrator nor the Company nor any other person, other than the Participant and his or her permitted transferees, if any, will be responsible for any adverse tax or other consequences to a Participant or his or her permitted transferees, if any, that may arise in connection with this Section 6(a)(5).
(6) Taxes. The grant of an Award and the issuance, delivery, vesting and retention of Stock, cash or other property under an Award are conditioned upon the full satisfaction by the Participant of all tax and other withholding requirements with respect to the Award. The Administrator will prescribe such rules for the withholding of taxes and other amounts with respect to any Award as it deems necessary. Without limitation to the foregoing, the Company or any affiliate of the Company will have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold (by any means set forth herein or in an Award agreement), or require a Participant to remit to the Company or an affiliate of the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy all U.S. and non-U.S. federal, state and local income tax, social insurance, payroll tax, fringe benefits tax, payment on account or other tax-related items related to participation in the Plan and any Award hereunder and legally applicable to the Participant and required by law to be withheld (including, any amount deemed
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by the Company, in its discretion, to be an appropriate charge to the Participant even if legally applicable to the Company or any affiliate of the Company). The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may hold back shares of Stock from an Award or permit a Participant to tender previously-owned shares of Stock in satisfaction of tax or other withholding requirements (but not in excess of the maximum withholding amount consistent with the Award being subject to equity accounting treatment under the Accounting Rules). Any amounts withheld pursuant to this Section 6(a)(6) will be treated as though such amounts had been paid directly to the applicable Participant. In addition, the Company may, to the extent permitted by law, deduct any such tax and other withholding amounts from any payment of any kind otherwise due to a Participant from the Company or any of its affiliates.
(7) Dividend Equivalents. The Administrator may provide for the payment of amounts (on terms and subject to such conditions established by the Administrator) in lieu of cash dividends or other cash distributions with respect to Stock subject to an Award whether or not the holder of such Award is otherwise entitled to share in the actual dividend or distribution in respect of such Award; provided, however, that (a) dividends or dividend equivalents relating to an Award that, at the dividend payment date, remains subject to a risk of forfeiture (whether service-based or performance-based) shall be subject to the same risk of forfeiture as applies to the underlying Award and (b) no dividends or dividend equivalents shall be payable with respect to Stock Options or SARs. Any entitlement to dividend equivalents or similar entitlements will be established and administered either consistent with an exemption from, or in compliance with, the applicable requirements of Section 409A.
(8) Rights Limited. Nothing in the Plan or any Award will be construed as giving any person the right to be granted an Award or to continued employment or service with the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any rights as a stockholder except as to shares of Stock actually delivered under the Plan. The loss of existing or potential profit in any Award will not constitute an element of damages in the event of a termination of a Participants Employment for any reason, even if the termination is in violation of an obligation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to the Participant.
(9) Coordination with Other Plans. Shares of Stock and/or Awards under the Plan may be issued or granted in tandem with, or in satisfaction of or substitution for, other Awards under the Plan or awards made under other compensatory plans or programs of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. For example, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, awards under other compensatory plans or programs of the Company or any of its subsidiaries may be settled in Stock (including, without limitation, Unrestricted Stock) under the Plan if the Administrator so determines, in which case the shares delivered will be treated as awarded under the Plan (and will reduce the Share Pool).
(10) Section 409A.
(A) Without limiting the generality of Section 11(b) hereof, each Award will contain such terms as the Administrator determines and will be construed and administered, such that the Award either qualifies for an exemption from the requirements of Section 409A or satisfies such requirements.
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(B) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or any Award agreement, the Administrator may unilaterally amend, modify or terminate the Plan or any outstanding Award, including, without limitation, changing the form of the Award, if the Administrator determines that such amendment, modification or termination is necessary or desirable to avoid the imposition of an additional tax, interest or penalty under Section 409A.
(C) If a Participant is determined on the date of the Participants termination of Employment to be a specified employee within the meaning of that term under Section 409A(a)(2)(B) of the Code, then, with regard to any payment that is considered nonqualified deferred compensation under Section 409A, to the extent applicable, payable on account of a separation from service, such payment will be made or provided on the date that is the earlier of (i) the first business day following the expiration of the six-month period measured from the date of such separation from service and (ii) the date of the Participants death (the Delay Period). Upon the expiration of the Delay Period, all payments delayed pursuant to this Section 6(a)(10)(C) (whether they would have otherwise been payable in a single lump sum or in installments in the absence of such delay) will be paid, without interest, on the first business day following the expiration of the Delay Period in a lump sum and any remaining payments due under the Award will be paid in accordance with the normal payment dates specified for them in the applicable Award agreement.
(D) For purposes of Section 409A, each payment made under the Plan or any Award will be treated as a separate payment.
(E) With regard to any payment considered to be nonqualified deferred compensation under Section 409A, to the extent applicable, that is payable upon a change in control of the Company or other similar event, to the extent required to avoid the imposition of an additional tax, interest or penalty under Section 409A, no amount will be payable unless such change in control constitutes a change in control event within the meaning of Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) of the Treasury Regulations.
(b) Stock Options and SARs.
(1) Time and Manner of Exercise. Unless the Administrator expressly provides otherwise, no Stock Option or SAR will be deemed to have been exercised until the Administrator receives a notice of exercise in a form acceptable to the Administrator that is signed by the appropriate person and accompanied by any payment required under the Award. The Administrator may limit or restrict the exercisability of any Stock Option or SAR in its discretion, including in connection with any Covered Transaction. Any attempt to exercise a Stock Option or SAR by any person other than the Participant will not be given effect unless the Administrator has received such evidence as it may require that the person exercising the Award has the right to do so.
(2) Exercise Price. The exercise price (or the base value from which appreciation is to be measured) per share of each Award requiring exercise must be no less than 100% (in the case of an ISO granted to a 10-percent stockholder within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code, 110%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock, determined as of the date of grant of the Award, or such higher amount as the Administrator may determine in connection with the grant.
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(3) Payment of Exercise Price. Where the exercise of an Award (or portion thereof) is to be accompanied by a payment, payment of the exercise price must be made by cash or check acceptable to the Administrator or, if so permitted by the Administrator and if legally permissible, (i) through the delivery of previously acquired unrestricted shares of Stock, or the withholding of unrestricted shares of Stock otherwise deliverable upon exercise, in either case, that have a Fair Market Value equal to the exercise price; (ii) through a broker-assisted cashless exercise program acceptable to the Administrator; (iii) by other means acceptable to the Administrator; or (iv) by any combination of the foregoing permissible forms of payment. The delivery of previously acquired shares in payment of the exercise price under clause (i) above may be accomplished either by actual delivery or by constructive delivery through attestation of ownership, subject to such rules as the Administrator may prescribe.
(4) Maximum Term. The maximum term of Stock Options and SARs must not exceed 10 years from the date of grant (or five years from the date of grant in the case of an ISO granted to a 10-percent stockholder described in Section 6(b)(2) above).
(5) No Repricing. Except in connection with a corporate transaction involving the Company (which term includes, without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination or exchange of shares) or as otherwise contemplated by Section 7 below, the Company may not, without obtaining stockholder approval, (i) amend the terms of outstanding Stock Options or SARs to reduce the exercise price or base value of such Stock Options or SARs; (ii) cancel outstanding Stock Options or SARs in exchange for Stock Options or SARs that have an exercise price or base value that is less than the exercise price or base value of the original Stock Options or SARs; or (iii) cancel outstanding Stock Options or SARs that have an exercise price or base value greater than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of such cancellation in exchange for cash or other consideration.
7. |
EFFECT OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS |
(a) Mergers, etc. Except as otherwise expressly provided in an Award or other agreement or by the Administrator, the following provisions will apply in the event of a Covered Transaction:
(1) Assumption or Substitution. If the Covered Transaction is one in which there is an acquiring or surviving entity, the Administrator may provide for (i) the assumption or continuation of some or all outstanding Awards or any portion thereof or (ii) the grant of new awards in substitution therefor by the acquiror or survivor or an affiliate of the acquiror or survivor.
(2) Cash-Out of Awards. Subject to Section 7(a)(5) below, the Administrator may provide for payment (a cash-out), with respect to some or all Awards or any portion thereof (including only the vested portion thereof, with the unvested portion terminating without payment due as provided in Section 7(a)(4) below), equal in the case of each applicable Award or portion thereof to the excess, if any, of (i) the fair market value of one share of Stock multiplied by the
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number of shares of Stock subject to the Award or such portion, minus (ii) the aggregate exercise or purchase price, if any, of such Award or such portion thereof (or, in the case of a SAR, the aggregate base value above which appreciation is measured), in each case, on such payment and other terms and subject to such conditions (which need not be the same as the terms and conditions applicable to holders of Stock generally), as the Administrator determines, including that any amounts paid in respect of such Award in connection with the Covered Transaction be placed in escrow or otherwise made subject to such restrictions as the Administrator deems appropriate. For the avoidance of doubt, if the per share exercise or purchase price (or base value) of an Award or portion thereof is equal to or greater than the fair market value of one share of Stock, such Award or portion may be cancelled with no payment due hereunder or otherwise in respect thereof.
(3) Acceleration of Certain Awards. Subject to Section 7(a)(5) below, the Administrator may provide that any Award requiring exercise will become exercisable, in full or in part, and/or that the delivery of any shares of Stock remaining deliverable under any outstanding Award of Stock Units (including Restricted Stock Units and Performance Awards to the extent consisting of Stock Units) will be accelerated, in full or in part, in each case on a basis that gives the holder of the Award a reasonable opportunity, as determined by the Administrator, following the exercise of the Award or the delivery of the shares, as the case may be, to participate as a stockholder in the Covered Transaction.
(4) Termination of Awards upon Consummation of Covered Transaction. Except as the Administrator may otherwise determine, each Award will automatically terminate (and in the case of outstanding shares of Restricted Stock, will automatically be forfeited) immediately upon the consummation of the Covered Transaction, other than (i) any Award that is assumed, continued or substituted for pursuant to Section 7(a)(1) above and (ii) any Award that by its terms, or as a result of action taken by the Administrator, continues following the Covered Transaction.
(5) Additional Limitations. Any share of Stock and any cash or other property or other award delivered pursuant to Section 7(a)(1), Section 7(a)(2) or Section 7(a)(3) above with respect to an Award may, in the discretion of the Administrator, contain such restrictions, if any, as the Administrator deems appropriate, including to reflect any performance or other vesting conditions to which the Award was subject and that did not lapse (and were not satisfied) in connection with the Covered Transaction. For purposes of the immediately preceding sentence, a cash-out under Section 7(a)(2) above or an acceleration under Section 7(a)(3) above will not, in and of itself, be treated as the lapsing (or satisfaction) of a performance or other vesting condition. In the case of Restricted Stock that does not vest and is not forfeited in connection with the Covered Transaction, the Administrator may require that any amounts delivered, exchanged or otherwise paid in respect of such Stock in connection with the Covered Transaction be placed in escrow or otherwise made subject to such restrictions as the Administrator deems appropriate to carry out the intent of the Plan.
(6) Uniform Treatment. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrator need not treat Participants or Awards (or portions thereof) in a uniform manner, and may treat different Participants and/or Awards differently, in connection with a Covered Transaction.
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(b) Changes in and Distributions with Respect to Stock.
(1) Basic Adjustment Provisions. In the event of a stock dividend, stock split or combination of shares (including a reverse stock split), recapitalization or other change in the Companys capital structure that constitutes an equity restructuring within the meaning of the Accounting Rules, the Administrator shall make appropriate adjustments to the Share Pool, and shall make appropriate adjustments to the number and kind of shares of stock or securities underlying Awards then outstanding or subsequently granted, any exercise or purchase prices (or base values) relating to Awards and any other provision of Awards affected by such change.
(2) Certain Other Adjustments. The Administrator may also make adjustments of the type described in Section 7(b)(1) above to take into account distributions to stockholders other than those provided for in Sections 7(a) and 7(b)(1) above, or any other event, if the Administrator determines that adjustments are appropriate to avoid distortion in the operation of the Plan or any Award.
(3) Continuing Application of Plan Terms. References in the Plan to shares of Stock will be construed to include any stock or securities resulting from an adjustment pursuant to this Section 7.
8. |
LEGAL CONDITIONS ON DELIVERY OF STOCK |
The Company will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Stock pursuant to the Plan or to remove any restriction from shares of Stock previously delivered under the Plan until: (i) the Company is satisfied that all legal matters in connection with the issuance and delivery of such shares have been addressed and resolved; (ii) if the outstanding Stock is at the time of delivery listed on any stock exchange or national market system, the shares to be delivered have been listed or authorized to be listed on such exchange or system upon official notice of issuance; and (iii) all conditions of the Award have been satisfied or waived. The Company may require, as a condition to the exercise of an Award or the delivery of shares of Stock under an Award, such representations or agreements as counsel for the Company may consider appropriate to avoid violation of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any applicable state or non-U.S. securities law. Any Stock delivered under the Plan will be evidenced in such manner as the Administrator determines appropriate, including book-entry registration or delivery of stock certificates. In the event that the Administrator determines that stock certificates will be issued in connection with Stock issued under the Plan, the Administrator may require that such certificates bear an appropriate legend reflecting any restriction on transfer applicable to such Stock, and the Company may hold the certificates pending the lapse of the applicable restrictions.
9. |
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION |
The Administrator may at any time or times amend the Plan or any outstanding Award for any purpose which may at the time be permitted by applicable law, and may at any time terminate the Plan as to any future grants of Awards; provided, however, that except as otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or the applicable Award, the Administrator may not, without the Participants consent, alter the terms of an Award so as to affect materially and adversely the Participants rights under the Award, unless the Administrator expressly reserved the right to do so in the Plan or at
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the time the applicable Award was granted. Any amendments to the Plan will be conditioned upon stockholder approval only to the extent, if any, such approval is required by applicable law (including the Code) or stock exchange requirements, as determined by the Administrator. For the avoidance of doubt, without limiting the Administrators rights hereunder, no adjustment to any Award pursuant to the terms of Section 7 or Section 12 hereof will be treated as an amendment requiring a Participants consent.
10. |
OTHER COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS |
The existence of the Plan or the grant of any Award will not affect the right of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to grant any person bonuses or other compensation in addition to Awards under the Plan.
11. |
MISCELLANEOUS |
(a) Waiver of Jury Trial. By accepting or being deemed to have accepted an Award under the Plan, each Participant waives (or will be deemed to have waived), to the maximum extent permitted under applicable law, any right to a trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim concerning any rights under the Plan or any Award, or under any amendment, waiver, consent, instrument, document or other agreement delivered or which in the future may be delivered in connection therewith, and agrees (or will be deemed to have agreed) that any such action, proceedings or counterclaim will be tried before a court and not before a jury. By accepting (or being deemed to have accepted) an Award under the Plan, each Participant certifies that no officer, representative, or attorney of the Company has represented, expressly or otherwise, that the Company would not, in the event of any action, proceeding or counterclaim, seek to enforce the foregoing waivers. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, nothing herein is to be construed as limiting the ability of the Company and a Participant to agree to submit any dispute arising under the terms of the Plan or any Award to binding arbitration or as limiting the ability of the Company to require any individual to agree to submit such disputes to binding arbitration as a condition of receiving an Award hereunder.
(b) Limitation of Liability. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or any Award, none of the Company, nor any of its subsidiaries, nor the Administrator, nor any person acting on behalf of the Company, any of its subsidiaries, or the Administrator, will be liable to any Participant, to any permitted transferee, to the estate or beneficiary of any Participant or any permitted transferee, or to any other person by reason of any acceleration of income, any additional tax, or any penalty, interest or other liability asserted by reason of the failure of an Award to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 or Section 409A or by reason of Section 4999 of the Code, or otherwise asserted with respect to any Award.
(c) Unfunded Plan. The Companys obligations under the Plan are unfunded, and no Participant will have any right to specific assets of the Company in respect of any Award. Participants will be general unsecured creditors of the Company with respect to any amounts due or payable under the Plan.
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12. |
ESTABLISHMENT OF SUB-PLANS |
The Administrator may at any time and from time to time (including before or after an Award is granted) establish, adopt, or revise any rules and regulations as it may deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan for Participants based outside of the U.S. and/or subject to the laws of countries other than the U.S., including by establishing one or more sub-plans, supplements or appendices under the Plan or any Award agreement for the purpose of complying or facilitating compliance with non-U.S. laws or taking advantage of tax favorable treatment or for any other legal or administrative reason determined by the Administrator. Any such sub-plan, supplement or appendix may contain, in each case, (i) such limitations on the Administrators discretion under the Plan and (ii) such additional or different terms and conditions, as the Administrator deems necessary or desirable and will be deemed to be part of the Plan but will apply only to Participants within the group to which the sub-plan, supplement or appendix applies (as determined by the Administrator); provided, however, that no sub-plan, supplement or appendix, rule or regulation established pursuant to this provision shall increase the Share Pool.
13. |
GOVERNING LAW |
(a) In General. Awards and shares of Stock will be granted, issued and administered consistent with the requirements of applicable Delaware law relating to the issuance of stock and the consideration to be received therefor, and with the applicable requirements of the stock exchanges or other trading systems on which the Stock is listed or entered for trading, in each case, as determined by the Administrator. Except as otherwise provided by the express terms of an Award agreement, under a sub-plan described in Section 12 above or as provided in Section 13(a) above, the domestic substantive laws of the State of Delaware govern the provisions of the Plan and of Awards under the Plan and all claims or disputes arising out of or based upon the Plan or any Award under the Plan or relating to the subject matter hereof or thereof without giving effect to any choice or conflict of laws provision or rule that would cause the application of the domestic substantive laws of any other jurisdiction.
(b) Jurisdiction. Subject to Section 11(a) above, by accepting (or being deemed to have accepted) an Award, each Participant agrees or will be deemed to have agreed to (i) submit irrevocably and unconditionally to the jurisdiction of the federal and state courts located within the geographic boundaries of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware for the purpose of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or based upon the Plan or any Award; (ii) not commence any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or based upon the Plan or any Award, except in the federal and state courts located within the geographic boundaries of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware; and (iii) waive, and not assert, by way of motion as a defense or otherwise, in any such suit, action or proceeding, any claim that he or she is not subject personally to the jurisdiction of the above-named courts that his or her property is exempt or immune from attachment or execution, that the suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, that the venue of the suit, action or proceeding is improper or that the Plan or any Award or the subject matter thereof may not be enforced in or by such court.
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EXHIBIT A
Definition of Terms
The following terms, when used in the Plan, have the meanings and are subject to the provisions set forth below:
Accounting Rules: Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, or any successor provision.
Administrator: The Compensation Committee, except that the Board may at any time act in the capacity of the Administrator (including with respect to such matters that are not delegated to the Compensation Committee by the Board (whether pursuant to committee or charter), if applicable). The Compensation Committee (or the Board) may delegate (i) to one or more of its members (or one or more other members of the Board) such of its duties, powers and responsibilities as it may determine; (ii) to one or more officers of the Company the power to grant Awards to the extent permitted by applicable law; and (iii) to such Employees or other persons as it determines such ministerial tasks as it deems appropriate. For purposes of the Plan, the term Administrator will include the Board, the Compensation Committee, and the person or persons delegated authority under the Plan to the extent of such delegation, as applicable.
Award: Any or a combination of the following:
(i) Stock Options.
(ii) SARs.
(iii) Restricted Stock.
(iv) Unrestricted Stock.
(v) Stock Units, including Restricted Stock Units.
(vi) Performance Awards.
(vii) Awards (other than Awards described in (i) through (vi) above) that are convertible into or otherwise based on Stock.
Board: The Board of Directors of the Company.
Cause: In the case of any Participant who is party to an employment, change of control or severance-benefit agreement that contains a definition of Cause, the definition set forth in such agreement applies with respect to such Participant for purposes of the Plan for so long as such agreement is in effect. In every other case, Cause means, as determined by the Administrator, (i) the Participants material failure to perform (other than by reason of disability), or substantial negligence in the performance of, the Participants duties and responsibilities to the Company or any of its affiliates; (ii) the Participants material breach of the Plan, any Award agreement or any other agreement between the Participant and the Company or any of its affiliates or any policy of
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the Company or any of its affiliates, including any non-competition, non-solicitation, no-hire, non-disparagement, confidentiality, invention assignment or other restrictive covenant by which he or she is bound; (iii) the Participants commission of, or plea of nolo contendere to, a felony or other crime involving moral turpitude; or (iv) other conduct by the Participant that is or could reasonably be expected to be materially harmful to the business interests or reputation of the Company or any of its affiliates.
Code: The U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as from time to time amended and in effect, or any successor statute as from time to time in effect.
Company: The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
Compensation Committee: The Compensation Committee of the Board.
Covered Transaction: Any of (i) a consolidation, merger or similar transaction or series of related transactions, including a sale or other disposition of stock, in which the Company is not the surviving corporation or which results in the acquisition of all or substantially all of the Companys then outstanding common stock by a single person or entity or by a group of persons and/or entities acting in concert; (ii) a sale or transfer of all or substantially all the Companys assets; (iii) a dissolution or liquidation of the Company or (iv) any other transaction the Administrator determines to be a Covered Transaction. Where a Covered Transaction involves a tender offer that is reasonably expected to be followed by a merger described in clause (i) (as determined by the Administrator), the Covered Transaction will be deemed to have occurred upon consummation of the tender offer.
Date of Adoption: The earlier of the date the Plan was approved by the Companys stockholders or adopted by the Board, as determined by the Committee.
Director: A member of the Board who is not an Employee.
Disability: In the case of any Participant who is party to an employment, change of control or severance-benefit agreement that contains a definition of Disability (or a corollary term), the definition set forth in such agreement applies with respect to such Participant for purposes of the Plan for so long as such agreement is in effect. In every other case, Disability means, as determined by the Administrator, absence from work due to a disability for a period in excess of ninety (90) days in any twelve (12)-month period that would entitle the Participant to receive benefits under the Companys long-term disability program as in effect from time to time (if the Participant were a participant in such program).
Employee: Any person who is employed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
Employment: A Participants employment or other service relationship with the Company or any of its subsidiaries. Employment will be deemed to continue, unless the Administrator otherwise determines, so long as the Participant is employed by, or otherwise is providing services in a capacity described in Section 5 of the Plan to, the Company or any of its subsidiaries. If a Participants employment or other service relationship is with any subsidiary of the Company and that entity ceases to be a subsidiary of the Company, the Participants Employment will be deemed to have terminated when the entity ceases to be a subsidiary of the
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Company unless the Participant transfers Employment to the Company or one of its remaining subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in construing the provisions of any Award relating to the payment of nonqualified deferred compensation (subject to Section 409A) upon a termination or cessation of Employment, references to termination or cessation of employment, separation from service, retirement or similar or correlative terms will be construed to require a separation from service (as that term is defined in Section 1.409A-1(h) of the Treasury Regulations, after giving effect to the presumptions contained therein) from the Company and from all other corporations and trades or businesses, if any, that would be treated as a single service recipient with the Company under Section 1.409A-1(h)(3) of the Treasury Regulations. The Company may, but need not, elect in writing, subject to the applicable limitations under Section 409A, any of the special elective rules prescribed in Section 1.409A-1(h) of the Treasury Regulations for purposes of determining whether a separation from service has occurred. Any such written election will be deemed a part of the Plan.
Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Fair Market Value: As of a particular date, (i) the closing price for a share of Stock reported on the New York Stock Exchange (or any other national securities exchange on which the Stock is then listed) for that date or, if no closing price is reported for that date, the closing price on the immediately preceding date on which a closing price was reported or (ii) in the event that the Stock is not traded on a national securities exchange, the fair market value of a share of Stock determined by the Administrator consistent with the rules of Section 422 and Section 409A to the extent applicable.
ISO: A Stock Option intended to be an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422. Each Stock Option granted pursuant to the Plan will be treated as providing by its terms that it is to be an NSO unless, as of the date of grant, it is expressly designated as an ISO in the applicable Award agreement.
NSO: A Stock Option that is not intended to be an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422.
Participant: A person who is granted an Award under the Plan.
Performance Award: An Award subject to performance vesting conditions, which may include Performance Criteria.
Performance Criteria: Specified criteria, other than the mere continuation of Employment or the mere passage of time, the satisfaction of which is a condition for the grant, exercisability, vesting or full enjoyment of an Award. A Performance Criterion and any targets with respect thereto need not be based upon an increase, a positive or improved result or avoidance of loss and may be applied to a Participant individually, or to a business unit or division of the Company or to the Company as a whole. A Performance Criterion may also be based on individual performance and/or subjective performance criteria. The Administrator may provide that one or more of the Performance Criteria applicable to such Award will be adjusted in a manner to reflect events (for example, but without limitation, acquisitions or dispositions) occurring during the performance period that affect the applicable Performance Criterion or Criteria.
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Plan: This Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, as from time to time amended and in effect.
Restricted Stock: Stock subject to restrictions requiring that it be forfeited, redelivered or offered for sale to the Company if specified performance or other vesting conditions are not satisfied.
Restricted Stock Unit: A Stock Unit that is, or as to which the delivery of Stock or of cash in lieu of Stock is, subject to the satisfaction of specified performance or other vesting conditions.
SAR: A right entitling the holder upon exercise to receive an amount (payable in cash or in shares of Stock of equivalent value) equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of the shares of Stock subject to the right over the base value from which appreciation under the SAR is to be measured.
Section 409A: Section 409A of the Code and the regulations thereunder.
Section 422: Section 422 of the Code and the regulations thereunder.
Stock: Common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share.
Stock Option: An option entitling the holder to acquire shares of Stock upon payment of the exercise price.
Stock Unit: An unfunded and unsecured promise, denominated in shares of Stock, to deliver Stock or cash measured by the value of Stock in the future.
Substitute Award: An Award granted under the Plan in substitution for one or more equity awards of an acquired company that are converted, replaced or adjusted in connection with the acquisition.
Unrestricted Stock: Stock not subject to any restrictions under the terms of the Award.
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Exhibit 10.4
THE DUCKHORN PORTFOLIO, INC.
2021 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
1. DEFINED TERMS
Exhibit A, which is incorporated by reference, defines the terms used in the Plan and sets forth certain operational rules related to those terms.
2. PURPOSE
The Plan is intended to enable Eligible Employees to use payroll deductions to purchase shares of Stock, and thereby acquire an interest in the Company. The Plan is intended to qualify as an employee stock purchase plan under Section 423 and to be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, and is to be construed consistently with that intent.
3. ADMINISTRATION
The Plan will be administered by the Administrator. The Administrator has discretionary authority, subject only to the express provisions of the Plan, to interpret the Plan; to determine eligibility under the Plan; to prescribe forms, rules and procedures relating to the Plan; and to otherwise do all things necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of the Plan. Determinations of the Administrator made with respect to the Plan are conclusive and bind all persons.
4. SHARE POOL
(a) Number of Shares. Subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 17 below, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock available for purchase pursuant to the exercise of Options granted under the Plan will be 1,250,509 shares (the Share Pool). For purposes of this Section 4(a), shares of Stock shall not be treated as delivered under the Plan, and will not reduce the Share Pool, unless and until, and to the extent, they are actually delivered to a Participant. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if any Option granted under the Plan expires or terminates for any reason without having been exercised in full or ceases for any reason to be exercisable in whole or in part, the unpurchased shares of Stock subject to such Option will not reduce the Share Pool and will remain available for purchase under the Plan. If, on an Exercise Date, the total number of shares of Stock that would otherwise be purchased upon the exercise of Options granted under the Plan exceeds the number of shares then available in the Share Pool, the Administrator shall make a pro rata allocation of the shares then available in as uniform a manner as is practicable and as it determines to be equitable. In such event, the Administrator shall notify each Participant affected by such reduction.
(b) Type of Shares. Stock delivered by the Company under the Plan may be authorized but unissued Stock, treasury Stock or previously issued Stock acquired by the Company. No fractional shares of Stock will be delivered under the Plan.
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5. ELIGIBILITY
(a) Eligibility Requirements. Subject to the limitations contained in the Plan, each Employee (i) who has been continuously employed by the Company or a Designated Subsidiary, as applicable, for a period of at least six (6) months as of the first day of an Option Period, (ii) whose customary Employment with the Company or a Designated Subsidiary, as applicable, is for more than five (5) months per calendar year, (iii) who customarily works twenty (20) hours or more per week, and (iv) who satisfies the requirements set forth in the Plan, will be an Eligible Employee.
(b) Five Percent Stockholders. No Employee may be granted an Option under the Plan if, immediately after the Option is granted, the Employee would own (or pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code would be deemed to own) shares possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company or of its Parent or Subsidiaries, if any.
(c) Additional Requirements. The Administrator may, for Option Periods that have not yet commenced, establish additional or other eligibility requirements, or amend the eligibility requirements set forth in subsection (a) above, in each case, consistent with the requirements of Section 423.
6. OPTION PERIODS
The Plan will generally be implemented by a series of separate offerings referred to as Option Periods. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, the Option Periods will be successive periods of approximately six (6) months commencing on the first Business Day in August and February of each year, anticipated to be on or around August 1 and February 1, and ending approximately six (6) months later on the last Business Day in January or July, as applicable, of each year, anticipated to be on or around January 31 and July 31. The last Business Day of each Option Period will be an Exercise Date. The Administrator may change the Exercise Date, the commencement date, the ending date and the duration of each Option Period, in each case, to the extent permitted by Section 423; provided, however, that no Option may be exercised after 27 months from its grant date.
7. OPTION GRANTS
Subject to the limitations set forth herein and the Maximum Share Limit (as defined below), on the first day of an Option Period, each Participant will automatically be granted an Option to purchase shares of Stock on the Exercise Date; provided, however, that no Participant will be granted an Option under the Plan that permits the Participants right to purchase shares of Stock under the Plan and under all other employee stock purchase plans of the Company and its Parent and Subsidiaries, if any, to accrue at a rate that exceeds $25,000 in Fair Market Value (or such other maximum as may be prescribed from time to time by the Code) for each calendar year during which any Option granted to such Participant is outstanding at any time, as determined in accordance with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code.
8. PARTICIPATION
(a) Election. To participate in an Option Period, an Eligible Employee must execute and deliver to the Administrator an election form, in accordance with the procedures prescribed by, and in a form acceptable to, the Administrator. Such election form must be delivered not later than five (5) Business Days prior to the first day of an Option Period, or such other time as specified
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by the Administrator. An Eligible Employee will become a Participant as of the first day of the Option Period for which he or she timely delivered such election form and will remain a Participant with respect to subsequent Option Periods until his or her participation in the Plan is terminated as provided herein.
(b) Election Amount. Each election form will authorize payroll deductions as a whole percentage from 1% to 15% of the employees Eligible Compensation per payroll period, to be deducted from the Eligible Employees pay during each payroll period occurring during the applicable Option Period.
(c) Payroll Deduction Account. All payroll deductions made pursuant to this Section 8 will be credited to the Participants Account. Amounts credited to a Participants Account will not be required to be set aside in trust or otherwise segregated from the Companys general assets.
(d) Changes to Election for Current Option Period. During an Option Period, elections and rates of contributions may not be increased or decreased, except that a Participant may terminate his or her participation in the Plan by canceling his or her Option in accordance with Section 14 below.
(e) Changes to Election for Subsequent Option Periods. A Participants election form will remain in effect for subsequent Option Periods unless the Participant files a new election form not later than five (5) Business Days prior to the first day of the subsequent Option Period (or such other time as specified by the Administrator) or the Participants Option is cancelled in accordance with the Plan.
9. METHOD OF PAYMENT
A Participant must pay for shares of Stock purchased upon the exercise of an Option with the accumulated payroll deductions credited to the Participants Account.
10. PURCHASE PRICE
The Purchase Price of shares of Stock issued pursuant to the exercise of an Option on each Exercise Date will be eighty-five percent (85%) (or such other percentage specified by the Administrator to the extent permitted under Section 423) of the lesser of (i) the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date on which the Option was granted (i.e., the first day of the Option Period) and (ii) the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date on which the Option is deemed exercised (i.e., the Exercise Date).
11. EXERCISE OF OPTIONS
(a) Purchase of Shares. Subject to the limitations set forth herein, with respect to each Option Period, on each Exercise Date, each Participant will be deemed to have exercised his or her Option and the accumulated payroll deductions credited to the Participants Account will be applied to purchase the greatest number of shares of Stock (rounded down to the nearest whole share) that can be purchased with such Account balance at the applicable Purchase Price; provided, however, that no more than 1,500 shares of Stock may be purchased by a Participant on any Exercise Date, or such other number as the Administrator may prescribe in accordance with
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Section 423 (the Maximum Share Limit). As soon as practicable thereafter, the shares of Stock so purchased will be placed, in book-entry form, into a recordkeeping account in the name of the Participant. Any accumulated payroll deductions in a Participants Account that are not sufficient to purchase a whole share of Stock will be retained in the Participants Account for the subsequent Option Period, subject to earlier withdrawal by the Participant as provided in Section 14 below.
(b) Return of Account Balance. Except as provided in Section 11(a) above, any accumulated payroll deductions in a Participants Account for an Option Period that are not used to purchase shares of Stock, whether because of the Participants withdrawal from participation in an Option Period or for any other reason, will be returned to the Participant (or his or her designated beneficiary or legal representative, as applicable), without interest, as soon as administratively practicable after such withdrawal or other event, as applicable. If the Participants accumulated payroll deductions for an Option Period would otherwise enable the Participant to purchase shares of Stock in excess of the Maximum Share Limit or the maximum Fair Market Value set forth in Section 7 above, the excess of the amount of the accumulated payroll deductions over the aggregate Purchase Price of the shares of Stock actually purchased will be returned to the Participant, without interest, as soon as administratively practicable after such Exercise Date.
12. INTEREST
No interest will accrue or be payable on any amount held in the Account of any Participant.
13. TAXES
Payroll deductions will be made on an after-tax basis. The Administrator will have the right, as a condition to exercising an Option, to make such provision as it deems necessary to satisfy its obligations to withhold federal, state, local or other taxes incurred by reason of the purchase or disposition of shares of Stock under the Plan. In the Administrators discretion and subject to applicable law, such tax obligations may be satisfied in whole or in part by delivery of shares of Stock to the Company, including shares of Stock purchased under the Plan, valued at Fair Market Value, but not in excess of the maximum withholding amount consistent with the award being subject to equity accounting treatment under the Accounting Rules.
14. CANCELLATION AND WITHDRAWAL
A Participant who holds an Option under the Plan may cancel all (but not less than all) of such Option and terminate his or her participation in the Plan by delivering a notice to the Administrator in accordance with the procedures prescribed by, and in a form acceptable to, the Administrator. To be effective with respect to an upcoming Exercise Date, such notice must be delivered not later than five (5) Business Days prior to such Exercise Date (or such other time as specified by the Administrator). Upon such termination and cancellation, the balance in the Participants Account will be returned to the Participant, without interest, as soon as administratively practicable thereafter. For the avoidance of doubt, a Participant who reduces his or her rate of payroll deductions for future payroll periods to zero percent (0%) in accordance with Section 8 above will be deemed to have terminated his or her participation in the Plan as to all current and future Option Periods, unless and until the Participant has delivered a new election for a subsequent Option Period in accordance with the rules of Section 8 above.
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15. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
Upon the termination of a Participants employment with the Company or a Designated Subsidiary, as applicable, for any reason (including the death of a Participant during an Option Period prior to an Exercise Date) or in the event the Participant ceases to qualify as an Eligible Employee, the Participants participation in the Plan will terminate, any Option held by the Participant under the Plan will be canceled, the balance in the Participants Account will be returned to the Participant (or his or her estate or designated beneficiary in the event of the Participants death), without interest, as soon as administratively practicable thereafter, and the Participant will have no further rights under the Plan.
16. EQUAL RIGHTS; RIGHTS NOT TRANSFERABLE
All Participants granted Options in during an Option Period under the Plan will have the same rights and privileges, consistent with the requirements set forth in Section 423. Any Option granted under the Plan will be exercisable during the Participants lifetime only by him or her and may not be sold, pledged, assigned, or transferred in any manner. In the event any Participant violates or attempts to violate the terms of this Section 16, as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion, any Options granted to the Participant under the Plan may be terminated by the Company and, upon the return to the Participant of the balance of his or her Account, without interest, all of the Participants rights under the Plan will terminate.
17. CHANGE IN CAPITALIZATION; COVERED TRANSACTION
(a) Change in Capitalization. In the event of a stock dividend, stock split or combination of shares (including a reverse stock split), recapitalization or other change in the Companys capital structure that constitutes an equity restructuring within the meaning of the Accounting Rules, the Administrator shall make appropriate adjustments to the aggregate number and type of shares of stock available under the Plan, the number and type of shares of stock granted under any outstanding Options, the maximum number and type of shares of stock purchasable under any outstanding Option, and/or the Purchase Price under any outstanding Option, in any case, in a manner that complies with Section 423.
(b) Covered Transaction. In the event of a Covered Transaction, the Administrator may, in its discretion, (i) provide that each outstanding Option will be assumed or exchanged for a substitute option granted by the acquiror or successor corporation or by a parent or subsidiary of the acquiror or successor corporation; (ii) cancel each outstanding Option and return the balances in Participants Accounts to the Participants; and/or (iii) terminate the Option Period on or before the date of the Covered Transaction.
18. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
(a) Amendment. The Administrator reserves the right at any time or times to amend the Plan to any extent and in any manner it may deem advisable; provided, that any amendment that would be treated as the adoption of a new plan for purposes of Section 423 will have no force or effect unless approved by the stockholders of the Company within twelve (12) months before or after its adoption.
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(b) Termination. The Administrator reserves the right at any time or times to suspend or terminate the Plan. In connection therewith, the Administrator may provide, in its sole discretion, either that outstanding Options will be exercisable on the Exercise Date for the applicable Option Period or on such earlier date as the Administrator may specify (in which case such earlier date will be treated as the Exercise Date for the applicable Option Period), or that the balance of each Participants Account will be returned to the Participant, without interest.
19. APPROVALS
Stockholder approval of the Plan will be obtained prior to the date that is twelve (12) months after the date the Plan is approved by the Board. In the event that the Plan has not been approved by the stockholders of the Company prior to the one-year anniversary of the date the Plan is approved by the Board, all Options granted under the Plan will be cancelled and become null and void.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the obligation of the Company to issue and deliver shares of Stock under the Plan will be subject to the approval required of any governmental authority in connection with the authorization, issuance, sale or transfer of such shares of Stock and to any requirements of any national securities exchange applicable thereto, and to compliance by the Company with other applicable legal requirements in effect from time to time.
20. PARTICIPANTS RIGHTS AS STOCKHOLDERS AND EMPLOYEES
A Participant will have no rights or privileges as a stockholder of the Company and will not receive any dividends in respect of any shares of Stock covered by an Option granted hereunder until such Option has been exercised, full payment has been made for such shares, and the shares have been issued to the Participant.
Nothing contained in the Plan will be construed as giving to any Employee the right to be retained in the employ of the Company or any Designated Subsidiary or as interfering with the right of the Company or any Designated Subsidiary to discharge, promote, demote or otherwise re-assign any Employee from one position to another within the Company or any Designated Subsidiary or any other Subsidiary at any time.
21. RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER; INFORMATION REGARDING DISQUALIFYING DISPOSITIONS
(a) Restrictions on Transfer. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, shares of Stock purchased under the Plan shall be subject to a mandatory holding period of six (6) months following the Exercise Date on which such shares of Stock were purchased. During this time, such shares of Stock may not be transferred, sold, pledged or alienated by a Participant, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. The Administrator may, in its discretion, impose such other restrictions on the transfer, sale, pledge or alienation of any shares purchased under the Plan, or may, in its discretion, amend such restrictions, as it shall determine from time to time.
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(b) Disqualifying Dispositions. By electing to participate in the Plan, each Participant agrees (or will be deemed to have agreed) to provide such information about any transfer of Stock acquired under the Plan that occurs within two years after the first day of the Option Period in which such Stock was acquired and within one year after the day such Stock was purchased as may be requested by the Company or any Designated Subsidiary in order to assist it in complying with applicable tax laws.
22. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) Waiver of Jury Trial. By electing to participate in the Plan, each Participant waives (or will be deemed to have waived), to the maximum extent permitted under applicable law, any right to a trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim concerning any rights under the Plan or with respect to any Option, or under any amendment, waiver, consent, instrument, document or other agreement delivered or which in the future may be delivered in connection therewith, and agrees (or will be deemed to have agreed) that any such action, proceedings or counterclaim will be tried before a court and not before a jury. By electing to participate in the Plan, each Participant certifies that no officer, representative, or attorney of the Company has represented, expressly or otherwise, that the Company would not, in the event of any action, proceeding or counterclaim, seek to enforce the foregoing waivers. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, nothing herein is to be construed as limiting the ability of the Company and a Participant to agree to submit any dispute arising under the terms of the Plan or in respect of any Option to binding arbitration or as limiting the ability of the Company to require any individual to agree to submit any dispute to binding arbitration as a condition of receiving an Option hereunder.
(b) Limitation of Liability. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, neither the Company, nor any of its subsidiaries, nor the Administrator, nor any person acting on behalf of the Company, any of its subsidiaries, or the Administrator, will be liable to any Participant or to any other person by reason of any acceleration of income, any additional tax, or any penalty, interest or other liability asserted by reason of the failure of the Plan or any Option to satisfy the requirements of Section 423, or otherwise asserted with respect to the Plan or any Option.
(c) Unfunded Plan. The Companys obligations under the Plan are unfunded, and no Participant will have any right to specific assets of the Company in respect of any Option. Participants will be general unsecured creditors of the Company with respect to any amounts due or payable under the Plan.
23. ESTABLISHMENT OF SUB-PLANS
Notwithstanding the foregoing or any provision of the Plan to the contrary, consistent with the requirements of Section 423, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, amend the terms of the Plan, or an offering and/or provide for separate offerings under the Plan in order to, among other things, reflect the impact of local law outside of the United States as applied to one or more Eligible Employees of a Designated Subsidiary and may, where appropriate, establish one or more sub-plans to reflect such amended provisions.
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24. GOVERNING LAW
(a) Certain Requirements of Corporate Law. Options and shares of Stock will be granted, issued and administered consistent with the requirements of applicable Delaware law relating to the issuance of stock and the consideration to be received therefor, and with the applicable requirements of the stock exchanges or other trading systems on which the Stock is listed or entered for trading, in each case as determined by the Administrator.
(b) Other Matters. Except as otherwise provided by the express terms of a sub-plan described in Section 23 above or as provided in Section 24(a) above, the domestic substantive laws of the State of Delaware govern the provisions of the Plan and of Options under the Plan and all claims or disputes arising out of or based upon the Plan or any Option or relating to the subject matter hereof or thereof without giving effect to any choice or conflict of laws provision or rule that would cause the application of the domestic substantive laws of any other jurisdiction.
(c) Jurisdiction. By electing to participate in the Plan, each Participant agrees or will be deemed to have agreed to (i) submit irrevocably and unconditionally to the jurisdiction of the federal and state courts located within the geographic boundaries of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware for the purpose of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or based upon the Plan or any Option; (ii) not commence any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or based upon the Plan or any Option, except in the federal and state courts located within the geographic boundaries of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware; and (iii) waive, and not assert, by way of motion as a defense or otherwise, in any such suit, action or proceeding, any claim that he or she is not subject personally to the jurisdiction of the above-named courts that his or her property is exempt or immune from attachment or execution, that the suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, that the venue of the suit, action or proceeding is improper or that the Plan or any Option or the subject matter thereof may not be enforced in or by such court.
25. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM
The Plan will become effective upon adoption of the Plan by the Board and no rights will be granted hereunder after the earliest to occur of (i) the Plans termination by the Administrator; (ii) the issuance of all shares of Stock available for issuance under the Plan and (iii) the day before the ten (10)-year anniversary of the date the Board approves the Plan.
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EXHIBIT A
Definition of Terms
The following terms, when used in the Plan, have the meanings and are subject to the provisions set forth below:
401(k) Plan: A savings plan qualifying under Section 401(k) of the Code that is sponsored by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries for the benefit of its employees.
Account: A notional payroll deduction account maintained in the Participants name in the records of the Company.
Accounting Rules: Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, or any successor provision.
Administrator: The Compensation Committee, except that the Board may at any time act in the capacity of the Administrator (including with respect to such matters that are not delegated to the Compensation Committee by the Board (whether pursuant to committee or charter), if applicable). The Compensation Committee (or the Board) may delegate (i) to one or more of its members (or one or more other members of the Board) such of its duties, powers and responsibilities as it may determine and (ii) to such Employees or other persons as it determines such ministerial tasks as it deems appropriate. For purposes of the Plan, the term Administrator will include the Board, the Compensation Committee, and the person or persons delegated authority under the Plan to the extent of such delegation, as applicable.
Board: The Board of Directors of the Company.
Business Day: Any day on which the established national exchange or trading system (including the New York Stock Exchange) on which the Stock is traded is available and open for trading.
Code: The U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as from time to time amended and in effect, or any successor statute as from time to time in effect.
Company: The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
Compensation Committee: The Compensation Committee of the Board.
Covered Transaction: Any of (i) a consolidation, merger or similar transaction or series of related transactions, including a sale or other disposition of stock, in which the Company is not the surviving corporation or which results in the acquisition of all or substantially all of the Companys then outstanding common stock by a single person or entity or by a group of persons and/or entities acting in concert; (ii) a sale or transfer of all or substantially all the Companys assets; (iii) a dissolution or liquidation of the Company or (iv) any other transaction the Administrator determines to be a Covered Transaction. Where a Covered Transaction involves a tender offer that is reasonably expected to be followed by a merger described in clause (i) (as determined by the Administrator), the Covered Transaction will be deemed to have occurred upon consummation of the tender offer.
Designated Subsidiary: A Subsidiary of the Company that has been designated by the Board or the Compensation Committee from time to time as eligible to participate in the Plan as set forth on Exhibit B, as amended from time to time (with the initial list of Designated Subsidiaries as of the date of adoption of the Plan by the Board set forth on Exhibit B). For the avoidance of doubt, any Subsidiary of the Company, whether or not a Subsidiary on the date the Plan was adopted by the Board, shall be eligible to be designated as a Designated Subsidiary hereunder.
Eligible Compensation: Regular base salary, regular base wages, overtime payments, annual bonuses, commissions and sales incentives (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any long-term or equity-based incentive payments or awards). Eligible Compensation will not be reduced by any income or employment tax withholdings or any contributions by the Employee to a 401(k) Plan or a plan under Section 125 of the Code, but will be reduced by any contributions made on the Employees behalf by the Company or any Subsidiary to any deferred compensation plan or welfare benefit program now or hereafter established.
Eligible Employee: Any Employee who meets the eligibility requirements set forth in the Plan.
Employee: Any person who is employed by the Company or a Designated Subsidiary. For the avoidance of doubt, independent contractors and consultants are not Employees.
Exercise Date: The date set forth in the Plan or otherwise designated by the Administrator with respect to a particular Option Period on which a Participant will be deemed to have exercised the Option granted to him or her for such Option Period.
Fair Market Value: As of a particular date, (i) the closing price for a share of Stock reported on the New York Stock Exchange (or any other national securities exchange on which the Stock is then listed) for that date or, if no closing price is reported for that date, the closing price on the immediately preceding date on which a closing price was reported or (ii) in the event that the Stock is not traded on a national securities exchange, the fair market value of a share of Stock determined by the Administrator consistent with the rules of Section 422 and Section 409A to the extent applicable.
Maximum Share Limit: The meaning set forth in Section 11 of the Plan.
Option: An option granted pursuant to the Plan entitling the holder to acquire shares of Stock upon payment of the Purchase Price per share of Stock.
Option Period: An offering period established in accordance with Section 6 of the Plan.
Parent: A parent corporation as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.
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Participant: An Eligible Employee who elects to participate in an Option Period under the Plan.
Plan: This Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc. 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as from time to time amended and in effect.
Purchase Price: The price per share of Stock with respect to an Option Period determined in accordance with Section 10 of the Plan.
Section 423: Section 423 of the Code and the regulations thereunder.
Stock: Common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share.
Subsidiary: A subsidiary corporation as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.
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