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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 6, 2021.

Registration No. 333-257223

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

AMENDMENT NO. 1

TO

FORM S-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Blend Labs, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   7370   45-5211045

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(Primary Standard Industrial

Classification Code Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

Blend Labs, Inc.

415 Kearny Street

San Francisco, California 94108

(650) 550-4810

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

 

 

Nima Ghamsari

Head of Blend and Co-Founder

415 Kearny Street

San Francisco, California 94108

(650) 550-4810

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

 

 

Copies to:

 

Rezwan D. Pavri

Lisa L. Stimmell

Andrew T. Hill

Catherine D. Doxsee

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C.

650 Page Mill Road

Palo Alto, California 94304

(650) 493-9300

 

Crystal Sumner

Seth Greenstein

Feather Foxworthy

Winnie Ling

Blend Labs, Inc.

415 Kearny Street

San Francisco, California 94108

(650) 550-4810

 

Bradley C. Weber

Mitzi Chang

Julia R. White

Goodwin Procter LLP

601 Marshall Street

Redwood City, California 94063

(650) 752-3100

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after this registration statement becomes effective.

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

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

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

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

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

 

Large accelerated filer

 

  

Accelerated filer

 

Non-accelerated filer

 

  

Smaller reporting company

 

    

Emerging growth company

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of each Class of

Securities to be Registered

 

Shares

to be
Registered(1)

 

Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate

Offering Price
Per Share(2)

 

Maximum
Aggregate

Offering Price(2)

 

Amount of

Registration Fee(3)

Class A common stock, par value $0.00001 per share

  23,000,000   $18.00   $414,000,000   $45,168

 

 

(1)

Includes an additional 3,000,000 shares of our Class A common stock that the underwriters have the option to purchase.

(2)

Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(3)

The registrant previously paid $10,910 of this amount in connection with a prior filing of this registration statement.

 

 

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

 

 

 


Table of Contents

LOGO

The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement led with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. Blend PROSPECTUS (Subject to Completion) Issued , 2021 Class A Common Stock Shares This is an initial public offering of shares of common stock of Blend Labs, Inc. Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our Class A common stock. It is currently estimated that the initial public offering price per share will be between $ and $ . We have applied to list our Class A common stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BLND. We have three classes of authorized common stock, Class A common stock, Class B common stock, and Class C common stock. The rights of the holders of Class A common stock, Class B common stock, and Class C common stock are identical, except with respect to voting and conversion. Each share of Class A common stock is entitled to one vote per share. Each share of Class B common stock is entitled to 40 votes per share and is convertible at any time into one share of Class A common stock. Shares of Class C common stock have no voting rights, except as otherwise required by law, and will convert into Class A common stock, on a share-for-share basis, following the conversion or exchange of all outstanding shares of Class B common stock into shares of Class A common stock and upon the date or time specied by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock voting as a separate class. Upon the completion of this offering, no shares of Class C common stock will be issued and outstanding. Upon the completion of this offering, all shares of Class B common stock will be held by Nima Ghamsari, Head of Blend, one of our co-founder, and a member of our board of directors, and his affiliates. Accordingly, upon completion of this offering, assuming an offering size as set forth above, Mr. Ghamsari will hold approximately % of the total voting power of our outstanding capital stock. As a result, Mr. Ghamsari will be able to determine or signicantly inuence any action requiring the approval of our stockholders, including the election of our board of directors, the adoption of amendments to our certicate of incorporation and bylaws, and the approval of any merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of our assets, or other major corporate transaction. As a result, we will be a controlled company within the meaning of the rules of the New York Stock Exchange. Following this offering, we will be a controlled company within the meaning of the rules of the New York Stock Exchange. See the sections titled Management and Principal Stockholders for additional information. We are an emerging growth company as dened in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 and, as such, we have elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements for this prospectus and may elect to do so in future lings. See Risk Factors beginning on page 23 to read about factors you should consider before buying shares of our common stock. Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. Per Share Total Initial public offering price $ $ Underwriting discount (1) $ $ Proceeds, before expenses, to Blend Labs, Inc. $ $ (1) See the section titled Underwriting for a description of the compensation payable to the underwriters. To the extent that the underwriters sell more than shares of Class A common stock, the underwriters have the option to purchase up to an additional shares of Class A common stock from Blend Labs, Inc. at the initial price to the public less the underwriting discount. The underwriters expect to deliver the shares against payment in New York, New York, on , 2021. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC Allen & Company LLC Wells Fargo Securities KeyBanc Capital Markets Truist Securities UBS Investment Bank Piper Sandler William Blair Canaccord Genuity Prospectus dated , 2021. The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement led with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. Blend PROSPECTUS (Subject to Completion) Issued , 2021 Class A Common Stock Shares This is an initial public offering of shares of common stock of Blend Labs, Inc. Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our Class A common stock. It is currently estimated that the initial public offering price per share will be between $ and $ . We have applied to list our Class A common stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BLND. We have three classes of authorized common stock, Class A common stock, Class B common stock, and Class C common stock. The rights of the holders of Class A common stock, Class B common stock, and Class C common stock are identical, except with respect to voting and conversion. Each share of Class A common stock is entitled to one vote per share. Each share of Class B common stock is entitled to 40 votes per share and is convertible at any time into one share of Class A common stock. Shares of Class C common stock have no voting rights, except as otherwise required by law, and will convert into Class A common stock, on a share-for-share basis, following the conversion or exchange of all outstanding shares of Class B common stock into shares of Class A common stock and upon the date or time specied by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock voting as a separate class. Upon the completion of this offering, no shares of Class C common stock will be issued and outstanding. Upon the completion of this offering, all shares of Class B common stock will be held by Nima Ghamsari, Head of Blend, one of our co-founder, and a member of our board of directors, and his affiliates. Accordingly, upon completion of this offering, assuming an offering size as set forth above, Mr. Ghamsari will hold approximately % of the total voting power of our outstanding capital stock. As a result, Mr. Ghamsari will be able to determine or signicantly inuence any action requiring the approval of our stockholders, including the election of our board of directors, the adoption of amendments to our certicate of incorporation and bylaws, and the approval of any merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of our assets, or other major corporate transaction. As a result, we will be a controlled company within the meaning of the rules of the New York Stock Exchange. Following this offering, we will be a controlled company within the meaning of the rules of the New York Stock Exchange. See the sections titled Management and Principal Stockholders for additional information. We are an emerging growth company as dened in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 and, as such, we have elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements for this prospectus and may elect to do so in future lings. See Risk Factors beginning on page 23 to read about factors you should consider before buying shares of our common stock. Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. Per Share Total Initial public offering price $ $ Underwriting discount (1) $ $ Proceeds, before expenses, to Blend Labs, Inc. $ $ (1) See the section titled Underwriting for a description of the compensation payable to the underwriters. To the extent that the underwriters sell more than shares of Class A common stock, the underwriters have the option to purchase up to an additional shares of Class A common stock from Blend Labs, Inc. at the initial price to the public less the underwriting discount. The underwriters expect to deliver the shares against payment in New York, New York, on , 2021. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC Allen & Company LLC Wells Fargo Securities KeyBanc Capital Markets Truist Securities UBS Investment Bank Piper Sandler William Blair Canaccord Genuity Prospectus dated , 2021. (based on shares of Class A common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2021).(based on shares of Class A common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2021)The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement led with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. Blend PROSPECTUS (Subject to Completion) Issued , 2021 Class A common Stock Shares This is an initial public offering of shares of common stock of Blend Labs, Inc. Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our Class A common stock. It is currently estimated that the initial public offering price per share will be between $ and $ . We intend to apply to list our Class A common stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BLND. We have three classes of authorized common stock, Class A common stock, Class B common stock, and Class C common stock. The rights of the holders of Class A common stock, Class B common stock, and Class C common stock are identical, except with respect to voting and conversion. Each share of Class A common stock is entitled to one vote per share. Each share of Class B common stock is entitled to 40 votes per share and is convertible at any time into one share of Class A common stock. Shares of Class C common stock have no voting rights, except as otherwise required by law, and will convert into Class A common stock, on a share-for-share basis, following the conversion or exchange of all outstanding shares of Class B common stock into shares of Class A common stock and upon the date or time specied by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock voting as a separate class. Upon the completion of this offering, no shares of Class C common stock will be issued and outstanding. Upon the completion of this offering, all shares of Class B common stock will be held by Nima Ghamsari, Head of Blend, one of our co-founders, and a member of our board of directors, and his affiliates. Accordingly, upon completion of this offering, assuming an offering size as set forth above, Mr. Ghamsari will hold approximately [ ]% of the total voting power of our outstanding capital stock. As a result, Mr. Ghamsari will be able to determine or signicantly inuence any action requiring the approval of our stockholders, including the election of our board of directors, the adoption of amendments to our certicate of incorporation and bylaws, and the approval of any merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of our assets, or other major corporate transaction. As a result, we will be a controlled company within the meaning of the rules of the New York Stock Exchange. Following this offering, we will be a controlled company within the meaning of the rules of the New York Stock Exchange. See the sections titled Management and Principal Stockholders for additional information. We are an emerging growth company as dened in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 and, as such, we have elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements for this prospectus and may elect to do so in future lings. See Risk Factors beginning on page [18] to read about factors you should consider before buying shares of our common stock. Per Share Total Initial public offering price $ $ Underwriting discount (1) $ $ Proceeds, before expenses, to Blend Labs, Inc. $ $ (1) See the section titled Underwriting for a description of the compensation payable to the underwriters. To the extent that the underwriters sell more than shares of Class A common stock, the underwriters have the option to purchase up to an additional shares of Class A common stock from Blend Labs, Inc. at the initial price to the public less the underwriting discount. The underwriters expect to deliver the shares against payment in New York, New York, on , 2021. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC Allen & Company LLC Wells Fargo Securities KeyBanc Capital Markets Truist Securities UBS Investment Bank Piper Sandler William Blair Canaccord Genuity Prospectus dated , 2021. PROSPECTUS (Subject to Completion) Issued July 6, 2021 The information in this preliminar y prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminar y prospectus is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. Class A Common Stock 20,000,000 Shares This is an initial public offering of shares of Class A common stock of Blend Labs, Inc. Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our Class A common stock. It is currently estimated that the initial public offering price per share will be between $16.00 and $18.00. We have applied to list our Class A common stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BLND. We have three classes of authorized common stock, Class A common stock, Class B common stock, and Class C common stock. The rights of the holders of Class A common stock, Class B common stock, and Class C common stock are identical, except with respect to voting and conversion. Each share of Class A common stock is entitled to one vote per share. Each share of Class B common stock is entitled to 40 votes per share and is convertible at any time into one share of Class A common stock. Shares of Class C common stock have no voting rights, except as otherwise required by law, and will convert into Class A common stock, on a share-for-share basis, following the conversion or exchange of all outstanding shares of Class B common stock into shares of Class A common stock and upon the date or time specified by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock voting as a separate class. Upon the completion of this offering, no shares of Class C common stock will be issued and outstanding. Upon the completion of this offering, all shares of Class B common stock will be held by Nima Ghamsari, Head of Blend, Co-Founder, and Chair of our board of directors, and his affiliates. Accordingly, upon completion of this offering, assuming an offering size as set forth above the shares beneficially owned by Mr. Ghamsari will represent approximately 68% of the total voting power of our outstanding capital stock which voting power may increase over time as Mr. Ghamsari exercises or vests in equity awards outstanding at the time of the completion of this offering. If all such equity awards held by Mr. Ghamsari had been exercised or vested and exchanged for shares of Class B common stock as of the date of the completion of this offering, Mr. Ghamsari would hold 72% of the voting power of our outstanding capital stock. As a result, Mr. Ghamsari will be able to determine or significantly influence any action requiring the approval of our stockholders, including the election of our board of directors, the adoption of amendments to our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, and the approval of any merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of our assets, or other major corporate transaction. We are an emerging growth company as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 and, as such, we have elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements for this prospectus and may elect to do so in future filings. See Risk Factors beginning on page 23 to read about factors you should consider before buying shares of our Class A common stock. Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. Per Share Total Initial public offering price $ $ Underwriting discount (1) $ $ Proceeds, before expenses, to Blend Labs, Inc. $ $ (1) See the section titled Underwriting for a description of the compensation payable to the underwriters. To the extent that the underwriters sell more than 20,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, the underwriters have the option to purchase up to an additional 3,000,000 shares of Class A common stock from Blend Labs, Inc. at the initial price to the public less the underwriting discount. The underwriters expect to deliver the shares against payment in New York, New York, on , 2021. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC KeyBanc Capital Markets Piper Sandler Allen & Company LLC Truist Securities William Blair Wells Fargo Securities UBS Investment Bank Canaccord Genuity Drexel Hamilton Loop Capital Markets Ramirez & Co., Inc. Prospectus dated , 2021. PROSPECTUS (Subject to Completion) Issued July 6, 2021 20,000,000 Shares Class A Common Stock This is an initial public offering of shares of Class A common stock of Blend Labs, Inc. Prior to this oering, there has been no public market for our Class A common stock. It is currently estimated that the initial public oering price per share will be between $16.00 and $18.00. We have applied to list our Class A common stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BLND. We have three classes of authorized common stock, Class A common stock, Class B common stock, and Class C common stock. The rights of the holders of Class A common stock, Class B common stock, and Class C common stock are identical, except with respect to voting and conversion. Each share of Class A common stock is entitled to one vote per share. Each share of Class B common stock is entitled to 40 votes per share and is convertible at any time into one share of Class A common stock. Shares of Class C common stock have no voting rights, except as otherwise required by law, and will convert into Class A common stock, on a share-for-share basis, following the conversion or exchange of all outstanding shares of Class B common stock into shares of Class A common stock and upon the date or time specified by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock voting as a separate class. Upon the completion of this offering, no shares of Class C common stock will be issued and outstanding. Upon the completion of this offering, all shares of Class B common stock will be held by Nima Ghamsari, Head of Blend, Co-Founder, and Chair of our board of directors. Accordingly, upon completion of this offering, assuming an offering size as set forth above the shares beneficially owned by Mr. Ghamsari will represent approximately 68% of the total voting power of our outstanding capital stock (based on shares of Class A common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2021) which voting power may increase over time as Mr. Ghamsari exercises or vests in equity wards outstanding at the time of the completion of this offering. If all such equity awards held by Mr. Ghamsari had been exercised or vested and exchanged for shares of Class B common stock as of the date of the completion of this offering, Mr. Ghamsari would hold 72% of the voting power of our outstanding capital stock (based on shares of Class A common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2021). As a result, Mr. Ghamsari will be able to determine or significantly influence any action requiring the approval of our stockholders, including the election of our board of directors, the adoption of amendments to our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, and the approval of any merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of our assets, or other major corporate transaction. We are an emerging growth company as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 and, as such, we have elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements for this prospectus and may elect to do so in future filings. See Risk Factors beginning on page 23 to read about factors you should consider before buying shares of our Class A common stock. Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. Per Share Total Initial public offering price $ $ Underwriting discount (1) $ $ Proceeds, before expenses, to Blend Labs, Inc. $ $ (1) See the section titled Underwriting for a description of the compensation payable to the underwriters. To the extent that the underwriters sell more than 20,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, the underwriters have the option to purchase up to an additional 3,000,000 shares of Class A common stock from Blend Labs, Inc. at the initial price to the public less the underwriting discount. The underwriters expect to deliver the shares against payment in New York, New York, on , 2021. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC Allen & Company LLC Wells Fargo Securities KeyBanc Capital Markets Truist Securities UBS Investment Bank Piper Sandler William Blair Canaccord Genuity Drexel Hamilton Loop Capital Markets Ramirez & Co., Inc. Prospectus dated , 2021. The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.


Table of Contents

LOGO

Our vision is to bring simplicity and transparency to nancial services. Leslie Loan Officer Hi Blair, lets get started. What goal can we help finance today? Buy or refinance your home Borrow money Open a deposit account Your Closing Disclosures are ready to be signed! Blend


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LOGO

Were re-architecting banking software around the consumer. One software platform designed for any banking product Credit Card Home Equity Mortgage Data-driven journeys from application to close Financial Profile Verification Workflow Intelligence Decisioning Personal Loan Vehicle Loan Deposit Account Extensive ecosystem of integrated marketplaces P & C Insurance Reality Title Insurance Auto Blend


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LOGO

We help hundreds of financial services firms process an average of more than $5B in loan volume per day. 31 of the top 100 24 of the top 100 U.S. financial services firms are Blend customers* U.S. non-bank mortgage lenders are Blend customers** Blend Banking Transaction Volume 1.4 M Banking transactions in 2020 19 0% Growth rate 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 162% 2020 dollar-based net retention rate 98% 2020 pro forma revenue growth rate $33B Serviceable addressable market $1.4T 2020 loan volume ** As of December 31, 2 * As of December 31, 2020; based on assets under management 020; based on loan volume


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A LETTER FROM NIMA GHAMSARI, HEAD OF BLEND AND CO-FOUNDER

Blend is a company of builders. It’s our vision to bring simplicity and transparency to financial services, so everyone can gain access to the capital they need to lead better lives.

We live in a world where consumers can hail a ride with a few taps on a mobile device or complete a purchase online with a single click of a mouse, yet it still can take weeks to get a loan and require in-person visits to a branch office. Blend takes the friction out of banking. We provide cloud-based banking software to financial services firms that makes the process of getting a loan or opening a deposit account much simpler, faster, and more secure for everyone.

We believe the future of banking will look radically different from what consumers experience today. Real-time data insights will enable consumers to receive personalized, proactive offers for products and services that are designed to increase their financial wellness. Consumers will be able to glance at their mobile phone and see in an instant everything the bank can do for them, personalized to their specific financial situation. And when a consumer is ready to choose a product, they’ll be able to check out in one tap.

Most financial services firms are far from this future state, burdened by legacy software infrastructure that is built around manual, paper-based approval processes, with separate technology stacks for different banking products and channels. Innovation is severely hampered by this architecture, and data silos force financial services firms to treat their customers like strangers each time they apply for a new product offering.

In 2012, my co-founders and I set out to redefine the relationship between financial services firms and their customers by creating a new generation of cloud-based banking software that could make the process of getting a loan or opening a deposit account as easy as purchasing anything else online.

We also made the decision early on to provide our software to banks, credit unions, fintechs, and non-bank mortgage lenders rather than compete with them head on. Fintechs and neobanks were already starting to emerge and gain traction. Rather than following in their footsteps, we decided to blaze our own trail by creating software every financial services firm could rely on.

We started with a small team and grew the company around a few key principles that still hold true today:

 

   

Customers First—we measure our success by the success of the financial services firms we serve.

 

   

10X Better Experiences—the consumer experiences we create are an order of magnitude better.

 

   

Relentless Self-Improvement—we always strive to be better today than we were yesterday.

From this foundation, we built a software company that now helps hundreds of financial services firms process, in aggregate, an average of more than $5 billion in transactions per day.

We build with purpose.

My family immigrated to the U.S. in the 80s. It took my parents 10 years to save enough money for a down payment on a home with enough space for me to stop sleeping on a mattress on their bedroom floor. Twenty years later, the equity in their home has become an important part of their retirement. Their bank had a huge impact on their financial wellness. By providing financial services firms with better tools to serve consumers, we strive to improve the lives of millions of people in a similar way.

 

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We solve for the long term.

We are modernizing complex businesses, and our software has the potential to touch trillions of dollars in annual transaction volume. To succeed in the long run, we build our products in close collaboration with our customers. When faced with a choice between hitting short-term financial targets or building long-term value, we will always choose the latter.

We relentlessly focus on our customers.

We build our products with great care in order to earn the ongoing trust of our customers, who are responsible for providing essential services to more than 100 million people. Our culture has been carefully crafted to ensure we do everything in our power to help our customers succeed and bring them more value with each passing day.

Our work has just begun.

We are re-architecting banking software around the consumer. We help financial services firms win in a highly competitive market by enabling them to respond with greater agility to new opportunities and changing market conditions. Over time, we see the potential to create a next generation, future-proof architecture for banking software that helps financial services firms deliver personalized consumer experiences across every line of business. Our journey is just getting started.

 

LOGO

Nima Ghamsari

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

     1  

RISK FACTORS

     23  

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     79  

INDUSTRY, MARKET, AND OTHER DATA

     81  

USE OF PROCEEDS

     82  

DIVIDEND POLICY

     83  

CAPITALIZATION

     84  

DILUTION

     87  

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

     91  

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

     108  

BUSINESS

     130  

MANAGEMENT

     151  

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     159  

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

     175  

PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

     180  

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

     184  

DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN INDEBTEDNESS

     192  

SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

     195  

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

     201  

UNDERWRITING

     206  

LEGAL MATTERS

     213  

EXPERTS

     213  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

     213  

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     F-1  

 

 

Through and including             , 2021 (the 25th day after the date of this prospectus), all dealers effecting transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to a dealer’s obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as an underwriter and with respect to an unsold allotment or subscription.

 

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus or contained in any free writing prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. Neither we nor any of the underwriters have authorized anyone to provide any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectuses we have prepared. Neither we nor any of the underwriters take responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the shares offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this prospectus is current only as of its date, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or of any sale of our Class A common stock. Our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects may have changed since such date.

For investors outside the United States: Neither we nor any of the underwriters have done anything that would permit this offering or possession or distribution of this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in the United States. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of the shares of our Class A common stock and the distribution of this prospectus outside the United States.


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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This summary highlights selected information that is presented in greater detail elsewhere in this prospectus. This summary does not contain all of the information you should consider before investing in our Class A common stock. You should read this entire prospectus carefully, including the sections titled “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”, and “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information” and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus, before making an investment decision. Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “Blend,” “the company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” in this prospectus refer to Blend Labs, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, and references to our “common stock” include our Class A common stock, Class B common stock, and Class C common stock.

BLEND LABS, INC.

Company Overview

It’s our vision to bring simplicity and transparency to financial services, so everyone can gain access to the capital they need to lead better lives. To realize this vision, we have built a market-leading cloud-based software platform for financial services firms that is designed to power the end-to-end consumer journey for any banking product. From the moment a consumer starts an application for a loan or a deposit account to the moment they digitally sign the final documents, our software platform streamlines the process, so financial services firms can deliver superior consumer experiences, drive growth, and increase operational efficiency.

Consumers expect modern banking experiences to be as simple as other online shopping experiences. However, financial services firms may not have the resources and in-house software expertise to fulfill consumer demands for intuitive, digital, and easy-to-use products. In addition, most financial services firms are burdened by antiquated, inflexible systems and use separate technology stacks for different product lines, making it difficult to drive rapid improvements. Consequently, a broad range of financial services firms including banks, credit unions, fintechs, and non-bank lenders have turned to Blend to help them accelerate their digital transformation initiatives and position themselves for future growth.

Our software platform powers the mission-critical interface between financial services firms and consumers. Our growing suite of out-of-the-box, white-label products currently powers digital-first consumer journeys for mortgages, home equity loans and lines of credit, vehicle loans, personal loans, credit cards, and deposit accounts. Each of our out-of-the-box products is built from an extensive library of modular components assembled into consumer journeys that typically include data collection, verification checks, product selection, pricing, pre-approvals, disclosures, addressing stipulations, and signing closing documents. Through our low-code, drag-and-drop design tools, we also enable the creation and deployment of new product offerings. While we currently offer products for consumer banking, we plan to extend our modular software platform over time to add support for commercial banking products. In 2020, our software platform helped financial services firms process nearly $1.4 trillion in loan applications.

We bring together an extensive ecosystem of more than 2,200 currently active technology, data, and service providers through our software platform, enabling financial services firms to collaborate with third parties to provide best-in-class experiences to consumers. As consumers use our software platform to apply for financial services products, they can shop for realtors, insurance carriers, and other service providers through integrated marketplaces that are introduced at the precise moment these third parties are needed. As more consumers use our software platform, we are able to attract a broader range of ecosystem partners, which allows us to deliver more value to consumers and attract


 

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more financial services firms as customers. This creates a powerful network effect and differentiator for our business. As of March 31, 2021, the number of participants in our ecosystem has grown by more than 1,300% year-over-year.1

Strong customer relationships are a cornerstone of our success. We establish ourselves as a critical and long-term strategic partner to our customers by powering essential revenue-generating experiences, integrating our software into back office systems, and by staffing teams chartered with increasing the value we deliver over time. Our customer relationships grow as our platform is used for a broader range of products. Customers typically complete an initial deployment for one or two products and then add more products over time, building toward a unified consumer experience that supports multi-product shopping journeys. Our dollar-based net retention rate was 162% as of December 31, 2020.

Our success-based business model is designed to align our growth with the interests of our customers. We offer our products through software-as-a-service agreements, where fees are assessed based on completed transactions, such as a funded loan, new account opening, or closing transaction. We do not charge for abandoned or rejected applications, even though they cause us to incur costs. Completed transaction fees are determined by the number and type of software platform components that are needed to support each product offering. Although we generated an immaterial amount of revenue through commissions or service fees when consumers use our marketplaces to select a real estate agent, property and casualty insurance carrier, or title and settlement services entity in 2020, we expect this will become a significant part of our business in the future. In 2020, financial services firms used our software platform to process 1.4 million completed banking transactions, a 190% year-over-year increase relative to the 0.48 million completed banking transactions we helped our customers process in 2019.

Our customers are currently based in the United States and range in size from the largest banks, credit unions, fintechs, and non-bank mortgage lenders in the nation to smaller community lenders with less than $1 billion in assets under management. Representative customers include Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank, M&T Bank, Truist, BMO Harris Bank, Elements Financial Federal Credit Union, Mountain America Credit Union, Lennar Mortgage, PennyMac, Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc., and Opendoor.

As of December 31, 2020, we had 291 customers, including 31 of the top 100 financial services firms in the United States by assets under management and 24 of the top 100 non-bank mortgage lenders by loan volume. In 2020, 18 customers each generated more than $1 million in revenue for us, which represented 53% of our revenue in 2020.

We have achieved significant growth in recent years. For 2019 and 2020, our revenue was $50.7 million and $96.0 million, respectively, representing a 90% year-over-year growth rate. We incurred net losses of $81.5 million and $74.6 million for 2019 and 2020, respectively, as we have continued to invest in growth to capture the large market opportunity available to us.

We continually seek to enhance the end-to-end banking journeys powered by our software platform. To accelerate the adoption of innovations in our mortgage and home equity products, on March 12, 2021,

 

1. 

Ecosystem partners include technology partners, data partners, marketplace partners, and settlement services partners, and do not include customers such as banks, fintechs, neobanks, credit unions, and other non-bank mortgage lenders. Size of individual partners is not accounted for when calculating year-over-year growth.


 

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we signed a definitive agreement to acquire Title365, a leading title insurance agency, from Mr. Cooper Group Inc. The acquisition was completed on June 30, 2021. Title365 will be integrated with our software platform, which enables financial services firms to automate title commitments and streamline communication with consumers and settlement teams. Together we will enable our customers to accelerate the title, settlement, and closing process at scale for mortgages, home equity lines of credit, and home equity loans. For 2019 and 2020, Title365 revenue was $105.3 million and $212.1 million, respectively. As of March 31, 2021, customers of Title365 included six of the top 12 mortgage lenders by loan volume.

Trends in Our Favor

Key trends supporting our growth include:

Consumer expectations for digital experiences are rising

Consumers increasingly expect their banks to provide data-driven, personalized, digital experiences. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated a shift in consumer behavior away from traditional branches and toward digital channels for banking services, resulting in a 30% increase in the use of mobile banking worldwide.2 The vast majority of Millennials and Gen Z now use a mobile banking app, signifying the importance of the availability of mobile offerings to future generations.

Consumers increasingly want one-stop shopping experiences for financial services

Consumers prefer simplicity and convenience when it comes to shopping for financial services. Fifty-three percent of consumers would like to be offered bundled products, such as real estate services with a home loan or car deals with a pre-approved auto loan.3 To retain consumers and drive incremental revenue, financial services firms need to provide end-to-end consumer journeys that include these elements.

Competition among financial services firms is becoming more intense

Fintechs, neobanks, and other innovators are launching digital-first offerings that draw consumers away from traditional financial services firms. Forty-two percent of U.S. consumers use at least one fintech provider.4 In addition, consumers are switching financial services providers at a faster rate than in previous years. Traditional financial services firms must invest in seamless, technology-driven, and consumer-friendly offerings that lead to higher consumer satisfaction in order to preserve and grow their market share.

The pace of change is accelerating

Financial services firms are increasingly seeking partners to help them manage consumer experiences with more agility as they wrestle with changes caused by fluctuating rate environments, government stimulus programs, and evolving regulatory requirements. In an effort to remain competitive, 48% of banks and 42% of credit unions have partnered with fintech startups over the past three years to

 

2. 

Boston Consulting Group, The Front-to-Back Digital Retail Bank, January 2021.

3. 

Deloitte Consulting LLP, Deloitte 2020 Voice of the customer: Retail banking experience, 2020.

4. 

McKinsey & Company, How US customers’ attitudes to fintech are shifting during the pandemic, December 2020.


 

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address specific technology needs.5 Among banks planning to partner with fintechs, 86% cite that improving the consumer experience is the top priority, followed by 42% and 38% for reducing operating expenses and reducing fraud, respectively.6

Low-code development tools are shortening product development cycles

The advent of no-code and low-code development tools is enabling product teams to build, deploy, and modify new products and deliver superior consumer experiences with greater speed and flexibility.

Most large organizations will have adopted multiple low-code tools in some form by year-end 2021.7 Adoption of these tools will be essential for financial services firms to innovate rapidly in the face of changing consumer expectations and fluctuating market conditions.

Better access to data is powering higher levels of automation

As banking becomes more open, financial services firms are seeking to leverage the best data in the market to improve verification of consumer assets, income, employment, identity, and credit history. In addition, financial services firms are investing in technology to help them harness this data to drive automated workflows that reduce the number of manual tasks they need to perform in order to approve an application for a loan or deposit account. The aggregate potential cost savings for financial services firms from automated workflows is estimated to be at $447 billion by 2030, with back office credit underwriting accounting for $31 billion of that total.8 By leveraging data and software to make more informed decisions automatically, financial services firms will be able to provide a frictionless consumer experience, reduce time to close, and reduce fraud.

Our Opportunity

Financial services firms have been shifting for years to a digital-first approach to acquiring customers and deepening existing relationships. This imperative to compete through digital-first consumer experiences creates a compelling opportunity for Blend. Few financial services firms can afford to build best-in-class digital consumer journeys on their own, and those that can typically prefer to accelerate time to market by working with partners that provide flexible, off-the-shelf components. In addition, few financial services firms have built their own captive insurance agencies or developed their own service provider marketplaces to streamline the consumer journey due to the cost and complexity of managing these initiatives.

Blend competes in several large markets, including IT spend for banking software and commissions for home insurance policies, title insurance policies, and real estate transactions. We believe that our software platform can address a significant share of the massive total addressable market that these opportunities represent:

 

   

Gartner estimates that global enterprise IT spending for software within the banking industry was approximately $72.4 billion in 2020, which is expected to grow annually at approximately 13% through 2025.

 

   

The American Land Title Association estimates that, in the United States, more than $19.2 billion was spent on title insurance premiums in 2020.

 

5. 

Cornerstone Advisors, What’s Going On in Banking 2021, Rebounding From the Pandemic, January 2021.

6. 

Forbes, 5 Bank And Fintech Partnership Ideas To Generate Revenue, October 2020.

7. 

Gartner, Forecast Analysis: Low-Code Development Technologies, January 2021.

8. 

Autonomous Research, Machine Intelligence & Augmented Finance, April 2018.


 

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IBISWorld estimates that, in the United States, more than $105.7 billion was spent on home insurance premiums in 2020.

 

   

We estimate that, in the United States, a total of $123.5 billion was spent on realtor commissions in 2020 based on data from the National Association of Realtors, EffectiveAgents.com, and the St. Louis Federal Reserve. According to the National Association of Realtors, the number of total existing-home sales in the United States for 2020 was 5.64 million, and the average home sale price in 2020 was approximately $387,000, according to the St. Louis Federal Reserve. The average realtor commission rate for 2020, according to EffectiveAgents.com, was 5.656%. Our estimate of realtor commission spend for 2020 was calculated by multiplying the number of total existing-home sales by the average home sale price and then multiplying that product by the average realtor commission rate.

We currently estimate the serviceable addressable market for Blend to be greater than $33 billion, based on the number of home financing and consumer banking transactions in the United States in 2020 multiplied by our average revenue per transaction in each respective subsector in which we are currently active. These subsectors include (i) core mortgage products, such as mortgage funded loans and digital closings, (ii) homebuying ecosystem products, such as home insurance, realty, title and settlement, and notarization, and (iii) consumer banking products, such as credit cards, home equity loans and lines of credit, vehicle loans, personal loans, and deposit accounts. We first estimated the size of each market subsector in which we are currently active by compiling a comprehensive set of market size data and identifying a low and high estimate for the number of transactions per subsector. We then multiplied the revenue per transaction for each of our currently available products by the low estimate number of transactions for the applicable subsector. We then added each of these subsector estimates together to arrive at our estimated serviceable addressable market figure of greater than $33 billion. We believe the serviceable addressable market for our offerings will continue to grow over time as we add more products to our software platform, grow our partner ecosystem, and expand internationally. In addition, we believe that our software platform is well positioned to address the critical requirements of and capture a meaningful portion of these markets.

Limitations of Alternative Approaches

Consumers expect modern banking experiences to be as simple as other online shopping experiences. To thrive in an increasingly competitive market, financial services firms need to deliver personalized, high quality consumer experiences to grow revenue, while simultaneously lowering costs, so they can offer more competitive rates and invest in faster innovation cycles.

Financial services firms may not have the resources and in-house software expertise to meet rising consumer expectations. Most organizations are unable to offer consumers personalized product offerings, offers for third-party services, multi-product shopping experiences, or even the opportunity to continue applying for a single product across more than one channel. Many financial services firms find it difficult to use the customer data they have already collected to pre-populate an application form or cross-sell a product.

Due to the above, we believe digital transformation has never been more imperative for financial services firms. However, these efforts are often hampered by aging infrastructure. In addition, financial services firms typically use separate technology stacks for mortgages, consumer lending products, and deposit accounts, making it difficult to drive rapid improvements. This architecture is inflexible, costly to maintain, and produces data silos that result in poor consumer experiences.


 

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Our Solutions

We have created a flexible cloud-based software platform for financial services firms that is designed to power the end-to-end consumer journey for any banking product. From the moment a consumer starts an application to the moment they close a loan or open a deposit account, our software platform streamlines the process, so financial services firms can deliver superior consumer experiences, drive growth, and increase operational efficiency.

We believe we are well positioned to benefit from the acceleration in digital transformation investment taking place across the financial services sector. Our software simplifies complex origination processes that can include hundreds of tasks and require interactions with dozens of external technology, data, and services providers. By automating these tasks and developing pre-built integrations, we help our customers potentially avoid years of expensive in-house software development and free up resources for other initiatives.

Blend’s Cloud-Based Software Platform

 

 

LOGO

Mortgage Home Equity Deposit Accounts Vehicle Loan Personal Loan Credit Card Custom Product JOURNEY BUILDER Experience Design Process Orchestration Persona-based Workspaces Verification Decisioning Workflow Intelligence Marketplaces APIs & INTEGRATIONS PARTNER ECOSYSTEM

Product Offerings

Blend’s cloud-based software platform powers the mission-critical interface between financial services firms and consumers. Financial services firms can rapidly deploy our growing number of out-of-the-box, white-labeled products for:

 

   

Mortgage—provides an end-to-end digital mortgage experience from application to close that puts financial services firms at the center of the broader homeownership journey.

 

   

Home Equity—modernizes home equity line of credit and home equity loan origination experiences, delivering higher application submission rates and faster closings.

 

   

Vehicle Loan—enables rapid financing that helps consumers get into their car, boat, RV, or powersport vehicle faster.

 

   

Credit Card—increases application conversions through a configurable product selection experience, streamlined data collection, and instant approvals.

 

   

Personal Loan—drives faster pre-approvals for unsecured and secured personal loans, lines of credit, and overdraft protection lines.


 

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Deposit Account—increases application conversion rates and reduces fraud risk with features that support financial services firms’ Bank Secrecy Act and anti-money laundering policies.

In addition, we have developed a product called Blend Close that streamlines traditional, hybrid, and fully digital closing experiences for mortgages, home equity lines of credit, and home equity loans.

Journey Builder

Each of our products is built from an extensive library of modular components. Blend can rapidly create new product offerings by assembling our modular components into workflows using our Journey Builder, which includes low-code, drag-and-drop design tools, as well as through other approaches.

Modular Components

The modular components that make up our products generally fall under the categories of verification, decisioning, workflow intelligence, and marketplaces.

Verification Components

Our verification components automate confirmation tasks that are needed to underwrite a loan or approve the opening of a new deposit account. We have pre-built integrations with providers of technology and services to address requirements for identity verification, asset verification, income and employment verification, and credit.

Decisioning Components

Our decisioning components reduce the need for human intervention by automatically applying configurable business rules throughout an application workflow. Examples include pre-approvals, cross-selling, and adverse actions.

Workflow Intelligence Components

Our workflow intelligence components manage data collection and automate tasks throughout the origination process. We create applications with branching logic to streamline initial data collection. Wherever possible, our software eliminates the need for document uploads by integrating with authoritative data sources. We also automate key processing tasks so consumers can begin to address stipulations immediately after a loan application is submitted.

Marketplace Components

Our curated marketplace components enable consumers to shop for products and services presented at the precise moment of need during an application for a loan or a deposit account. We currently offer marketplaces that enable consumers to find real estate agents, insurance carriers, and automobiles for sale online. These marketplaces help consumers quickly locate service providers with competitive rates and enable financial services firms to increase operational efficiency by providing a one-stop shopping experience. Our acquisition of Title365 will enable us to integrate the title, settlement, and escrow process further into our platform and develop a marketplace that provides consumers and financial services firms with the flexibility to choose title insurance partners that provide services at competitive rates.


 

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APIs and Integrations

Through our open APIs we are able to seamlessly integrate the capabilities of technology, data, and service providers into our software platform. As we develop integrations with new partners, our customers can quickly experience the benefits across their product suite. In addition, financial services firms can use our APIs to develop integrations with the back office systems in their tech stack, creating a unified, agile architecture for powering superior consumer journeys.

The Blend Ecosystem

We bring together an extensive partner ecosystem through our software platform, consisting of more than 2,200 currently active technology, data, and service providers that has grown by more than 1,300% year-over-year as of March 31, 2021. We provide the central hub through which these partners collaborate to deliver best-in-class consumer journeys in highly efficient ways. In addition, we provide our ecosystem partners with a critical distribution channel to reach consumers at the precise moment they are looking for products and services through the financial services firms we serve.

By providing the software that powers consumer journeys at financial services firms across digital, contact center, and branch channels, we are able to benefit from a substantial volume of high-intent consumer traffic with no incremental acquisition costs. As more financial services firms become Blend customers or deploy additional products through our software platform, the number of consumers using our software platform grows, which attracts more service providers to our ecosystem to serve those consumers. As a result, consumers benefit from more opportunities to save time and money, financial services firms benefit from increased operational efficiency, our partners benefit from increased distribution, and Blend generates additional revenue. We believe this win-win-win-win model creates a powerful network effect that will continue to expand our serviceable addressable market over time.


 

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Our Partner Ecosystem and Network Effect

 

LOGO

Nearly $1.4 Trillion Loan Volume9 More Transactions More upside for partners to join the Blend ecosystem More Partners 2,200 + Ecosystem Partners 10 Better and more complete experience for consumers More Value Increased value for new customers and higher engagement from existing ones More Adoption 162% Dollar-based Net Retenton8 Increased transaction volume processed on Blend's software platform

Key elements of our partner ecosystem include (i) more than 45 technology partners, (ii) 29 data partners, (iii) more than 1,200 marketplace partners, and (iv) more than 900 settlement services partners.

To provide consumers with optimal end-to-end journeys through our software platform, we have created our own property and casualty insurance agency and our own title insurance agency. Consistent with this strategy, on March 12, 2021 we signed a definitive agreement to acquire Title365, a leading title insurance agency, from Mr. Cooper Group Inc. The acquisition was completed on June 30, 2021. Title365 will be integrated with our platform, which enables financial services firms to automate title commitments and streamline communication with consumers and settlement teams. Title365 expands our partner ecosystem through its network of more than 7,000 notaries.

Key Benefits to Our Customers

We help our customers increase their revenue by powering best-in-class customer experiences that result in:

 

   

Increased consumer acquisition

 

   

Deeper consumer relationships

 

   

Increased consumer satisfaction

 

9. 

As of December 31, 2020.

10. 

As of December 31, 2020.

11. 

As of March 31, 2021.


 

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We also position our customers for long-term success by helping them streamline operations and increase efficiency through:

 

   

Faster innovation cycles

 

   

Lower operating costs

 

   

Lower development costs

 

   

Reduced risk of fraud and human errors

Ultimately, it is our goal to help banks, credit unions, fintechs, and non-bank lenders proactively improve financial opportunities for consumers. By removing friction, increasing transparency, and bringing greater personalization to consumer acquisition workflows, we see the potential for our software platform to help financial services firms improve the lives of millions of consumers.

What Sets Us Apart

We have already achieved significant growth, and we believe we are well positioned to serve as a long-term strategic innovation partner and provider of mission-critical software to financial services firms due to the following factors:

 

   

Single software platform designed for any banking product—as a leading cloud-based software provider that streamlines the end-to-end consumer journey for mortgages, consumer loans, and deposit accounts through a single, unified software platform, we are a trailblazer with powerful competitive advantages. We support multi-product shopping experiences and enable consumers to move seamlessly across digital devices, contact centers, and branches throughout the origination process, providing additional benefits and incentives for customers to standardize on our software platform across products and channels. Since 2015, we have invested more than $165 million in research and development to build our software platform and grow our business. We believe the time, cost, and effort to replicate the breadth of our products and depth of our capabilities is difficult for others to match.

 

   

Configurable software platform for accelerating innovation—we enable the rapid development of new product offerings by leveraging our low-code design tools and an extensive library of modular components purpose-built for loan origination, account opening, and consumer onboarding. Through our software platform, we deliver product updates on a weekly basis. Our products are highly complex and require us to have advanced knowledge of modern software development techniques as well as deep industry expertise, including in-depth knowledge of financial services regulations, product offerings, and operational workflows for approving loans and opening accounts.

 

   

Expansive partner ecosystem—through our integrations and marketplaces we enable more than 2,200 currently active technology, data, and service providers to collaborate through our software platform and provide superior consumer experiences. The scale of our partner ecosystem has grown by more than 1,300% year-over-year as of March 31, 2021, and on June 30, 2021, we completed our acquisition of Title365, which further adds more than 7,000 notaries. By aggregating transaction volume across multiple financial services firms, we are able to negotiate competitive rates for technology and data services we bundle into our products. We believe it would take competitors substantial time, effort, and cost to replicate the scale and benefits of our rapidly growing partner ecosystem.

 

   

Powerful network effects—by providing the software that powers consumer journeys at financial services firms across digital, contact center, and branch channels, we are able to


 

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benefit from a substantial volume of high-intent consumer traffic with zero incremental consumer acquisition costs. As more consumers use our software platform to apply for financial services products, we attract more partners to our ecosystem. This allows us to deliver more value to consumers, attract more financial services firms as customers, expand our existing relationships with financial services firms, and generate increased revenue from completed transactions, creating a powerful network effect and differentiator for our business. Our aim is to become the distribution platform of choice for technology, data, and service providers to efficiently reach and serve consumers undertaking major financial transactions.

 

   

Agency subsidiaries and licensing—we created our own property and casualty insurance agency with licensing in all 50 states to facilitate transactions in our home insurance marketplace, and on June 30, 2021, we completed our acquisition of Title365, one of the largest title insurance agencies in the United States, with licenses and partnerships covering all 50 states, in order to deliver the benefits of our software platform to financial services firms at greater scale. We believe the complexity, cost, and level of effort to duplicate this operational scale is difficult for others to replicate.

 

   

Extensive network of customers—we have become a supplier of mission-critical software to hundreds of financial services firms, including 31 of the top 100 financial services firms in the United States by assets under management and 24 of the top 100 non-bank mortgage lenders by loan volume, and we have a proven track record of delivering our products securely, at scale, and in a way that meets their demanding needs. Once deployed, we become deeply embedded in business processes and integrated with back office systems, which makes us difficult to replace. This gives us a strong vantage point to be able to cross-sell additional offerings to our customers. In addition, the scale and diversity of our customer base provides us with extensive data and deep insights that help us strengthen our software platform, enhancing our ability to serve existing and future customers.

Our Growth Strategies

We intend to continue driving growth through the following strategies, while always maintaining a laser focus on the success of our customers:

 

   

Increase the volume of banking transactions we power for our customers

 

   

Continue to invest in new product offerings

 

   

Integrate more marketplaces into our end-to-end consumer journeys

Risk Factors Summary

Our business is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those highlighted in the section titled “Risk Factors” and summarized below. We have various categories of risks, including risks related to our business and operations; risks relating to our legal and regulatory environment; risks related to our dependence on third parties; risks related to our intellectual property; and risks related to this offering and ownership of our Class A common stock, which are discussed more fully in the section titled “Risk Factors.” As a result, this risk factor summary does not contain all of the information that may be important to you, and you should read this risk factor summary together with the more detailed discussion of risks and uncertainties set forth in the section titled “Risk Factors.” Additional risks, beyond those summarized below or discussed elsewhere in this prospectus, may apply to our business, activities, or operations as currently conducted or as we may conduct them in the future or in the markets in which we operate or may in the future operate.


 

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We have experienced rapid growth in recent periods, and we do not expect to grow at these historical rates in future periods;

 

   

We have a history of net losses, and we may not be able to achieve or maintain profitability in the future;

 

   

If we fail to retain our existing customers or to acquire new customers in a cost-effective manner, or if our customers fail to maintain their utilization of our products and services, our revenue may decrease and our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected;

 

   

A large percentage of our revenue is concentrated with a small number of key customers, and if our relationships with any of these key customers were to be terminated or the level of business with them significantly reduced over time, our business, financial condition, results of operations, and future prospects would be adversely affected;

 

   

We face intense competition, and if we are unable to compete effectively, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected;

 

   

We have a limited operating history in an evolving industry, which makes it difficult to evaluate our future prospects and may increase the risk that we will not be successful;

 

   

We expect to experience significant growth through strategic acquisitions and partnerships, including our acquisition of Title365, and we face risks related to the integration of such acquisitions and the management of such growth;

 

   

Changes in market interest rates could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations;

 

   

Our results of operations are likely to fluctuate from period to period, which could cause the market price of our Class A common stock to decline;

 

   

A cybersecurity incident affecting us or the third parties we rely on or partner with could expose us or our customers and consumers to a risk of loss or misuse of confidential information and significantly damage our reputation;

 

   

We may be subject to claims, lawsuits, government investigations, and other proceedings that may adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations;

 

   

Our customers are, and in some cases we are or may be, subject to, and we facilitate compliance with, a variety of federal, state, and local laws, including those related to consumer protection and financial services;

 

   

We depend on the interoperability of our platform across third-party applications and services that we do not control;

 

   

Failure to adequately protect our intellectual property could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations;

 

   

The trading price of our Class A common stock may be volatile, and you could lose all or part of your investment; and

 

   

The multi-class structure of our common stock will have the effect of concentrating voting power with Nima Ghamsari, Head of Blend, Co-Founder, and Chair of our board of directors, which will severely limit your ability to influence or direct the outcome of matters submitted to our stockholders for approval, including the election of our board of directors, the adoption of amendments to our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, and the approval of any merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of our assets or other major corporate transaction.


 

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Our Capital Structure

Upon the completion of this offering, we will have three classes of common stock. Our Class A common stock, which is the stock we are offering by means of this prospectus, has one vote per share, our Class B common stock has 40 votes per share, and our Class C common stock has no voting rights, except as otherwise required by law.

Upon the completion of this offering, all issued and outstanding shares of Class B common stock will be held by Nima Ghamsari, Head of Blend, Co-Founder, and Chair of our board of directors. Accordingly, upon completion of this offering, Mr. Ghamsari will hold approximately 68% of the total voting power of our outstanding capital stock (based on shares of common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2021), which voting power may increase over time as Mr. Ghamsari exercises equity awards outstanding at the time of the completion of this offering and exchanges them for Class B common stock pursuant to the terms of the equity exchange right agreement we have entered into with Mr. Ghamsari. If all such equity awards held by Mr. Ghamsari had been exercised for cash and exchanged for shares of Class B common stock as of the date of the completion of this offering, Mr. Ghamsari would hold approximately 89% of the voting power of our outstanding capital stock (based on shares of common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2021). As a result of our capital structure, Mr. Ghamsari will be able to determine or significantly influence any action requiring the approval of our stockholders, including the election of our board of directors, the adoption of amendments to our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, and the approval of any merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of our assets, or other major corporate transaction.

Shares of our Class C common stock, which entitle the holder to zero votes per share, will not be issued and outstanding upon completion of this offering, and we have no current plans to issue shares of our Class C common stock. These shares will be available to be used in the future to further strategic initiatives, such as financings or acquisitions, or issue future equity awards to our service providers. Because the shares of Class C common stock have no voting rights (except as otherwise required by law), the issuance of such shares will not result in further dilution to the voting power held by Mr. Ghamsari. Further, one of the events that will result in the final conversion of all of the outstanding shares of Class B common stock is the date fixed by our board of directors that is no less than 61 days and no more than 180 days following the first date following the completion of this offering on which the number of shares of our capital stock, including Class A common stock, Class B common stock, and Class C common stock, and any shares of capital stock underlying equity securities or other convertible instruments, held by Mr. Ghamsari and his affiliates is less than 35% of the number of shares of the Class B common stock held by Mr. Ghamsari and his affiliates as of immediately prior to the completion of this offering, which we sometimes refer to herein as the 35% Ownership Threshold. Because shares of Class C common stock will be counted when determining whether the 35% Ownership Threshold has been met, the issuance of shares of Class C common stock to Mr. Ghamsari could prolong the duration of Mr. Ghamsari’s control of our voting power and his ability to elect all of our directors and to determine the outcome of most matters submitted to a vote of our stockholders by delaying the final conversion of the Class B common stock.

The multi-class structure of our common stock is intended to ensure that, for the foreseeable future, Mr. Ghamsari continues to control or significantly influence our governance, which we believe will permit us to continue to prioritize our long-term goals rather than short-term results, to enhance the likelihood of stability in the composition of our board of directors and its policies, and to discourage certain types of transactions that may involve an actual or threatened acquisition of our company. This multi-class structure is intended to preserve this control until Mr. Ghamsari departs our company, the 35% Ownership Threshold is no longer met, or 50 years following the closing of this offering.


 

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Controlled Company Exemption

Following the completion of this offering, because Mr. Ghamsari will control more than 50% of the voting power of our outstanding capital stock, we will be considered a “controlled company” within the meaning of the rules of the New York Stock Exchange. As such, we may elect not to comply with certain listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange regarding corporate governance, including the requirement that a majority of our board of directors consist of independent directors and the requirements that each of our nominating/corporate governance committee and our compensation committee be composed entirely of independent directors. These requirements would not apply to us if, in the future, we choose to avail ourselves of the “controlled company” exemption. Although we will qualify as a “controlled company” following the completion of this offering, we do not currently expect to rely on these exemptions and intend to fully comply with all corporate governance requirements under the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange. However, if we were to utilize some or all of these exemptions, we would not comply with certain of the corporate governance standards of the New York Stock Exchange. Accordingly, stockholders would not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of the corporate governance standards of the New York Stock Exchange. See the section titled “Risk Factors—Risks Related to this Offering and Ownership of Our Class A Common Stock—Although we do not currently expect to rely on the “controlled company” exemption under the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange, we expect to have the right to use such exemption and therefore we could in the future avail ourselves of certain reduced corporate governance requirements” for additional information.

Channels for Disclosure of Information

Investors, the media and others should note that, following the completion of this offering, we intend to announce material information to the public through filings with the SEC, the investor relations page on our website, press releases, public conference calls, webcasts, and our corporate blog at blend.com/blog.

The information disclosed by the foregoing channels could be deemed to be material information. As such, we encourage investors, the media, and others to follow the channels listed above and to review the information disclosed through such channels.

Any updates to the list of disclosure channels through which we will announce information will be posted on the investor relations page on our website.

Corporate Information

We were incorporated under the laws of the state of Delaware in April 2012. Our principal executive offices are located at 415 Kearny Street, San Francisco, California 94108, and our telephone number is (650) 550-4810. Our website address is www.blend.com. Information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website does not constitute part of this prospectus and inclusions of our website address in this prospectus are inactive textual references only. You should not consider information contained on our website to be part of this prospectus or in deciding whether to purchase shares of our Class A common stock.

“Blend,” our logo, and our other registered or common law trademarks, service marks, or trade names appearing in this prospectus are the property of Blend Labs, Inc. Other trademarks and trade names referred to in this prospectus are the property of their respective owners.


 

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JOBS Act

We are an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act. An emerging growth company may take advantage of specified reduced reporting requirements that are otherwise applicable generally to public companies. These reduced reporting requirements include:

 

   

the requirement to present only two years of audited financial statements and only two years of related management’s discussion and analysis in this prospectus;

 

   

an exemption from compliance with the auditor attestation requirement on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting;

 

   

reduced disclosure about our executive compensation arrangements; and

 

   

an exemption from the requirements to obtain a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation or stockholder approval of any golden parachute arrangements.

We intend to take advantage of these provisions until we are no longer an emerging growth company. We would cease to be an emerging growth company upon the earliest to occur of: (i) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have more than $1.07 billion in annual revenue; (ii) the date we qualify as a large accelerated filer, with at least $700 million of equity securities held by non-affiliates; (iii) the date on which we have, in any three-year period, issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities; and (iv) the last day of the fiscal year ending after the fifth anniversary of this offering. We may choose to take advantage of some but not all of these reduced reporting burdens. We have taken advantage of certain reduced reporting burdens in this prospectus. Accordingly, the information contained herein may be different than the information you receive from other public companies in which you hold stock.

The JOBS Act permits an emerging growth company like us to take advantage of an extended transition period to comply with new or revised accounting standards applicable to public companies. We intend to use this extended transition period until we are no longer an emerging growth company or until we affirmatively and irrevocably opt out of the extended transition period. As a result, our consolidated financial statements may not be comparable to the financial statements of companies that comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.

See the section titled “Risk Factors—Risks Related to this Offering and Ownership of Our Class A Common Stock—We are an “emerging growth company” and we cannot be certain if the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies will make our Class A common stock less attractive to investors.”


 

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THE OFFERING

 

Class A common stock offered by us

20,000,000 shares

 

Class A common stock to be outstanding after this offering

208,677,071 shares

 

Class B common stock to be outstanding after this offering

10,916,666 shares

 

Class C common stock to be outstanding after this offering

None

 

Class A, Class B, and Class C common stock to be outstanding after this offering

219,593,737 shares

 

Option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock from us

3,000,000 shares

 

Use of proceeds

We estimate that the net proceeds to us from the sale of shares of our common stock in this offering will be approximately $309.5 million (or approximately $357.0 million if the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of our Class A common stock from us is exercised in full), based upon the assumed initial public offering price of $17.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the estimated offering price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

 

The principal purposes of this offering are to increase our capitalization and financial flexibility, create a public market for our Class A common stock, and enable access to the public equity markets for us and our stockholders. We intend to use the net proceeds we receive from this offering for general corporate purposes, including working capital, operating expenses, and capital expenditures. We may use a portion of the net proceeds we receive from this offering to repay outstanding indebtedness under our credit facility. Additionally, we may use a portion of the net proceeds we receive from this offering to acquire or invest in businesses, products, services, or technologies. We do not have agreements or commitments for any material acquisitions or investments at this time. See the section titled “Use of Proceeds” for additional information.

 

Voting rights

Shares of our Class A common stock are entitled to one vote per share.


 

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Shares of our Class B common stock are entitled to 40 votes per share.

 

 

Shares of our Class C common stock have no voting rights, except as otherwise required by law.

 

 

Holders of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock will generally vote together as a single class, unless otherwise required by law or our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Upon the completion of this offering, Nima Ghamsari, Head of Blend, Co-Founder, and Chair of our board of directors, will hold approximately 68% of the total voting power of our outstanding capital stock (based on shares of common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2021), which voting power may increase over time as Mr. Ghamsari exercises equity awards outstanding at the time of the completion of this offering pursuant to an equity exchange right agreement between us and Mr. Ghamsari. If all such equity awards held by Mr. Ghamsari (including the Founder and Head of Blend Long-Term Performance Award referenced below) had been exercised for cash and exchanged for shares of Class B common stock as of the date of the completion of this offering, Mr. Ghamsari would hold approximately 89% of the voting power of our outstanding capital stock (based on shares of common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2021). As a result, Mr. Ghamsari will be able to determine or significantly influence any action requiring the approval of our stockholders, including the election of our board of directors, the adoption of amendments to our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, and the approval of any merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of our assets, or other major corporate transaction.

 

 

Additionally, our executive officers, directors, and holders of 5% or more of our capital stock will hold, in the aggregate, approximately 83% of the voting power of our outstanding capital stock following this offering (based on shares of common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2021). See the sections titled “Principal Stockholders” and “Description of Capital Stock” for additional information.

 

Proposed New York Stock Exchange trading symbol

“BLND”

The number of shares of our Class A common stock, Class B common stock, and Class C common stock that will be outstanding after this offering is based on 188,677,071 shares of our Class A common stock, 10,916,666 shares of our Class B common stock, and no shares of our Class C common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2021, and reflects:

 

   

146,872,568 shares of our convertible preferred stock (including 345,833 shares of convertible preferred stock held by Mr. Ghamsari being exchanged in the Class B Stock


 

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Exchange described below) that will convert into 146,872,568 shares of our Class A common stock immediately prior to the completion of this offering in accordance with the terms of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, the Capital Stock Conversion;

 

   

42,150,336 shares of our Class A common stock outstanding, which number of shares excludes the shares being exchanged in the Class B Stock Exchange described below; and

 

   

10,916,666 shares of our Class B common stock, which reflects shares of our Class A common stock beneficially owned by Mr. Ghamsari as of March 31, 2021 (including 345,833 shares of convertible preferred stock held by Mr. Ghamsari that will be converted into Class A common stock immediately prior to the Class B Stock Exchange described below) that will be exchanged for an equivalent number of shares of our Class B common stock immediately prior to the completion of this offering pursuant to the terms of an exchange agreement, or the Class B Stock Exchange.

The shares of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2021 exclude the following:

 

   

34,716,604 shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of options to purchase shares of our Class A common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2021, with a weighted average exercise price of $3.03 per share;

 

   

26,057,181 shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of an option to purchase shares of our Class A common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2021, with an exercise price of $8.58 per share, granted to Mr. Ghamsari, and that vest upon the satisfaction of a liquidity event-related performance condition, a service condition, and/or a performance-based market condition, or the Founder and Head of Blend Long-Term Performance Award;

 

   

4,365,293 shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of options to purchase shares of our Class A common stock granted after March 31, 2021 through June 21, 2021, with a weighted average exercise price of $14.01 per share;

 

   

1,269,919 shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants to purchase shares of our convertible preferred stock outstanding as of March 31, 2021, with a weighted average exercise price of $3.94 per share, which if exercised would result in the issuance of 1,269,919 shares of our Class A common stock in connection with the Capital Stock Conversion and this offering;

 

   

598,431 shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants to purchase shares of our convertible preferred stock issued after March 31, 2021, with a weighted average exercise price of $13.827822 per share, which if exercised would result in the issuance of 598,431 shares of our Class A common stock in connection with the Capital Stock Conversion and this offering; and

 

   

59,101,718 shares of our Class A common stock reserved for future issuance under our equity compensation plans, consisting of:

 

   

23,000,000 shares of our Class A common stock to be reserved for future issuance under our 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, or our 2021 Plan, which will become effective prior to the completion of this offering; and

 

   

36,101,718 shares of our Class A common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2012 Stock Plan, or our 2012 Plan, which number of shares will be added to the shares


 

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of our Class A common stock to be reserved for future issuance under our 2021 Plan upon its effectiveness, at which time we will cease granting awards under our 2012 Plan.

Our 2021 Plan provides for annual automatic increases in the number of shares of our Class A common stock reserved thereunder, and also provides for increases to the number of shares that may be granted thereunder based on any shares of our Class A common stock granted pursuant to awards under our 2012 Plan that expire, are tendered to or withheld by us for payment of an exercise price or for satisfying tax withholding obligations, or are forfeited or otherwise repurchased by us, as more fully described in the section titled “Executive Compensation—Employee Benefit and Stock Plans.”

Following the completion of this offering, and pursuant to an equity exchange right agreement to be entered into between us and Mr. Ghamsari, or the Equity Award Exchange Agreement, Mr. Ghamsari shall have a right (but not an obligation) to require us to exchange any shares of Class A common stock received upon the exercise of options to purchase shares of Class A common stock for an equivalent number of shares of Class B common stock. We refer to this right as the Equity Award Exchange. The Equity Award Exchange applies only to equity awards granted to Mr. Ghamsari prior to the effectiveness of the filing of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation in connection with this offering. As of March 31, 2021, there were 31,253,651 shares of our Class A common stock subject to options held by Mr. Ghamsari, including shares subject to the Founder and Head of Blend Long-Term Performance Award, that may be exchanged, upon exercise, for an equivalent number of shares of our Class B common stock following this offering.

Except as otherwise indicated, all information in this prospectus assumes:

 

   

a three-for-one reverse split of our capital stock that was effected on July 2, 2021, including a proportional decrease in the authorized shares of our capital stock, with all share, option, warrant, and per share information for all periods presented in this prospectus adjusted to reflect such reverse split on a retroactive basis;

 

   

the Capital Stock Conversion will occur immediately prior to the completion of this offering;

 

   

the filing and effectiveness of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation in Delaware and the effectiveness of our amended and restated bylaws, will each occur immediately prior to the completion of this offering and will effect the reclassification and renaming of our class B common stock, as it was referred to in our certificate of incorporation in effect prior to such filing and effectiveness, into Class A common stock, or the Reclassification;

 

   

the Class B Stock Exchange will occur immediately prior to the completion of this offering;

 

   

no exercise of outstanding stock options or warrants subsequent to March 31, 2021; and

 

   

no exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase up to an additional 3,000,000 shares of our Class A common stock from us.


 

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SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL AND OTHER DATA

The following tables summarize our consolidated financial and other data. We have derived the summary consolidated statements of operations data for 2019 and 2020 from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. We have derived the summary consolidated statements of operations data for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021 and the consolidated balance sheet data as of March 31, 2021 from our unaudited interim consolidated financial statements that are included elsewhere in this prospectus. We have prepared the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements and have included all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments that, in management’s opinion, are necessary to state fairly the information set forth in those consolidated financial statements. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected in the future and our results for the three months ended March 31, 2021 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year ending December 31, 2021 or any other period. You should read the following summary consolidated financial data and other data below in conjunction with the sections titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information” and our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

     Year Ended December 31,      Three
Months Ended March 31,
 
     2019      2020      2020      2021  
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Data:
   (In thousands, except per share data)  

Revenue

   $ 50,671      $ 96,029      $ 15,603      $ 31,875  

Cost of revenue(1)

     19,547        34,289        7,358        10,860  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross profit

     31,124        61,740        8,245        21,015  

Operating expenses:

           

Research and development(1)

     48,597        55,503        11,821        17,074  

Sales and marketing(1)

     37,660        51,420        13,430        15,865  

General and administrative(1)

     26,589        30,108        6,078        15,283  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     112,846        137,031        31,329        48,222  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Loss from operations

     (81,722      (75,291 )        (23,084      (27,207

Other income (expense), net

     283        700        240        150  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Loss before income taxes

     (81,439      (74,591      (22,844      (27,057

Provision for income taxes

     13        26        7        10  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net loss

   $ (81,452    $ (74,617    $ (22,851    $ (27,067
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Basic and diluted net loss per share:

           

Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted(2)

   $ (2.49    $ (1.89    $ (0.62    $ (0.60
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Weighted average shares used in computing net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted(2)

     32,776        39,407        36,828        45,090  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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(1)

Includes stock-based compensation as follows:

 

     Year Ended December 31,      Three Months
Ended March 31,
 
     2019      2020          2020              2021      
                   (In thousands)  

Cost of revenue

   $ 46      $ 79      $ 19      $ 58  

Research and development

     3,431        4,250        757        1,386  

Sales and marketing

     966        3,675        1,791        1,373  

General and administrative

     5,446        2,120        672        1,199  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total stock-based compensation

   $ 9,889      $ 10,124      $ 3,239      $ 4,016  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(2)

See Note 15 to our consolidated financial statements for an explanation of the calculations of our basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders and the weighted average number of shares used in the computation of the per share amounts.

 

     As of March 31, 2021  
     Actual      Pro forma(1)      Pro forma
as adjusted(2)
 
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:    (In thousands)  

Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities

   $ 453,151      $ 254,597      $ 564,215  

Working capital(3)

     447,112        269,159        580,158  

Total assets

     519,798        849,334        1,157,413  

Total liabilities

     57,335        293,856        292,475  

Convertible preferred stock

     702,940        —          —    

Accumulated deficit

     (299,919      (283,337      (283,337

Total stockholders’ equity

     462,463        509,096        818,556  

 

(1)

The pro forma column above reflects the transactions described in the section titled “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information,” including (i) the borrowing of an aggregate of $225.0 million under a senior secured first-lien term loan facility, or the term facility, and $25.0 million senior secured first-lien revolving credit facility, or the revolving facility, and together with the term facility, our credit facility, in connection with our acquisition of Title365, (ii) the issuance of a warrant to purchase up to 598,431 shares of our Series G convertible preferred stock in connection with such borrowing, (iii) our acquisition of Title365, (iv) the Capital Stock Conversion, (v) the filing and effectiveness of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that will become effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering and effect the Reclassification, (vi) the Class B Stock Exchange, and (vii) an increase to additional paid-in capital and accumulated deficit related to stock-based compensation expense of approximately $23.0 million associated with the satisfaction of the liquidity event-related performance vesting condition of certain stock options granted to Mr. Ghamsari, in each case, as if such transactions had occurred on March 31, 2021. On June 30, 2021, our board of directors approved a modification to the Founder and Head of Blend Long-Term Performance Award granted to Mr. Ghamsari. We are currently evaluating the impact of the modification on the fair value of the award, and as such, the impact is excluded from the pro forma adjustments set forth above.

(2)

The pro forma as adjusted column above gives effect to (i) the pro forma adjustments set forth above, (ii) the sale and issuance by us of 20,000,000 shares of Class A common stock in this offering at the assumed initial public offering price of $17.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, and (iii) application of the proceeds therefrom as described in “Use of Proceeds” as if they had occurred on March 31, 2021. Each $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $17.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the estimated offering price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase or decrease, as applicable, each of our cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities, working capital, total assets, and total stockholders’ equity by $18.7 million,


 

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assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions payable by us. Similarly, each increase or decrease of 1.0 million shares in the number of shares of our Class A common stock offered by us would increase or decrease, as applicable, each of our cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities, working capital, total assets, and total stockholders’ equity by $15.9 million, assuming an initial public offering price of $17.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the estimated offering price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions payable by us. The pro forma information in the consolidated balance sheet data above is presented for illustrative purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the operating results or financial position that would have occurred if the relevant transactions had been consummated on the date indicated and will change based on the actual initial public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing.

(3)

Working capital is defined as current assets less current liabilities.


 

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in our Class A common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below, together with all of the other information in this prospectus, including the section titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information,” and our consolidated financial statements and related notes, before making a decision to invest in our Class A common stock. Our business, financial condition, results of operations, or prospects could also be harmed by risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently do not believe are material. If any of the risks actually occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects could be adversely affected. In that event, the market price of our Class A common stock could decline, and you could lose part or all of your investment.

Risks Related to Our Business and Operations

We have experienced rapid growth in recent periods, and we do not expect to grow at these historical rates in future periods.

We have grown rapidly over the last several years, and therefore our recent revenue growth rate and financial performance should not be considered indicative of our future performance. In 2019 and 2020, our revenue was $50.7 million and $96.0 million, respectively, representing a 90% year-over-year growth rate. We expect our revenue growth rate to decline in future periods. We believe that growth of our revenue depends on a number of factors, including our ability to price our products and services effectively so that we are able to attract and retain customers without compromising our profitability, attract new customers, increase our existing customers’ use of our solutions, provide our customers with excellent support, and successfully identify and acquire or invest in businesses, products, or technology that we believe could complement or expand our solutions.

You should not rely on our revenue or key business metrics for any previous quarterly or annual period as any indication of our revenue, revenue growth, key business metrics, or key business metrics growth in future periods. In particular, our revenue growth rate has fluctuated in prior periods. We expect our revenue growth rate to continue to fluctuate over the short term and decline in the long term. Our revenue growth rate may decline in future periods as the size of our business grows and as we achieve higher market adoption rates. Our revenue growth may slow or revenue may decline for a number of other possible reasons, including reduced demand for our products and services, insufficient growth in the number of financial services firms that utilize our products and services or the lack of expansion of products and services within our existing customer base, transaction volume and mix, particularly with our significant customers, increased competition, a decrease in the growth or reduction in size of our overall market or if we fail for any reason to capitalize on growth opportunities, general economic conditions, and the maturation of our business, among others. We also expect to continue to make investments in the development and expansion of our business, which may not result in increased revenue or growth. If our revenue growth rate declines, investors’ perceptions of our business and the trading price of our Class A common stock could be adversely affected.

We have a history of net losses, and we may not be able to achieve or maintain profitability in the future.

We have incurred net losses in each period since our inception in 2012, and we may not be able to achieve or maintain profitability in the future. We incurred a net loss of $74.6 million and $27.1 million in 2020 and the three months ended March 31, 2021, respectively, and as of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021, we had an accumulated deficit of $272.9 million and $299.9 million, respectively. We expect our costs will increase over time and our losses to continue as we expect to invest significant

 

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additional funds towards growing our business and operating as a public company. We have expended and expect to continue to expend substantial financial and other resources on product development, including investments in our product, engineering, and design teams and the development of new products and new functionality for our existing products and our platform; our technology infrastructure, including systems architecture, management tools, scalability, availability, performance, and security, as well as disaster recovery measures; our sales, marketing, and customer success organizations; acquisitions or strategic investments; and general administration, including legal and accounting expenses. These efforts may be more costly than we expect and may not result in increased revenue or growth in our business. Any failure to increase our revenue sufficiently to keep pace with our investments and other expenses could prevent us from achieving or maintaining profitability or positive cash flows on a consistent basis. If we are unable to successfully address these risks and challenges as we encounter them, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected.

If we fail to retain our existing customers or to acquire new customers in a cost-effective manner, or if our customers fail to maintain their utilization of our products and services, our revenue may decrease and our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected.

Our ability to continue our growth in the future will depend in part on our success in maintaining successful relationships with our customers. If any of our customers were to suspend, limit, or cease their operations or otherwise terminate their relationships with us, the number of transactions enabled through our platform could decrease and our revenue and revenue growth rates could be adversely affected. In addition, having a diversified mix of customers is important to mitigate risk associated with changing consumer spending behavior, economic conditions, and other factors that may affect a particular type of financial services firm or industry. While we expect that the revenue from our largest customers will decrease over time as a percentage of our total revenue as we generate more revenue from other customers, we also believe that revenue from our largest customers may continue to account for a significant portion of our revenue, at least in the near term.

If we are not able to retain our existing customers or acquire new customers in a cost-effective manner, or if our customers fail to maintain their utilization of our products and services, we will not be able to continue to grow our business. Our ability to retain and grow our relationships with our customers depends on the willingness of customers to partner with us. The attractiveness of our platform to customers depends upon, among other things: our brand and reputation, the amount of fees that we charge, our ability to sustain our value proposition to our customers, products and services offered by competitors, and our ability to perform under, and maintain, our customer agreements. Many of our customers do not have long-term contractual financial commitments to us and, therefore, many of our customers may reduce or cease their use of our products and services at any time without penalty or termination charges. Additionally, a subset of our customers can generally terminate their agreements with us without cause with limited requirements to provide prior notice. Our customers could decide to stop working with us and cease processing transactions through our platform or enter into exclusive or more favorable relationships with our competitors. Further, any downturn in the financial services industry may cause our customers to reduce their spending on lending technology or to seek to terminate or renegotiate their agreements with us. Our customers have no obligation to renew their subscriptions with us after the expiration of the initial or current subscription term, and our customers, if they choose to renew at all, may renew on pricing or other contract terms that are less favorable to us or otherwise ask to modify their agreement terms in a manner that is cost prohibitive to us. Our renewal rates may decline or fluctuate as a result of a number of factors, including our customers’ satisfaction with our pricing or our products or their ability to continue their operations or spending levels. In addition, our customers’ regulators may require that they terminate or otherwise limit their business with us, or impose regulatory pressure limiting their ability to do business with us. If any of our customers were to stop working with us, suspend, limit, or cease their operations, do not renew their

 

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subscriptions with us on similar pricing terms, or otherwise terminate their relationships with us, the number of loans and other transactions enabled through our platform could decrease and our revenue and revenue growth rates could be adversely affected.

Additionally, as the markets for our cloud-based banking software continue to develop, we may be unable to attract new customers based on the same pricing models that we have used historically. Large or influential financial services firms may demand more favorable pricing or other contract terms from us. As a result, we may in the future be required to change our pricing model, reduce our prices, or accept other unfavorable contract terms, any of which could adversely affect our revenue and revenue growth rate.

We could in the future have disagreements or disputes with any of our customers, which could negatively impact or threaten our relationship with them. In our agreements with customers, we make certain representations and warranties and covenants concerning our compliance with certain procedures and guidelines related to laws and regulations applicable to the services to be provided by us to our customers. If those representations and warranties were not accurate when made or if we fail to perform a covenant, we may be liable for any resulting damages, including potentially any losses associated with impacted transactions, and our reputation and ability to continue to attract new customers could be adversely affected. Additionally, our customers may engage in mergers, acquisitions or consolidations with each other, our competitors or with third parties, any of which could be disruptive to our existing and prospective relationships with our customers.

If we fail to retain any of our larger customers or a substantial number of our smaller customers, if we do not acquire new customers, if we do not continually expand revenue and volume from customers on our platform, or if we do not attract and retain a diverse mix of customers, our business, financial condition, results of operations, and future prospects could be adversely affected.

A large percentage of our revenue is concentrated with a small number of key customers, and if our relationships with any of these key customers were to be terminated or the level of business with them significantly reduced over time, our business, financial condition, results of operations, and future prospects would be adversely affected.

Historically, certain of our customers have accounted for a significant portion of our revenue. For example, for 2020, our top five customers accounted for 34% of our revenue, and as of December 31, 2020, we had 18 customers generating more than $1 million in annual revenue, which represented 53% of our revenue in 2020. The concentration of a significant portion of our business and transaction volume with a limited number of customers, or type of customer or industry, exposes us disproportionately to any of those customers choosing to no longer partner with us or choosing to partner with a competitor, to the economic performance or market share of those customers or industry, including as a result of challenger banks or technology disrupters, or to any events, circumstances, or risks affecting such customers or industry. Additionally, because we do not have long-term contractual financial commitments with many of our customers, a material modification in the financial operations of a key customer could affect our transaction volume with that customer and therefore our revenue growth. If we are unable to continue to increase the number of other customers on our platform or if any of our key customers were to suspend, limit, or cease their operations or otherwise terminate their relationship with us or lose market share, our business, financial condition, and results of operations would be adversely affected.

We face intense competition, and if we are unable to compete effectively, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected.

The market in which we operate is intensely competitive and characterized by shifting user preferences, fragmentation, and frequent introductions of new services and offerings. The primary

 

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competitors for our software platform include point solution vendors, providers of back office software with proprietary digital capabilities, and systems developed internally at financial services firms. Our current and future competitors may enjoy competitive advantages, such as greater name recognition, longer operating histories, greater category share in certain markets, market-specific knowledge, established relationships with financial services firms, including those with larger market share than our customers, and larger existing user bases in certain markets, more successful marketing capabilities, and substantially greater financial, technical, and other resources than we have. Greater financial resources and product development capabilities may allow these competitors to respond more quickly to new or emerging technologies and changes in financial services firm preferences that may render our platform less attractive or obsolete. Our competitors may also make acquisitions or establish cooperative or other strategic relationships among themselves or with others, introduce new offerings with competitive price and performance characteristics or undertake more aggressive marketing campaigns than ours. Additionally, many of our competitors are well capitalized and offer discounted services, lower pricing, incentives, discounts and promotions, and innovative platforms and offerings, which may be more attractive than those that we offer. Further, our customers may decide to develop their own solutions that compete with ours.

As we and our competitors introduce new offerings and invest more in digital capabilities, and as existing offerings evolve, we expect to become subject to additional competition. Our competitors may adopt certain of our platform features or may adopt innovations that our customers value more highly than ours, which would render our platform less attractive and reduce our ability to differentiate our platform. Increased competition could result in, among other things, a reduction of the revenue we generate from the use of our platform from reduced demand or pricing pressures, the number of customers, the frequency of use of our platform, and our margins. For all of these reasons, we may not be able to compete successfully. If we lose existing customers, fail to attract new customers, or are forced to make pricing concessions as a result of increased competition, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected.

We have a limited operating history in an evolving industry, which makes it difficult to evaluate our future prospects and may increase the risk that we will not be successful.

We were founded in 2012 and have experienced rapid growth in recent years. Our limited operating history may make it difficult to make accurate predictions about our future performance. Assessing our business and future prospects may also be difficult because of the risks and difficulties we face. These risks and difficulties include our ability to:

 

   

accurately forecast our revenue and plan our operating expenses;

 

   

develop a scalable, high-performance technology infrastructure that can efficiently and reliably handle increased usage, as well as the deployment of new features and services;

 

   

maintain and increase the volume of transactions enabled through our platform;

 

   

enter into new and maintain existing customer relationships;

 

   

successfully identify, negotiate, execute, and integrate strategic acquisitions and partnerships;

 

   

successfully compete with current and future competitors;

 

   

successfully build our brand and protect our reputation from negative publicity;

 

   

increase the effectiveness of our marketing strategies;

 

   

successfully adjust our proprietary technology, products, and services in a timely manner in response to changing macroeconomic conditions and fluctuations in the credit market;

 

   

enter into new and maintain existing ecosystem partnerships;

 

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successfully introduce new products and services and enter new markets and geographies;

 

   

adapt to rapidly evolving trends in the ways customers and consumers interact with technology;

 

   

comply with and successfully adapt to complex and evolving regulatory environments;

 

   

protect against fraud and online theft;

 

   

avoid interruptions or disruptions in our service;

 

   

effectively secure and maintain the confidentiality of the information received, accessed, stored, provided, and used across our systems;

 

   

successfully obtain and maintain funding and liquidity to support continued growth and general corporate purposes;

 

   

attract, integrate, and retain qualified employees; and

 

   

effectively manage rapid growth in our personnel and operations.

If we fail to address the risks and difficulties that we face, including those associated with the challenges listed above as well as those described elsewhere in this “Risk Factors” section, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected. Further, because we have limited historical financial data and operate in a rapidly evolving market, any predictions about our future revenue and expenses may not be as accurate as they would be if we had a longer operating history or operated in a more predictable market. We have encountered in the past, and will encounter in the future, risks and uncertainties frequently experienced by growing companies with limited operating histories in rapidly changing industries. If our assumptions regarding these risks and uncertainties, which we use to plan and operate our business, are incorrect or change, or if we do not address these risks successfully, our results of operations could differ materially from our expectations and our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected.

We expect to experience significant growth through strategic acquisitions and partnerships, including our acquisition of Title365, and we face risks related to the integration of such acquisitions and the management of such growth.

As part of our growth strategy, we have in the past acquired and made significant investments in, and may in the future acquire or make significant investments in, companies, businesses, personnel, and technologies. For example, on June 30, 2021, we completed our acquisition of Title365. Each acquisition requires unique approaches to integration due to, among other reasons, the structure of the acquisitions, the integration of technology, the size, locations, and cultural differences among their teams and ours, and has required, and will continue to require, attention from our management team. As we continue to grow, the size of our acquisitions and investments may increase. In addition to the larger purchase prices associated with such acquisitions and investments, larger acquisitions and investments may also require additional management resources to integrate more significant and often more complex businesses into our company. We will continue to explore and evaluate additional acquisitions, some of which may be the same size or even larger in scale and investment than our acquisition of Title365.

Our future success depends in part on our ability to integrate these acquisitions and manage these businesses, partnerships, and transactions effectively. If we are unable to obtain the anticipated benefits or synergies of such acquisitions, or we encounter difficulties integrating acquired businesses with ours, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected.

 

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Challenges and risks from such strategic acquisitions and partnerships include:

 

   

diversion of management’s attention in the acquisition and integration process, including oversight over acquired businesses which may continue their operations under contingent consideration provisions in acquisition agreements;

 

   

declining employee morale and retention issues resulting from changes in compensation, or changes in management, reporting relationships, or future performance;

 

   

the need to integrate the operations, systems, technologies, products, and personnel of each acquired company, the inefficiencies and lack of control that may result if such integration is delayed or not implemented, and unforeseen difficulties and expenditures that may arise in connection with integration;

 

   

the need to implement internal controls, procedures, and policies appropriate for a larger, U.S.-based public company at companies that prior to acquisition may not have robust controls, procedures, and policies, in particular, with respect to the effectiveness of internal controls, cyber and information security practices, incident response plans, and business continuity and disaster recovery plans, compliance with privacy, data protection, information security, and other regulations, and compliance with U.S.-based economic policies and sanctions which may not have previously been applicable to the acquired company’s operations;

 

   

the difficulty in accurately forecasting and accounting for the financial impact of an acquisition transaction, including accounting charges, write-offs of deferred revenue under purchase accounting, and integrating and reporting results for acquired companies that have not historically followed U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP;

 

   

the implementation of restructuring actions and cost reduction initiatives to streamline operations and improve cost efficiencies;

 

   

the fact that we may be required to pay contingent consideration in excess of the initial fair value, and contingent consideration may become payable at a time when we do not have sufficient cash available to pay such consideration;

 

   

in the case of foreign acquisitions or acquisitions that include a foreign entity or operations, the need to integrate operations across different cultures and languages and to address the particular economic, currency, political, and regulatory risks associated with specific countries as well as tax risks that may arise from the acquisition;

 

   

increasing legal, regulatory, and compliance exposure, and the additional costs related to mitigate each of those, as a result of adding new offices, employees, and other service providers, benefit plans, equity awards, job types, and lines of business globally; and

 

   

liability for activities of the acquired company before the acquisition, including intellectual property, commercial, and other litigation claims or disputes, cyber and information security vulnerabilities and incidents, violations of laws, rules and regulations, including with respect to employee classification, tax liabilities, and other known and unknown liabilities.

If we are unable to successfully integrate and manage our acquisitions and strategic partnerships, we may not realize the expected benefits of such transactions or become exposed to additional liabilities, and our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected.

 

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Changes in market interest rates could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Increased interest rates may adversely impact the spending levels of consumers and their ability and willingness to borrow money. Higher interest rates often lead to higher loan rates charged to consumers, which could adversely affect the ability of our customers to generate volume and in turn, the number of transactions enabled through our platform and thus our ability to generate revenue from such transactions. As a result of these circumstances, financial services firms and consumers may be discouraged from engaging with our platform and as a result, reduce the volume of transactions enabled through our platform, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Our results of operations are likely to fluctuate from period to period, which could cause the market price of our Class A common stock to decline.

Our results of operations have historically varied from period to period, and we expect that our results of operations will continue to vary significantly from quarter to quarter and year to year because of a variety of factors, many of which are outside of our control and difficult to predict. As a result, you should not rely upon our historical results of operations as indicators of future performance. Numerous factors can influence our results of operations, including:

 

   

our ability to attract and retain customers in a cost-effective manner;

 

   

our ability to maintain or increase loan volumes, transactions processed and platform utilization, and improve loan mix;

 

   

our ability to successfully expand in existing markets and successfully enter new markets;

 

   

changes in financial services firm behavior with respect to cloud-based software products and solutions;

 

   

the amount and timing of operating expenses related to maintaining and expanding our business, operations, and infrastructure, including acquiring new and maintaining existing customers;

 

   

the mix of revenue we generate from our products and our marketplace;

 

   

the timing and success of new products and services;

 

   

the impact of worldwide economic conditions, including economic slowdowns, recessions, and tightening of credit markets, including due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic;

 

   

the seasonality of our business;

 

   

our ability to maintain an adequate rate of growth and effectively manage that growth;

 

   

our ability to keep pace with technology changes in our industry;

 

   

the success of our sales and marketing efforts;

 

   

the effects of negative publicity on our business, reputation, or brand;

 

   

our ability to protect, maintain, and enforce our intellectual property;

 

   

costs associated with defending claims, including intellectual property infringement claims, and related judgments or settlements;

 

   

changes in governmental or other regulations, including state and federal banking laws and regulations or in federal monetary policies, affecting our business;

 

   

interruptions in service and any related impact on our business, reputation, or brand;

 

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the attraction and engagement of qualified employees and key personnel;

 

   

our ability to choose and effectively manage partners, vendors, and other service providers;

 

   

the effects of natural or man-made catastrophic events;

 

   

the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting; and

 

   

changes in our tax rates or exposure to additional tax liabilities.

The variability and unpredictability of our results of operations could result in our failure to meet our expectations or those of analysts that cover us or investors with respect to revenue or other results of operations for a particular period. If we fail to meet or exceed such expectations, the market price of our Class A common stock could fall substantially, and we could face costly lawsuits, including securities class action suits.

A cybersecurity incident affecting us or the third parties we rely on or partner with could expose us or our customers and consumers to a risk of loss or misuse of confidential information and significantly damage our reputation.

We are increasingly dependent on information technology systems and infrastructure to operate our business. In the ordinary course of our business, we collect, receive, use, transmit, store, and otherwise process large amounts of sensitive information, including personal information, credit information, and other sensitive and confidential information of consumers and potential consumers. It is critical that we do so in a manner designed to maintain the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of such sensitive information. Additionally, in the ordinary course of our business, we collect, store, transmit, and otherwise process large amounts of sensitive corporate, personal, and other information, including intellectual property, proprietary business information, and other confidential information. We also have arrangements in place with certain of our partners, vendors, and other service providers that require us to share certain of the information we maintain and otherwise process, including consumer information, with them. Certain elements of our operations (including elements of our information technology infrastructure) rely on third parties, and as a result, we manage a number of third-party service providers who may have access to our computer networks and sensitive or confidential information. In addition, many of those third parties may in turn subcontract or outsource some of their responsibilities to other third parties. As a result, our information technology systems, including the functions of third parties that are involved or have access to those systems, are large and complex, with many points of entry and access. Like all information technology systems that are distributed and have large amounts of sensitive information stored on those systems, our systems are potentially vulnerable to and may be subject to unintentional, inadvertent, or malicious, internal and external attacks, including security breaches, incidents, attacks, exposures, intrusions, malware, ransomware, social engineering attacks, phishing and spearphishing attempts, attempts to overload our servers with distributed denial-of-service attacks, employee theft, unauthorized access by third parties (including foreign governments or state actors with significant financial and technological resources) or internal actors, or other attacks and similar disruptions. Any vulnerabilities can be exploited from inadvertent or intentional actions of our employees, partners, vendors, service providers, customers, or by malicious third parties. For example, to the extent manual processes are involved in the handling of sensitive information, such sensitive information could be inadvertently misdirected despite our training and quality assurance precautions. While we have taken steps to protect the sensitive and confidential information that we have access to and have implemented multiple overlapping controls to reduce risk of a single control failure, our security measures or those of our partners, vendors, or other service providers could be breached or we could suffer data loss or unauthorized access to our platform or the systems or networks used in our business.

Because attacks of this nature are increasing in frequency, levels of persistence, sophistication and intensity, and techniques used to obtain unauthorized access or to sabotage systems change

 

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frequently and may not be known until they are launched against a target, we and our partners, vendors, and other service providers may be unable to anticipate or prevent these attacks, react in a timely manner, or implement adequate preventive measures, and we may face delays in our detection or remediation of, or other responses to, security breaches and other privacy- and security-related incidents. These security risks that we and our partners, vendors, and other service providers face have been heightened by an increase in employees and service providers working remotely in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition, consumers on our platform could have vulnerabilities on their own devices that are entirely unrelated to our systems and platform but could mistakenly attribute their own vulnerabilities to us. Consumers on our platform may also provide sensitive information to other third parties through their use of our platform, and consumers could mistakenly attribute any misuse of such information by other third parties to us. Further, breaches experienced by other companies may also be leveraged against us. For example, credential stuffing and business email compromise attacks are becoming increasingly common and sophisticated actors can mask their attacks, making them increasingly difficult to identify and prevent. Certain efforts may be state-sponsored or supported by significant financial and technological resources, making them even more difficult to detect, remediate, and otherwise respond to.

There also have been and may continue to be significant supply chain attacks, and we cannot guarantee that our or our partners’, vendors’, or service providers’ systems and networks have not been breached or that they do not contain exploitable defects or bugs that could result in a breach of or disruption to our systems and networks or the systems and networks of third parties that support us and our services. In addition, laws, regulations, government guidance, and industry standards and practices in the United States and elsewhere are rapidly evolving to combat these threats. We may face increased compliance burdens regarding such requirements with regulators and customers regarding our products and services and also incur additional costs for oversight and monitoring of our own supply chain.

Although we have developed systems and processes that are designed to protect the confidential and sensitive information we maintain and our partners, vendors, and other service providers maintain on our behalf, including personal data of our customers, consumers, and employees, protect our systems, prevent data loss, and prevent other security breaches and security incidents, these security measures may not have fully protected our systems in the past and cannot guarantee security in the future. The information technology systems and infrastructure used in our business may be vulnerable to cyberattacks or security breaches, and third parties may be able to access data, including personal information and other sensitive and proprietary data of our customers and consumers, our employees’ personal information, or our other sensitive and proprietary data, accessible through those systems. Employee error, malfeasance, or other errors in the storage, use, or transmission of any of these types of data could result in an actual or perceived privacy or security breach or other security incident. Although we have policies and technologies restricting access to the personal information we store, there is a risk that these policies and technologies may not be effective in all cases. Any actual or perceived breach of privacy, or any actual or perceived security breach or other incident, could interrupt our operations, result in our platform being unavailable, result in loss or improper access to, or acquisition or disclosure of sensitive or confidential information, personal information, or other data, result in fraudulent transfer of funds, harm our reputation, brand, and competitive position, damage our relationships with our customers, subject us to adverse media coverage, or result in claims, regulatory investigations, and proceedings and significant legal, regulatory, and financial exposure, including ongoing monitoring by regulators, and any such incidents or any perception that our security measures are inadequate could lead to loss of customer confidence in, or decreased use of, our platform, any of which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Any actual or perceived breach of privacy or security, or other security incident, impacting any entities with which we share or disclose data (including, for example, our partners, vendors, or other service providers) could

 

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have similar effects. We also expect to incur significant costs in an effort to detect and prevent privacy and security breaches and other privacy- and security-related incidents, and we may face increased costs and requirements to expend substantial resources in the event of an actual or perceived privacy or security breach or other incident.

Additionally, defending against claims or litigation based on any security breach or incident, regardless of their merit, could be costly and divert management’s attention. We cannot ensure that any provisions in our agreements with customers, contracts with service providers and other contracts relating to limitations of liability, including those in connection with a security lapse or breach or other privacy- or security-related incident, would be enforceable or adequate or would otherwise protect us from any liabilities or damages with respect to any particular claim. We cannot be certain that our insurance coverage will be adequate for data handling or data security costs or liabilities actually incurred, that insurance will continue to be available to us on commercially reasonable terms or at all, or that any insurer will not deny coverage as to any future claim. The successful assertion of one or more large claims against us that exceed available insurance coverage, or the occurrence of changes in our insurance policies, including premium increases or the imposition of large deductible or co-insurance requirements, could have an adverse effect on our reputation, brand, business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Growth of our business will depend on a trustworthy reputation and strong brand and any failure to maintain, protect, and enhance our brand would hurt our ability to retain or expand our base of customers and our ability to increase their level of engagement.

We believe maintaining a trustworthy reputation and strong brand is critical to our success and our ability to attract customers to our platform and maintain good relations with regulators. Our reputation, brand, and ability to build trust with existing and new customers may be adversely affected by complaints and negative publicity about us, our platform, partners, and customers that utilize our platform or our competitors’ platforms, even if factually incorrect or based on isolated incidents. Negative perception of our platform or company may harm our reputation and brand, including as a result of:

 

   

perceptions of cloud-based software and our industry and our company, including the quality, security, and reliability of our cloud-based software platform;

 

   

the overall user experience of our platform;

 

   

changes to our platform;

 

   

a failure to provide a range of options sought by customers or consumers;

 

   

our ability to effectively manage and resolve customer and consumer complaints;

 

   

fraudulent, illegal, negligent, reckless, or otherwise inappropriate behavior by users or third parties;

 

   

actual or perceived disruptions to, failures of, or defects, bugs, vulnerabilities, or errors in our platform or similar incidents, such as privacy or data security breaches or other security incidents, site outages, payment disruptions, or other incidents that impact or may be perceived to impact the reliability of our services, including services provided by third parties we rely on;

 

   

litigation over, or investigations by regulators into, our platform;

 

   

customers’ or consumers’ lack of awareness of, or compliance with, our policies;

 

   

a failure to comply with legal, tax, privacy, data protection, information security, or regulatory requirements;

 

   

changes to our practices with respect to collection and use of customer and consumer data;

 

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a failure to enforce our policies in a manner that users perceive as effective, fair, and transparent;

 

   

a failure to operate our business in a way that is consistent with our values and mission;

 

   

inadequate or unsatisfactory support experiences for our customers;

 

   

illegal or otherwise inappropriate behavior by our management team or other employees or contractors; or

 

   

a failure to register and prevent misappropriation of our trademarks.

If we do not successfully develop, protect, and enhance our reputation and brand, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected.

If we fail to manage our growth effectively, our reputation, business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected.

Since 2012, we have experienced rapid growth in our employee headcount, our customers, and our operations, and we expect to continue to experience growth in the future. Employee growth has occurred both at our San Francisco headquarters and in a number of our offices across the United States. This growth has placed, and may continue to place, substantial demands on management and our operational and financial infrastructure. As with many companies in our growth stage, as of March 2021, a majority of our employees have been with us for fewer than 13 months. We have made, and intend to continue to make, substantial investments in our technology, customer service, risk, sales and marketing infrastructure. Our ability to manage our growth effectively and to integrate new employees, technologies, and acquisitions into our existing business will require us to continue to expand our operational and financial infrastructure and to continue to effectively integrate, develop, and motivate a large number of new employees, while maintaining the beneficial aspects of our culture. Continued growth could challenge our ability to develop and improve our information technology infrastructure and our operational, financial, and management controls, enhance our reporting systems and procedures, recruit, train, and retain highly skilled personnel and maintain user satisfaction. Additionally, if we do not manage the growth of our business and operations effectively, the quality of our platform and the efficiency of our operations could suffer, which could adversely affect our reputation, business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Systems failures and resulting interruptions in the availability of our website or platform, or other delays or slow response times from our website or platform, could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

We currently serve our customers and consumers on our platform from third-party data center hosting facilities. It is critical to our success that our customers (including their customers) and consumers be able to access our platform at all times, and that the performance of our platform is responsive and rapid. Our systems, or those of third parties upon which we rely, may experience service interruptions, outages, failures, or degradation or other performance problems because of hardware and software defects or malfunctions, distributed denial-of-service and other cyberattacks, infrastructure changes, human error, earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, fires, other natural disasters, power losses, disruptions in telecommunications services, fraud, military or political conflicts, terrorist attacks, computer viruses, ransomware, malware, or other events. Our systems also may be subject to break-ins, sabotage, theft, and intentional acts of vandalism, including by our own employees. Some of our systems are not fully redundant and our disaster recovery planning may not be sufficient for all eventualities. These eventualities could cause information, including information relating to our customers and consumers, to be lost, corrupted, altered, or delayed. Our business interruption insurance may not be sufficient to cover all of our losses that may result from interruptions in our service as a result of systems failures

 

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and similar events. Additionally, in some cases, partners, vendors, and other service providers run their own platforms that we access, and we are, therefore, vulnerable to their service interruptions. In the event that our data center arrangements are terminated, or if there are any lapses of service or damage to a center, we could experience lengthy interruptions in our service as well as delays and additional expenses in arranging new facilities and services.

We have experienced and will likely continue to experience system failures and other events or conditions from time to time that interrupt the availability or reduce or affect the speed or functionality of our platform. These system failures generally occur either as a result of software updates being deployed with unexpected errors or as a result of temporary infrastructure failures related to storage, network, or compute capacity being exhausted. These events have resulted in losses in revenue, though such losses have not been material to date. System failures in the future could result in significant losses of revenue. Moreover, we have in the past provided credits to customers per contractual obligations and/or voluntarily made payments to customers to compensate them for the system failure or similar event, and we may provide similar such credits in the future. In addition, the affected customer or consumer could seek monetary recourse from us for its losses and such claims, even if unsuccessful, would likely be time-consuming and costly for us to address. Further, in some instances, we may not be able to identify the cause or causes of these performance problems within an acceptable period of time. A prolonged interruption in the availability or reduction in the availability, speed, or other functionality of our platform could adversely affect our business and reputation and could result in the loss of customers.

Further, we have service level agreements with a small number of our customers that require us to meet specific transaction response times. In the event that we fail to meet those requirements, whether because of system failures, slow platform performance, or otherwise, our customers may request credits from us, which could adversely impact our revenue and results of operations in a period where we provide such credits.

We operate under a success-based business model and may rely on self-reporting of completed transactions by our customers, which can make it difficult to forecast revenue.

We offer our products through software-as-a-service agreements where fees are assessed for each completed transaction, such as a funded loan, new account opening, or closing transaction. We do not charge for abandoned applications or rejected applications, even though they cause us to incur costs. Our customers have the ability to access our platform under subscription arrangements, in which customers commit to a minimum number of completed transactions at specified prices over the contract term, or under usage-based arrangements, in which customers pay in arrears a variable amount for completed transactions at a specified price. Our subscription arrangements are generally non-cancelable during the contract term, and we may also earn additional overage fees if the number of completed transactions exceeds contractual minimums. Our usage-based arrangements generally can be terminated at any time by the customer. We recognize revenue ratably for our subscription arrangements because the customer receives and consumes the benefits of our platform throughout the contract period. We recognize fees for usage-based arrangements as the completed transactions are processed using our platform.

We use and may rely on the reporting of completed transactions by our customers when invoicing them for usage and overage fees in connection with our arrangements. If the reporting of completed transactions by our customers is not timely or accurate, it may impact our ability to estimate revenue, which may impact the accuracy of our actual and forecasted revenue recognized from our customers. If we incorrectly forecast revenue from our customers and the amount of revenue is less than projections we provide to investors, the price of our Class A common stock could decline substantially and our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected.

 

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Our sales cycle can be unpredictable, time-consuming, and costly.

Our sales process involves educating prospective and existing customers about the benefits and technical capabilities of our products and services. Prospective customers often undertake a prolonged evaluation process, which typically involves not only our products and services, but also those of our competitors. Our sales cycles are typically lengthy, generally ranging from six to nine months for smaller financial services firms and ranging from twelve to eighteen months or more for larger financial services firms. We may spend substantial time, effort, and money on our sales and marketing efforts without any assurance that our efforts will produce any sales. Events affecting our customers’ businesses may occur during the sales cycle that could affect the size or timing of a purchase, contributing to more unpredictability in our business and results of operations. As a result of these factors, we may face greater costs, longer sales cycles, and less predictability in the future, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Our business is substantially dependent on revenue from the financial services industry and subject to risks related to the mortgage industry and the larger financial services industry. Our business may also be adversely affected by downturns in the mortgage industry.

A substantial majority of the transactions enabled through our platform are mortgage loans and refinances, and our financial prospects depend significantly on the financial services industry ecosystem. If financial services firms experience large or unexpected losses through the offering of financial products, these firms may choose to decrease the amount of money they spend with us. In addition, increased competition to financial services firms from challenger banks and technology

disrupters as well as decreases in consumer demand in the financial services industry in general could adversely affect the demand for our product and, in turn, the number of customers and their consumers using our platform. In addition, the number of mortgage loans, refinances, and other loan products may decline during recessionary periods and other periods in which disposable income is adversely affected and may be affected by negative trends in the broader economy, including the cost of energy and gasoline, the availability and cost of credit, reductions in business and consumer confidence, stock market volatility, and increased unemployment.

We may encounter deployment challenges, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

We may face unexpected challenges related to the complexity of our customers’ deployment and configuration requirements. Deployment of our software platform may be delayed or expenses may increase when customers have unexpected data, software, or technology challenges, or unanticipated business requirements, which could adversely affect our relationship with our customers and our business, financial condition, and results of operations. In general, our revenue related to deployment and other professional services we provide is recognized on a proportional performance basis, and delays and difficulties in these engagements could result in losses or the recognition of revenue later than expected. Further, because we do not fully control our customers’ deployment schedules, if our customers do not allocate the internal resources necessary to meet deployment timelines or if there are otherwise unanticipated deployment delays or difficulties, our ability to take customers live and the overall customer experience could be adversely affected. We rely on existing customers to act as references for prospective customers, and difficulties in deployment and configuration could therefore adversely affect our ability to attract new customers. Any difficulties or delays in the deployment processes could cause customers to delay or forego future purchases of our products and services, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

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Defects, errors, or vulnerabilities in our applications, backend systems, or other technology systems and those of third-party technology providers could harm our reputation and brand and adversely impact our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Our platform and system infrastructure rely on software that is highly technical and complex and depend on the ability of such software to store, retrieve, process, and manage high volumes of data. The software on which we rely may contain undetected errors, defects, bugs, or vulnerabilities, some of which may only be discovered after the code has been released. Our practice is to effect frequent releases of software updates, sometimes multiple times per day. The third-party software that we incorporate into our platform or rely on may also be subject to errors, defects, bugs, or vulnerabilities. Any errors, defects, bugs, or vulnerabilities discovered in our code or from third-party software after release could result in negative publicity, a loss of users, increased regulatory scrutiny, fines or penalties, loss of revenue or liability for damages, and access or other performance issues. Such vulnerabilities could also be exploited by malicious actors and result in exposure of data of users on our platform, or otherwise result in a security breach or other security incident. We may need to expend significant financial and development resources to analyze, correct, eliminate, or work around errors, bugs, or defects or to address, analyze, correct, and eliminate software platform vulnerabilities. Any failure to timely and effectively resolve any such errors, defects, bugs, or vulnerabilities could adversely affect our business, reputation, brand, financial condition, and results of operations.

Any failure to offer high-quality customer support by us or by partners, vendors, and other service providers may adversely affect our relationships with our customers and could adversely affect our reputation, brand, business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Our ability to attract and retain customers is dependent in part on our ability to provide high-quality support. Our customers depend on our customer success organization to resolve any issues relating to our platform and products. As we continue to grow our business and improve our offerings, we will face challenges related to providing high-quality support services at scale. Additionally, to the extent we decide to grow our international business and the number of international users on our platform, our customer success organization will face additional challenges, including those associated with delivering support in languages other than English. Any failure to maintain high-quality support, or a market perception that we do not maintain high-quality support, could harm our reputation and adversely affect our ability to scale our platform and business, our financial condition, and our results of operations.

We experience significant seasonal fluctuations in our financial results, which could cause our Class A common stock price to fluctuate.

Our business is highly dependent on consumer borrowing patterns that have an impact on our results of operations. We generally experience changes in consumer activity over the course of the calendar year, although our rapid growth and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has made, and may continue to make, seasonal fluctuations difficult to detect. Historically, our revenue has been strongest during the second and third quarters of our fiscal year as a result of higher demand for mortgages and other loans during the summer months. Seasonality will likely cause fluctuations in our financial results on a quarterly basis. While our growth has obscured this seasonality in our overall financial results, we expect our results of operations to continue to be affected by such seasonality in the future. In addition, other seasonal trends may develop and the existing seasonal trends that we experience may become more pronounced and contribute to fluctuations in our results of operations as we continue to scale and our growth slows. As such, we may not accurately forecast our results of operations. However, we base our spending and investment plans on forecasts and estimates, and we may not be able to adjust our spending quickly enough if our revenue is less than expected, causing our results of operations to fail to meet our expectations or the expectations of investors.

 

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The market for cloud-based banking software is still in relatively early stages of growth and if this market does not continue to grow, grows more slowly than we expect or fails to grow as large as we expect, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected.

Use of, and reliance on, cloud-based banking software is still at an early stage, and we do not know whether financial services firms will continue to adopt cloud-based banking software in the future, or whether the market will change in ways we do not anticipate. Many financial services firms have invested substantial personnel and financial resources in legacy software, and these institutions may be reluctant, unwilling or unable to convert from their existing systems to our software platform. Furthermore, these financial services firms may be reluctant, unwilling or unable to use cloud-based banking software due to various concerns such as the security of their data and reliability of the delivery model. These concerns or other considerations may cause financial services firms to choose not to adopt cloud-based banking software such as our cloud-based software platform or to adopt them more slowly than we anticipate, either of which would adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Our future success also depends on our ability to sell additional products, services, and functionality to our current and prospective customers. As we create new products and services and enhance our existing products and services, these applications and enhancements may not be attractive to customers. In addition, promoting and selling new and enhanced functionality may require increasingly costly sales and marketing efforts, and if customers choose not to adopt this functionality our business and results of operations could suffer. If financial services firms are unwilling or unable to transition from their legacy systems, or if the demand for our software platform does not meet our expectations, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected.

Unfavorable conditions in our industry or the global economy or reductions in technology spending could limit our ability to grow our business and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

Our results of operations may vary based on the impact of changes in our industry or the U.S. economy on us or our customers. The revenue growth and potential profitability of our business depend on demand for our solutions. Current or future economic uncertainties or downturns could adversely affect our business and results of operations. Negative conditions in the general economy in the United States and abroad, including conditions resulting from changes in gross domestic product growth, financial and credit market fluctuations, political turmoil, natural catastrophes, warfare and terrorist attacks on the United States, Europe, the Asia Pacific region or elsewhere, could cause a decrease in lending activity and business investments, including spending on technology, and negatively affect the growth of our business. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic has created and may continue to create significant uncertainty in global financial markets and the long-term economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is highly uncertain. To the extent our solutions are perceived by customers and potential customers as costly, or too difficult to deploy or migrate to, our revenue may be disproportionately affected by delays or reductions in general technology spending. Also, competitors, some of whom are larger and more established than we are, may respond to market conditions by lowering prices and attempting to lure away our customers. We cannot predict the timing, strength or duration of any economic slowdown, instability or recovery, generally or within any particular industry. If the economic conditions of the general economy or markets in which we operate worsen from present levels, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected.

 

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Future revenue growth depends upon our ability to adapt to technological change as well as global trends in the way customers access cloud-based banking software and successfully introduce new and enhanced products, services and business models.

We operate in industries that are characterized by rapidly changing technology, evolving industry standards, and frequent new product introductions. We believe that the pace of innovation will continue to accelerate as customers increasingly base their technology investments on a broad range of factors, including products and markets addressed, performance and scale, consumer experience, data governance, and regulatory compliance. We must continue to innovate and develop new products and features to meet changing customer and consumer needs and attract and retain talented software developers.

Our business depends significantly on revenue from large and mid-sized financial services firms. As our existing platform components mature, we will need to successfully integrate new products on our platform, as well as upgrade the decisioning, verification, and automation components of our existing platform in order to continue to help our customers adapt quickly to constantly changing market conditions. If we are not able to develop and clearly demonstrate the value of new products, upgraded components, or services to our customers, or effectively utilize our customers’ data to provide them with value, our ability to retain and acquire customers could be adversely affected. If competitors introduce new offerings embodying new technologies, or if new industry standards and practices emerge, our existing technology, services, and website may become obsolete. Our future success could depend on our ability to respond to technological advances and emerging industry standards and practices in a cost-effective and timely manner.

We have scaled our business rapidly and significant new platform features and services have in the past resulted in, and in the future may continue to result in, operational challenges affecting our business. Developing and launching enhancements to our platform and new products and services on our platform may involve significant technical risks and upfront capital investments that may not generate return on investment. We may use new technologies ineffectively, or we may fail to adapt to emerging industry standards. If we face material delays in introducing new or enhanced platform features, products, and services or if our recently introduced offerings do not perform in accordance with our expectations, the customers and consumers that utilize our platform may forego the use of our services in favor of those of our competitors.

We depend on our senior management team and our other highly skilled employees to grow and operate our business, and if we are unable to hire, retain, manage, and motivate our employees, or if our new employees do not perform as we anticipate, we may not be able to grow effectively and our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected.

Our future success will depend in part on the continued service of our founders, senior management team, key technical employees, and other highly skilled employees, including Nima Ghamsari, Head of Blend, Co-Founder, and Chair of our board of directors, and on our ability to continue to identify, hire, develop, motivate, and retain talented employees. We may not be able to retain the services of any of our employees or other members of senior management in the future. Also, all of our U.S.-based employees, including our senior management team and Mr. Ghamsari, work for us on an at-will basis, and there is no assurance that any such employee will remain with us. Our competitors may be successful in recruiting and hiring members of our management team or other key employees, and it may be difficult for us to find suitable replacements on a timely basis, on competitive terms, or at all. If we are unable to attract and retain the necessary employees, particularly in critical areas of our business, we may not achieve our strategic goals. In addition, from time to time, there may be changes in our senior management team that may be disruptive to our business. If our senior management

 

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team fails to work together effectively and to execute its plans and strategies, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected.

We face intense competition for highly skilled employees, especially in the San Francisco Bay Area where we have a substantial presence and need for highly skilled employees. To attract and retain top talent, we have offered, and we believe we will need to continue to offer, competitive compensation and benefits packages. Job candidates and existing employees often consider the value of the equity awards they receive in connection with their employment. The trading price of our Class A common stock following this offering is likely to be volatile and could be subject to fluctuations in response to various factors and may not appreciate. If the perceived value of our equity awards declines for this or other reasons, it may adversely affect our ability to attract and retain highly qualified employees. Certain of our employees have received significant proceeds from sales of our equity in private transactions and many of our employees may receive significant proceeds from sales of our equity in the public markets following this offering, which may reduce their motivation to continue to work for us. We may need to invest significant amounts of cash and equity to attract and retain new employees and expend significant time and resources to identify, recruit, train, and integrate such employees, and we may never realize returns on these investments. If we are unable to effectively manage our hiring needs or successfully integrate new hires, our efficiency, ability to meet forecasts, and employee morale, productivity, and engagement could suffer, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Misconduct and errors by our employees, partners, vendors, and other service providers could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and reputation.

We are exposed to many types of operational risk, including the risk of misconduct and errors by our employees, partners, vendors, and other service providers. Our business depends on our employees, partners, vendors, and other service providers to enable the processing of a large number of increasingly complex transactions, including transactions that involve significant dollar amounts and loan and financial transactions that involve the collection, use, and disclosure of sensitive information, including personal information and confidential business information. We could be adversely affected if transactions were redirected, misappropriated, or otherwise improperly executed, sensitive information, including personal information and confidential business information, was accessible by or disclosed to unintended persons, or an operational breakdown or failure in the processing of other transactions occurred, whether as a result of human error, a purposeful sabotage or a fraudulent manipulation of our operations or systems. In addition, the manner in which we store and use certain personal information and interact with consumers, and the manner in which our customers interact with their customers through our platform is governed by various federal and state laws. It is not always possible to identify and deter misconduct or errors by employees, partners, vendors, or other service providers, and the precautions we take to detect and prevent this activity may not be effective in controlling unknown or unmanaged risks or losses. Any of these occurrences could result in our diminished ability to operate our business, potential liability to customers and consumers, inability to attract future customers and consumers, reputational damage, regulatory intervention, and financial harm, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and reputation.

We plan to continue to expand and diversify our operations through strategic acquisitions and partnerships. We face a number of risks related to these transactions.

We plan to continue to expand and diversify our operations with additional strategic acquisitions or partnerships, strategic collaborations, joint ventures, or licensing arrangements. As we continue to grow, these transactions may be larger and require significant investments, such as our acquisition of Title365. We may be unable to identify or complete prospective acquisitions or partnerships for many reasons, including our ability to identify suitable targets, increasing competition from other

 

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potential acquirers, the effects of consolidation in our industries, potentially high valuations of acquisition candidates, and the availability of financing to complete larger acquisitions. Even if we do complete any such transactions, we may incur significant costs, such as professional service fees. In addition, applicable antitrust laws and other regulations may limit our ability to acquire targets, particularly larger targets, or force us to divest an acquired business. If we are unable to identify suitable targets or complete acquisitions, our growth prospects could be adversely affected, and we may not be able to realize sufficient scale and technological advantages to compete effectively in all markets.

Further, completing larger acquisitions or other strategic transactions is significantly riskier in that such transactions require additional consideration and management attention to complete, and could introduce additional exposure to regulatory and compliance risk. To complete these transactions, we may need to spend large amounts of cash, which may not be available to us on acceptable terms, if at all, or issue equity or equity-linked consideration, which may dilute our current stockholders. Further, we generally devote more time and resources towards performing diligence on larger transactions and may be required to devote more resources towards regulatory requirements in connection with such transactions. To the extent that we do not perform sufficient diligence on a larger acquisition or such a transaction does not generate the expected benefits, our business, financial condition, and results of operations would be adversely affected, and to a greater extent than would occur with a smaller transaction.

Additionally, we could face a variety of tax risks related to acquisitions or other strategic transactions, including that we may be required to make tax withholdings in various jurisdictions in connection with such transactions or as part of our continuing operations following a transaction, and that the companies or businesses we acquire may cause us to alter our international tax structure or otherwise create more complexity with respect to tax matters. Additionally, while we typically include indemnification provisions in our definitive agreements related to strategic acquisitions and partnerships, these indemnification provisions may be insufficient in the event that tax liabilities are greater than expected or are in areas that are not fully covered by indemnification. If we are unable to adequately predict and address such tax issues as they arise, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected.

Absent such strategic transactions, we would need to undertake additional development or commercialization activities at our own expense. If we elect to fund and undertake such additional efforts on our own, we may need to obtain additional expertise and additional capital, which may not be available to our company on acceptable terms, if at all. If we are unable to do any of the foregoing, we may not be able to further develop our platform effectively or achieve our expected product roadmap on a timely basis, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

The benefits of a strategic acquisition or partnership may also take considerable time to develop, and we cannot be certain that any particular strategic acquisition or partnership will produce the intended benefits. Further, acquisitions could result in potential dilutive issuances of equity securities, use of significant cash balances or incurrence of debt (and increased interest expense), contingent liabilities. or amortization expenses related to intangible assets, or write-offs of goodwill and intangible assets. If we are unable to identify and complete strategic acquisitions or partnerships, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected.

 

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We are committed to expanding our platform and enhancing the user experience, which may not maximize short-term financial results and may yield results that conflict with the market’s expectations, which could result in our stock price being adversely affected.

We are passionate about expanding our platform and continually enhancing the user experience, with a focus on driving long-term engagement through innovation, the expansion of our platform, products, and services, and providing high-quality support, which may not necessarily maximize short-term financial results. We frequently make business decisions that may reduce our short-term financial results if we believe that the decisions are consistent with our goals to improve the user experience, which we believe will improve our financial results over the long term. These decisions may not be consistent with the short-term expectations of our stockholders and may not produce the long-term benefits that we expect, in which case our growth, business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected.

We rely on assumptions, estimates, and unaudited financial information to calculate certain of our key metrics and other figures presented herein, and real or perceived inaccuracies in such metrics could adversely affect our reputation and our business.

Certain of the metrics presented herein are calculated using internal company data that has not been independently verified, data from third-party attribution partners, or unaudited financial information of companies that we have acquired or partnered with. While these metrics and figures are based on what we believe to be reasonable calculations for the applicable period of measurement, there are inherent challenges in measuring these metrics and figures across our worldwide client base and user base. Additionally, certain figures relating to our strategic acquisitions and partnerships are based on unaudited financial information that has been prepared by the management of such companies and has not been independently reviewed or audited. We cannot assure you that such financial information would not be materially different if such information was independently reviewed or audited. We regularly review and may adjust our processes for calculating our metrics and other figures to improve their accuracy, but these efforts may not prove successful and we may discover material inaccuracies. In addition, our methodology for calculating these metrics may differ from the methodology used by other companies to calculate similar metrics and figures. We may also discover unexpected errors in the data that we are using that resulted from technical or other errors. If we determine that any of our metrics or figures are not accurate, we may be required to revise or cease reporting such metrics or figures. Any real or perceived inaccuracies in our metrics and other figures could adversely affect our reputation and our business.

Our marketing efforts to help grow our business may not be effective.

Promoting awareness of our business is important to our ability to grow our business and to attract new customers and consumers and can be costly. We believe that the importance of brand recognition will increase as competition in the consumer lending industry expands. Successful promotion of our brand will depend largely on the effectiveness of marketing efforts and the overall user experience of our customers and consumers on our platform, which factors are outside our control. The marketing channels that we employ may also become more crowded and saturated by other cloud-based software platforms, which may decrease the effectiveness of our marketing campaigns. Our marketing initiatives may become increasingly expensive and generating a meaningful return on these initiatives may be difficult. Even if we successfully increase revenue as a result of our paid marketing efforts, it may not offset the additional marketing expenses we incur. If our marketing efforts to help grow our business are not effective, we expect that our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected.

 

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Negative publicity about us, our partners, vendors, and other service providers, or the financial services technology industry, could adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, and future prospects.

Negative publicity about us, our partners or the financial services technology industry, including the transparency, fairness, user experience, quality, and reliability of our platform, our or our partners’ privacy, data and security practices, litigation, regulatory activity, misconduct by our employees, partners, vendors, or other service providers, or others in the financial services technology industry, the experience of consumers with our platform or services, or with our customers, even if inaccurate, could adversely affect our reputation and the confidence in, and the use of, our platform by customers and their consumers, which could harm our reputation and cause disruptions to our platform. Any such reputational harm could further affect the behavior of customers and their consumers, including their willingness to use our platform. As a result, our business, results of operations, financial condition, and future prospects would be materially and adversely affected.

Our company culture has contributed to our success and if we cannot maintain and evolve our culture as we grow, our business could be adversely affected.

We believe that our company culture has been critical to our success. We have invested substantial time and resources in building out our team with an emphasis on our shared beliefs and practices and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.

We face a number of challenges that may affect our ability to sustain our corporate culture, including:

 

   

failure to identify, attract, reward, and retain people in leadership positions in our organization who share and further our culture, values, and mission;

 

   

the increasing size and geographic diversity of our workforce;

 

   

competitive pressures to move in directions that may divert us from our mission, vision, and values;

 

   

the continued challenges of a rapidly evolving industry;

 

   

the increasing need to develop expertise in new areas of business that affect us;

 

   

any negative perception of our response to employee sentiment related to political or social causes or actions of management; and

 

   

the integration of new personnel and businesses from acquisitions.

If we are not able to maintain and evolve our culture, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected.

The COVID-19 pandemic, or a similar public health threat, could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and resulting social distancing and shelter-in-place orders put in place around the world have caused widespread disruption in global economies, productivity, and financial markets and have altered the way in which we conduct our day-to-day business.

The full extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic and the various responses thereto impact our business, financial condition, and results of operations and impact our customers and partners, vendors, and other third parties will depend on numerous evolving factors that we may not be able to accurately predict, including: the duration and scope of the pandemic, including any potential future waves of the pandemic, governmental, business, and individual actions that have been and continue to

 

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be taken in response to the pandemic, the effect on our customers and on global IT spending disruptions, restrictions on our employees’ ability to work and travel, and the availability and cost to access the capital markets. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, in March 2020, we temporarily closed our offices, required our employees and contractors to work remotely, and implemented travel restrictions, all of which represent a significant disruption in how we operate our business. The operations of our customers and partners have likewise been disrupted. While substantially all of our business operations can be performed remotely, many of our employees are juggling additional work-related and personal challenges. In addition, such remote operations could decrease the cohesiveness of our teams and our ability to maintain our culture, both of which are critical to our success. A remote working environment could impede our ability to undertake new business projects, to foster a creative environment, to hire new team members, and to retain existing team members. We will continue to actively monitor the issues raised by the COVID-19 pandemic and may take further actions that alter our business operations, including as may be required by federal, state, local, or foreign authorities or that we determine are in the best interests of our employees, customers, and stockholders.

The COVID-19 pandemic may also affect the volume and severity of our title insurance claims. As part of the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or the CARES Act, was enacted in March 2020. The CARES Act allows borrowers to request a mortgage forbearance and prevents lenders and loan service providers from foreclosing on mortgages backed by the government-sponsored enterprises, or GSEs, such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, or federal mortgages. The federal moratorium on foreclosures of GSE-backed mortgages is set to expire on July 31, 2021. There is no assurance that the government will extend this moratorium. The continuance of foreclosure moratoriums could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Any of these uncertainties and actions we take to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic could adversely affect our business, financial conditions, and results of operations. See the section titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Recent Developments—COVID-19” for additional information about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business.

If we are unable to effectively combat the increasing number and sophistication of fraudulent activities by third parties using our platform, we may suffer losses, which may be substantial, and lose the confidence of our customers, and government agencies and our business, financial condition, and results of operations may be adversely affected.

The title industry has been experiencing an increasing number of fraudulent activities by third parties, and those fraudulent activities are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Although we do not believe that any of this activity is uniquely targeted at our platform or business, this type of fraudulent activity may adversely affect our title business. In addition to any losses that may result from such fraud, which may be substantial, a loss of confidence by our customers, or governmental agencies in our ability to prevent fraudulent activity that is perpetrated through our software platform or business may seriously harm our business and damage its brand. As fraudulent activities become more pervasive and increasingly sophisticated, and fraud detection and prevention measures must become correspondingly more complex to combat them across the various industries in which we operate, we may implement risk control mechanisms that could make it more difficult for legitimate users to obtain access to and use our platform, which could result in lost revenue and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. High profile fraudulent activity or significant increases in fraudulent activity could also lead to regulatory intervention, negative publicity, and the erosion of trust from our customers and consumers, and our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected.

 

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Our presence outside the United States and any future international expansion strategy will subject us to additional costs and risks and our plans may not be successful.

We are considering expanding our presence internationally. We expect to eventually launch our platform internationally, and we expect to expand our operations internationally to India in the second half of 2021. Operating outside of the United States may require significant management attention to oversee operations over a broad geographic area with varying cultural norms and customs, in addition to placing strain on our finance, analytics, compliance, legal, engineering, and operations teams. We may incur significant operating expenses and may not be successful in our international expansion for a variety of reasons, including:

 

   

recruiting and retaining talented and capable employees in foreign countries and maintaining our company culture across all of our offices;

 

   

an inability to attract and retain customers;

 

   

complying with varying laws and regulatory standards, including with respect to financial services, labor and employment, data privacy, data protection, information security, tax, and local regulatory restrictions;

 

   

obtaining any required government approvals, licenses, or other authorizations;

 

   

varying levels of Internet and mobile technology adoption and infrastructure;

 

   

currency exchange restrictions or costs and exchange rate fluctuations;

 

   

operating in jurisdictions that do not protect intellectual property rights in the same manner or to the same extent as the United States;

 

   

public health concerns or emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and other highly communicable diseases or viruses (which COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on India), outbreaks of which have from time to time occurred, and which may occur, in various parts of the world in which we operate or may operate in the future; and

 

   

limitations on the repatriation and investment of funds as well as foreign currency exchange restrictions.

Our lack of experience in operating our business internationally increases the risk that any potential future expansion efforts that we may undertake may not be successful. If we invest substantial time and resources to expand our operations internationally and are unable to manage these risks effectively, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected.

In addition, international expansion may increase our risks in complying with various laws and standards, including with respect to anti-corruption, anti-bribery, export controls, and trade and economic sanctions.

We may require additional capital to support business growth, and this capital might not be available on acceptable terms, if at all.

Historically, we have financed our operations primarily through equity issuances and cash collections from our customers. To support our growing business and to effectively compete, we must have sufficient capital to continue to make significant investments in our platform. We intend to continue to make investments to support our business growth and may require additional funds to respond to business challenges, including the need to develop new platform features and services or enhance our existing platform, improve our operating infrastructure, or acquire complementary businesses and technologies. Additionally, we are considering adopting various employee compensation programs, including one possible program that would allow employees the opportunity to annually elect the

 

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proportion of their compensation that would be provided in the form of cash or equity. The details of any such program, and whether we would even implement any such program, have not been determined at this time. If we do decide to adopt a program like this in the future, it could result in us paying a greater percentage of our employees’ compensation in the form of cash or equity, depending on how our employees elect to receive their compensation. This could result in us using a larger amount of our cash reserves for the payment of compensation in future periods or could result in us granting a greater number of our shares subject to equity awards, which could increase our overall dilution, increase our stock-based compensation expense for financial accounting purposes, and increase our tax withholding and remittance obligations. How we determine any such tax withholding obligations would be satisfied could further impact our cash position or increase dilution.

Although we currently anticipate that our existing cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities and cash collections from our customers will be sufficient to meet our working capital and capital expenditure needs for at least the next 12 months, we may require additional financing. Accordingly, we may need to engage in equity or debt financings to secure additional funds. If we raise additional funds through future issuances of equity, equity-linked securities, or convertible debt securities, our existing stockholders could suffer significant dilution, and any new securities we issue could have rights, preferences, and privileges superior to those of holders of our Class A common stock.

We evaluate financing opportunities from time to time, and our ability to obtain financing will depend, among other things, on our development efforts, business plans, and operating performance and the condition of the capital markets at the time we seek financing. We may not be able to obtain additional financing on terms favorable to us, if at all. If we are unable to obtain adequate financing or financing on terms satisfactory to us when we require it, our ability to continue to support our business growth and to respond to business challenges could be impaired, and our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected.

If we fail to maintain an effective system of disclosure controls and internal control over financial reporting, our ability to produce timely and accurate financial statements or comply with applicable regulations could be impaired.

As a public company, we will be subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the rules and regulations of the applicable listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange. We expect that the requirements of these rules and regulations will continue to increase our legal, accounting, and financial compliance costs, make some activities more difficult, time-consuming, and costly, and place significant strain on our personnel, systems, and resources.

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires, among other things, that we maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting. We are continuing to develop and refine our disclosure controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we will file with the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms and that information required to be disclosed in reports under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our principal executive and financial officers. We are also continuing to improve our internal control over financial reporting, which includes hiring additional accounting and financial personnel to implement such processes and controls. In order to maintain and improve the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting, we have expended, and anticipate that we will continue to expend, significant resources, including accounting-related costs and significant management oversight. If any of these new or improved controls and systems does not perform as expected, we may experience material weaknesses in our controls.

 

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Our current controls and any new controls that we develop may become inadequate because of changes in conditions in our business. Further, weaknesses in our disclosure controls and internal control over financial reporting may be discovered in the future. Any failure to develop or maintain effective controls or any difficulties encountered in their implementation or improvement could harm our results of operations or cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations and may result in a restatement of our financial statements for prior periods. Any failure to implement and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting also could adversely affect the results of periodic management evaluations and annual independent registered public accounting firm attestation reports regarding the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting that we will eventually be required to include in our periodic reports that will be filed with the SEC. Ineffective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial and other information, which would likely have a negative effect on the trading price of our Class A common stock. In addition, if we are unable to continue to meet these requirements, we may not be able to remain listed on the New York Stock Exchange. We are not currently required to comply with the SEC rules that implement Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and are therefore not required to make a formal assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting for that purpose. As a public company, we will be required to provide an annual management report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting commencing with our second annual report on Form 10-K.

Our independent registered public accounting firm is not required to formally attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting until after we are no longer an emerging growth company as defined in the JOBS Act. At such time, our independent registered public accounting firm may issue a report that is adverse in the event it is not satisfied with the level at which our internal control over financial reporting is documented, designed, or operating. Any failure to maintain effective disclosure controls and internal control over financial reporting could have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations and could cause a decline in the price of our Class A common stock.

If our estimates or judgments relating to our critical accounting policies prove to be incorrect or financial reporting standards or interpretations change, our results of operations could be adversely affected.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires our management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported and disclosed in our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. We base our estimates and assumptions on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. The results of these estimates form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets, liabilities, and equity, and the amount of revenue and expenses that are not readily apparent from other sources. Significant assumptions and estimates used in preparing our consolidated financial statements include those related to revenue recognition, stock-based compensation and common stock valuations. Our results of operations may be adversely affected if our assumptions change or if actual circumstances differ from those in our assumptions, which could cause our results of operations to fall below the expectations of industry or financial analysts and investors, resulting in a decline in the trading price of our Class A common stock.

Additionally, GAAP is subject to interpretation by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, the SEC, and various bodies formed to promulgate and interpret appropriate accounting principles. A change in these principles or interpretations could have a significant effect on our reported results of operations and could affect the reporting of transactions completed before the announcement of a change. For example, in May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Consumers (Topic 606),” or ASC 606, which superseded nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance, and in February 2016, the FASB issued ASU

 

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No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842),” or ASC 842, which increased lease transparency and comparability among organizations. It is difficult to predict the impact of future changes to accounting principles or our accounting policies, any of which could adversely affect our reported results of operations.

Operating as a public company requires us to incur substantial costs and requires substantial management attention. In addition, key members of our management team have limited experience managing a public company.

As a public company, we will incur substantial legal, accounting, and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. For example, we are subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, the applicable requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Act, the rules and regulations of the SEC, and the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange. For example, the Exchange Act requires, among other things, we file annual, quarterly, and current reports with respect to our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Compliance with these rules and regulations will increase our legal and financial compliance costs, and increase demand on our systems, particularly after we are no longer an emerging growth company. In addition, as a public company, we may be subject to stockholder activism, which can lead to additional substantial costs, distract management, and impact the manner in which we operate our business in ways we cannot currently anticipate. As a result of disclosure of information in this prospectus and in filings required of a public company, our business and financial condition will become more visible, which may result in threatened or actual litigation, including by competitors.

Many members of our management team have limited experience managing a publicly traded company, interacting with public company investors, and complying with the increasingly complex laws pertaining to public companies. Our management team may not successfully or efficiently manage our transition to being a public company subject to significant regulatory oversight and reporting obligations under the federal securities laws and the continuous scrutiny of securities analysts and investors. These new obligations and constituents will require significant attention from our senior management and could divert their attention away from the day-to-day management of our business, and our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected.

Risks Related to Our Legal and Regulatory Environment

We may be subject to claims, lawsuits, government investigations, and other proceedings that may adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

We face potential liability, expenses for legal claims, and harm to our business relating to the nature of our business generally, and with the lending and financial services we enable. We, or our partners, vendors, or other service providers, may be subject to claims, lawsuits, arbitration proceedings, government investigations and other legal, regulatory and other administrative proceedings in the ordinary course of business, including those involving compliance with regulatory requirements, personal injury, property damage, worker classification, labor and employment, anti-discrimination, commercial disputes, competition, consumer complaints, intellectual property disputes, and other matters, and we may become subject to additional types of claims, lawsuits, government investigations and legal or regulatory proceedings as our business grows and as we deploy new services.

In addition, a number of participants in the consumer financial and real estate settlement services industries have been the subject of putative class action lawsuits, state attorney general actions, other state regulatory actions, and federal regulatory enforcement actions, including actions relating to alleged unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices, violations of state licensing and disclosure laws and actions alleging discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, or other prohibited bases. The current regulatory environment, increased regulatory compliance efforts, and enhanced regulatory

 

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enforcement have resulted in us undertaking significant time-consuming and expensive operational and compliance efforts, which may delay or preclude our ability to provide certain new products and services to our customers and/or delay adoption of new products and services by our customers. There is no assurance that these regulatory matters or other factors will not, in the future, affect how we conduct our business and, in turn, have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. In particular, legal proceedings brought under state consumer protection statutes or under several of the various federal consumer financial services statutes may result in a separate fine assessed for each statutory and regulatory violation or substantial damages from class action lawsuits, potentially in excess of the amounts we earned from the underlying activities.

The results of any such claims, lawsuits, arbitration proceedings, government investigations, or other legal or regulatory proceedings cannot be predicted with any degree of certainty. Any claims against us, or our partners, vendors, or other service providers, whether meritorious or not, could be time-consuming, result in costly litigation, be harmful to our reputation, subject us to adverse media coverage, require significant management attention and divert significant resources. Determining reserves for pending litigation is a complex and fact-intensive process that requires significant subjective judgment and speculation. It is possible that a resolution of one or more such proceedings could result in substantial damages, settlement costs, fines and penalties that could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. These proceedings, including those involving our partners, vendors, and other third parties, could also result in harm to our reputation and brand, sanctions, consent decrees, injunctions or other orders requiring a change in our business practices. Any of these consequences could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Furthermore, under certain circumstances, we have contractual and other legal obligations to indemnify and to incur legal expenses on behalf of our business and partners and current and former directors and officers.

We also include arbitration and class action waiver provisions in our terms of service with many of our consumers. These provisions are intended to streamline the litigation process for all parties involved, as they can in some cases be faster and less costly than litigating disputes in state or federal court. However, arbitration can be costly and burdensome, and the use of arbitration and class action waiver provisions subjects us to certain risks to our reputation and brand, as these provisions have been the subject of increasing public scrutiny. In order to minimize these risks to our reputation and brand, we may limit our use of arbitration and class action waiver provisions or be required to do so in a legal or regulatory proceeding, either of which could cause an increase in our litigation costs and exposure.

Further, with the potential for conflicting rules regarding the scope and enforceability of arbitration and class action waivers on a state-by-state basis, as well as between state and federal law, there is a risk that some or all of our arbitration and class action waiver provisions could be subject to challenge or may need to be revised to exempt certain categories of protection. The enforceability of arbitration and class action waiver provisions has often been challenged, particularly recently, and if those challenges are successful, these provisions could be found to be unenforceable, in whole or in part, or specific claims could be required to be exempted. Any judicial decisions, legislation, or other rules or regulations that impair our ability to enter into and enforce our arbitration agreements and class action waivers could significantly increase our exposure to potentially costly lawsuits, our costs to litigate disputes, and the time involved in resolving such disputes, each of which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Our customers are, and in some cases we are or may be, subject to, and we facilitate compliance with, a variety of federal, state, and local laws, including those related to consumer protection and financial services.

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services address; we facilitate compliance with these regulatory requirements. While we currently operate our business in an effort to ensure our business itself is not subject to extensive regulation, there is a risk that certain regulations could become applicable to us, including as we expand the functionality of and services offered through the platform. In addition, we and our partners, vendors, and other service providers must comply with laws and regulatory regimes that apply to us directly and our partners, vendors, and other service providers indirectly, including through certain of our products, as a technology provider to financial services firms, and in areas such as privacy, data security and data protection, and our contractual relationships with our customers.

In particular, certain laws, regulations, and rules our customers are subject to, and we facilitate compliance with, include:

 

   

the Truth in Lending Act, or TILA, and Regulation Z promulgated thereunder, and similar state laws, which require certain disclosures to borrowers regarding the terms and conditions of their loans and credit transactions, and require creditors to comply with certain lending practice restrictions as well as the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure rule, or TRID, which imposes specific requirements around the collection of information, charging of fees, and disclosure of specific loan terms and costs upon receipt of an application for credit;

 

   

the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, or RESPA, and Regulation X, which require certain disclosures to be made to the borrower at application, as to the financial services firm’s good faith estimate of loan origination costs, and at closing with respect to the real estate settlement statement; prohibits giving or accepting any fee, kickback or a thing of value for the referral of real estate settlement services or accepting a portion or split of a settlement fee other than for services actually provided; for affiliated business relationships, prohibits receiving anything other than a legitimate return on ownership, requiring use of an affiliate, and failing to provide a disclosure of the affiliate relationship;

 

   

the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, or ECOA, and Regulation B promulgated thereunder, and similar state fair lending laws, which prohibit creditors from discouraging or discriminating against credit applicants on the basis of race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, marital status, the fact that all or part of the applicant’s income derives from any public assistance program or the fact that the applicant has in good faith exercised any right under the federal Consumer Credit Protection Act;

 

   

the Fair Credit Reporting Act, or FCRA, and Regulation V promulgated thereunder, impose certain obligations on consumer reporting agencies, users of consumer reports and those that furnish information to consumer reporting agencies, including obligations relating to obtaining consumer reports, marketing using consumer reports, taking adverse action on the basis of information from consumer reports and protecting the privacy and security of consumer reports and consumer report information;

 

   

Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, or the FTC Act, which prohibits unfair and deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce, and Section 1031 of the Dodd-Frank Act, which prohibits unfair, deceptive or abusive acts or practices in connection with any consumer financial product or service, and analogous state laws prohibiting unfair, deceptive or abusive acts or practices;

 

   

the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, or GLBA, and Regulation P promulgated thereunder, which include limitations on financial services firms’ disclosure of nonpublic personal information about a consumer to nonaffiliated third parties, in certain circumstances requires financial services firms to limit the use and further disclosure of nonpublic personal information by nonaffiliated third parties to whom they disclose such information, and requires financial services firms to disclose certain privacy notices and practices with respect to information sharing with affiliated and unaffiliated entities as well as to safeguard personal borrower information, and other privacy laws and regulations;

 

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the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, or EFTA, and Regulation E promulgated thereunder, which provide guidelines and restrictions on the electronic transfer of funds from consumers’ bank accounts, including requirements for overdraft services and a prohibition on a creditor requiring a consumer to repay a credit agreement in preauthorized (recurring) electronic fund transfers and disclosure and authorization requirements in connection with such transfers;

 

   

the Homeowners Protection Act, or HPA, which requires certain disclosures and the cancellation or termination of mortgage insurance once certain equity levels are reached;

 

   

the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, or HMDA, and Regulation C, which require reporting of loan origination data, including the number of loan applications taken, approved, denied and withdrawn;

 

   

the Fair Housing Act, or FHA, which prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, sex, national origin, and certain other characteristics;

 

   

the Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing, or the SAFE Act, which imposes state licensing requirements on mortgage loan originators;

 

   

state laws and regulations impose requirements related to unfair or deceptive business practices and consumer protection, as well as other state laws relating to privacy, information security, conduct in connection with data breaches;

 

   

the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, or TCPA, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, which impose various consumer consent requirements and other restrictions in connection with telemarketing activity and other communication with consumers by phone, fax or text message, and which provide guidelines designed to safeguard consumer privacy in connection with such communications;

 

   

the Federal Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003, or CAN-SPAM, and the Telemarketing Sales Rule, or TSR, and analogous state laws, which impose various restrictions on marketing conducted use of email, telephone, fax or text message;

 

   

the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, or ESIGN Act, and similar state laws, particularly the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, or UETA, which authorize the creation of legally binding and enforceable agreements utilizing electronic records and signatures and which require financial services firms to obtain a consumer’s consent to electronically receive disclosures required under federal and state laws and regulations;

 

   

the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, which has been interpreted to include websites as “places of public accommodations” that must meet certain federal requirements related to access and use;

 

   

the Right to Financial Privacy Act, or RFPA, and similar state laws enacted to provide the financial records of financial services firms’ customers a reasonable amount of privacy from government scrutiny;

 

   

the Bank Secrecy Act, or BSA, and the USA PATRIOT Act, which relate to compliance with anti-money laundering, borrower due diligence and record-keeping policies and procedures;

 

   

the regulations promulgated by the Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC, under the U.S. Treasury Department related to the administration and enforcement of sanctions against foreign jurisdictions and persons that threaten U.S. foreign policy and national security goals, primarily to prevent targeted jurisdictions and persons from accessing the U.S. financial system; and

 

   

other state-specific and local laws and regulations.

 

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In addition to the laws, regulations, and rules that apply to our customers, and that we facilitate compliance with, we, in our capacity as a service provider to financial services firms and as a provider of marketplace services directly to consumers, and our partners, vendors, and other service providers, may be deemed to be subject to certain laws, regulations, and rules through our relationships with our customers including RESPA, FCRA, FTC Act, GLBA, FHA, TCPA, CAN-SPAM, TSR, ESIGN Act, ADA, OFAC, and state-specific laws and regulations, including those that impose requirements related to unfair or deceptive business practices and consumer protection, as well as other state laws relating to privacy, information security, and conduct in connection with data breaches. We may also be examined on a periodic basis by various regulatory agencies and may be required to review certain of our partners, vendors, or other service providers. These potential examinations may lead to increased regulatory compliance efforts that are time-consuming and expensive operationally. Matters subject to review and examination by federal and state regulatory agencies and external auditors include our internal information technology controls in connection with our performance of services, the agreements giving rise to these activities, and the design of our platform. Any inability to satisfy these examinations and maintain compliance with applicable regulations could adversely affect our ability to conduct our business, including attracting and maintaining customers.

In addition, we are currently subject to a variety of, and may in the future become subject to, additional, federal, state, and local laws that are continuously changing, including laws related to: the real estate brokerage, title and settlement services, and property and casualty insurance industries; mobile- and internet-based businesses; and data security, advertising, privacy, and consumer protection. These laws can be costly to comply with, require significant management attention, and could subject us to claims, government enforcement actions, civil and criminal liability, or other remedies, including revocation of licenses and suspension of business operations.

Furthermore, federal and state officials are discussing various potential changes to laws and regulations that could impact us, including the reform of government-sponsored enterprises such as the Federal National Mortgage Association, or Fannie Mae, and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, or Freddie Mac, and additional data privacy regulations, among others. Changes in these areas, generally in the regulatory environment in which we operate and our customers operate, could adversely impact the volume of mortgage originations in the United States and our competitive position and results of operations. In addition, in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, certain parts of our title business have been deemed in most areas an essential business and have been permitted to operate. A change in this determination, particularly in jurisdictions where we generate a large portion of our revenues, could adversely impact us.

While we have developed policies and procedures designed to assist in compliance with these laws and regulations, no assurance can be given that our compliance policies and procedures will be effective. Compliance with these requirements is also costly, time-consuming and limits our operational flexibility. Additionally, Congress, the states and regulatory agencies, as well as local municipalities, could further regulate the consumer financial services and adjacent industries in ways that make it more difficult or costly for us to offer our platform and related services. These laws also are often subject to changes that could severely limit the operations of our business model. Further, changes in the regulatory application or judicial interpretation of the laws and regulations applicable to financial services firms also could impact the manner in which we conduct our business. The regulatory environment in which financial services firms operate has become increasingly complex, and following the financial crisis that began in 2008, supervisory efforts to apply relevant laws, regulations and policies have become more intense. For example, California has enacted legislation to create a “mini-CFPB,” which could strengthen state consumer protection authority of state regulators over unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts and practices. Nevertheless, if we or our partners, vendors or other service providers are found to not comply with applicable laws, we could become subject to greater scrutiny by federal and state regulatory agencies, or face other sanctions, which may have an adverse effect on

 

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our ability to continue to provide our services or make our platform available in particular states, or utilize the services of third-party providers, which may harm our business. In addition, non-compliance could subject us to damages, class action lawsuits, administrative enforcement actions, rescission rights held by investors in securities offerings and civil and criminal liability, all of which would adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Changes in laws or regulations relating to privacy, data protection, or the protection or transfer of personal information, or any actual or perceived failure by us to comply with such laws and regulations or any other obligations relating to privacy, data protection, or the protection or transfer of personal information, could adversely affect our business.

We, and our partners, vendors, and other service providers, receive, collect, use, disclose, transmit, and store a large volume of personally identifiable information and other sensitive data relating to individuals, such as consumers and our employees. Our collection, use, receipt, and other processing of data in our business subjects us to numerous state and federal laws and regulations, addressing privacy, data protection, and the collection, storing, sharing, use, transfer, disclosure, protection, and processing of certain types of data. Such regulations include, for example, the GLBA, Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, CAN-SPAM, Canada’s Anti-Spam Law, TCPA, FCRA, FTC Act, and California Consumer Privacy Act, or CCPA. These laws, rules, and regulations evolve frequently and their scope may continually change, through new legislation, amendments to existing legislation, and changes in interpretation or enforcement, and may be inconsistent from one jurisdiction to another.

For example, the Federal Trade Commission, or the FTC, has announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking relating to proposed amendments to the GLBA’s Safeguards Rule, which requires financial services firms, like our customers, to develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive information security program. The proposed amendments provide more prescriptive security controls that financial services firms would be required to implement, such as specific access and authentication controls, risk assessment requirements, and oversight by appointment of a Chief Information Security Officer who would be required to provide annual written reports to the board of directors. In addition, the FTC has brought enforcement actions against service providers of financial services firms directly and against financial services firms for failures by service providers to implement appropriate controls to safeguard consumers’ personal information.

As another example, the CCPA went into effect on January 1, 2020, and, among other things, requires new disclosures to California consumers and affords such consumers new data privacy rights, including, among other things, the right to request a copy from a covered company of the personal information collected about them, the right to request deletion of such personal information, and the right to opt out of certain sales of personal information. The California Attorney General can enforce the CCPA, including seeking an injunction and civil penalties of up to $7,500 per violation. The CCPA also provides a private right of action for certain data breaches that is expected to increase data breach litigation. Additionally, a new privacy law, the California Privacy Rights Act, or CPRA, was approved by California voters in the November 3, 2020 election, and significantly modifies the CCPA, including expanding California consumers’ rights with respect to certain personal information and creating a new state agency to oversee implementation and enforcement efforts. The CPRA creates obligations relating to consumer data beginning on January 1, 2022, with implementing regulations expected on or before July 1, 2022, and enforcement beginning July 1, 2023. Some observers have noted the CCPA and CPRA could mark the beginning of a trend toward more stringent privacy legislation in the United States, which could also increase our potential liability and adversely affect our business. For example, the CCPA has encouraged “copycat” or other similar laws to be considered and proposed in other states across the country, such as in Virginia, New Hampshire, Illinois and Nebraska. On March 2, 2021, Virginia enacted the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act, or CDPA, a

 

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comprehensive privacy statute that becomes effective on January 1, 2023 and shares similarities with the CCPA, CPRA, and legislation proposed in other states.

The CCPA, CPRA, CDPA, and other changes in laws or regulations relating to privacy, data protection, and information security, particularly any new or modified laws or regulations, or changes to the interpretation or enforcement of laws or regulations like the GLBA, that require enhanced protection of certain types of data or new obligations with regard to data retention, transfer, or disclosure, could greatly increase the cost of providing our platform, require significant changes to our operations, or even prevent us from providing our platform in jurisdictions in which we currently operate and in which we may operate in the future. Certain other state laws impose similar privacy obligations and we also expect that more states may enact legislation similar to the CCPA, CPRA, and CDPA, which provide consumers with new privacy rights and increase the privacy and security obligations of entities handling certain personal information of such consumers. The CCPA has prompted a number of proposals for new federal and state-level privacy legislation. Such proposed legislation, if enacted, may add additional complexity, variation in requirements, restrictions, and potential legal risk, require additional investment of resources in compliance programs, impact strategies and the availability of previously useful data, and could result in increased compliance costs and/or changes in business practices and policies. In addition, some jurisdictions, such as New York, Massachusetts, and Nevada have enacted more generalized data security laws that apply to certain data that we process. We cannot yet fully determine the impact these or future laws, rules, regulations, and industry standards may have on our business or operations. Any such laws, rules, regulations, and industry standards may be inconsistent among different jurisdictions, subject to differing interpretations, or may conflict with our current or future practices. Additionally, our customers may be subject to differing privacy laws, rules, and legislation, which may mean that they require us to be bound by varying contractual requirements applicable to certain other jurisdictions. Adherence to such contractual requirements may impact our collection, use, processing, storage, sharing, and disclosure of various types of information including financial information and other personal information, and may mean we become bound by, or voluntarily comply with, self-regulatory or other industry standards relating to these matters that may further change as laws, rules, and regulations evolve. Complying with these requirements and changing our policies and practices may be onerous and costly, and we may not be able to respond quickly or effectively to regulatory, legislative and other developments. These changes may in turn impair our ability to offer our existing or planned products and services and/or increase our cost of doing business.

Additionally, we have incurred, and may continue to incur, significant expenses in an effort to comply with privacy, data protection, and information security standards and protocols imposed by law, regulation, industry standards, or contractual obligations. In particular, with laws and regulations such as the GLBA, CCPA, CPRA, CDPA, and potentially other laws and regulations that may be proposed or amended, imposing new and relatively burdensome obligations, and with substantial uncertainty over the interpretation and application of these and other laws and regulations, we may face challenges in addressing their requirements and making necessary changes to our policies and practices and may incur significant costs and expenses in an effort to do so.

As our business grows, we may become subject to privacy and data security laws from other jurisdictions outside of the United States, potentially including the General Data Protection Regulation, or the GDPR. The GDPR governs the collection, use, disclosure, transfer or other processing of personal data of European persons. Among other things, the GDPR imposes requirements regarding the security of personal data and notification of data processing obligations to competent national data processing authorities, provides for lawful bases on which personal data can be processed, provides for an expansive definition of personal data and requires changes to informed consent practices. In addition, the GDPR provides for heightened scrutiny of transfers of personal data from the European Economic Area, or EEA, to the United States and other jurisdictions that the European Commission

 

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does not recognize as having “adequate” data protection laws, and imposes substantial fines for breaches and violations (up to the greater of 20 million or 4% of an enterprise’s consolidated annual worldwide gross revenue). The GDPR also confers a private right of action on data subjects and consumer associations to lodge complaints with supervisory authorities, seek judicial remedies and obtain compensation for damages resulting from violations. If we expand our business into Europe and/or the United Kingdom, which has enacted data protection laws substantially implementing the GDPR, we will need to comply with the GDPR and data protection laws of the United Kingdom. This will involve significant resources and expense and may also impair our ability to offer our existing or planned features, products and services and/or increase our cost of doing business.

Despite our efforts to comply with applicable laws, regulations, and other obligations relating to privacy, data protection, and information security, it is possible that our interpretations of the law, practices, or platform could be inconsistent with, or fail or be alleged to fail to meet all requirements of, such laws, regulations, or obligations. Our failure, or the failure by our partners, vendors, service providers, or customers, to comply with applicable laws or regulations or any other obligations relating to privacy, data protection, or information security, or any compromise of security that results in unauthorized access to, or use or release of personal information or other data relating to consumers or other individuals, or the perception that any of the foregoing types of failure or compromise has occurred, could damage our reputation, discourage new and existing customers and consumers from using our platform, or result in fines, investigations, or proceedings by governmental agencies and private claims and litigation, any of which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Even if not subject to legal challenge, the perception of privacy concerns, whether or not valid, may harm our reputation and brand and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

A heightened regulatory environment in the financial services industry may have an adverse impact on our customers and our business.

Since the enactment of the Dodd-Frank Act, a number of substantial regulations affecting the supervision and operation of the financial services industry within the United States have been adopted, including those that establish the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or the CFPB. The CFPB has issued guidance that applies to, and conducts direct examinations of, “supervised banks and nonbanks” as well as “supervised service providers” like us. In addition, the CFPB regulates consumer financial products and services. Certain of our partners are also subject to regulation by federal and state authorities and, as a result, could pass through some of those compliance obligations to us.

To the extent this oversight or regulation negatively impacts our customers, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected because, among other matters, our customers could have less capacity to purchase products and services from us, could decide to avoid or abandon certain lines of business, or could seek to pass on increased costs to us by re-negotiating their agreements with us. Additional regulation, examination, and oversight of us could require us to modify the manner in which we contract with or provide products and services to our customers, directly or indirectly limit how much we can charge for our products and services, require us to invest additional time and resources to comply with such oversight and regulations, or limit our ability to update our existing products and services, or require us to develop new ones. Any of these events, if realized, could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Failure to obtain or maintain state licenses or other regulatory infractions resulting in license revocation could impact our ability to offer products and services.

Our ability to obtain or maintain state licenses for the services offered through our platform, including for our property and casualty insurance agency, title insurance agency, and real estate brokerage

 

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business, depends on our ability to meet licensing requirements established by the applicable regulatory agency and adopted by each state, subject to variations across states. In addition, as we expand the functionality of and services offered through the platform, or if a regulator determines that the services offered through the platform require licensing, we may be required to obtain additional licensing and incur additional costs. If we are unable to satisfy the applicable licensing requirements of any particular state, we could lose our license to do business in such state, which would result in the temporary or permanent cessation of our operations in that state. Alternatively, if we are unable to satisfy, or if a regulator determines that we have not satisfied, applicable state licensing requirements, we may be subject to additional regulatory oversight, have our license suspended or may incur additional costs or regulatory infractions. Any such events could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Regulation of title insurance rates and relationships with insurance underwriters could adversely affect our title insurance business.

We are subject to extensive rate regulation by the applicable state agencies in the jurisdictions in which our title insurance agency operates. Title insurance rates are regulated differently in various states, with some states requiring us to file and receive approval of rates before such rates become effective and some states promulgating the rates that can be charged. These regulations could hinder our ability to promptly adapt to changing market dynamics through price adjustments, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations, particularly in a rapidly declining market.

Further, we derive a significant portion of our commission revenue from a limited number of insurance underwriters, the loss of which would result in additional expense and loss of market share. If we lose our relationships with insurance underwriters, fail to maintain good relationships with insurance underwriters, become dependent upon a limited number of insurance underwriters, or fail to develop new insurance underwriter relationships, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected.

Our position as an agent utilizing partners, vendors, and other service providers for issuing a significant amount of title and property and casualty insurance policies could adversely affect the frequency and severity of claims.

In our position as a licensed insurance agent, we may perform the search and examination function for policies we issue on behalf of underwriters or we may purchase a search product from another partner, vendor, or service provider. In either case, we are responsible for ensuring that the search and examination is completed. Our relationship with each title and property and casualty insurance underwriter is governed by an agency agreement defining how an insurance policy is issued on their behalf. The agency agreement also sets forth our liability to the underwriter for policy losses attributable to our errors. Periodic audits by our underwriters are also conducted. Despite our efforts to monitor partners, vendors, and other service providers with whom we transact business, there is no guarantee that they will comply with their contractual obligations. Furthermore, we cannot be certain that, due to changes in the regulatory environment and litigation trends, we will not be held liable for errors and omissions by these vendors. Accordingly, our use of partners, vendors, and other service providers could adversely impact the frequency and severity of claims, and any such impact could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

We and our insurance carriers and underwriters are subject to extensive insurance industry regulations.

In the United States, each state regulator retains the authority to license insurance agencies in their states, and an insurance agency generally may not operate in a state in which it is not licensed.

 

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Accordingly, we are not permitted to sell insurance to residents of states and territories of the United States in which we are not licensed.

Employees who engage in the solicitation, negotiation, or sale of insurance, or provide certain other insurance services, generally are required to be licensed individually. Insurance, including related laws and regulations, govern whether licensees may share commissions with unlicensed entities and individuals and, in the context of real estate settlement transactions, such payments are also subject to RESPA restrictions as it relates to splitting or sharing settlement service fees. We believe that any payments we make to third parties are in compliance with applicable laws. However, should any regulatory agency take a contrary position and prevail, we will be required to change the manner in which we pay fees to such employees or principals or require entities receiving such payments to become registered or licensed.

Our insurance products are subject to extensive regulation and supervision in the states in which we transact business by the individual state insurance departments. This regulation is generally designed to protect the interests of consumers, and not necessarily the interests of insurers or agents, their shareholders or other investors. For example, state insurance laws are generally prescriptive with respect to the content and timeliness of notices we must provide policyholders. States have also adopted legislation defining and prohibiting unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts and practices in the business of insurance that may apply to insurance agencies. Noncompliance with any of such state statutes may subject us to regulatory action by the relevant state insurance regulator, and, in certain states, private litigation. In addition, we cannot predict the impact that any new laws, rules or regulations may have on our business and financial results. States also regulate various aspects of the contractual relationships between insurers and independent agents. The California Department of Insurance, the insurance regulatory authority in the State of California, as well as the insurance regulators of other states in which we are licensed to sell insurance may also conduct periodic examinations. The results of these examinations can give rise to regulatory orders requiring remedial, injunctive, or other corrective action.

Although state insurance regulators have primary responsibility for administering and enforcing insurance regulations in the United States, such laws and regulations are further administered and enforced by a number of additional governmental authorities, each of which exercises a degree of interpretive latitude, including state securities administrators, state attorneys general as well as federal agencies including the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Insurance Office and the U.S. Department of Justice. Consequently, compliance with any particular regulator’s or enforcement authority’s interpretation of a legal issue may not result in compliance with another’s interpretation of the same issue, particularly when compliance is judged in hindsight.

We may be subject to restrictions, actions and claims relating to the advertising, marketing and sale of insurance, including the suitability of such products and services. Actions and claims may result in the rescission of such sales; consequently, insurance carriers may seek to recoup commissions paid to us, which may lead to legal action against us. The outcome of such restrictions or actions cannot be predicted and such restrictions, claims or actions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Additionally, regulations affecting insurance carriers and underwriters with which we place business may affect how we conduct our operations. Insurers are also regulated by state insurance departments for solvency issues and are subject to reserve requirements. We cannot guarantee that all insurance carriers and underwriters with whom we do business comply with regulations instituted by state insurance departments. We may need to expend resources to address questions or concerns regarding our relationships with these insurers and underwriters, diverting management resources away from operating our business, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

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The CFPB is a relatively new agency that has sometimes taken expansive views of its authority to regulate consumer financial services, creating uncertainty as to how the agency’s actions or the actions of any other new agency could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

The CFPB, which commenced operations in July 2011, has broad authority to create and modify regulations under federal consumer financial protection laws and regulations, such as TILA and Regulation Z, ECOA and Regulation B, FCRA and Regulation V, the EFTA and Regulation E, among other regulations, and to enforce compliance with those laws. The CFPB supervises banks, thrifts, and credit unions with assets over $10 billion and examines certain of our customers. Further, the CFPB is charged with the examination and supervision of certain participants in the consumer financial services market, including larger participants in other areas of financial services. The CFPB is also authorized to prevent “unfair, deceptive or abusive acts or practices” through its rulemaking, supervisory, and enforcement authority. To assist in its enforcement, the CFPB maintains an online complaint system that allows consumers to log complaints with respect to various consumer finance products. This system could inform future CFPB decisions with respect to its regulatory, enforcement or examination focus. The CFPB may also request reports concerning our organization, business conduct, markets and activities and conduct on-site examinations of our business on a periodic basis if the CFPB were to determine, through its complaint system, that we were engaging in activities that pose risks to consumers.

Although we have committed resources to enhancing our compliance programs, actions by the CFPB (or other regulators) against us, our customers or our competitors could discourage the use of our services or those of our customers, which could result in reputational harm, a loss of customers, or discourage the use of our or their services and adversely affect our business. If the CFPB changes regulations that were adopted in the past by other regulators and transferred to the CFPB by the Dodd-Frank Act, or modifies through supervision or enforcement, past regulatory guidance or interprets existing regulations in a different or stricter manner than they have been interpreted in the past by us, the industry or other regulators, our compliance costs and litigation exposure could increase materially. If the CFPB, or another regulator, were to issue a consent decree or other similar order against us, this could also directly or indirectly adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Our compliance and operational costs and litigation exposure could increase if and when the CFPB amends or finalizes any proposed regulations, including the regulations discussed above or if the CFPB or other regulators enact new regulations, change regulations that were previously adopted, modify, through supervision or enforcement, past regulatory guidance, or interpret existing regulations in a manner different or stricter than have been previously interpreted.

Our business could be adversely impacted by changes in the Internet and mobile device accessibility of consumers, and our software platform’s failure to comply with existing or future laws governing the Internet and mobile devices.

Our business depends on consumers’ access to our platform via the Internet and/or a mobile device. We may operate in jurisdictions that provide limited Internet connectivity, particularly if we expand internationally. Internet access and access to a mobile device are frequently provided by companies with significant market power that could take actions that degrade, disrupt, or increase the cost of consumers’ ability to access our platform. In addition, the Internet infrastructure that we and users of our platform rely on in any particular geographic area may be unable to support the demands placed upon it. Any such failure in Internet or mobile device accessibility, even for a short period of time, could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

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Moreover, the application of laws and regulations to online platforms is constantly evolving. Existing and future laws and regulations, or changes thereto, may impede the growth and availability of the Internet and online offerings, require us to change our business practices, or raise compliance costs or other costs of doing business. These laws and regulations, which continue to evolve, cover consumer protection, advertising practices and provision of disclosures, among other things. Any failure, or perceived failure, by us, or our software platform, as applicable, to comply with any of these laws or regulations could result in damage to our reputation and brand a loss in business and proceedings or actions against us by governmental entities or others, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Indemnity provisions in various agreements potentially expose us to substantial liability for intellectual property infringement, data protection and other losses.

Our agreements with customers and other third parties may include indemnification provisions under which we agree to indemnify them for losses suffered or incurred as a result of claims of intellectual property infringement, data protection, damages caused by us to property or persons, or other liabilities relating to or arising from our platform, services, or other contractual obligations. Some of these indemnity agreements provide for uncapped liability for which we would be responsible, and some indemnity provisions survive termination or expiration of the applicable agreement. We also cannot be certain that any provisions in these agreements relating to limitations of liability would be enforceable or adequate or would otherwise protect us from any liabilities or damages with respect to any particular claim. Large indemnity payments could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Although we carry general liability insurance, our insurance may not cover potential claims of this type or may not be adequate to indemnify us for all liability that may be imposed. We generally contractually limit our liability with respect to such obligations, but we may still incur substantial liability related to such obligations and we may be required to cease use of certain functions of our platform or services as a result of any such claims. Any dispute with a customer or third party with respect to such obligations could harm our relationship with that customer or third party, as well as other existing customers and new customers, and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are subject to various U.S. and international anti-corruption laws and other anti-bribery and anti-kickback laws and regulations.

We are subject to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or FCPA, and other anti-corruption, and anti-bribery laws in the jurisdictions in which we do business, both domestic and abroad. These laws generally prohibit us and our employees from improperly influencing government officials or commercial parties in order to obtain or retain business, direct business to any person, or gain any improper advantage. The FCPA and other applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws also may hold us liable for acts of corruption and bribery committed by our partners, representatives, and agents who are acting on our behalf. We and our partners, representatives, and agents may have direct or indirect interactions with officials and employees of government agencies or state-owned or affiliated entities and we may be held liable for the corrupt or other illegal activities of these partners and intermediaries and our employees, representatives, contractors, and agents, even if we do not explicitly authorize such activities. These laws also require that we keep accurate books and records and maintain internal controls and compliance procedures designed to prevent any such actions. While we have policies and procedures to address compliance with such laws, we cannot assure you that our employees and agents will not take actions in violation of our policies or applicable law, for which we may be ultimately held responsible, and our exposure for violating these laws increases as our international presence expands and as we increase sales and operations in foreign jurisdictions.

Any violation of the FCPA or other applicable anti-bribery, and anti-corruption laws could result in whistleblower complaints, adverse media coverage, investigations, imposition of significant legal fees,

 

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loss of export privileges, severe criminal or civil sanctions, or suspension or debarment from U.S. government contracts, substantial diversion of management’s attention, a drop in our stock price, or overall adverse consequences to our business, all of which may have an adverse effect on our reputation, business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Taxing authorities may successfully assert that we have not properly collected or remitted, or in the future should collect or remit, sales and use, gross receipts, value added, or similar taxes or withholding taxes, and may successfully impose additional obligations on us, and any such assessments, obligations, or inaccuracies could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

The application of indirect taxes, such as sales and use tax, value-added tax, goods and services tax, business tax and gross receipts tax, to platform businesses is a complex and evolving issue. Many of the fundamental statutes and regulations that impose these taxes were established before the adoption and growth of the Internet and e-commerce. Significant judgment is required on an ongoing basis to evaluate applicable tax obligations and as a result amounts recorded are estimates and are subject to adjustments. In many cases, the ultimate tax determination is uncertain because it is not clear how new and existing statutes might apply to our business. In addition, governments are increasingly looking for ways to increase revenue, which has resulted in discussions about tax reform and other legislative action to increase tax revenue, including through indirect taxes.

We may face various indirect tax audits in various U.S. jurisdictions. In certain jurisdictions, we collect and remit indirect taxes. However, tax authorities may raise questions about or challenge or disagree with our calculation, reporting or collection of taxes and may require us to collect taxes in jurisdictions in which we do not currently do so or to remit additional taxes and interest, and could impose associated penalties and fees. For example, after the U.S. Supreme Court decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair Inc., certain states have adopted, or started to enforce, laws that may require the calculation, collection and remittance of taxes on sales in their jurisdictions, even if we do not have a physical presence in such jurisdictions. A successful assertion by one or more tax authorities requiring us to collect taxes in jurisdictions in which we do not currently do so or to collect additional taxes in a jurisdiction in which we currently collect taxes, could result in substantial tax liabilities, including taxes on past sales, as well as penalties and interest, could harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

As a result of these and other factors, the ultimate amount of tax obligations owed may differ from the amounts recorded in our financial statements and any such difference may adversely impact our results of operations in future periods in which we change our estimates of our tax obligations or in which the ultimate tax outcome is determined.

Changes in, or interpretations of, U.S. and international tax laws and regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The tax regimes we are subject to or operate under are unsettled and may be subject to significant change. Changes in tax laws (including in response to the COVID-19 pandemic) or tax rulings, or changes in interpretations of existing laws, could cause us to be subject to additional income-based taxes and non-income taxes (such as payroll, sales, use, value-added, digital tax, net worth, property, and goods and services taxes), which in turn could materially affect our financial position and results of operations. Additionally, new, changed, modified, or newly interpreted or applied tax laws could increase our customers’ and our compliance, operating and other costs, as well as the costs of our products. As we expand the scale of our business activities, any changes in the U.S. and international taxation of such activities may increase our effective tax rate and harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

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Our ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards and certain other tax attributes may be limited.

As of December 31, 2020, we had net operating loss carryforwards, or NOLs, for federal and state income tax purposes of approximately $252.7 million and $145.9 million, respectively, available to reduce future taxable income. The federal net operating losses generated before 2018 will begin to expire in 2032. The federal net operating losses generated in and after 2018 may be carried forward indefinitely. The expiration of state NOL carryforwards vary by state and begin to expire in 2024. Further, as of December 31, 2020, we had research and development tax credits carryforwards for federal and state income tax purposes of approximately $7.6 million and $6.5 million, respectively, available to reduce future tax liabilities. Federal research and development tax credits will begin to expire in 2033 and the state research and development tax credits can be carried forward indefinitely. It is possible that we will not generate taxable income in time to use NOLs before their expiration, or at all. Under Section 382 and Section 383 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, if a corporation undergoes an “ownership change,” the corporation’s ability to use its pre-change NOLs and other tax attributes, including research and development tax credits, to offset its post-change income may be limited. In general, an “ownership change” will occur if there is a cumulative change in our ownership by “5 percent stockholders” that exceeds 50 percentage points over a rolling three-year period. Similar rules may apply under state tax laws. Our ability to use NOLs and other tax attributes to reduce future taxable income and liabilities may be subject to annual limitations as a result of prior ownership changes and ownership changes that may occur in the future (which may be outside our control).

Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, or the Tax Act, as amended by the CARES Act, NOLs arising in tax years beginning after December 31, 2017 are subject to an 80% of taxable income limitation (as calculated before taking the NOLs into account) for tax years beginning after December 31, 2020. In addition, NOLs arising in tax years 2018, 2019, and 2020 are subject to a five-year carryback and indefinite carryforward, while NOLs arising in tax years beginning after December 31, 2020 also are subject to indefinite carryforward but cannot be carried back. Our NOLs may also be subject to limitations in other jurisdictions. For example, California recently enacted legislation suspending the use of NOLs for taxable years 2020, 2021, and 2022 for many taxpayers. In future years, if and when a net deferred tax asset is recognized related to our NOLs, the changes in the carryforward/carryback periods as well as the new limitation on use of NOLs may significantly impact our valuation allowance assessments for NOLs generated after December 31, 2017.

Risks Related to Our Acquisition of Title365

Integrating Title365 with our business may be more difficult, costly, or time-consuming than expected, and we may not realize the expected benefits of our acquisition of Title365, which may adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

If we experience greater than anticipated costs to integrate, or are not able to successfully integrate, Title365 into our existing operations, we may not be able to achieve the anticipated benefits of our acquisition of Title365, including cost savings and other synergies and growth opportunities. Even if the integration of Title365’s business is successful, we may not realize all of the anticipated benefits of our acquisition of Title365 during the anticipated time frame, or at all. For example, events outside our control, such as changes in regulation and laws, as well as economic trends, including as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, could adversely affect our ability to realize the expected benefits from our acquisition of Title365.

An inability to realize the full extent of the anticipated benefits of our acquisition of Title365, as well as any delays encountered in the integration process, could have an adverse effect upon our revenue,

 

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level of expenses, and results of operations. In addition, it is possible that the integration process could result in the loss of key employees, errors or delays in the implementation of shared services, the disruption of our ongoing business, or inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures, and policies that may adversely affect our ability to maintain relationships with other employees and customers or to achieve the anticipated benefits of our acquisition of Title365. Integration efforts also may divert management attention and resources.

For all of these reasons, we may not be able to achieve the anticipated benefits of our acquisition of Title365, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations, and could cause the price of our Class A common stock to decline.

We have incurred, and will continue to incur, significant transaction costs and integration costs in connection with our acquisition of Title365.

We have incurred significant costs, expenses, and fees, including fees for professional services and other transaction costs, in connection with our acquisition of Title365 which we completed on June 30, 2021. We expect to continue to incur significant costs as we integrate Title365 into our business, including costs that we may not currently anticipate. There are a number of factors beyond our control that could affect the total amount or the timing of these costs and expenses.

Title365 may have liabilities that are not known to us.

Title365 may have liabilities that we failed, or were unable, to discover in the course of performing our due diligence investigations in connection with our acquisition of Title365. We may learn additional information about Title365 that materially and adversely affects us and Title365, such as unknown or contingent liabilities and liabilities related to compliance with applicable laws. Any such liabilities, individually or in the aggregate, could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

The terms of our credit facility require us to meet certain operating and financial covenants and place restrictions on our operating and financial flexibility. If we raise additional capital through debt financing, the terms of any new debt could further restrict our ability to operate our business.

Our credit facility contains customary affirmative and negative covenants that either limit our ability to, or require a mandatory prepayment in the event we incur certain additional indebtedness and liens, merge with other companies or consummate certain changes of control, acquire other companies, engage in new lines of business, make certain investments, pay dividends, transfer or dispose of assets, amend certain material agreements, and enter into various specified transactions. As a result, to the extent any transaction of the foregoing type is contemplated but not permitted by a carve-out or “basket” in the credit facility, we may not be able to engage in any such transaction unless we obtain the consent of our lender or prepay any outstanding amount under our credit facility. Our credit facility also contains a minimum liquidity covenant and financial reporting requirements. Our obligations under our credit facility are secured by substantially all of our assets (other than Title365 and its direct and indirect subsidiaries), with limited exceptions. We may not be able to generate sufficient cash flow to pay the principal and interest under our credit facility. In the event of a liquidation, our lender would be repaid all outstanding principal and interest prior to the distribution of assets to unsecured creditors, and the holders of our Class A common stock would receive a portion of any liquidation proceeds only if all of our creditors, including our lenders, were first repaid in full. Any declaration by our lender of an event of default could significantly harm our business and prospects and could cause the price of our common stock to decline. If we raise any additional debt financing, the terms of such additional debt could further restrict our operating and financial flexibility. See the section titled “Description of Certain Indebtedness” for additional information.

 

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We may be unable to generate sufficient cash flow to satisfy our significant debt service obligations, which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.

Our ability to make scheduled payments on or to refinance our debt obligations depends on our financial condition and results of operations, which are subject to prevailing economic and competitive conditions and to certain financial, business, legislative, regulatory, and other factors beyond our control. We may not be able to maintain a level of cash flows from operating activities sufficient to permit us to pay the principal, premium, if any, or interest on our indebtedness. If our cash flows and capital resources are insufficient to fund our debt service obligations, we may be forced to reduce or delay strategic acquisitions and partnerships, capital expenditures, and payments on account of other obligations, seek additional capital, restructure or refinance our indebtedness, or sell assets. These alternative measures may not be successful and may not permit us to meet our scheduled debt service obligations. Our ability to restructure or refinance our debt will depend on the condition of the capital markets and our financial condition at such time. Any refinancing of our debt could be at higher interest rates and could require us to comply with more onerous covenants, which could further restrict our business operations. In addition, we cannot assure you that we will be able to refinance any of our indebtedness on commercially reasonable terms, or at all.

If we are unable to repay or otherwise refinance our indebtedness when due, or if any other event of default is not cured or waived, the applicable lenders could accelerate our outstanding obligations or proceed against the collateral granted to them to secure that indebtedness, which could force us into bankruptcy or liquidation. In the event the applicable lenders accelerate the repayment of our borrowings, we and our subsidiaries may not have sufficient assets to repay that indebtedness. Any acceleration of amounts due under the agreements governing our credit facility or the exercise by the applicable lenders of their rights under the security documents could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Adverse changes in economic conditions, especially those affecting the levels of real estate and mortgage activity, may reduce our revenue and earnings, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Our business, financial condition, and results of operations are affected by changes in economic conditions, particularly mortgage interest rates, credit availability, real estate prices, and consumer confidence. Our revenue and earnings have fluctuated in the past due to the cyclical nature of the housing industry, and we expect them to fluctuate in the future.

The demand for our title and escrow offerings is dependent primarily on the volume of residential real estate transactions including, in particular, the number of refinances. The volume of these transactions historically has been influenced by such factors as mortgage interest rates, availability of financing, and the overall state of the economy. Typically, when interest rates are increasing or when the economy is experiencing a downturn, real estate activity declines. As a result, the real estate and title insurance industries tend to experience decreased revenue and earnings.

Our business, financial condition, and results of operations have been and may in the future be adversely affected by a decline in affordable real estate, real estate activity or the availability of financing alternatives. In addition, weakness or adverse changes in the level of real estate activity could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Our exposure to regulation and residential real estate transaction activity may be greater in California, where we source a significant proportion of our premiums.

A large portion of our title business revenue for the year ended December 31, 2020 originated from residential real estate transactions in California. As compared to our competitors who operate on a

 

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wider geographic scale or whose business is less concentrated in California, any adverse changes in the regulatory environment affecting title insurance and real estate settlement in California, which could include reductions in the maximum rates permitted to be charged, inadequate rate increases, or more fundamental changes in the design or implementation of the California title insurance regulatory framework, may expose us to more significant risks and our business, financial condition, and result of operations could be adversely affected.

In addition, to the extent residential real estate transaction volume in California changes significantly, whether due to changes in real estate values that differ from the overall U.S. real estate market, changes in the local economy relative to the U.S. economy, or natural disasters that disproportionately impact residential real estate activity in California, we could experience lower revenues and growth than historically observed or projected.

Failures at financial institutions at which we deposit funds could adversely affect us.

We deposit substantial funds in financial institutions. These funds include amounts owned by third parties, such as escrow deposits. Should one or more of the financial institutions at which deposits are maintained fail, there is no guarantee that we would recover the funds deposited, whether through Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation coverage or otherwise. In the event of any such failure, we also could be held liable for the funds owned by third parties.

Competition in the title insurance industry may adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Competition in the title insurance industry is intense, particularly with respect to price, service, and expertise. Larger commercial mortgage originators also look to the size and financial strength of a title insurance agency. Although we provide title and settlement services to large commercial customers and mortgage originators, there are many other title insurance agencies that have substantially greater gross revenue than we do and, if affiliated with a title insurance underwriter, could have significantly greater capital. Although we are not aware of any current initiatives to reduce regulatory barriers to entering our industry, any such reduction could result in new competitors, including financial institutions, entering the title insurance business. From time to time, new entrants enter the marketplace with alternative products to traditional title insurance, although many of these alternative products have been disallowed by title insurance regulators. Further, advances in technologies could, over time, significantly disrupt the traditional business model of financial services and real estate-related companies, including title insurance. These alternative products or disruptive technologies, if permitted by regulators, could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Our success depends upon the real estate and title insurance industries continuing to adopt new products at their current pace and the continued growth and acceptance of digital products and services as effective enhancements and alternatives to traditional manual products and services.

We provide our title and escrow products through our platform that competes with traditional manual counterparts. We believe that the continued growth and acceptance of digital and instant experiences generally will depend, to a large extent, on the continued growth in commercial use of the internet and the continued migration of traditional offline markets and industries online.

The title and escrow process may not migrate to new technologies as quickly as (or at the levels that) we expect, and existing or future federal and state laws may prevent us from offering certain of our title and escrow products. For example, many states have enacted permanent remote online notarization,

 

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while others have issued emergency measures in response to COVID-19, and certain states do not allow remote notarization, and others may not enact permanent authorization for remote notarization, which may impact our ability to introduce our products in certain markets.

Furthermore, although consumers have a legal right to select their own title insurance provider, as well as all of their settlement service vendors, consumers regularly use the providers recommended by their advisor, which may be their real estate agent, loan officer, or attorney. If consumer awareness of their right to select their own title insurance provider or settlement service vendors and/or if demand for online title and escrow products does not increase, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.

Moreover, if, for any reason, an unfavorable perception develops that digital experiences and/or automation are less efficacious than in-person closings or traditional offline methods of preparing closing disclosures, purchasing title insurance and other services, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.

Risks Related to Our Dependence on Third Parties

We primarily rely on Amazon Web Services to deliver our services to users on our platform, and any disruption of or interference with our use of Amazon Web Services could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

We currently host our platform and support our operations using data centers provided by Amazon Web Services, or AWS, a third-party provider of cloud infrastructure services. We do not have control over the operations of the facilities of AWS that we use. AWS’ facilities are vulnerable to damage or interruption from natural disasters, cybersecurity attacks, terrorist attacks, power outages, infrastructure changes, human error, disruptions in telecommunications services, fraud, military or political conflicts, computer viruses, ransomware, malware, and similar events or acts of misconduct. Our platform’s continuing and uninterrupted performance is critical to our success. We have experienced, and expect that in the future we will experience, interruptions, delays, and outages in service and availability from time to time due to a variety of factors, including infrastructure changes, human or software errors, website hosting disruptions, and capacity constraints. In addition, any changes in AWS’ service levels may adversely affect our ability to meet the requirements of users on our platform. Since our platform’s continuing and uninterrupted performance is critical to our success, sustained or repeated system failures would reduce the attractiveness of our platform. It may become increasingly difficult to maintain and improve our performance, especially during peak usage times, as we expand and the usage of our platform increases. Any negative publicity arising from these disruptions and any of the above circumstances or events may harm our reputation and brand, reduce the availability or usage of our platform, lead to a significant short-term loss of revenue, increase our costs, and impair our ability to attract new users, any of which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Our master agreement with AWS will remain in effect until terminated by AWS or us. We have a three-year agreement with AWS that may only be terminated by AWS for convenience by providing us at least two years advance notice and may only be terminated by us for cause upon a material breach of the agreement, subject to AWS providing prior written notice and a 30-day cure period. Even though our platform is entirely in the cloud, our plan is to be vendor-agnostic and we believe that we could transition to one or more alternative cloud infrastructure providers on commercially reasonable terms. We do not believe that such transfer to, or the addition of, new cloud infrastructure service providers would cause substantial harm to our business, financial condition, and results of operations over the longer term.

 

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We depend on the interoperability of our platform across third-party applications and services that we do not control.

We have built integrations with many technology partners, including leading providers of customer relationship management platforms, loan origination systems, core banking systems, document generation systems, income and asset verification services, and pricing and product engines, and a variety of other service providers. Third-party applications, products, and services are constantly evolving, and we may not be able to maintain or modify our platform to ensure its compatibility with third-party offerings following development changes. In addition, some of our competitors, partners, or other service providers may take actions that disrupt the interoperability of our platform with their own products or services, or exert strong business influence on our ability to, and the terms on which we, operate our platform. As our platform evolves, we expect the types and levels of competition we face to increase. Should any of our competitors, partners, or other service providers modify their technologies, standards, or terms of use in a manner that degrades the functionality or performance of our platform or is otherwise unsatisfactory to us or gives preferential treatment to our other competitors’ products or services, our platform, business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected.

We rely on partners, vendors, and other service providers to provide some of the software or data for our platform. If such partners, vendors, and other service providers interfere with the distribution of our platform or with our use of such software, our business could be adversely affected.

We rely upon certain partners, vendors, and other service providers to provide data used in, and software employed by, our platform and services or by customers and consumers using our platform and services, and it is possible that such software or data may not be reliable. From time to time we may in the future have disputes with certain of our partners, vendors, and other service providers. If, in connection with such a dispute, a partner, vendor, or service provider terminates its relationship with us or otherwise limits the provision of their software or data to us, the availability or usage of our platform could be disrupted. If the partners, vendors, and other service providers we rely upon cease to provide access to the software and/or data that we and our customers and consumers use, whether in connection with disputes or otherwise, do not provide access to such software and/or data on terms that we believe to be attractive or reasonable, or do not provide us with the most current version of such software, we may be required to seek comparable software and/or data from other sources, which may be more expensive or inferior, or may not be available at all, any of which would adversely affect our business.

The loss of access to credit, employment, financial and other data from external sources could harm our ability to provide our products and services.

We rely on a wide variety of data sources to provide our services and products, including data collected from applicants and borrowers, credit bureaus, payroll providers, data aggregators, and unaffiliated third parties. If we are unable to access and use data collected from or on behalf of applicants and borrowers, or other third-party data, or our access to such data is limited, our ability to provide our services and enable our customers to verify applicant data would be compromised. Any of the foregoing could negatively impact the consumer experience of our platform, the volume of loans enabled through our platform, the delivery of closing services like title and settlement services, and the degree of automation in our application process and on our platform.

Further, although we utilize third parties to enable financial services firms to verify the income and employment information provided by certain selected applicants, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of applicant information. Information provided by borrowers may be incomplete, inaccurate, or intentionally false. Any of the foregoing could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

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Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property

Failure to adequately protect our intellectual property could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Our business depends on our intellectual property, the protection of which is important to the success of our business. We rely on a combination of trademark, trade secret, copyright, and patent law and contractual restrictions to protect our intellectual property. In addition, we attempt to protect our intellectual property, technology, and confidential information by requiring our employees and consultants who develop intellectual property on our behalf to enter into confidentiality and invention assignment agreements, and third parties we share information with to enter into nondisclosure agreements. These agreements may not effectively prevent unauthorized use or disclosure of our confidential information, intellectual property, or technology and may not provide an adequate remedy in the event of unauthorized use or disclosure of our confidential information or technology, or infringement of our intellectual property. Despite our efforts to protect our proprietary rights, unauthorized parties may copy aspects of our platform or other software, technology, and functionality or obtain and use information that we consider proprietary. In addition, unauthorized parties may also attempt, or successfully endeavor, to obtain our intellectual property, confidential information, and trade secrets through various methods, including through cybersecurity attacks, and legal or other methods of protecting this data may be inadequate.

We have registered the term “Blend” in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, and as of March 31, 2021, we had pending trademark applications in the United States as well as Canada. We also have registered domain names that we use in, or are related to, our business, most importantly blend.com. Competitors have and may continue to adopt service names similar to ours, thereby harming our ability to build brand identity and possibly leading to user confusion. In addition, there could be potential trade name or trademark infringement claims brought by owners of other trademarks that are similar to our trademarks. As of March 31, 2021, we had one issued patent in the United States and patent applications pending in the United States, European Patent Office, Canada, and Australia. Litigation or proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office or other governmental authorities and administrative bodies in the United States and abroad may be necessary in the future to enforce our intellectual property rights and to determine the validity and scope of the proprietary rights of others. Further, we may not timely or successfully apply for a patent or register our trademarks or otherwise secure our intellectual property. Our efforts to protect, maintain, or enforce our proprietary rights may be ineffective and could result in substantial costs and diversion of resources, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Intellectual property infringement assertions by third parties could result in significant costs and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and reputation.

We operate in an industry with frequent intellectual property litigation. Other parties may assert that we have infringed their intellectual property rights. We could be required to pay substantial damages or cease using intellectual property or technology that is deemed infringing.

Further, we cannot predict whether assertions of third-party intellectual property rights or claims arising from such assertions would substantially adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. The defense of these claims and any future infringement claims, whether they are with or without merit or are determined in our favor, may result in costly litigation and diversion of technical and management personnel. Further, an adverse outcome of a dispute may require us to pay damages, potentially including treble damages and attorneys’ fees if we are found to have willfully infringed a party’s patent or copyright rights, cease making, licensing, or using products that are alleged to incorporate the intellectual property of others, expend additional development resources to

 

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redesign our offerings, and enter into potentially unfavorable royalty or license agreements in order to obtain the right to use necessary technologies. Royalty or licensing agreements, if required, may be unavailable on terms acceptable to us, or at all. In any event, we may need to license intellectual property which would require us to pay royalties or make one-time payments. Even if these matters do not result in litigation or are resolved in our favor or without significant cash settlements, the time and resources necessary to resolve them could adversely affect our business, reputation, financial condition, results of operations, and reputation.

Our platform contains third-party open source software components, and failure to comply with the terms of the underlying open source software licenses could restrict our ability to provide our platform.

Our platform contains software modules licensed to us by third-party authors under “open source” licenses. Use and distribution of open source software may entail greater risks than use of third-party commercial software, as open source licensors generally do not provide support, warranties, indemnification, or other contractual protections regarding infringement claims or the quality of the code. In addition, the public availability of such software may make it easier for others to compromise our platform.

Some open source licenses contain requirements that may, depending on how the licensed software is used or modified, require that we make available source code for modifications or derivative works we create based upon the licensed open source software, authorize further modification and redistribution of that source code, make that source code available at little or no cost, or grant other licenses to our intellectual property. If we combine our proprietary software with open source software in a certain manner, we could, under certain open source licenses, be required to release the source code of our proprietary software under the terms of an open source software license. This could enable our competitors to create similar offerings with lower development effort and time and ultimately could result in a loss of our competitive advantages. Alternatively, to avoid the release of the affected portions of our source code, we could be required to purchase additional licenses, expend substantial time, and resources to re-engineer some or all of our software or cease use or distribution of some or all of our software until we can adequately address the concerns.

Although we have certain policies and procedures in place to monitor our use of open source software that are designed to avoid subjecting our platform to conditions, those policies and procedures may not be effective to detect or address all such conditions. In addition, the terms of many open source licenses have not been interpreted by U.S. or foreign courts, and there is a risk that these licenses could be construed in a way that could impose unanticipated conditions or restrictions on our ability to provide or distribute our platform. From time to time, there have been claims challenging the ownership of open source software against companies that incorporate open source software into their solutions. As a result, we could be subject to lawsuits by parties claiming ownership of what we believe to be open source software. If we are held to have breached or failed to fully comply with all the terms and conditions of an open source software license, we could face infringement or other liability, or be required to seek costly licenses from third parties to continue providing our platform on terms that are not economically feasible, to re-engineer our platform, to discontinue or delay the provision of our platform if re-engineering could not be accomplished on a timely basis, or to make generally available, in source code form, our proprietary code, any of which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

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Risks Related to this Offering and Ownership of Our Class A Common Stock

The multi-class structure of our common stock will have the effect of concentrating voting power with Nima Ghamsari, Head of Blend, Co-Founder, and Chair of our board of directors, which will severely limit your ability to influence or direct the outcome of matters submitted to our stockholders for approval, including the election of our board of directors, the adoption of amendments to our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, and the approval of any merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of our assets or other major corporate transaction.

Our Class A common stock, which is the stock we are offering by means of this prospectus, has one vote per share, our Class B common stock has 40 votes per share, and our Class C common stock has no voting rights, except as otherwise required by law. Upon the completion of this offering, Nima Ghamsari, Head of Blend, Co-Founder, and Chair of our board of directors, will hold all of the issued and outstanding shares of our Class B common stock. Accordingly, upon the completion of this offering, the shares beneficially owned by Mr. Ghamsari will represent approximately 68% of the total voting power of our outstanding capital stock (based on shares of common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2021), which voting power may increase over time as Mr. Ghamsari exercises equity awards outstanding at the time of the completion of this offering and exchanges them for our Class B common stock under the Equity Exchange Agreement. If all such equity awards held by Mr. Ghamsari (including the Founder and Head of Blend Long-Term Performance Award) had been exercised for cash as of the date of the completion of this offering, Mr. Ghamsari would hold approximately 89% of the voting power of our outstanding capital stock (based on shares of common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2021). As a result, for the foreseeable future, Mr. Ghamsari will be able to control matters requiring approval by our stockholders, including the election of members of our board of directors, the adoption of amendments to our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, and the approval of any merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of our assets or other major corporate transaction. Mr. Ghamsari may have interests that differ from yours and may vote in a way with which you disagree and which may be adverse to your interest. The concentration of control will limit or preclude your ability to influence corporate matters for the foreseeable future and could have the effect of delaying, preventing, or deterring a change in control of our company, could deprive you and other holders of Class A common stock of an opportunity to receive a premium for your Class A common stock as part of a sale of our company and could negatively affect the market price of our Class A common stock. In addition, this may prevent or discourage unsolicited acquisition proposals or offers for our capital stock that you may feel are in your best interest as one of our stockholders.

Future transfers by Mr. Ghamsari and his affiliates of Class B common stock will generally result in those shares converting into shares of Class A common stock, subject to limited exceptions, such as certain transfers effected for estate planning or charitable purposes. In addition, each share of Class B common stock will convert automatically into one share of Class A common stock upon (i) the date fixed by our board of directors that is no less than 61 days and no more than 180 days following the first date following the completion of this offering on which the number of shares of our capital stock, including Class A common stock, Class B common stock, and Class C common stock, and any shares of capital stock underlying equity securities or other convertible instruments, held by Mr. Ghamsari and his affiliates is less than 35% of the number of shares of Class B common stock held by Mr. Ghamsari and his affiliates as of immediately following the completion of this offering, which we sometimes refer to herein as the 35% Ownership Threshold; (ii) 12 months after the death or total disability of Mr. Ghamsari, during which 12-month period the shares of our Class B common stock shall be voted as directed by a person designated by Mr. Ghamsari and approved by our board of directors (or if there is no such person, then our secretary then in office); (iii) the date fixed by our board of directors that is no less than 61 days and no more than 180 days following the date on which Mr. Ghamsari is terminated for cause (as defined in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation); (iv) the date fixed by our board of directors that is no less than 61 days and no more than 180 days following the date upon which (A) Mr. Ghamsari is no longer providing services to us as an officer or employee and

 

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(B) Mr. Ghamsari is no longer a member of our board of directors, either as a result of Mr. Ghamsari’s voluntary resignation or as a result of a request or agreement by Mr. Ghamsari at a meeting of our stockholders for Mr. Ghamsari not to be renominated as a member of our board of directors; or (v) the 50-year anniversary of the closing of this offering. We refer to the date on which such final conversion of all outstanding shares of Class B common stock pursuant to the terms of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation occurs as the Final Conversion Date. For more information about our multi-class structure, see the section titled “Description of Capital Stock.”

Shares of our Class C common stock, which entitle the holder to zero votes per share (except as otherwise required by law), will not be issued and outstanding at the closing of the offering and we have no current plans to issue shares of Class C common stock. These shares will be available to be used in the future to further strategic initiatives, such as financings or acquisitions, or issue future equity awards to our service providers. Over time the issuance of shares of Class A common stock will result in voting dilution to all of our stockholders and this dilution could eventually result in Mr. Ghamsari and his affiliates holding less than a majority of our total outstanding voting power. Once Mr. Ghamsari and his affiliates own less than a majority of our total outstanding voting power, Mr. Ghamsari would no longer have the unilateral ability to elect all of our directors and to determine the outcome of any matter submitted for a vote of our stockholders. Because the shares of Class C common stock have no voting rights (except as required by law), the issuance of such shares will not result in further voting dilution, which would prolong the voting control of Mr. Ghamsari. Further, the issuance of such shares of Class C common stock to Mr. Ghamsari would also delay the final conversion of all of our outstanding Class B common stock because shares of Class C common stock issued to Mr. Ghamsari would be counted when determining whether the 35% Ownership Threshold has been met. As a result, the issuance of shares of Class C common stock could prolong the duration of Mr. Ghamsari’s control of our voting power and his ability to elect all of our directors and to determine the outcome of most matters submitted to a vote of our stockholders. In addition, we could issue shares of Class C common stock to Mr. Ghamsari and, in that event, he would be able to sell such shares of Class C common stock and achieve liquidity in their holdings without diminishing his voting control. Any future issuances of shares of Class C common stock will not be subject to approval by our stockholders except as required by the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange. See the section titled “Description of Capital Stock—Anti-Takeover Provisions” for additional information.

Although we do not currently expect to rely on the “controlled company” exemption under the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange, we expect to have the right to use such exemption and therefore we could in the future avail ourselves of certain reduced corporate governance requirements.

As a result of our multi-class common stock structure, Nima Ghamsari, Head of Blend, Co-Founder and Chair of our board of directors, will hold a majority of the voting power of our outstanding capital stock following the completion of this offering. Therefore, we will be considered a “controlled company” within the meaning of the rules of the New York Stock Exchange. Under these rules, a company in which over 50% of the voting power for the election of directors is held by an individual, a group, or another company is a “controlled company” and may elect not to comply with certain listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange regarding corporate governance, including:

 

   

the requirement that a majority of its board of directors consist of independent directors;

 

   

the requirement that its nominating/corporate governance committee be composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities and an annual performance evaluation of the committee; and

 

   

the requirement that its compensation committee be composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities, an

 

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annual performance evaluation of the committee, and the rights and responsibilities of the committee relate to any compensation consultant, independent legal counsel, or any other advisor retained by the committee.

These requirements would not apply to us if, in the future, we choose to avail ourselves of the “controlled company” exemption. Although we will qualify as a “controlled company” following the completion of this offering, we do not currently expect to rely on these exemptions and intend to fully comply with all corporate governance requirements under the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange. However, if we were to utilize some or all of these exemptions, we would not comply with certain of the corporate governance standards of the New York Stock Exchange, which could adversely affect the protections for other stockholders.

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

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

The trading price of our Class A common stock may be volatile, and you could lose all or part of your investment.

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for shares of our Class A common stock. The initial public offering price of our Class A common stock will be determined through negotiation among us and the underwriters. This price does not necessarily reflect the price at which investors in the market will be willing to buy and sell shares of our Class A common stock following this offering. In addition, the trading price of our Class A common stock following this offering is likely to be volatile and could be subject to fluctuations in response to various factors, some of which are beyond our control. These fluctuations could cause you to lose all or part of your investment in our Class A common stock since you might be unable to sell your shares at or above the price you paid in this offering. Factors that could cause fluctuations in the trading price of our Class A common stock include the following:

 

   

price and volume fluctuations in the overall stock market from time to time;

 

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volatility in the trading prices and trading volumes of technology stocks;

 

   

changes in operating performance and stock market valuations of other technology companies generally, or those in our industry in particular;

 

   

sales of shares of our Class A common stock by us or our stockholders, as well as the anticipation of lock-up releases;

 

   

failure of securities analysts to maintain coverage of us or changes in financial estimates by securities analysts who follow our company;

 

   

failure to meet our financial estimates or expectations or the financial estimates or expectations of securities analysts or investors;

 

   

the financial projections we may provide to the public, any changes in those projections, or our failure to meet those projections;

 

   

announcements by us or our competitors of new services or platform features;

 

   

the public’s reaction to our press releases, other public announcements, and filings with the SEC;

 

   

rumors and market speculation involving us or other companies in our industry;

 

   

actual or anticipated changes in our results of operations or fluctuations in our results of operations;

 

   

actual or anticipated developments in our business, our competitors’ businesses, or the competitive landscape generally;

 

   

litigation involving us, our industry or both, or investigations by regulators into our operations or those of our competitors;

 

   

actual or perceived privacy or security breaches or other incidents;

 

   

developments or disputes concerning our intellectual property or other proprietary rights;

 

   

announced or completed acquisitions of businesses, services, or technologies by us or our competitors;

 

   

new laws or regulations or new interpretations of existing laws or regulations applicable to our business;

 

   

changes in accounting standards, policies, guidelines, interpretations, or principles;

 

   

any significant change in our management;

 

   

general economic conditions and slow or negative growth of our markets;

 

   

other events or factors, including those resulting from war, incidents of terrorism, natural disasters, public health concerns or epidemics, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters, or responses to these events; and

 

   

our anticipated uses of net proceeds from this offering.

In addition, in the past, following periods of volatility in the overall market and the market price of a particular company’s securities, securities class action litigation has often been instituted against these companies. This litigation, if instituted against us, could result in substantial costs and a diversion of our management’s attention and resources.

 

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A substantial portion of the outstanding shares of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock after this offering will be restricted from immediate resale, but may be sold on a stock exchange in the near future. The large number of shares eligible for public sale or subject to rights requiring us to register them for public sale could depress the market price of our Class A common stock.

The market price of our Class A common stock could decline as a result of sales of a large number of shares of our Class A common stock in the market after this offering, and the perception that these sales could occur may also depress the market price of our Class A common stock. Based on 188,677,071 shares of our Class A common stock outstanding (after giving effect to the Capital Stock Conversion, the Reclassification, and the Class B Stock Exchange) as of March 31, 2021, we will have 208,677,071 shares of our Class A common stock and 10,916,666 shares of our Class B common stock outstanding after this offering.

Our executive officers, directors, and the holders of substantially all of our capital stock and securities convertible into or exchangeable for our capital stock have entered into market standoff agreements with us or have entered or will enter into lock-up agreements with the underwriters under which they have agreed or will agree, subject to specific exceptions, not to sell any of our stock for 180 days following the date of this prospectus, or the lock-up period; provided that:

 

   

up to 25% of the vested shares of common stock subject to the lock-up agreements (including shares issuable upon exercise of vested options) held as of the date that is ten days prior to the date of this prospectus by current and former employees, consultants, or advisors, but excluding current executive officers and directors, may be sold at the commencement of trading on the trading day immediately following the first trading day on which our Class A common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (which day we refer to as the First Early Release Triggering Day) if the following conditions, or the Employee Early Release Conditions, have been satisfied: the First Early Release Triggering Day (i) that occurs in a broadly applicable period during which trading in our securities is permitted under our insider trading policy, or an open trading window, and (ii) where the last reported closing price of our Class A common stock on the New York Stock Exchange is at least 25% greater than the public offering price per share, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, for any five trading days out of the ten-consecutive full trading day period ending on the First Early Release Triggering Day, which ten-consecutive full trading day period is subject to reduction upon satisfaction of certain conditions. We refer to this exception to the lock-up period as the Employee Early Release;

 

   

up to 25% of the vested shares of common stock subject to the lock-up agreements (including shares issuable upon exercise of vested options) held as of the date that is ten days prior to the date of this prospectus may be sold at the commencement of trading on the trading day following the first trading day (which day we refer to as the Second Early Release Triggering Day) if the following conditions, or the Earnings-Related Release Conditions, have been satisfied: the Second Early Release Triggering Day (i) is at least 90 days following the date of this prospectus, (ii) occurs during an open trading window, and (iii) where the last reported closing price of our Class A common stock on the New York Stock Exchange is at least 25% greater than the public offering price per share, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, for any five trading days out of the ten-consecutive full trading day period ending on the Second Early Release Triggering Day. We refer to this exception to the lock-up period as the Earnings-Related Release; and

 

   

all remaining shares of common stock subject to the lock-up agreements and not released upon the Employee Early Release or the Earnings-Related Release may be sold upon the earlier of (i) if the lock-up period is scheduled to end during or within five trading days prior to the closing of an open trading window, ten trading days prior to the closing of such open

 

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trading window, or the Blackout-Related Release, or (ii) otherwise, 181 days after the date of this prospectus. We refer to the date of the release upon either (i) or (ii) as the Final Lock-Up Release. In the event that a Blackout-Related Release will occur, we will notify the representatives of the date of the impending Blackout-Related Release promptly upon our determination of the date of the Blackout-Related Release and in any event at least seven trading days in advance of the date of the Blackout-Related Release, and will announce the date of the expected Blackout-Related Release through a major news service, or on a Form 8-K, at least two trading days in advance of the Blackout-Related Release.

As a result of these agreements and the provisions of our Amended and Restated Investors’ Rights Agreement dated January 11, 2021, or our IRA, described further in the section titled “Description of Capital Stock—Registration Rights,” and subject to the provisions of Rule 144 or Rule 701, shares of Class A common stock (including shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of certain options and shares of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of shares of Class B common stock) will be available for sale in the public market as follows:

 

   

beginning on the date of this prospectus, all 20,000,000 shares of our Class A common stock sold in this offering will be immediately available for sale in the public market;

 

   

beginning on the date of the Employee Early Release, if such release has been triggered, 5,071,077 shares of Class A common stock (including shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of certain options) held by current employees and former employees, consultants, or advisors, but excluding current executive officers and directors, will be eligible for sale in the public market from time to time thereafter subject in some cases to the volume and other restrictions of Rule 144;

 

   

beginning on the date of the Earnings-Related Release (not including shares released in connection with the Employee Early Release), if such release has been triggered:

 

   

36,631,629 shares of Class A common stock held by former holders of our convertible preferred stock will be eligible for sale in the public market from time to time thereafter subject in some cases to the volume and other restrictions of Rule 144;

 

   

4,411,060 shares of Class A common stock held by executive officers and directors (including shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of certain options and shares of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of shares of Class B common stock) will be eligible for sale in the public market from time to time thereafter subject in some cases to the volume and other restrictions of Rule 144; and

 

   

6,693,604 shares of Class A common stock (including shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of certain options) held by all other holders will be eligible for sale in the public market from time to time thereafter subject in some cases to the volume and other restrictions of Rule 144; and

 

   

beginning on the Final Lock-Up Release Date, the remainder of the shares of our common stock (including shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of certain options and shares of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of shares of Class B common stock) will be eligible for sale in the public market from time to time thereafter, subject in some cases to the volume and other restrictions of Rule 144.

Upon completion of this offering, stockholders owning an aggregate of up to 148,216,035 shares of our Class A common stock will be entitled, under our IRA, to require us to register shares owned by them for public sale in the United States. In addition, we intend to file a registration statement to register shares reserved for future issuance under our equity compensation plans. Upon effectiveness of that registration statement, subject to the satisfaction of applicable exercise periods and the expiration or

 

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waiver of the market standoff agreements and lock-up agreements referred to above, the shares issued upon exercise of outstanding stock options or upon settlement of outstanding RSU awards will be available for immediate resale in the United States in the open market.

Sales of our Class A common stock as restrictions end or pursuant to registration rights may make it more difficult for us to sell equity securities in the future at a time and at a price that we deem appropriate. These sales could also cause the trading price of our Class A common stock to fall and make it more difficult for you to sell shares of our Class A common stock.

We are an “emerging growth company” and we cannot be certain if the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies will make our Class A common stock less attractive to investors.

We are an emerging growth company, as defined in the JOBS Act, and have the option to utilize certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. We may take advantage of these reporting exemptions until we are no longer an emerging growth company. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (i) the last day of the fiscal year (A) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering, (B) in which we have total annual revenue of at least $1.07 billion, or (C) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, with at least $700 million of equity securities held by non-affiliates as of the prior June 30th, and (ii) the date on which we have issued more than $1 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three-year period.

Under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can also delay adopting new or revised accounting standards until such time as those standards apply to private companies. We intend to use this extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until the earlier of the date we (i) are no longer an emerging growth company or (ii) affirmatively and irrevocably opt out of the extended transition period provided in the JOBS Act. As a result, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates. While we have not made such an irrevocable election, we have not delayed the adoption of any applicable accounting standards. Further, we may take advantage of some of the other reduced regulatory and reporting requirements that will be available to us so long as we qualify as an emerging growth company.

Among other things, this means that our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to provide an attestation report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting so long as we qualify as an emerging growth company, which may increase the risk that weaknesses or deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting go undetected. Likewise, so long as we qualify as an emerging growth company, we may elect not to provide you with certain information, including certain financial information and certain information regarding compensation of our executive officers, that we would otherwise have been required to provide in filings we make with the SEC, which may make it more difficult for investors and securities analysts to evaluate our company. As a result, investor confidence in our company and the market price of our Class A common stock may be adversely affected. Further, we cannot predict if investors will find our Class A common stock less attractive if we will rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our Class A common stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our Class A common stock and our stock price may be more volatile.

 

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If you purchase our Class A common stock in this offering, you will incur immediate and substantial dilution.

The assumed initial public offering price of $17.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the estimated offering price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, is substantially higher than the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our outstanding common stock (after giving effect to the Capital Stock Conversion and the Class B Stock Exchange) of $1.68 per share as of March 31, 2021. Investors purchasing shares of our Class A common stock in this offering will pay a price per share that substantially exceeds the book value of our tangible assets after subtracting our liabilities. Therefore, if you purchase our Class A common stock in this offering, you will incur immediate dilution of $15.32 per share in the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share as of March 31, 2021 from the price you paid.

This dilution is due in large part to the fact that our earlier investors paid substantially less than the initial public offering price when they purchased shares prior to this offering. In addition, as of March 31, 2021, options to purchase 60,773,785 shares of our Class A common stock, with a weighted average exercise price of $5.40 per share, and warrants to purchase 1,269,919 shares of our Class A common stock (as converted) were outstanding. The exercise of any of these options or warrants or issuance of additional shares of our Class A common stock or Class B common stock would result in additional dilution. As a result of the dilution to investors purchasing shares in this offering, investors may receive less than the purchase price paid in this offering, if anything, in the event of our liquidation. For more information, see the section titled “Dilution.”

Prior to this offering, there has been limited trading of our Class A common stock at prices that may be higher than what our Class A common stock will trade at once it is listed.

Prior to this offering, our shares have not been listed on any stock exchange or other public trading market, but there has been some trading of our securities in private trades. These trades were speculative, and the trading price of our securities in these trades was privately negotiated. We cannot assure you that the price of our Class A common stock will equal or exceed the price at which our securities have traded prior to this offering.

We have broad discretion over the use of net proceeds from this offering and we may not use them effectively.

We cannot specify with any certainty the particular uses of the net proceeds that we will receive from this offering. Our management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds from this offering, including for any of the purposes described in the section titled “Use of Proceeds,” and you will not have the opportunity as part of your investment decision to assess whether the net proceeds are being used appropriately. Because of the number and variability of factors that will determine our use of the net proceeds from this offering, their ultimate use may vary substantially from their currently intended use. The failure by our management to apply these proceeds effectively could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Pending their use, we may invest our proceeds in a manner that does not produce income or that loses value. Our investments may not yield a favorable return to our investors and may negatively impact the price of our Class A common stock.

Delaware law and provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws could make a merger, tender offer or proxy contest difficult, thereby depressing the market price of our Class A common stock.

Our status as a Delaware corporation and the anti-takeover provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law may discourage, delay, or prevent a change in control by prohibiting us from

 

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engaging in a business combination with an interested stockholder for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, even if a change of control would be beneficial to our existing stockholders. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws will contain provisions that may make the acquisition of our company more difficult, including the following:

 

   

any amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will require the approval of at least a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock voting as a single class;

 

   

our amended and restated bylaws will provide that approval of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock voting as a single class is required for stockholders to amend or adopt any provision of our bylaws;

 

   

our multi-class common stock structure, which provides Nima Ghamsari with the ability to determine or significantly influence the outcome of matters requiring stockholder approval, even if he owns significantly less than a majority of the shares of our outstanding Class A common stock, Class B common stock, and Class C common stock;

 

   

until the first date on which the outstanding shares of our Class B common stock represent less than a majority of the total combined voting power of our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock, or the Voting Threshold Date, our stockholders will only be able to take action by written consent if such action is first recommended or approved by our board of directors, and after the Voting Threshold Date, our stockholders will only be able to take action at a meeting of stockholders and will not be able to take action by written consent for any matter;

 

   

our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will not provide for cumulative voting;

 

   

vacancies on our board of directors will be able to be filled only by our board of directors and not by stockholders;

 

   

a special meeting of our stockholders may only be called by the chairperson of our board of directors, our principal executive officer, our president, or a majority of our board of directors;

 

   

certain litigation against us can only be brought in Delaware;

 

   

our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will authorize undesignated preferred stock, the terms of which may be established and shares of which may be issued without further action by our stockholders; and

 

   

advance notice procedures apply for stockholders to nominate candidates for election as directors or to bring matters before an annual meeting of stockholders.

These provisions, alone or together, could discourage, delay, or prevent a transaction involving a change in control of our company. These provisions could also discourage proxy contests and make it more difficult for stockholders to elect directors of their choosing and to cause us to take other corporate actions they desire, any of which, under certain circumstances, could limit the opportunity for our stockholders to receive a premium for their shares of our Class A common stock, and could also affect the price that some investors are willing to pay for our Class A common stock.

Our amended and restated bylaws will designate a state or federal court located within the State of Delaware as the exclusive forum for substantially all disputes between us and our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to choose the judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers or employees.

Our amended and restated bylaws, which will become effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering, will provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to

 

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the fullest extent permitted by law, the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers, or other employees to us or our stockholders, (iii) any action arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, or our amended and restated bylaws, or (iv) any other action asserting a claim that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine shall be the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware), in all cases subject to the court having jurisdiction over indispensable parties named as defendants.

Section 22 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all such Securities Act actions. Accordingly, both state and federal courts have jurisdiction to entertain such claims. To prevent having to litigate claims in multiple jurisdictions and the threat of inconsistent or contrary rulings by different courts, among other considerations, our amended and restated bylaws will also provide that the federal district courts of the United States of America will be the exclusive forum for resolving any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act. Nothing in our amended and restated bylaws precludes stockholders that assert claims under the Exchange Act from bringing such claims in state or federal court, subject to applicable law.

Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any of our securities shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to these provisions. These exclusive forum provisions may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum of its choosing for disputes with us or our directors, officers, or other employees, which may discourage lawsuits against us and our directors, officers, and other employees. The enforceability of similar choice of forum provisions in other companies’ charter documents has been challenged in legal proceedings, and it is possible that a court could find these types of provisions to be inapplicable or unenforceable. For example, in December 2018, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware determined that a provision stating that U.S. federal district courts are the exclusive forum for resolving any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act is not enforceable. Although this decision was reversed by the Delaware Supreme Court in March 2020, courts in other states may still find these provisions to be inapplicable or unenforceable. If a court were to find the exclusive forum provisions in our amended and restated bylaws to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving the dispute in other jurisdictions, which could adversely affect our results of operations.

In making your investment decision, you should understand that we and the underwriters have not authorized any other party to provide you with information concerning us or this offering.

You should carefully evaluate all of the information in this prospectus. We have in the past received, and may continue to receive, a high degree of media coverage, including coverage that is not directly attributable to statements made by our officers and employees, that incorrectly reports on statements made by our officers or employees or that is misleading as a result of omitting information provided by us, our officers, or employees. We and the underwriters have not authorized any other party to provide you with information concerning us or this offering.

If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about us, our business or our market, or if they change their recommendation regarding our Class A common stock adversely, the market price and trading volume of our Class A common stock could decline.

The trading market for our common stock will depend in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us, our business, our market, or our competitors. The

 

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analysts’ estimates are based upon their own opinions and are often different from our estimates or expectations. If any of the analysts who cover us change their recommendation regarding our Class A common stock adversely, provide more favorable relative recommendations about our competitors, or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, the price of our securities would likely decline. If few securities analysts commence coverage of us, or if one or more of these analysts cease coverage of us or fail to publish reports on us regularly, we could lose visibility in the financial markets and demand for our securities could decrease, which could cause the price and trading volume of our Class A common stock to decline.

We do not expect to pay dividends in the foreseeable future.

We have never declared nor paid cash dividends on our capital stock. We currently intend to retain any future earnings to finance the operation and expansion of our business, and we do not anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends to holders of our capital stock in the foreseeable future. In addition, our ability to pay cash dividends on our capital stock is likely to be restricted by any future debt financing arrangement we enter into. Consequently, stockholders must rely on sales of their Class A common stock after price appreciation, which may never occur, as the only way to realize any future gains on their investment.

 

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, which statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “could,” “would,” “intend,” “target,” “project,” “contemplate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions that concern our expectations, strategy, plans or intentions. Forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus include statements about:

 

   

our future financial performance, including our expectations regarding our revenue, cost of revenue, operating expenses, our ability to determine reserves, and our ability to achieve and maintain future profitability;

 

   

our ability to successfully execute our business and growth strategy;

 

   

the sufficiency of our cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities to meet our liquidity needs;

 

   

the demand for our products and services;

 

   

our ability to increase our transaction volume and to attract and retain customers;

 

   

our ability to integrate more marketplaces into our end-to-end consumer journeys;

 

   

our ability to develop new products, services, and features and bring them to market in a timely manner and make enhancements to our current products;

 

   

our ability to compete with existing and new competitors in existing and new markets and offerings;

 

   

our ability to successfully acquire and integrate companies and assets, including our ability to integrate Title365 with our platform;

 

   

our ability to maintain the security and availability of our platform;

 

   

our expectations regarding the effects of existing and developing laws and regulations, including with respect to taxation and privacy and data protection;

 

   

our ability to manage risk associated with our business;

 

   

our expectations regarding new and evolving markets;

 

   

our ability to develop and protect our brand and reputation;

 

   

our expectations and management of future growth;

 

   

our expectations concerning relationships with third parties;

 

   

our ability to maintain, protect, and enhance our intellectual property;

 

   

the increased expenses associated with being a public company;

 

   

the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, or a similar public health threat, on global markets, general economic conditions in the United States, and our business and operations; and

 

   

our anticipated uses of net proceeds from this offering.

We caution you that the foregoing list may not contain all of the forward-looking statements made in this prospectus.

You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. We have based the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus primarily on our current expectations and

 

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projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. The outcome of the events described in these forward-looking statements is subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, including those described in the section titled “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time and it is not possible for us to predict all risks and uncertainties that could have an impact on the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus. We cannot assure you that the results, events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur, and actual results, events or circumstances could differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.

Neither we nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. Moreover, the forward-looking statements made in this prospectus relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this prospectus to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this prospectus or to reflect new information or the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures or investments we may make.

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

 

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INDUSTRY, MARKET, AND OTHER DATA

Unless otherwise indicated, estimates and information contained in this prospectus concerning our industry and the market in which we operate, including our general expectations, market position, market opportunity and market size, are based on industry publications and reports generated by third-party providers, other publicly available studies and our internal sources and estimates. This information involves a number of assumptions and limitations, and you are cautioned not to give undue weight to such estimates. Although we are responsible for all of the disclosure contained in this prospectus and we believe the information from the industry publications and other third-party sources included in this prospectus is reliable, we have not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the data contained in such sources. The content of, or accessibility through, the below sources and websites, except to the extent specifically set forth in this prospectus, does not constitute a portion of this prospectus and is not incorporated herein and any websites are an inactive textual reference only.

The sources of the statistical data, estimates, and market and industry data contained in this prospectus are identified by superscript notations and are provided below:

 

   

American Land Title Association, ALTA’s Market Share Analysis, April 2020.

 

   

Autonomous Research, Machine Intelligence & Augmented Finance, April 2018.

 

   

Boston Consulting Group, The Front-to-Back Digital Retail Bank, January 2021.

 

   

Cornerstone Advisors, What’s Going On in Banking 2021, Rebounding From the Pandemic, January 2021.

 

   

Deloitte Consulting LLP, Deloitte 2020 Voice of the customer: Retail banking experience, 2020.

 

   

IBISWorld Inc., Homeowners’ Insurance, Worth the risk: growth in housing starts and homeownership rate will boost industry revenue, March 2020.

 

   

Gartner, Forecast Analysis: Low-Code Development Technologies, January 2021.*

 

   

Gartner, Forecast: Enterprise IT Spending by Vertical Industry Market, Worldwide, 2019-2025, 1Q21 Update, March 2021.*

 

   

McKinsey & Company, How US customers’ attitudes to fintech are shifting during the pandemic, December 2020.

The industry in which we operate is subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors, including those described in the section titled “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus. These and other factors could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the estimates made by the independent parties and by us.

 

 

 

*

The Gartner content described herein, or the Gartner Content, represent(s) research opinion or viewpoints published, as part of a syndicated subscription service, by Gartner, Inc., or Gartner, and are not representations of fact. Gartner Content speaks as of its original publication date (and not as of the date of this prospectus) and the opinions expressed in the Gartner Content are subject to change without notice.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate that the net proceeds to us from the sale of shares of our Class A common stock in this offering will be approximately $309.5 million, based upon the assumed initial public offering price of $17.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the estimated offering price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. If the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of our Class A common stock from us is exercised in full, we estimate that the net proceeds to us would be approximately $357.0 million, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

Each $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $17.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the estimated offering price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase or decrease the net proceeds that we receive from this offering by approximately $18.7 million, assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions payable by us. Similarly, each increase or decrease of 1.0 million in the number of shares of our Class A common stock offered by us would increase or decrease the net proceeds that we receive from this offering by approximately $15.9 million, assuming the assumed initial public offering price remains the same and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions payable by us.

The principal purposes of this offering are to increase our capitalization and financial flexibility, create a public market for our Class A common stock, and enable access to the public equity markets for us and our stockholders.

We intend to use the net proceeds we receive from this offering for general corporate purposes, including working capital, operating expenses, and capital expenditures. We may use a portion of the net proceeds we receive from this offering to repay outstanding indebtedness under our credit facility. Additionally, we may use a portion of the net proceeds we receive from this offering to acquire or invest in businesses, products, services, or technologies. However, we do not have agreements or commitments for any material acquisitions or investments at this time.

On June 30, 2021, in connection with our acquisition of Title365, we entered into a credit agreement providing for a $225.0 million term facility, or term facility, and a $25.0 million revolving facility, or revolving facility, among us, our material U.S. subsidiaries (other than Title365 and its direct and indirect subsidiaries), as guarantors, the lenders party thereto and Owl Rock Technology Finance Corp., as administrative agent and collateral agent.

The term facility and the revolving facility will each mature on June 30, 2026. The borrowings under the term facility and the revolving facility bear interest at a floating rate which can be, at our option, either (i) an adjusted LIBOR rate for a specified interest period plus an applicable margin of 7.50% or (ii) a base rate plus an applicable margin of 6.50%. The LIBOR rate applicable to the term facility and the revolving facility is subject to a “floor” of 1.00%, and the base rate is subject to a floor of 2.00%. The base rate for any day is a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (i) the federal funds effective rate in effect on such day, plus 0.50%, (ii) the rate of interest for such day as published in the Wall Street Journal as the “prime rate,” and (iii) the adjusted LIBOR rate for a one month interest period, plus 1.00%. See the section titled “Description of Certain Indebtedness” for further discussion of our term facility and revolving facility.

We cannot further specify with certainty the particular uses of the net proceeds that we will receive from this offering. Accordingly, we will have broad discretion in using these proceeds. Pending the use of proceeds from this offering as described above, we may invest the net proceeds that we receive in this offering in short-term, investment grade, interest-bearing instruments.

 

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DIVIDEND POLICY

We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our capital stock. We currently intend to retain any future earnings and do not expect to pay any dividends in the foreseeable future. Additionally, our ability to pay dividends on our capital stock is limited by restrictions on our ability to pay dividends or make distributions under the terms of our credit facility. Any future determination to declare cash dividends will be made at the discretion of our board of directors, subject to applicable laws, and will depend on a number of factors, including our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements, contractual restrictions (including under any future debt financing arrangement we enter into), general business or financial market conditions, and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant.

 

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities, as well as our capitalization, as of March 31, 2021 as follows:

 

   

on a historical basis;

 

   

on a pro forma basis giving effect to the transactions described in the section titled “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information,” including (i) the borrowing of an aggregate of $225.0 million under the term facility and $25.0 million revolving facility in connection with our acquisition of Title365, (ii) the issuance of a warrant to purchase up to 598,431 shares of our Series G convertible preferred stock in connection with such borrowing, (iii) our acquisition of Title365, (iv) the Capital Stock Conversion, (v) the filing and effectiveness of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that will become effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering and will effect the Reclassification, (vi) the Class B Stock Exchange, and (vii) an increase to additional paid-in capital and accumulated deficit related to stock-based compensation expense of approximately $23.0 million associated with the satisfaction of the liquidity event-related performance vesting condition of certain stock options granted to Mr. Ghamsari, in each case, as if such transactions had occurred on March 31, 2021; and

 

   

on a pro forma as adjusted basis giving effect to (i) the pro forma adjustments set forth above, (ii) the sale and issuance by us of 20,000,000 shares of our Class A common stock in this offering, based upon the assumed initial public offering price of $17.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the estimated offering price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, and (iii) the application of the estimated net proceeds from the offering, as described in the section titled “Use of Proceeds.”

The pro forma as adjusted information in the table below is presented for illustrative purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the operating results or financial position that would have occurred if the relevant transactions had been consummated on the date indicated and will change based on the actual initial public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing. You should read this table together with our consolidated financial statements and related notes, and the sections titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information” included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

     As of March 31, 2021  
     Historical      Pro forma      Pro forma
as adjusted (1)
 
     (In thousands, except for share
and per share data)
 

Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities

   $ 453,151      $ 254,597      $ 564,215  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Long-term debt

   $ —        $ 212,926      $ 212,926  

Stockholders’ equity:

        

Founders convertible preferred stock, par value $0.00001 per share: 1,026,008 shares authorized and 691,666 shares issued and outstanding, actual; no shares authorized, issued and outstanding, pro forma and pro forma as adjusted

     —          —          —    

Convertible preferred stock, par value $0.00001 per share: 149,566,300 shares authorized and 146,180,902 shares issued and outstanding, actual; no shares authorized, issued and outstanding, pro forma and pro forma as adjusted

     702,940        —          —    

 

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     As of March 31, 2021  
     Historical     Pro forma     Pro forma
as adjusted (1)
 
     (In thousands, except for share
and per share data)
 

Class A common stock, par value $0.00001 per share: 198,765,859 shares authorized and 15,038,726 shares issued and outstanding, actual; no shares authorized, issued and outstanding, pro forma and pro forma as adjusted

     —         2       2  

Class B common stock, par value $0.00001 per share: 286,666,667 shares authorized and 37,682,443 shares issued and outstanding, actual; no shares authorized, issued and outstanding, pro forma and pro forma as adjusted

     1       —         —    

Preferred stock, par value $0.00001 per share: no shares authorized, issued and outstanding, actual; 200,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding, pro forma and pro forma as adjusted

     —         —         —    

Class A common stock, par value $0.00001 per share: no shares authorized, issued and outstanding, actual; 1,800,000,000 shares authorized, 188,677,071 shares issued and outstanding, pro forma; 1,800,000,000 shares authorized, 208,667,071 shares issued and outstanding, pro forma as adjusted

     —         —         —    

Class B common stock, par value $0.00001 per share: no shares authorized, issued and outstanding, actual; 600,000,000 shares authorized, 10,916,666 shares issued and outstanding, pro forma and pro forma as adjusted

     —         —         —    

Class C common stock, par value $0.00001 per share: no shares authorized, issued and outstanding, actual; 600,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding, pro forma and pro forma as adjusted

     —         —         —    

Additional paid-in capital

     59,431       792,421       1,101,881  

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     10       10       10  

Accumulated deficit

     (299,919     (283,337     (283,337
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     462,463       509,096       818,556  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total capitalization

   $ 462,463     $ 722,022     $ 1,031,482  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1)

To the extent we change the number of shares of Class A common stock issued and sold by us in this offering from the shares we expect to sell or we change the initial public offering price from the $17.00 per share assumed initial public offering price, representing the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, or any combination of these events occurs, the net proceeds to us from this offering and each of pro forma as adjusted cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities, additional paid-in capital, total stockholders’ equity and total capitalization may increase or decrease. A $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price per share, assuming no change in the number of shares to be sold, would increase (decrease) the net proceeds that we receive in this offering and each of pro forma as adjusted cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities, additional paid-in capital, total stockholders’ equity and total capitalization by approximately $18.7 million, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions payable by us. An increase (decrease) of 1.0 million shares in the expected number of shares to be sold in the offering, assuming no change in the assumed initial offering price per share, would increase (decrease) our net proceeds from this offering and our pro forma as adjusted cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities, additional paid-in capital, as adjusted total stockholders’ equity and total capitalization by approximately $15.9 million, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions payable by us.

 

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If the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of our Class A common stock from us were exercised in full, pro forma as adjusted cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities, additional paid-in capital, total stockholders’ equity, total capitalization, and shares of Class A common stock issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2021 would be $611.8 million, $1,149.4 million, $866.1 million, $1,079.0 million, and 211,677,071 shares, respectively.

The pro forma and pro forma as adjusted columns in the table above are based on 188,677,071 shares of our Class A common stock, 10,916,666 shares of our Class B common stock, and no shares of our Class C common stock (after giving effect to the Capital Stock Conversion, the Reclassification, and the Class B Stock Exchange) outstanding as of March 31, 2021, and exclude the following:

 

   

The shares of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2021 exclude the following:

 

   

34,716,604 shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of options to purchase shares of our Class A common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2021, with a weighted average exercise price of $3.03 per share;

 

   

26,057,181 shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of an option to purchase shares of our Class A common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2021, with an exercise price of $8.58 per share, granted to Mr. Ghamsari, and that vest upon the satisfaction of a liquidity event-related performance condition, a service condition, and/or a performance-based market condition;

 

   

4,365,293 shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of options to purchase shares of our Class A common stock granted after March 31, 2021 through June 21, 2021, with a weighted average exercise price of $14.01 per share;

 

   

1,269,919 shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants to purchase shares of our convertible preferred stock outstanding as of March 31, 2021, with a weighted average exercise price of $3.94 per share, which if exercised would result in the issuance of 1,269,919 shares of our Class A common stock in connection with the Capital Stock Conversion and this offering;

   

598,431 shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants to purchase shares of our convertible preferred stock issued after March 31, 2021, with a weighted average exercise price of $13.827822 per share, which if exercised would result in the issuance of 598,431 shares of our Class A common stock in connection with the Capital Stock Conversion and this offering; and

 

   

59,101,718 shares of our Class A common stock reserved for future issuance under our equity compensation plans, consisting of:

 

   

23,000,000 shares of our Class A common stock to be reserved for future issuance under our 2021 Plan, which will become effective prior to the completion of this offering; and

 

   

36,101,718 shares of our Class A common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2012 Plan, which number of shares will be added to the shares of our Class A common stock to be reserved for future issuance under our 2021 Plan upon its effectiveness, at which time we will cease granting awards under our 2012 Plan.

Our 2021 Plan provides for annual automatic increases in the number of shares of our Class A common stock reserved thereunder, and also provides for increases to the number of shares that may be granted thereunder based on any shares of our Class A common stock granted pursuant to awards under our 2012 Plan that expire, are tendered to or withheld by us for payment of an exercise price or for satisfying tax withholding obligations, or are forfeited or otherwise repurchased by us, as more fully described in the section titled “Executive Compensation—Employee Benefit and Stock Plans.”

In addition, following the completion of this offering, we may issue up to 31,253,651 shares of Class B common stock in exchange for an equivalent number of shares of Class A common stock pursuant to the Equity Award Exchange Agreement.

 

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DILUTION

If you invest in our Class A common stock in this offering, your ownership interest will be diluted to the extent of the difference between the initial public offering price per share of our Class A common stock and the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock immediately after this offering. Net tangible book value dilution per share to new investors represents the difference between the amount per share paid by purchasers of shares of our Class A common stock in this offering and the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock immediately after completion of this offering.

Net tangible book value per share is determined by dividing our total tangible assets less our total liabilities by the number of shares of our common stock outstanding. Our historical net tangible book value as of March 31, 2021 was $451.2 million, or $8.56 per share. After giving effect to the transactions described in the section titled “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information,” including (i) the borrowing of an aggregate of $225.0 million under the term facility and $25.0 million revolving facility in connection with our acquisition of Title365, (ii) the issuance of a warrant to purchase up to 598,431 shares of our Series G convertible preferred stock in connection with such borrowing, (iii) our acquisition of Title365, (iv) the Capital Stock Conversion, (v) the filing and effectiveness of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that will become effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering and will effect the Reclassification, (vi) the Class B Stock Exchange, and (vii) an increase to additional paid-in capital and accumulated deficit related to stock-based compensation expense of approximately $23.0 million associated with the satisfaction of the liquidity event-related performance vesting condition of certain stock options granted to Mr. Ghamsari, in each case, as if such transactions had occurred on March 31, 2021, our pro forma net tangible book value as of March 31, 2021 would have been $59.0 million, or $0.30 per share. On June 30, 2021, our board of directors approved a modification to the Founder and Head of Blend Long-Term Performance Award granted to Mr. Ghamsari. We are currently evaluating the impact of the modification on the fair value of the award, and as such, the impact is excluded from the pro forma adjustments set forth above.

After giving effect to the sale by us of 20,000,000 shares of our Class A common stock in this offering at the assumed initial public offering price of $17.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the estimated offering price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value as of March 31, 2021 would have been $370.0 million, or $1.68 per share. This represents an immediate increase in pro forma net tangible book value of $1.38 per share to our existing stockholders and an immediate dilution in pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value of $15.32 per share to investors purchasing shares of our Class A common stock in this offering at the assumed initial public offering price. The following table illustrates this dilution:

 

Assumed initial public offering price per share

     $ 17.00  

Historical net tangible book value per share as of March 31, 2021

   $ 8.56    

Decrease per share attributable to the pro forma adjustments described above

     (8.26  
  

 

 

   

Pro forma net tangible book value per share as of March 31, 2021

     0.30    

Increase in pro forma net tangible book value per share attributable to new investors purchasing shares of Class A common stock in this offering

     1.38    
  

 

 

   

Pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share immediately after this offering

       1.68  
    

 

 

 

Dilution in pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share to new investors in this offering

     $ 15.32  
    

 

 

 

Each $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $17.00 per share would increase or decrease, as applicable, our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share to

 

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new investors by $0.09 per share and would increase or decrease, as applicable, dilution per share to new investors purchasing shares of Class A common stock in this offering by $0.91 per share, assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions payable by us. Similarly, each increase or decrease of 1.0 million shares in the number of shares of our Class A common stock offered by us would increase or decrease, as applicable, our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value by approximately $0.07 per share and increase or decrease, as applicable, the dilution to new investors purchasing shares of our Class A common stock in this offering by $0.07 per share assuming the assumed initial public offering price remains the same, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions payable by us.

If the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of our Class A common stock from us is exercised in full, the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our common stock would be $1.88 per share, and the dilution in pro forma net tangible book value per share to new investors purchasing shares of common stock in this offering would be $15.12 per share, assuming the assumed initial public offering price remains the same, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

The following table presents, on the same pro forma as adjusted basis as of March 31, 2021, the differences between the existing stockholders and the new investors purchasing shares of our Class A common stock in this offering with respect to the number of shares purchased from us, the total consideration paid or to be paid to us, which includes net proceeds received from the issuance of our Class A common stock and the average price per share paid or to be paid to us at the assumed initial public offering price of $17.00 per share, before deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us:

 

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

Existing stockholders

     199,593,737        91   $ 729,891,090        68   $ 3.66  

New investors

     20,000,000        9       340,000,000        32     $ 17.00  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

Totals

     219,593,737        100   $ 1,069,891,090        100  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

Each $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $17.00 per share would increase or decrease, as applicable, the total consideration paid by new investors and total consideration paid by all stockholders by $18.7 million, assuming that the number of shares of our Class A common stock offered by us remains the same. Similarly, each increase or decrease of 1.0 million in the number of shares of our Class A common stock offered by us would increase or decrease the total consideration paid by new investors and total consideration paid by all stockholders by $15.9 million, assuming the assumed initial public offering price remains the same.

Except as otherwise indicated, the above discussion and tables assume no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of our Class A common stock from us. If the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of our Class A common stock were exercised in full, our existing stockholders would own 90% and our new investors would own 10% of the total number of shares of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock outstanding upon completion of this offering.

The pro forma as adjusted information above is presented for illustrative purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the operating results or financial position that would have occurred if the relevant transactions had been consummated on the date indicated and will change based on the actual initial public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing. You should read

 

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this table together with our consolidated financial statements and related notes, and the sections titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information” included elsewhere in this prospectus.

The number of shares of our Class A common stock, Class B common stock, and Class C common stock that will be outstanding after this offering is based on 188,677,071 shares of our Class A common stock, 10,916,666 shares of our Class B common stock, and no shares of our Class C common stock (after giving effect to the Capital Stock Conversion, the Reclassification, and the Class B Stock Exchange) outstanding as of March 31, 2021, and exclude the following:

 

   

The shares of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2021 exclude the following:

 

   

34,716,604 shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of options to purchase shares of our Class A common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2021, with a weighted average exercise price of $3.03 per share;

 

   

26,057,181 shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of an option to purchase shares of our Class A common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2021, with an exercise price of $8.58 per share, granted to Mr. Ghamsari, and that vest upon the satisfaction of a liquidity event-related performance condition, a service condition, and/or a performance-based market condition;

 

   

4,365,293 shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of options to purchase shares of our Class A common stock granted after March 31, 2021 through June 21, 2021, with a weighted average exercise price of $14.01 per share;

 

   

1,269,919 shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants to purchase shares of our convertible preferred stock outstanding as of March 31, 2021, with a weighted average exercise price of $3.94 per share, which if exercised would result in the issuance of 1,269,919 shares of our Class A common stock in connection with the Capital Stock Conversion and this offering;

 

   

598,431 shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants to purchase shares of our convertible preferred stock issued after March 31, 2021, with a weighted average exercise price of $13.827822 per share, which if exercised would result in the issuance of 598,431 shares of our Class A common stock in connection with the Capital Stock Conversion and this offering; and

 

   

59,101,718 shares of our Class A common stock reserved for future issuance under our equity compensation plans, consisting of:

 

   

23,000,000 shares of our Class A common stock to be reserved for future issuance under our 2021 Plan, which will become effective prior to the completion of this offering; and

 

   

36,101,718 shares of our Class A common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2012 Plan, which number of shares will be added to the shares of our Class A common stock to be reserved for future issuance under our 2021 Plan upon its effectiveness, at which time we will cease granting awards under our 2012 Plan.

Our 2021 Plan provides for annual automatic increases in the number of shares of our Class A common stock reserved thereunder, and also provides for increases to the number of shares that may be granted thereunder based on any shares of our Class A common stock granted pursuant to awards under our 2012 Plan that expire, are tendered to or withheld by us for payment of an exercise price or for satisfying tax withholding obligations, or are forfeited or otherwise repurchased by us, as more fully described in the section titled “Executive Compensation—Employee Benefit and Stock Plans.”

 

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To the extent that any outstanding options to purchase our Class A common stock are exercised or new awards are granted under our equity compensation plans, there will be further dilution to investors participating in this offering.

In addition, following the completion of this offering, we may issue up to 31,253,651 shares of Class B common stock in exchange for an equivalent number of shares of Class A common stock pursuant to the Equity Award Exchange Agreement.

 

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UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information (the “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements”) have been derived by the application of pro forma adjustments to the historical audited and unaudited consolidated financial statements of Blend Labs, Inc., and its subsidiaries (“Blend” or “Company”, “we”, “our”, “us”, and similar terms unless the context indicates otherwise) included elsewhere in this prospectus and the historical audited carve-out financial statements of Title Carve-Out, a carve-out of certain operations of Mr. Cooper Group Inc. (“Title365”) included elsewhere in this prospectus, after giving effect to the transaction(s), as further described herein.

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet (the “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet”) as of March 31, 2021 and the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations (the “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statements of Operations”) for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and the year ended December 31, 2020 are intended to reflect the following transactions:

 

  i.

The issuance of a $225.0 million senior secured first-lien term loan facility (the “Term Loan”) and a $25.0 million senior secured first-lien revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”, and together with the Term Loan, the “Debt Financing”) to Owl Rock Technology Finance Corp. (“Owl Rock”) in connection with the acquisition of Title365 (the “Financing”);

 

  ii.

The issuance of a Series G Preferred Stock warrant to Owl Rock (the “Warrant Offering”) in connection with the Debt Financing which provides for the purchase of up to 598,431 Series G Preferred Shares at a per share price of $13.827822 if exercised prior to an Initial Public Offering of the Company (“IPO”), or 598,431 shares of Class A Common Stock if exercised after an IPO;

 

  iii.

Our acquisition of Title365 pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement entered into on March 12, 2021, which was completed on June 30, 2021 (the “Acquisition”); and

 

  iv.

The conversion of all of Blend’s Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock, Founders Convertible Preferred Stock, and Convertible Preferred Stock into shares of Class A Common Stock and the stock option award issued to the Company’s Founder (the “Non-Plan Executive Grant”) in anticipation of this offering (the “IPO Offering”) and the filing and effectiveness of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that will become effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering.

The Financing, the Warrant Offering, the Acquisition, and the IPO Offering (collectively, the “Transactions”) and such other adjustments as described in the accompanying notes are reflected in the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet as if these Transactions occurred on March 31, 2021. The Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and the year ended December 31, 2020 give effect to the Transactions as if they had occurred January 1, 2020.

The Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements were prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X as amended by the final rule, Release No. 33-10786 “Amendments to Financial Disclosures about Acquired and Disposed Businesses,” using the assumptions set forth in the notes to the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements. The Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements have been adjusted to include estimated Transaction accounting adjustments, which reflect the application of the accounting required by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”), linking the effects of the Transactions listed above to the Company’s historical consolidated financial statements.

 

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The pro forma adjustments are based upon currently available information and certain assumptions that Blend’s management believes are reasonable and are subject to change as additional information becomes available. We describe in greater detail the assumptions underlying the pro forma adjustments in the accompanying notes, which should be read in conjunction with these Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements. The actual adjustments to our audited and unaudited historical consolidated financial statements will depend upon a number of factors and additional information that will be available on or after the closing of this offering. Accordingly, the actual adjustments that will appear in our financial statements will differ from these pro forma adjustments, and those differences may be material. The Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements do not give effect to the potential impact of current financial conditions, or any anticipated revenue enhancements, cost savings or operating synergies that may result from the Transactions.

We have reflected within the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements the Acquisition using the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations under GAAP. Under the acquisition method of accounting, the total consideration paid is allocated to an acquired company’s tangible and intangible assets, liabilities, and any noncontrolling interest based on their estimated fair values as of the acquisition date. We only completed the Acquisition on June 30, 2021, and therefore, the estimated purchase price and fair value of the assets acquired, and liabilities assumed are preliminary. Once we complete our final valuation processes, we may report changes to the value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, as well as the amount of goodwill, and those changes could differ materially from what we present here.

The Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements are presented for information purposes only and are not necessarily indicative of Blend’s financial position or results of operations that would have occurred had the events been consummated as of the dates set forth above. In addition, the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements are not necessarily indicative of Blend’s future financial condition or operating results.

On July 2, 2021, we effected a three-for-one reverse stock split of our capital stock. All of the share and per share information referenced throughout the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information have been retroactively adjusted to reflect this reverse stock split.

The Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements should be read together with “Capitalization,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and the historical consolidated annual financial statements and unaudited interim financial statements and the related notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

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UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED BALANCE SHEET

As of March 31, 2021

(in thousands, except par values)

 

    Blend Labs,
Inc.
Historical
    Title365
Historical
(Note 6)
    Acquisition
Adjustments
        Financing
Transactions
Adjustments
        Pro Forma
Combined
Blend
Title365
    IPO
Adjustments
        Blend
Labs, Inc.
Pro
Forma
Results
 

Assets

                   

Current assets:

                   

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 352,311     $ 3,565     $ (422,119   A   $ 220,000     H   $ 153,757     $ —         $ 153,757  

Marketable securities

    100,840       —         —           —           100,840       —           100,840  

Trade and other receivables

    14,848       33,489       —           —           48,337       —           48,337  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    18,175       314       —           —           18,489       —           18,489  

Restricted cash

    173       —         —           —           173       —           173  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total current assets

    486,347       37,368       (422,119       220,000         321,596       —           321,596  

Property and equipment, net

    4,529       4,128       —           —           8,657       —           8,657  

Operating lease right-of-use assets

    12,092       4,709       (254   F     —           16,547       —           16,547  

Intangible assets, net

    692       1,213       174,787     B     —           176,692       —           176,692  

Goodwill

    —         —         309,215    

D

E

    —           309,215       —           309,215  

Deferred contract costs, non-current

    4,556       —         —           —           4,556       —           4,556  

Restricted cash, non-current

    5,023       330       —           —           5,353       —           5,353  

Other non-current assets

    6,559       1,477       (1,454   E     136    

H

I

    6,718       —           6,718  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total assets

  $ 519,798     $ 49,225     $ 60,175       $ 220,136       $ 849,334     $ —         $ 849,334  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

                   

Current liabilities:

                   

Accounts payable

  $ 3,946     $ 2,522     $ 4,150     G   $ —         $ 10,618     $ —         $ 10,618  

Deferred revenue, current

    14,399       —         —           —           14,399       —           14,399  

Accrued compensation

    7,256       4,696       —           —           11,952       —           11,952  

Other current liabilities

    13,634       1,634       —           200     H     15,468       —           15,468  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

    39,235       8,852       4,150         200         52,437       —           52,437  

Long-term debt

    —         —         —           212,926     H     212,926       —           212,926  

Other long-term liabilities

    4,796       5,938       —           —           10,734       —           10,734  

Operating lease liabilities, non-current

    13,304       4,802       (347   F     —           17,759       —           17,759  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    57,335       19,592       3,803         213,126         293,856       —           293,856  

Commitments and contingencies

                   

Redeemable noncontrolling interest

    —         —         46,382     D     —           46,382       —           46,382  

Stockholders’ equity:

                   

Founders Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.00001 par value

  $ —       $ —       $ —         $ —         $ —       $ —       K   $ —    

Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.00001 par value

    702,940       —         —           —           702,940       (702,940   K     —    

Class A common stock, $0.00001 par value

    —         —         —           —           —         2     K     2  

Class B common stock, $0.00001 par value

    1       —         —           —           1       (1   K     —    

Preferred stock, $0.00001 par value

    —         —         —           —           —         —           —    

Class A common stock, $0.00001 par value

    —         —         —           —           —         —       K     —    

Class B common stock, $0.00001 par value

    —         —         —           —           —         —       K     —    

Class C common stock, $0.00001 par value

    —         —         —           —           —         —       K     —    

Additional paid-in capital

    59,431       —         —           7,010     H     66,441       725,980    

J

K

    792,421  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

    10       —         —           —           10       —           10  

Accumulated deficit

    (299,919     —         39,623    

E

G

    —           (260,296     (23,041   J     (283,337

Invested equity

    —         29,633       (29,633   C     —           —         —           —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

    462,463       29,633       9,990         7,010         509,096       —           509,096  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest, and stockholders’ equity

  $ 519,798     $ 49,225     $ 60,175       $ 220,136       $ 849,334     $ —           $ 849,334  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

See accompanying “Notes to the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements”

 

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UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2021

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

    Blend Labs,
Inc.
Historical
    Title365
Historical
(Note 6)
    Acquisition
Adjustments
        Financing
Transactions
Adjustments
        Pro
Forma
Combined
Blend
Title365
        IPO
Adjustments
        Blend
Labs,
Inc. Pro
Forma
Results
     

Revenue

  $ 31,875     $ 73,118     $ —         $ —         $ 104,993       $ —         $ 104,993    

Cost of revenue

    10,860       48,954       —           —           59,814         —           59,814    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

Gross profit

    21,015       24,164       —           —           45,179         —           45,179    

Operating expenses

                       

Research and development

    17,074       668       —           —           17,742         —           17,742    

Sales and marketing

    15,865       580       5,406     L     —           21,851         —           21,851    

General and administrative

    15,283       641       113    

L

M

N

    —           16,037         4,971     V     21,008    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

Total operating expenses

    48,222       1,889       5,519         —           55,630         4,971         60,601    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

Net operating income (loss)

    (27,207     22,275       (5,519       —           (10,451       (4,971)         (15,422  

Other income (expense), net

    150       53       —           (5,585  

S

T

    (5,382       —           (5,382  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

Income (loss) before income taxes

    (27,057     22,328       (5,519       (5,585       (15,833       (4,971)         (20,804  

Provision for income taxes

    10       5,361       (5,256  

Q

R

    63     Q     178         56     Q     234    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

Net income (loss)

  $ (27,067   $ 16,967     $ (263     $ (5,648     $ (16,011     $ (5,027)       $ (21,038  

Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests

    —         —         1,680     U     —           1,680     U     —           1,680    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

Net income (loss) attributable to Blend Labs, Inc.

  $ (27,067   $ 16,967     $ (1,943     $ (5,648     $ (17,691     $ (5,027)       $ (22,718  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

Pro forma loss per share:

 

                   

Basic and diluted

              $ (0.39   W       $ (0.11   X
             

 

 

         

 

 

   

Pro forma number of shares used in computing loss per share:

                       

Basic and diluted

                45,090     W         199,594     X
             

 

 

         

 

 

   

See accompanying “Notes to the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements”

 

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UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

For the Year Ended December 31, 2020

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

    Blend Labs,
Inc.
Historical
    Title365
Historical
(Note 6)
    Acquisition
Adjustments
        Financing
Transactions
Adjustments
        Pro
Forma
Combined
Blend
Title365
        IPO
Adjustments
        Blend
Labs,
Inc. Pro
Forma
Results
     

Revenue

  $ 96,029     $ 212,098     $ —         $ —         $ 308,127       $ —         $ 308,127    

Cost of revenue

    34,289       155,859       —           —           190,148         —           190,148    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

Gross profit

    61,740       56,239       —           —           117,979         —           117,979    

Operating expenses

                       

Research and development

    55,503       3,806       —           —           59,309         —           59,309    

Sales and marketing

    51,420       3,525       21,625     L     —           76,570         —           76,570    

General and administrative

    30,108       2,954       14,859    

L

M

N

O

P

    —           47,921         42,927     V     90,848    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

Total operating expenses

    137,031       10,285       36,484         —           183,800         42,927         226,727    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

Net operating income (loss)

    (75,291     45,954       (36,484       —           (65,821       (42,927)         (108,748  

Other income (expense), net

    700       422       —           (22,474  

S

T

    (21,352       —           (21,352  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

Income (loss) before income taxes

    (74,591     46,376       (36,484       (22,474       (87,173       (42,927)         (130,100  

Provision for income taxes

    26       10,332       (53,013  

Q

R

    75     Q     (42,580       143     Q     (42,437  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

Net income (loss)

  $ (74,617   $ 36,044     $ 16,529       $ (22,549     $ (44,593     $ (43,070)       $ (87,663  

Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests

    —         —         3,241     U     —           3,241     U     —           3,241    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

Net income (loss) attributable to Blend Labs, Inc.

  $ (74,617   $ 36,044     $ 13,288       $ (22,549     $ (47,834     $ (43,070)       $ (90,904  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

Pro forma loss per share:

 

                   

Basic and diluted

              $ (1.21   W       $ (0.46   X
             

 

 

         

 

 

   

Pro forma number of shares used in computing loss per share:

                       

Basic and diluted

                39,407     W         199,594     X
             

 

 

         

 

 

   

See accompanying “Notes to the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements”

 

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NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1 – Description of the Transactions and Basis of Presentation

The Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements are based on the historical financial statements of Blend and Title365 after giving effect to (i) the Debt Financing, (ii) the Warrant Offering, (iii) the Acquisition, (iv) the IPO Offering, and (v) such other adjustments as described in these notes.

The Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements were prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X, as amended by the final rule, Release No. 33-10786 “Amendments to Financial Disclosures about Acquired and Disposed Businesses,” and present the pro forma financial condition and results of operations of the Company based upon the historical financial information after giving effect to the Transactions and related adjustments set forth in the notes to the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements.

The Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and the year ended December 31, 2020 give pro forma effect to the Transactions as if they had occurred on January 1, 2020. The Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2021, gives effect to the Transactions as if they had occurred on March 31, 2021. The Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements have been prepared on a combined basis.

(i) The Debt Financing

Blend has obtained the Debt Financing in the form of a $225.0 million Term Loan and a $25.0 million Revolving Credit Facility. The Term Loan was fully drawn on to assist in payment of the purchase price of the Acquisition. The Revolving Credit Facility remains undrawn.

The Term Loan and Revolving Credit Facility will mature on the date that is 5 years after the closing date of the Acquisition. The Term Loan will not amortize and both the Term Loan and Revolving Credit Facility will accrue interest at a rate equal to the London Interbank Offer Rate for dollars (“LIBOR”) subject to a floor of 1.00% per annum (the “Adjusted LIBOR”) plus 7.50% or the Alternate Base Rate (“ABR”) as determined by the highest of (i) the prime commercial lending rate published by the Wall Street Journal as the “prime rate”, (ii) the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus 0.50% and (iii) the one-month Adjusted LIBOR plus 1.00% per annum subject to a floor of 2.00% plus 6.50%. Interest is payable in cash on a quarterly basis.

In connection with the Debt Financing, Blend paid certain origination fees (the “Closing Fees”), and an annual Administrative Fee. Additionally, Owl Rock is entitled to an exit fee (the “Exit Fee”), which shall be due and payable on the earliest to occur:

 

  a)

The maturity date of the Term Loan;

 

  b)

The date on which all amounts then outstanding under the Term Loan are paid in full;

 

  c)

The acceleration of the obligations with respect to the Term Loan for any reason;

 

  d)

Any event of default as defined by the Term Loan;

 

  e)

Any repayment resulting from or in connection with a change of control.

With regards to the Revolving Credit Facility, Blend will be charged an Unused Commitment Fee of 0.5% per annum on the average daily unused portion of the Revolving Credit Facility. The Unused Commitment Fee is payable quarterly in arrears.

 

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NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

The Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet assumes that the Closing Fees of $4.5 million were paid in cash on the date of the closing of the Acquisition and included as debt issuance costs which offset the Term Loan included in Long-term debt. In addition to the Closing Fees, Blend incurred legal and other professional fees of $0.6 million, which are also classified as debt issuance costs. The Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statements of Operations include adjustments for the annual Administrative Fee.

(ii) The Warrant Offering

As an inducement to Owl Rock to provide the Debt Financing, Blend also issued a ten-year detachable warrant representing 0.25% of the fully diluted share count of Blend (the “Warrant”), or 598,431 Series G Preferred Shares if exercised prior to an IPO. If the Warrant is exercised after an IPO, the Warrant shall be exercisable for 598,431 shares of Class A Common Stock. The Warrant has an exercise price of $13.827822 per share. The Warrant has an estimated fair market value of $7.0 million. The Warrant is equity classified and presented within Additional paid-in-capital on the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet.

(iii) The Acquisition

On March 12, 2021, Blend entered into the Stock Purchase Agreement whereby Blend acquired a 90.1% equity interest in Title365 for an estimated $422.1 million in cash consideration. As part of the Acquisition, Blend has a call option to purchase the 9.9% noncontrolling interest at a purchase price equal to the greater of (1) $49.5 million plus an amount of interest calculated using an interest rate of 5.0% per annum compounding annually; or (2) 4.4x the trailing 12-month EBITDA (the “Title365 Call Option”). The Title365 Call Option is exercisable beginning 2 years following the Acquisition closing date. The noncontrolling interest holder also holds a put option to require Blend to purchase the remaining 9.9% noncontrolling interest at a price calculated in the same manner as the Title365 Call Option (the “Title365 Put Option”). The Title365 Put Option is exercisable beginning 5 years following the Acquisition closing date. Neither the Title365 Call Option nor the Title365 Put Option have an expiration date.

The Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements were prepared using the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations (“ASC 805”). The acquisition method of accounting requires use of the fair value concepts defined in ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement (“ASC 820”). ASC 820 defines fair value as “the price that would be received to sell an

asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.” Fair value measurements can be highly subjective, and it is possible the application of reasonable judgment could develop different assumptions resulting in a range of alternative estimates using the same facts and circumstances.

ASC 805 requires, among other things, the determination of the accounting acquirer, the acquisition date, the fair value of assets and liabilities of the acquiree and the measurement of goodwill. Blend has been identified as the acquirer for accounting purposes based on the facts and circumstances specific to this Acquisition and as a result, will apply the acquisition method to account for the acquired assets and liabilities of Title365. ASC 805 requires that most identifiable assets acquired, and liabilities assumed, be recognized at their fair values on the acquisition date. Goodwill is recognized for the excess of the consideration transferred over the aggregate fair value of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. For purposes of the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements, the fair values of Title365’s identifiable assets acquired,

 

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NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

and liabilities assumed were based on preliminary estimates as the Acquisition was only completed on June 30, 2021. The final determination of the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed could result in material changes to the amounts presented in the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements and future results of operations and financial position.

There were no material transactions between Blend and Title365 during the periods presented that would need to be eliminated.

Note 2 – Conforming Accounting Policies and Certain Reclassifications

Management will perform a comprehensive review of the two entities’ accounting policies. As a result of the review, management may identify differences between the accounting policies of the two entities which, when conformed, could have a material impact on the financial statements of the post-combination company. Based on its initial analysis, management did not identify any differences that would have a material impact on the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements. As a result, the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements do not assume any differences in accounting policies.

As part of the preparation of the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements, certain reclassifications were made to align Title365’s historical financial statement presentation as identified in Note 6 below.

Note 3 – Preliminary Acquisition Accounting

The table below shows management’s calculation of the consideration expected to be transferred to the seller for the acquisition of Title365.

 

Calculation of Estimated Purchase Price (in thousands)

 

Cash consideration transferred to sellers

   $ 422,119  

Total Purchase Price

   $ 422,119  

 

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NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

The table below represents the purchase consideration and the preliminary estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed for Title365 as of March 31, 2021. The preliminary estimated fair values have been used to prepare pro forma adjustments in the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements. The determination of fair value for certain assets and liabilities will be completed as soon as the information necessary to complete the analysis is obtained, which may differ materially from the preliminary estimates used in the pro forma adjustments. The primary areas of the preliminary estimates that are not yet finalized relate to identifiable intangible assets and deferred taxes.

 

Preliminary identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed  (in thousands)

 

Total purchase consideration

   $  422,119  

Noncontrolling interest

     46,382  

Cash and cash equivalents

     3,565  

Trade and other receivables

     33,489  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     314  

Property and equipment, net

     4,128  

Operating lease right-of-use assets

     4,455  

Customer relationships

     173,000  

Tradenames

     3,000  

Restricted cash, non-current

     330  

Other non-current assets

     23  

Accounts payable

     (2,522

Accrued compensation

     (4,696

Other current liabilities

     (1,634

Other long-term liabilities

     (49,711

Operating lease liabilities, non-current

     (4,455
  

 

 

 

Net identifiable assets

     159,286  
  

 

 

 

Goodwill

   $ 309,215  
  

 

 

 

Note 4 – Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet

The pro forma adjustments included in the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2021 are as follows:

 

  (A)

Represents a decrease of $422.1 million in cash for the Acquisition purchase price. See Note 3 – Preliminary Acquisition Accounting for details on management’s calculation of the purchase price.

 

  (B)

Represents an increase of $176.0 million related to fair market value of intangible assets, partly offset by the $1.2 million removal of the historical Title365 intangible assets. See Note 3 – Preliminary Acquisition Accounting.

 

  (C)

Represents the elimination of Title365’s historical equity.

 

  (D)

Represents an increase of $309.2 million related to goodwill, which was calculated as the excess of the sum of (i) the estimated purchase price of $422.1 million; (ii) $46.4 million estimated fair value of the redeemable noncontrolling interest as of March 31, 2021; over the $159.3 million in net assets acquired. See Note 3 – Preliminary Acquisition Accounting for details on management’s calculation of goodwill.

 

  (E)

Represents an increase of $43.8 million related to deferred tax liabilities expected to be recorded as part of the Acquisition, primarily attributable to the fair value adjustments

 

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NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

 

to be recorded for book and not for tax purposes in acquisition accounting. The deferred tax liability was netted against Title365’s historical net deferred tax assets of $1.4 million and was then offset against Blend’s historical deferred tax assets before recording a valuation allowance, thereby reducing the net deferred tax liability to zero.

 

  (F)

Reflects the adjustment of the acquired operating lease assets and operating lease liabilities related to assumed operating leases to their fair value, as measured under ASC 842, as of March 31, 2021.

 

  (G)

Represents non-recurring transaction-related costs of approximately $4.2 million which were incurred in connection with the Acquisition.

 

  (H)

Represents an increase of $225.0 million in cash related to borrowings associated with the Term Loan, less $5.1 million of debt issuance costs. A portion of legal and other professional fees of $0.2 million are not paid at close and accrued as Other current liabilities. Additionally, the Warrant issued to Owl Rock in connection with the Debt Financing has an estimated fair market value of $7.0 million and is included within additional paid-in-capital.

 

Description    Balance  

Closing Fees

   $ 4,500,000  

Legal and Professional Fees

     564,499  
  

 

 

 

Total Debt Issuance Costs

   $ 5,064,499  

Estimated Fair value of Warrant

     7,009,602  
  

 

 

 

Estimated debt discount

   $  12,074,101  
  

 

 

 

 

  (I)

The separate Closing Fee of $0.6 million associated with the Revolving Credit Facility commitment amount, less $0.4 million of previously accrued debt issuance costs is reflected in Other current assets.

 

  (J)

Reflects the incremental stock-based compensation expense in connection with the Non-Plan Executive Grant which has been awarded to the Founder in anticipation of the IPO Offering. The Non-Plan Executive Grant provides for a maximum of 26,057,181 shares of Class A Common Stock with an exercise price of $8.58 vesting in multiple tranches. The first tranche of 1,954,289 shares will vest upon successful completion of an IPO. The estimated grant date fair value of the first tranche was $11.79 per share. The remaining tranches of shares will vest dependent on performance goals tied to the Company’s stock price and specified expiration dates for each tranche. The weighted average estimated grant date fair value of the remaining tranches was $3.96 per share. On June 30, 2021, our board of directors approved a modification to the Non-Plan Executive Grant related to market-based performance targets that impact the Company Stock Price Hurdles. We are currently evaluating the impact of the modification on the fair value of the award, and as such, the impact is excluded from the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.

 

  (K)

Reflects the conversion of outstanding Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock, Founders Convertible Preferred Stock, and Convertible Preferred Stock into Class A Common Stock and the filing and effectiveness of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that will become effective immediately prior to the completion of the IPO Offering.

 

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NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

Note 5 – Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations

The pro forma adjustments included in the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and the year ended December 31, 2020 are as follows:

 

  (L)

Reflects the estimated incremental amortization expense of $5.7 million and $22.6 million related to the finite-lived intangible assets identified in connection with the Acquisition, net of the historical amortization expense of $0.1 million and $0.5 million included within General and administrative for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and the year ended December 31, 2020, respectively.

 

Identifiable Intangible Assets

   Estimated
Fair Value
(in
thousands)
     Estimated
Useful Life in
Years
     Classification within
Statement of
Operations
   Three Months
Ended
March 31,
2021
Amortization
Expense
     Year ended
December 31,
2020
Amortization
Expense
 

Customer Relationships

   $  173,000        8      Sales and
marketing
   $  5,406      $  21,625  

Tradename

     3,000        3      General and
administrative
     250        1,000  
  

 

 

          

 

 

    

 

 

 

Subtotal

   $ 176,000            $ 5,656      $ 22,625  

Less: Historical Amortization Expense

              130        525  
           

 

 

    

 

 

 

Increase / (Decrease) in Amortization Expense

            $ 5,526      $ 22,100  
           

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (M)

Reflects the estimated decrease in rent expense of $1.0 million and $0.8 million associated with the operating leases for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and the year ended December 31, 2020, respectively, due to leases for which Title365 is allocated costs from Mr. Cooper that were not assumed by Blend as part of the Acquisition.

 

  (N)

Reflects the incremental compensation expense related to retention and stock-based compensation awards of $1.0 million and $4.1 million issued to Key Employees for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and the year ended December 31, 2020, respectively. Awards vest equally over a two-year period following the Acquisition closing date.

 

  (O)

Represents non-recurring acquisition related expenses of $4.2 million which were incurred in connection with the Acquisition.

 

  (P)

Reflects expenses of $6.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 associated with the transition services agreement (the “Transition Services Agreement”) expected to be in effect between the Company and Mr. Cooper. The Transition Services Agreement was signed concurrent with the closing of the Acquisition and will remain in place for a period of 12 months.

 

  (Q)

Reflects the income tax effect of pro forma adjustments using the estimated effective tax rate of (1.1%) and (0.3%) for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and the year ended December 31, 2020, respectively.

 

  (R)

All adjustments have been tax effected using the estimated effective tax rate of (1.1%) and (0.3%) for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and the year ended December 31, 2020, respectively. The effective tax rate has been applied as it is expected to significantly vary from

 

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NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

 

the statutory rate (24.8%) in future years. A reconciliation of the net tax adjustment is as follows:

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2021 (in thousands)  
Description    Adjustment
Amount
     (Tax Benefit) /
Provision
(rounded)
 

Increase in Amortization Expense
Refer to adjustment (L)

   $ (5,526 )    $ 62  

Decrease in ASC 842 Lease Expense
Refer to adjustment (M)

   $ 1,032    $ (12

Increase in Compensation expense
Refer to adjustment (N)

   $ (1,026 )    $ 12  

Other Pro forma Tax Adjustments(1)

      $ (5,318 )
     

 

 

 

Total Tax Adjustment

      $ (5,256 )
     

 

 

 

 

For the year ended December, 31, 2020 (in thousands)  
Description    Adjustment
Amount
     (Tax Benefit) /
Provision
(rounded)
 

Increase in Amortization Expense
Refer to adjustment (L)

   $ (22,100 )    $ 74  

Decrease in ASC 842 Lease Expense
Refer to adjustment (M)

   $ 813    $ (3

Increase in Compensation expense
Refer to adjustment (N)

   $ (4,102 )    $ 14  

Acquisition related expenses
Refer to adjustment (O)

   $ (4,150    $ 14  

Transition Services Agreement expense
Refer to adjustment (P)

   $ (6,945    $ 24  

Other Pro forma Tax Adjustments(1)

      $ (10,264 )

Release of Blend deferred tax asset valuation allowance(2)

      $ (42,872
     

 

 

 

Total Tax Adjustment

      $ (53,013 )
     

 

 

 

 

  (1)

Other pro forma tax adjustments are primarily driven by the reversal of Title365’s historical tax provision for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and the year ended December 31, 2020, respectively. Subsequent to the Acquisition, Blend will be able to utilize its future losses to offset taxable income generated by Title365 on its consolidated federal income tax return and in states that allow consolidated or combined income tax returns.

  (2)

Reflects the $42.9 million benefit associated with the release of Blend’s historical deferred tax valuation allowance primarily due to the acquired taxable temporary differences originating in the pro forma acquisition adjustments. Pursuant to ASC 740-10-30-17, the Company considered future reversals of taxable temporary differences on a combined reporting basis as a source of taxable income and released the historical valuation allowance on its net deferred tax assets due to this additional source of taxable income.

 

  (S)

Reflects the increase in interest expense of $5.5 million and $22.2 million related to the Term Loan, for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and the year ended December 31, 2020, respectively, inclusive of $5.1 million of debt issuance costs amortized over the 5-year life of the Term Loan and the $4.5 million Exit Fee to be paid upon maturity. A 0.125% change in the assumed interest rate would result in a change in the interest expense of approximately $0.3 million.

 

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NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

  (T)

Reflects the increase in expense associated with the Administrative Fee and the Unused Commitment Fee on the Revolving Credit Facility, net of amortization expense recognized on a straight-line basis over the 5-year term of the Revolving Credit Facility.

 

  (U)

Reflects the allocation of net income attributable to the Title365 noncontrolling interest.

 

  (V)

Represents the $5.0 million and $42.9 million expense associated with the vesting of the Non-Plan Executive Grant for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and the year ended December 31, 2020, respectively. As described above in Note 4 - Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet (Note J), the Company is currently evaluating the impact of the modification on the fair value of the Non-Plan Executive Grant, and as such, the impact is excluded from the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.

 

  (W)

The basic and diluted pro forma net loss per share of common stock represents the net loss attributable to Blend divided by the number of shares owned by the existing owners prior to giving effect to any IPO related conversions and offerings.

 

  (X)

The basic and diluted pro forma net loss per share of common stock represents the net loss attributable to Blend divided by the number of shares of common stock that will be outstanding after this offering, which does not include the shares of Class A common stock to be issued in this offering and reflects the following Capital Stock Conversion and Class B Stock Exchange:

 

   

The conversion of 146,872,568 shares of convertible preferred stock (including 345,833 shares of convertible preferred stock held by Mr. Ghamsari being exchanged in the Class B Stock Exchange described below) that will convert into 146,872,568 shares of Class A common stock immediately prior to the completion of this offering;

 

   

42,150,336 shares of Class A common stock outstanding, which number of shares excludes the shares being exchanged in the Class B Stock Exchange described below; and

 

   

10,916,666 shares of our Class B common stock, which reflects shares of our Class A common stock beneficially owned by Nima Ghamsari (including 345,833 shares of convertible preferred stock held by Mr. Ghamsari that will be converted into Class A common stock immediately prior to the Class B Stock Exchange) that will be exchanged for an equivalent number of shares of our Class B common stock immediately prior to the completion of this offering pursuant to the terms of an exchange agreement (the “Class B Stock Exchange”).

Excluded from basic and diluted pro forma net loss per share is 1,954,289 options awarded to the Founder that will vest upon successful completion of an IPO as described above in Note 4 – Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet (Note J). The shares will not be outstanding upon the IPO unless they are exercised by the Founder. The impact of including these options in the pro forma net loss per share of common stock would be anti-dilutive.

 

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NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

Note 6 – Reclassification Adjustments for Title365

Certain balances were reclassified from Title365’s Carve-Out Financial Statements so that their presentation would be consistent with that of Blend’s after the Acquisition. These reclassification adjustments are based on management’s preliminary adjustments. Additional differences or reclassification adjustments may be identified that, when conformed, could have a material impact on these Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements.

 

   

Title365

Historical Carve-Out Balance Sheet

As of March 31, 2021

(in thousands)

 
    Historical Title
365 - Before
Reclassifications
    Reclassifications         Historical Title
365 - After
Reclassifications
 

Assets

       

Current assets:

       

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 3,565     $ —         $ 3,565  

Marketable securities

    —         —           —    

Accounts receivable - net

    33,489       (33,489   a     —    

Trade and other receivables

    —         33,489     a     33,489  

Prepaid expenses

    314       (314)     b     —    

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    —         314     b     314  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total current assets

    37,368       —           37,368  

Property and equipment - net

    8,837       (4,709)     c     4,128  

Operating lease right-of-use assets

    —         4,709     c     4,709  

Intangible assets - net

    1,213       —           1,213  

Restricted cash

    330       —           330  

Deferred contract costs, non-current

    —         —           —    

Deposits and other assets

    23       (23)     d     —    

Deferred income taxes

    1,454       (1,454)     d     —    

Other non-current assets

    —         1,477     d     1,477  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total assets

  $ 49,225     $ —         $ 49,225  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

       

Current liabilities:

       

Accounts payable

  $ 2,522     $ —         $ 2,522  

Deferred revenue, current

    —         —           —    

Accrued salaries and commissions

    4,696       (4,696)     e     —    

Accrued compensation

    —         4,696     e     4,696  

Title fees payable

    536       (536)     f     —    

Allowance for title and escrow losses

    1,098       (1,098)     f     —    

Other current liabilities

    —         1,634     f     1,634  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

    8,852       —           8,852  

Operating lease liabilities, non-current

    4,802       —           4,802  

Other liabilities

    5,731       (5,731)     g     —    

Other long-term liabilities

    —         5,938     g     5,938  

Due to affiliates

    207       (207)     g     —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

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NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

   

Title365

Historical Carve-Out Balance Sheet

As of March 31, 2021

(in thousands)

 
    Historical Title
365 - Before
Reclassifications
    Reclassifications           Historical Title
365 - After
Reclassifications
 

Total liabilities

    19,592       —           19,592  

Commitments and contingencies

    —         —           —    

Stockholders’ equity:

       

Invested Equity

    29,633       —           29,633  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity / Invested Equity

    29,633       —           29,633  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity / Invested Equity

  $ 49,225     $ —         $ 49,225  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

  a. 

To reclassify “Accounts receivable - net” to “Trade and other receivables”.

  b.

To reclassify “Prepaid expenses” to “Prepaid expenses and other current assets”.

  c. 

To reclassify operating lease right-of-use assets included in “Property and equipment – net” to “Operating lease right-of-use assets”.

  d. 

To reclassify “Deposits and other assets”, “Deferred income taxes”, and “Due from affiliates” to “Other non-current assets”.

  e. 

To reclassify “Accrued salaries and commissions” to “Accrued compensation”.

  f. 

To reclassify “Title fees payable” and “Allowance for title and escrow losses” to “Other current liabilities”.

  g. 

To reclassify “Other liabilities” and “Due to affiliates” to “Other long-term liabilities”.

 

    

Title365

Historical Carve-Out Statement of Operations

Three Months Ended March 31, 2021

(in thousands)

 
     Historical Title
365 - Before
Reclassifications
     Reclassifications            Historical Title
365 - After
Reclassifications
 

Revenue

   $ 73,118      $ —       $          73,118  

Cost of revenue

     —          48,954       h        48,954  
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Gross Profit

     73,118        48,954          24,164  

Operating expenses

          

Salaries, benefits and other compensation

     13,433        (13,433     h        —    

Research and development

     —          668       h        668  

Sales and marketing

     —          580       h        580  

General and administrative

     37,410        (36,769     h        641  
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     50,843        (48,954        1,889  
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net operating income

     22,275        —            22,275  

Other income (expense)

          

Interest income

     —          —            —    

Other income (expense), net

     53        —            53  
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total other income (expense)

     53        —            53  
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

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NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

    

Title365

Historical Carve-Out Statement of Operations

Three Months Ended March 31, 2021

(in thousands)

 
     Historical Title
365 - Before
Reclassifications
     Reclassifications            Historical Title
365 - After
Reclassifications
 

Income before income taxes

     22,328        —            22,328  

Provision for income taxes

     5,361        —            5,361  
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 16,967      $ —          $ 16,967  
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

    

Title365

Historical Carve-Out Statement of Operations

Year Ended December 31, 2020

(in thousands)

 
     Historical Title
365 - Before
Reclassifications
     Reclassifications            Historical Title
365 - After
Reclassifications
 

Gross title premiums

   $ 98,770      $ (98,770     i      $ —    

Escrow and sub escrow fees

     75,631        (75,631     i        —    

Other service income

     37,697        (37,697     i        —    

Revenue

     —          212,098       i        212,098  

Cost of revenue

     —          155,859       h        155,859  
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Gross Profit

     212,098        155,859          56,239  

Operating expenses

          

Salaries, benefits and other compensation

     47,727        (47,727     h        —    

Research and development

     —          3,806       h        3,806  

Sales and marketing

     —          3,525       h        3,525  

General and administrative

     118,417        (115,463     h        2,954  
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     166,144        (155,859        10,285  
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net operating income

     45,954        —            45,954  

Other income (expense)

          

(Loss) gain on disposal of property and equipment

     (127      127       j        —    

Interest income

     2        (2     j        —    

Other income (expense), net

     547        (125     j        422  
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total other income (expense)

     422        —            422  
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     46,376        —            46,376  

 

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NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

    

Title365

Historical Carve-Out Statement of Operations

Year Ended December 31, 2020

(in thousands)

 
     Historical Title
365 - Before
Reclassifications
     Reclassifications            Historical Title
365 - After
Reclassifications
 

Provision for income taxes

     10,332        —            10,332  
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 36,044      $ —          $ 36,044  
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

h.

To reclassify “Salaries, benefits, and other compensation” and “General and administrative” to “Cost of revenue”, “Research and development” and “Sales and marketing”.

i.

To reclassify “Gross title premiums”, “Escrow and sub escrow fees”, and “Other service income” to “Revenue”.

j.

To reclassify “Interest income” and “(Loss) gain on disposal of property and equipment” to “Other income (expense), net”.

 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with the sections “Prospectus Summary—Summary Consolidated Financial and Other Data” and “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information” and the consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. This discussion contains forward-looking statements based upon current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth under the section titled “Risk Factors” or in other parts of this prospectus. Our fiscal year ends December 31.

Overview

It’s our vision to bring simplicity and transparency to financial services, so everyone can gain access to the capital they need to lead better lives. To realize this vision, we have built a market-leading cloud-based software platform for financial services firms that is designed to power the end-to-end consumer journey for any banking product. Our software platform was built in an extensible, modular, and configurable fashion to support continued product expansion. In addition, we have over 2,200 currently active technology, data, and service providers on our software platform, including an extensive marketplace of insurance carriers, realtors, and settlement agencies. Our products and marketplaces provide multiple opportunities for us to serve financial services firms and consumers and drive revenue growth. We believe the addressable market for our offerings will continue to grow over time as we add more products to our software platform, grow our ecosystem, and expand internationally. As more financial services firms adopt our software platform, we believe the number of consumers using our marketplaces will grow, which will then attract more service providers to our ecosystem.

Financial services firms may not have the resources and in-house software expertise to meet rising consumer expectations. Since our inception, we have invested in our software platform to simplify complex financial transactions for customers and consumers, and we have consistently innovated to achieve the following key milestones:

Timeline of Key Blend Milestones

 

LOGO

Soft ware Capabilities & Integrations MVP Launched Loan Officer Mobile App Loan Officer Toolkit Notary & Settlement Workspaces Real Estate Agent Mobile App Settlement Agent Workspaces Cross-Sell Journey Builder Varification Workflow Intelligence One-tap pre-approval Fannie Mae D1C Freddie Mac AIM Marketplace & Ecosystem Expansion First Homeowner's Insurance Quote First Title order First Realty Closing product Launches Captured by first application submit) Mortage Home Equity Deposit Account Vehicle Loan Blend Close Credit Card Personal Loan Transaction Volume 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 >1m transactins12

 

12. 

A completed banking transaction includes funded loans and new account openings.

 

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Our rapid growth reflects continued product innovation and increased transaction volume as we continue to attract financial services firms to our software platform and grow with them as they serve consumers. Financial services firms have been shifting for years to a digital-first approach to acquiring consumers and deepening existing consumer relationships. This imperative to compete through digital-first consumer experiences creates a compelling opportunity for Blend. We believe there is a large, untapped opportunity to provide additional product offerings and drive increased transaction volume for financial institutions and consumers using our software platform.

Our revenue was $50.7 million and $96.0 million for 2019 and 2020, respectively, an increase of 90%. We incurred net losses of $81.5 million and $74.6 million for 2019 and 2020, respectively, as we have continued to invest in growth to capture the large market opportunity available to us.

Our Business Model

Our success-based business model is designed to align our growth with the interests of our customers. We offer our products through software-as-a-service agreements where fees are assessed based on completed transactions, such as a funded loan, new account opening, or closing transaction. We do not charge for abandoned applications or rejected applications, even though they cause us to incur costs related to these applications. Completed transaction fees are determined by the number and type of software platform components that are needed to support each product offering. Completed transaction fees are not impacted by the dollar size of transactions; however, we provide volume-based discounts to customers as they complete a higher volume of transactions on our software platform. Customers also have the opportunity to secure discounts by agreeing to contractual minimums. With our success-based business model, we are focused on driving revenue growth by enabling our customers to more efficiently process and complete transactions using our software platform.

We focus on customer success to drive transaction volumes and opportunities for follow-on sales. Our products are sold through a direct sales force that continues to manage customer relationships on an ongoing basis post-sale. Customers often complete an initial deployment for one or two products and then add more products over time. The length of the sales cycle for our products generally declines for the second and subsequent products we sell to a financial services firm, highlighting our high customer satisfaction.

To date, we have generated an immaterial amount of revenue through commissions or service fees when consumers use our integrated marketplaces to select a real estate agent, property and casualty insurance carrier, or title and settlement services entity. These commissions or service fees are generated from consumers and are incremental to what we earn from our financial services firm customers on completed transactions. Our marketplaces are intended to provide greater consumer choice and flexibility and to help financial services firms by providing them with a more complete offering in partnership with Blend. As we drive adoption of our software platform, we expect these commissions and service fees to comprise a larger part of our revenue.

Customer Cohort Analysis

Our success depends in part on increasing the volume of transactions that take place on our software platform. This occurs as we add new customers and complete more transactions with existing customers, including when our existing customers adopt additional products. In our customer cohort analysis, we include transactions from our products and on our marketplaces. Our software platform is built to be extensible, modular, and configurable, so that our customers can easily utilize our pre-built workflow technology, our marketplaces, and our integrations with technology, data, and service providers. We design our new offerings to be highly complementary to existing ones in order to

 

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increase the speed of adoption and efficiently scale our revenue. This increasing attachment contributes further to our growth. As highlighted below, the aggregate revenue associated with customers acquired in any year has expanded since they first began using Blend.

Revenue by Cohort

 

LOGO

Revenue by Cohort 2018 2019 2020 2018 2.9x 2019 1.7x 3.0x 2020

To illustrate the economics of our customer relationships, we are providing an analysis of the revenue growth to date of the customers we acquired during 2018, which we refer to as the 2018 Cohort, and customers we acquired during 2019, which we refer to as the 2019 Cohort. To provide context, we have also included the customers we acquired in 2020. We selected the 2018 Cohort and 2019 Cohort to illustrate the potential long-term growth of our customer base. The 2018 Cohort and 2019 Cohort represent various financial services firms and include some that have expanded their usage of our software platform as well as those that have reduced or terminated their use of our software platform, and we believe the 2018 Cohort and 2019 Cohort fairly represent our overall customer base. These customer cohorts reflect the success of our “land and expand” approach to growing customer relationships. Once we have acquired a new customer and completed our initial deployment, we are well positioned to introduce more products and marketplaces.

Dollar-Based Net Retention Rate

Dollar-based net retention rate is an important indicator of our ability to retain and expand our customer relationships. We calculate our dollar-based net retention rate at the end of each fiscal quarter. We calculate our dollar-based net retention rate by starting with the revenue associated with customers in the same quarter of the prior year, or Prior Period Revenue. We then calculate the revenue associated with these same customers in the same quarter of the current year, or Current Period Revenue. Current Period Revenue includes any upsells and is net of contraction or attrition but excludes revenue from new customers. We then repeat the calculation of Prior Period Revenue and Current Period Revenue with respect to each of the preceding three quarters and aggregate the four Prior Period Revenues, or the Aggregate Prior Period Revenue, and the four Current Period Revenues, or the Aggregate Current Period Revenue. Our dollar-based net retention rate equals the Aggregate Current Period Revenue

 

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divided by Aggregate Prior Period Revenue. Our dollar-based net retention rate was 142%, 162%, 134%, and 179% as of December 31, 2019 and 2020 and March 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively. The increase is primarily attributable to growth in the volume of transactions with existing customers and cross-sell of additional products to those customers.

Key Factors Affecting Our Performance

Ability to Increase Transaction Volume

Our success-based business model results in our revenue growing as we increase our transaction volume. We increase transaction volume on our software platform in part by attracting new customers and growing our relationships with existing customers. We need to address the evolving needs of our customers and increase their usage of our software platform. Under our “Customer First” model, we focus on building successful long-term relationships and aligning revenue growth with value delivery. We invest in our customers’ success, beginning with an initial onboarding and rollout plan for each customer. We also monitor utilization rates by customers on our software platform to manage expanded use over time. Our proven ability to grow transaction volume has been a function of product depth, technological excellence, and the ability of our sales and marketing teams to match our solutions with the strategic objectives of our customers. Our software platform enables customers to process transaction volumes more effectively and create a better consumer experience.

As financial services firms realize the benefits of our software platform and expand use of our product offerings, this continues to drive transaction volume on our software platform. In 2020, we enabled lenders to originate nearly $1.4 trillion in loans, more than double the dollar amount of loans enabled by our software platform in 2019 of $540 billion. As of December 31, 2020, we had 291 customers, including 18 customers generating more than $1 million in annual revenue, which represented 53% of our revenue in 2020. As of December 31, 2019, we had nine customers generating more than $1 million in annual revenue, which represented 49% of our revenue in 2019. By generating customer value, we are able to sell additional products through our land and expand strategy. We believe that investment in sales and marketing will contribute to our long-term growth but may also negatively impact our short-term profitability. For 2020, our sales and marketing spend represented 53.5% of our revenue.

By increasing transaction volume on our software platform, we also enable and drive our marketplace business. Our curated set of integrated marketplaces enable consumers to shop for products and services at the precise moment of need as they apply for loans and other products. As we enable a greater volume and diversity of transactions on our software platform, we can help a greater number of consumers locate competitive service providers and build trust with the Blend brand. Revenue from our marketplace business is driven by our transaction volume and success of matching consumers with service providers.

Investments in Growth

Our ability to maintain a differentiated platform and offering is dependent upon our speed of innovation. We will invest in our software platform to drive innovation and maintain our position as a leading provider of software for financial services firms for any banking product. To drive adoption and increase penetration within our customer base, we will continue to rapidly introduce new products and features. While we focus today on consumer banking, we believe we can rapidly expand our library of modular components to support commercial banking products as well. In addition, our low-code, drag-and-drop design tools will enable our customers to bring new, innovative products to market quickly and positions us with what we believe is a market-leading combination of platform capabilities and out-of-the-box product offerings. We believe that investment in research and development will

 

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contribute to our long-term growth but may also negatively impact our short-term profitability. For 2020, our research and development spend represented 57.8% of our revenue.

Developments in the Macroeconomic Environment

A large portion of our business is driven by mortgage and mortgage related transaction volumes. We expect the volumes of loans and financial products closed using our software platform will continue to drive our revenue for the foreseeable future. As those volumes are influenced by numerous macroeconomic factors, including interest rates, our business’s performance will be impacted as the macro environment changes. For instance, as interest rates rise, we would expect to see lower mortgage volumes. These volumes will affect both our mortgage business and marketplace offerings. We anticipate that as our platform grows and more consumer banking transactions occur on our software platform, we will be less exposed to fluctuations in the macroeconomic environment.

Recent Developments

Acquisition of Title365

We are continually seeking to enhance the end-to-end banking journeys we power through our software platform. To accelerate the adoption of innovations in our mortgage and home equity products, on March 12, 2021 we signed a definitive agreement to acquire Title365, a leading title insurance agency, from Mr. Cooper Group Inc. The acquisition was completed on June 30, 2021. In connection with our acquisition of Title365, we entered into a credit agreement that provides for a $225.0 million term facility and a $25.0 million revolving facility. The term facility was fully drawn upon to provide, in part, the acquisition consideration being paid in connection with the purchase of a 90.1% stake in Title365.

Title365 will enable our customers to streamline the title, settlement, and closing process at scale for mortgages, home equity lines of credit, and home equity loans. For 2019 and 2020, Title365 revenue was $105.3 million and $212.1 million, respectively. As of March 31, 2021, customers of Title365 included six of the top 12 mortgage lenders by loan volume.

COVID-19

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have temporarily closed our offices, required our employees and contractors to work remotely, and implemented travel restrictions, all of which represent a significant disruption in how we operate our business. The operations of our partners and customers have likewise been disrupted. While the duration and extent of the COVID-19 pandemic depends on future developments that cannot be accurately predicted at this time, such as the duration and spread of the outbreak and the extent and effectiveness of containment actions, it has already had an adverse effect on the global economy and the ultimate societal and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic remains unknown. In particular, the conditions caused by this pandemic have adversely affected the rate of global IT spending, although we believe that demand for our software platform and our results of operations have not been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic thus far. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have continued to partner with our financial services customers to expand the scope and availability of products through our software platform. We have seen a 166% increase in transactions on our software platform from March 2020 through December 2020 compared to the same period in 2019, and we attribute a portion of this increase to the accelerating need for digital transformation at financial services firms. Additionally, we saw a $3.1 million decrease in our sales and marketing spending from 2019 to 2020 as a result of cancelled in-person events because of restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic; however, we expect our sales and marketing spending to increase in 2021 as restrictions on in-person events lapse and we spend more on travel, entertainment, trade shows, conferences, and general advertising.

 

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Further, we believe that the COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating the transformation of financial services firms into digital businesses, is causing the regulatory environment to shift in favor of digitization (such as through the use of digital signatures and online notarization), and is driving consumer behavior away from traditional branches and toward digital channels for banking services, which we expect will generate additional opportunities for us in the future.

The future impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business remains uncertain. See the section titled “Risk Factors” for further discussion of the challenges and risks we have encountered and could encounter related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key Components of Results of Operations

Revenue

We generate revenue from fees paid by customers to access our platform. Arrangements with our customers do not provide the contractual right to take possession of our software at any point in time. Revenue is recognized when access to our platform is provisioned to our customers for an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for those services. To a lesser extent, we generate revenue from professional services related to the deployment of our platform, premium support services, and consulting services. We also have generated an immaterial amount of revenue through commissions or service fees when consumers use our integrated marketplaces to select a real estate agent, property and casualty insurance carrier, or title and settlement services entity.

Our customers have the ability to access our platform under subscription arrangements, in which customers commit to a minimum number of completed transactions at specified prices over the contract term, or under usage-based arrangements, in which customers pay in arrears a variable amount for completed transactions at specified prices. Our subscription arrangements are generally noncancelable, and we may also earn additional overage fees if the number of completed transactions exceeds the contractual amounts. Our usage-based arrangements generally can be terminated at any time by the customer. We recognize revenue ratably for our subscription arrangements because the customer receives and consumes the benefits of our platform throughout the contract period. We recognize fees for usage-based arrangements as the completed transactions are processed using our platform. Revenue from usage-based arrangements represented 12% of our revenue for 2019 and 2020.

In future periods, following the closing of our acquisition of Title365, we expect that total revenue will increase significantly in dollar amounts, and that our revenue growth rate will increase in the near term due to the inclusion of Title365 revenue, which was not included in prior periods. We expect, however, that in periods subsequent to the next twelve months following the closing of our acquisition of Title365, our revenue growth rate will decline.

Cost of Revenue

Cost of revenue consists primarily of costs of subscribed hosting, support, and professional services, which are expensed as incurred. Costs of subscribed hosting and support primarily consist of expenses related to hosting our services, third-party fees related to platform connectivity services, software licenses, amortization of internal use software development costs, and expenses related to providing support to our customers. Costs of professional services consist primarily of personnel-related expenses, including stock-based compensation expense, expenses associated with delivering implementation and other services, travel expenses, and allocated overhead costs.

 

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For each application submission, we incur third-party costs as described above, including costs for incomplete transactions where we do not charge fees to our customers. The timing of those costs may not be aligned with the revenue recognized.

In future periods, in part as a result of our acquisition of Title365, we expect that cost of revenue will increase significantly in dollar amounts and that cost of revenue as a percentage of revenue will increase in the near term. We expect, however, that our cost of revenue will decrease as a percentage of revenue over the long term as we achieve greater scale in our business.

Operating Expenses

Research and Development. Research and development expenses consist primarily of personnel-related expenses, including stock-based compensation expense, associated with our engineering personnel responsible for the design, development, and testing of new products and features, professional and outside services fees, software and hosting costs, and allocated overhead costs. Research and development costs are expensed as incurred.

In future periods, in part as a result of our acquisition of Title365, we expect that research and development expenses will increase significantly in dollar amounts. We expect, however, that our research and development expenses will decrease as a percentage of revenue.

Sales and Marketing. Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of personnel-related expenses, including stock-based compensation expense (which includes amounts in excess of fair market value in connection with secondary sales by our then-current and former employees), costs of general marketing activities and promotional activities, travel-related expenses, and allocated overhead costs. Sales commissions that are incremental costs of acquiring a contract with a customer as well as associated payroll taxes, are deferred and amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated period of benefit, which we have determined to be three years. Sales commissions that are not incremental costs of acquiring a contract with a customer are expensed in the period incurred.

We plan to increase the dollar amount of our investment in sales and marketing for the foreseeable future, primarily for increased headcount for our direct sales organization and investment in brand and product marketing efforts.

In future periods, in part as a result of our acquisition of Title365, we expect that sales and marketing expenses will increase significantly in dollar amounts, primarily as a result of the amortization of acquired intangible assets. We expect, however, that our sales and marketing expenses will decrease as a percentage of revenue.

General and Administrative. General and administrative expenses consist primarily of personnel-related expenses, including stock-based compensation expense (which includes amounts in excess of fair market value in connection with secondary sales by our then-current and former employees), for our finance, accounting, legal and compliance, human resources, and other administrative teams as well as for certain executives and professional fees, including audit, legal and compliance, and recruiting services. We expect to increase the size of our general and administrative function to support the growth of our business. Following the completion of this offering, we expect to continue to incur additional expenses as a result of operating as a public company, including costs to comply with the rules and regulations applicable to publicly listed companies and costs related to compliance and reporting obligations pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. In addition, as a public company, we expect to incur increased expenses in the areas of insurance, investor relations, internal audit, and professional services. Further, in future periods following our acquisition of Title365, we expect that general and administrative expenses will increase significantly in dollar amounts, primarily as a result of increased operating costs as a result of integrating and operating Title365. We expect, however, that our general and administrative expenses will decrease as a percentage of revenue.

 

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Other Income (Expense), Net

Other income (expense), net consists primarily of interest income earned from our investment portfolio and interest expense.

In future periods, following our acquisition of Title365, we expect that other expenses will increase as a result of interest expense incurred related to debt financing used to purchase Title365.

Provision for Income Taxes

Provision for income taxes consists primarily of U.S. state income taxes. We maintain a full valuation allowance on our federal and state deferred tax assets as we have concluded that it is not more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realized.

Results of Operations

The following tables set forth our results of operations for the periods presented in dollars and as a percentage of our revenue:

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2019      2020      2020      2021  
     (In thousands)  

Revenue

   $ 50,671      $ 96,029      $ 15,603      $ 31,875  

Cost of revenue(1)

     19,547        34,289        7,358        10,860  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross profit

     31,124        61,740        8,245        21,015  

Operating expenses:

           

Research and development(1)

     48,597        55,503        11,821        17,074  

Sales and marketing(1)

     37,660        51,420        13,430        15,865  

General and administrative(1)

     26,589        30,108        6,078        15,283  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     112,846        137,031        31,329        48,222  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Loss from operations

     (81,722      (75,291      (23,084      (27,207

Other income (expense), net

     283        700        240        150  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Loss before income taxes

     (81,439      (74,591      (22,844      (27,057

Provision for income taxes

     13        26        7        10  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net loss

   $ (81,452    $ (74,617    $ (22,851    $ (27,067
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Includes stock-based compensation as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2019      2020      2020      2021  
     (In thousands)  

Cost of revenue

   $ 46      $ 79      $ 19      $ 58  

Research and development

     3,431        4,250        757        1,386  

Sales and marketing

     966        3,675        1,791        1,373  

General and administrative

     5,446        2,120        672        1,199  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total stock-based compensation

   $  9,889      $  10,124      $  3,239      $  4,016  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
    Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
         2019             2020         2020     2021  
     (as a % of revenue)*  

Revenue

     100     100     100     100

Cost of revenue

     39       36       47       34  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross margin

     61       64       53       66  

Operating expenses:

        

Research and development

     96       58       76       54  

Sales and marketing

     74       54       86       50  

General and administrative

     52       31       39       48  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     223       143       201       151  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

     (161     (78     (148     (85

Other income (expense), net

     1       1       2       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss before income taxes

     (161     (78     (146     (85

Provision for income taxes

     —         —         —         —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

     (161 )%      (78 )%      (146 )%      (85 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

*

Certain percentages may not foot due to rounding

Comparison of the Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 and 2021

Revenue and Cost of Revenue

 

     Three Months
Ended March 31,
               
     2020      2021      $ Change      % Change  
     (In thousands)         

Revenue

   $ 15,603      $ 31,875      $ 16,272        104

Cost of revenue

     7,358        10,860        3,502        48
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Gross profit

   $ 8,245      $ 21,015      $ 12,770        155
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Revenue increased $16.3 million, or 104%, for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2020. The increase was primarily due to an increase in the volume of transactions with existing customers, as well as an increase in revenue from new customers. Revenue from existing customers represented 98% of the increase in revenue, driven by our dollar-based net retention rate, which was 179% as of March 31, 2021, and revenue from new customers represented 2% of the increase in revenue.

 

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Cost of revenue increased $3.5 million, or 48%, for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2020. The increase was primarily due to a $1.4 million increase in third-party fees, primarily related to platform connectivity services, a $1.3 million increase in third-party hosting costs and software licenses to support continued growth and expanded operations, and a $1.3 million increase in personnel-related expenses primarily attributable to increased headcount. The overall increase was partially offset by a $0.4 million decrease in amortization of previously capitalized internal-use software costs.

Operating Expenses

 

     Three Months
Ended March 31,
               
     2020      2021        $ Change          % Change    
     (In thousands)         

Operating expenses:

           

Research and development

   $ 11,821      $ 17,074      $ 5,253        44

Sales and marketing

     13,430        15,865        2,435        18

General and administrative

     6,078        15,283        9,205        151
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total operating expenses

   $ 31,329      $ 48,222      $ 16,893        54
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Research and Development

Research and development expenses increased $5.3 million, or 44%, for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2020. The increase was primarily due to a $4.1 million increase in personnel-related expenses primarily attributable to an increase in research and development headcount, a $0.9 million increase in professional and outside services, and a $0.2 million increase in software and hosting services to support the growing business and increased volume of transactions.

Sales and Marketing

Sales and marketing expenses increased $2.4 million, or 18%, for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2020. The increase was primarily due to an $2.9 million increase in personnel-related expenses primarily attributable to an increase in sales and marketing headcount, a $0.4 million increase in general marketing and promotional activities, a $0.4 million increase in professional and outside services, and a $0.3 million increase in software and hosting costs. The overall increase was partially offset by a $1.0 million decrease in sales commission

expense, and a $0.7 million decrease in travel, entertainment, trade shows, conferences, and general advertising as a result of cancelled in-person events because of restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic.

General and Administrative

General and administrative expenses increased $9.2 million, or 151%, for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2020. The increase was primarily due to a $6.4 million increase in professional fees to support costs associated with our acquisition of Title365, a $2.3 million increase in personnel-related expenses primarily attributable to an increase in our administrative, finance and accounting, legal, and human resources headcount necessary to support the growth in our business, and a $0.3 million increase in software and hosting costs.

 

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Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2020

Revenue and Cost of Revenue

 

     Year Ended December 31,                
           2019                  2020            $ Change      % Change  
     (In thousands)         

Revenue

   $ 50,671      $ 96,029      $ 45,358                90

Cost of revenue

     19,547        34,289        14,742        75
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Gross profit

   $ 31,124      $ 61,740      $ 30,616        98
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Revenue increased $45.4 million, or 90%, for 2020 compared to 2019. The increase was primarily due to an increase in the volume of transactions with existing customers, as well as an increase in revenue from new customers. Revenue from existing customers represented 83% of the increase in revenue, driven by our dollar-based net retention rate, which was 162% as of December 31, 2020, and revenue from new customers represented 17% of the increase in revenue.

Cost of revenue increased $14.7 million, or 75%, for 2020 compared to 2019. The increase was primarily due to a $7.9 million increase in third-party hosting costs and software licenses to support continued growth and expanded operations, and a $6.1 million increase in third-party fees, primarily related to platform connectivity services.

Operating Expenses

 

     Year Ended December 31,                
         2019              2020          $
Change
     % Change  
     (In thousands)         

Operating expenses:

           

Research and development

   $ 48,597      $ 55,503      $ 6,906        14

Sales and marketing

     37,660        51,420        13,760        37

General and administrative

     26,589        30,108        3,519        13
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total operating expenses

   $ 112,846      $ 137,031      $ 24,185        21
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Research and Development

Research and development expenses increased $6.9 million, or 14%, for 2020 compared to 2019. The increase was primarily due to a $4.0 million increase in personnel-related expenses primarily attributable to an increase in research and development headcount, a $2.8 million increase in professional and outside services, and a $1.6 million increase in software and hosting services to support the growing business and increased volume of transactions. The overall increase was partially offset by a $1.0 million decrease in allocated overhead due to changes in employee mix and reduction of facility costs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sales and Marketing

Sales and marketing expenses increased $13.8 million, or 37%, for 2020 compared to 2019. The increase was primarily due to an $11.4 million increase in personnel-related expenses primarily attributable to an increase in sales and marketing headcount, inclusive of a $1.5 million increase in stock-based compensation attributable to secondary sales in 2020, a $3.3 million increase in commission expense, and a $0.8 million increase in software and hosting costs. The overall increase

 

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was partially offset by a $3.1 million decrease in travel, entertainment, trade shows, conferences, and general advertising as a result of cancelled in-person events because of restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic.

General and Administrative

General and administrative expenses increased $3.5 million, or 13% for 2020 compared to 2019. The increase was primarily due to a $2.4 million increase in professional fees and a $1.3 million increase in personnel-related expenses primarily attributable to an increase in our administrative, finance and accounting, legal, and human resources headcount necessary to support the growth in our business. The increase in personnel-related expenses was net of a $4.1 million decrease in stock-based compensation attributable to a decrease in secondary sales as compared to 2019. The overall increase was partially offset by a $0.3 million decrease in travel and related expenses as a result of restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Unaudited Quarterly Results of Operations

The following tables set forth our unaudited quarterly consolidated statements of operations data and the percentage of revenue that each line item represents for each of the five quarters ended March 31, 2021. The information for each of these quarters has been prepared on the same basis as the audited annual financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus and includes all adjustments that, in our opinion, are necessary for the fair presentation of the results of operations for these periods. This data should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. These historical quarterly results are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that may be expected for any future periods and the results of a particular quarter or other interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results for a full year.

 

     Three Months Ended  
     March 31,
2020
    June 30,
2020
    September 30,
2020
    December 31,
2020
    March 31,
2021
 
     (In thousands)  

Revenue

   $ 15,603   $ 21,920   $ 27,877   $ 30,629   $ 31,875

Cost of revenue(1)

     7,358     8,665     9,482     8,784     10,860
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     8,245     13,255     18,395     21,845     21,015

Operating expenses:

          

Research and development(1)

     11,821     14,675     13,820     15,187     17,074

Sales and marketing(1)

     13,430     11,557     12,176     14,257     15,865

General and administrative(1)

     6,078     7,830     7,748     8,452     15,283
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     31,329     34,062     33,744     37,896     48,222
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

     (23,084     (20,807     (15,349     (16,051     (27,207

Other income (expense), net

     240     239     148     73     150
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss before income taxes

     (22,844     (20,568     (15,201     (15,978     (27,057

Provision for income taxes

     (7     (6     (7     (6     (10
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

   $ (22,851   $ (20,574   $ (15,208   $ (15,984   $ (27,067
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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(1)

Includes stock-based compensation as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended  
     March 31,
2020
     June 30,
2020
     September 30,
2020
     December 31,
2020
     March 31,
2021
 
     (In thousands)  

Cost of revenue

   $ 19    $ 19    $ 20    $ 21    $ 58

Research and development

     757      2,457      75      961      1,386

Sales and marketing

     1,791      494      505      885      1,373

General and administrative

     672      432      499      517      1,199
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total stock-based compensation

   $ 3,239    $ 3,402    $ 1,099    $ 2,384    $ 4,016
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     Three Months Ended  
     March 31,
2020
    June 30,
2020
    September 30,
2020
    December 31,
2020
    March 31,
2021
 
     (As a % of revenue)*  

Revenue

     100     100     100     100     100

Cost of revenue

     47       40       34       29       34  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross margin

     53       60       66       71       66  

Operating expenses:

          

Research and development

     76       67       50       50       54  

Sales and marketing

     86       53       44       47       50  

General and administrative

     39       36       28       28       48  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     201       155       121       124       151  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

     (148     (95     (55     (52     (85

Other income (expense), net

     2       1       1              
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss before income taxes

     (146     (94     (55     (52     (85

Provision for income taxes

                              
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

     (146 )%      (94 )%      (55 )%      (52 )%      (85 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

*

Certain percentages may not foot due to rounding

The following tables set forth our key business metrics for each of the five quarters in the period ended March 31, 2021:

 

    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,
2020
     June 30,
2020
     September 30,
2020
     December 31,
2020
     March 31,
2021
 

Total banking transactions (in thousands)

    191        344        422        446        494  

 

    March 31,
2020
    June 30,
2020
    September 30,
2020
    December 31,
2020
    March 31,
2021
 

Dollar-based net retention rate

    134     132     149     162     179

Quarterly Trends

Our quarterly revenue increased sequentially for all periods presented, which was driven by increases to the total banking transactions on our software platform from both expansion within our existing customer base as demonstrated by our dollar-based net retention rate, and sales to new customers. Our total banking transactions increased sequentially for all periods presented, which was attributed to the need for digital transformation at financial services firms accelerated by COVID-19. Our dollar-

 

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based net retention rate generally increased from the first quarter of 2020 through the first quarter of 2021 primarily due to increases in our total banking transactions with existing customers, which were accelerated by increases in refinance and new home purchase volumes utilizing our mortgage product.

Our quarterly cost of revenue increased sequentially for all periods presented, except for the fourth quarter of 2020, which was impacted by lower third-party fees related to platform connectivity services as compared to the preceding quarter, which was impacted by a higher volume of application submissions. Historically, we have experienced a lower volume of application submissions in the fourth quarter of the year due to changes in consumer behavior during the holidays, and subsequent increase in the volume of application submissions in the first quarter of the following year, resulting in higher connectivity costs. The increases in cost of revenue were primarily a result of increases in hosting costs, third-party fees related to platform connectivity services, software licenses, and other costs necessary to support continued growth and deliver services to our expanding customer base. Our gross margin, however, has generally improved over the periods presented, as our quarterly costs of revenue have generally decreased as a percentage of revenue over the periods presented.

Our quarterly operating expenses increased sequentially for all periods presented, except for the third quarter of 2020, which was impacted by lower stock-based compensation attributable to a decrease in secondary sales as compared to the preceding quarter.

Our quarterly research and development expenses increased sequentially for all periods presented, except for the third quarter of 2020, which was impacted by lower stock-based compensation attributable to a decrease in secondary sales among our research and development personnel as compared to the preceding quarter. The increases in research and development expenses were primarily due to increases in headcount and increases in the costs attributable to software and hosting services necessary to support our growing business and increased volume of transactions.

Our quarterly sales and marketing expenses increased for all periods presented, except for the second quarter of 2020, which was impacted by lower stock-based compensation as compared to the preceding quarter as there were no secondary sales among our sales and marketing personnel. The increases in sales and marketing expenses were primarily due to increases in headcount for our direct sales organization and investments in brand and product marketing efforts.

Our quarterly general and administrative expenses increased for all periods presented, except for the third quarter of 2020, which was impacted by lower professional fees as compared to the preceding quarter. The increases in general and administrative expenses were primarily due to increases in headcount and higher professional fees incurred to support our growth and prepare to meet our obligations as a public company following the completion of this offering. In addition, in the first quarter of 2021, our general and administrative expenses increased significantly due to an increase in professional fees for legal and consulting services, primarily related to our acquisition of Title365.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of March 31, 2021, our principal sources of liquidity were cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities of $453.2 million. Cash and cash equivalents are comprised of bank deposits and money market funds. Marketable securities are comprised of U.S. treasury and agency securities, commercial paper, and corporate debt securities. All of our cash and cash equivalents are held in the United States. Since our inception, we have financed our operations primarily through proceeds from the issuance of our convertible preferred stock and cash generated from the sale of our product offerings.

We have generated significant losses from operations and negative cash flows from operating activities in the past as reflected in our accumulated deficit of $299.9 million as of March 31, 2021. We expect to

 

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continue to incur operating losses for the foreseeable future due to the investments that we intend to make in our business and, as a result, we may require additional capital resources to grow our business.

We believe that current cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities will be sufficient to fund our operations for at least the next 12 months. Our future capital requirements, however, will depend on continued growth in our customer base, the timing and extent of spending to support our research and development efforts, the expansion of sales and marketing activities, the introduction of new and enhanced products and features, and the continuing market adoption of Blend. We may in the future enter into arrangements to acquire or invest in complementary businesses, services, and technologies, including intellectual property rights. In the event that additional financing is required from outside sources, we may seek to raise additional funds at any time through equity, equity-linked arrangements, and debt. If we are unable to raise additional capital when desired and at reasonable rates, our business, results of operations, and financial condition would be adversely affected. See the section titled “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—Our failure to raise additional capital or generate cash flows necessary to expand our operations and invest in new technologies in the future could reduce our ability to compete successfully and harm our results of operations.

During the three months ended March 31, 2021, we issued 22,418,562 shares of Series G convertible preferred stock at $13.827822 per share for total gross proceeds of approximately $310.0 million.

Credit Agreement

On June 30, 2021, we entered into a credit agreement that provides for a $225.0 million term facility and a $25.0 million revolving facility. The term facility was fully drawn at closing to provide, in part, the acquisition consideration being paid in connection with the purchase of a 90.1% stake in Title365. The revolving facility is currently undrawn.

There is no amortization of the outstanding principal amount under our credit facility; all principal amounts thereunder are payable on the maturity date (which is the fifth anniversary of the closing of the credit facility).

The obligations under our credit facility are guaranteed by all of our domestic subsidiaries (other than Title365 and its direct and indirect subsidiaries, and subject to certain thresholds and other exceptions), and secured by a lien on substantially all of our and our subsidiaries’ assets (other than the equity issued by, and the assets of, Title365 and its direct and indirect subsidiaries and subject to certain thresholds and other exceptions).

Our credit facility subjects us to certain affirmative and negative covenants, financial reporting obligations, and a minimum liquidity threshold that is tested quarterly. It also requires mandatory prepayment of all or a portion of the outstanding debt thereunder in certain circumstances. See the section titled “Description of Certain Indebtedness” for additional information.

Cash Flows

The following table summarizes our cash flows for the periods indicated:

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
    Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
         2019             2020             2020             2021      
     (In thousands)  

Net cash used in operating activities

   $ (58,939   $ (65,013   $ (22,111   $ (20,394

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

     (65,513     (7,917     37,447       6,148  

Net cash provided by financing activities

     132,666       90,756       2,041       325,465  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash

   $ 8,214     $ 17,826     $ 17,377     $ 311,219  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Cash Used in Operating Activities

Our largest source of operating cash is cash collections from our customers. Our primary uses of cash from operating activities are for employee-related expenditures, sales and marketing expenses, and third-party hosting costs. Historically, we have generated negative cash flows from operating activities and have supplemented working capital requirements through net proceeds from the private sale of equity securities.

During the three months ended March 31, 2021, operating activities used $20.4 million in cash. The primary factors affecting our operating cash flows during this period were our net loss of $27.1 million, impacted by $7.2 million non-cash charges, and $0.6 million of cash used in changes in our operating assets and liabilities. The non-cash charges primarily consisted of $4.0 million in stock-based compensation, $0.8 million of depreciation and amortization, $1.3 million in amortization of deferred contract costs, and $0.6 million of non-cash operating lease expense. The cash used in changes in our operating assets and liabilities was primarily due to a $3.4 million increase in other liabilities, a $0.8 million increase in deferred revenue, and a $0.9 million decrease in non-current deferred contract costs. These amounts were partially offset by a $3.7 million increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets and a $1.8 million decrease in accrued compensation.

During the three months ended March 31, 2020, operating activities used $22.1 million in cash. The primary factors affecting our operating cash flows during this period were our net loss of $22.9 million, impacted by $5.9 million non-cash charges, and $5.1 million of cash used due to changes in our operating assets and liabilities. The non-cash charges primarily consisted of $3.2 million in stock-based compensation, $1.2 million of depreciation and amortization, $0.8 million in amortization of deferred contract costs, and $0.6 million of non-cash operating lease expense. The cash used due to changes in our operating assets and liabilities was primarily due to a $4.8 million increase in trade and other receivables, a $1.8 million increase in prepaid expenses and other assets, and a $1.1 million decrease in accrued compensation. These amounts were partially offset by a $2.3 million increase in deferred revenue and a $0.9 million increase in other liabilities.

During 2020, operating activities used $65.0 million in cash. The primary factors affecting our operating cash flows during this period were our net loss of $74.6 million, impacted by $20.8 million non-cash charges, and $11.2 million of cash used due to changes in our operating assets and liabilities. The non-cash charges primarily consisted of $10.1 million in stock-based compensation, $4.0 million of depreciation and amortization, $3.6 million in amortization of deferred contract costs, and $2.4 million of non-cash operating lease expense. The cash used due to changes in our operating assets and liabilities was primarily due to a $12.2 million increase in trade and other receivables, a $6.5 million increase in prepaid expenses and other assets, a $2.6 million decrease in operating lease liabilities, and a $2.0 million increase in the non-current portion of deferred contract costs. These amounts were partially offset by a $5.7 million increase in accrued compensation, a $4.8 million increase in other liabilities, and a $1.2 million increase in deferred revenue.

During 2019, operating activities used $58.9 million in cash. The primary factors affecting our operating cash flows during this period were our net loss of $81.5 million, impacted by $18.5 million non-cash charges, and $4.0 million of cash provided by changes in our operating assets and liabilities. The non-cash charges primarily consisted of $9.9 million in stock-based compensation, $4.8 million of depreciation and amortization, $2.3 million in amortization of deferred contract costs, and $1.2 million in amortization related to a discount on a convertible note. The cash provided by changes in our operating assets and liabilities was primarily due to a $5.7 million increase in deferred revenue, a $2.6 million increase in accounts payable, a $2.3 million increase in accrued compensation, and a $1.1 million increase in other liabilities. These amounts were partially offset by a $7.1 million decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets and a $0.8 million decrease in deferred contract costs.

 

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Cash Provided by or Used in Investing Activities

Net cash provided by investing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2021 was $6.1 million, which was primarily the result of the sales and maturities of marketable securities of $34.9 million, partially offset by purchases of marketable securities of $25.4 million, purchase of other investment of $3.0 million, and property and equipment purchases of $0.3 million.

Net cash provided by investing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2020 was $37.4 million, which was primarily the result of the sales and maturities of marketable securities of $65.3 million, partially offset by purchases of marketable securities of $27.7 million and property and equipment purchases of $0.1 million.

Net cash used in investing activities during 2020 was $7.9 million, which was primarily the result of purchases of marketable securities of $174.0 million and property and equipment purchases of $1.3 million, partially offset by sales and maturities of marketable securities of $167.4 million.

Net cash used in investing activities during 2019 was $65.5 million, which was primarily the result of purchases of marketable securities of $150.7 million and property and equipment purchases of $0.6 million, partially offset by sales and maturities of marketable securities of $85.8 million.

Cash Provided by Financing Activities

Net cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was $325.5 million, reflecting net proceeds from issuance of Series G convertible preferred stock of $309.7 million, proceeds from the exercise of convertible preferred stock warrants of $10.2 million, the exercise of stock options of $5.8 million, partially offset by the payment of deferred offering costs of $0.2 million.

Net cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was $2.0 million, reflecting proceeds from the exercise of stock options net of repurchases.

Net cash provided by financing activities for 2020 was $90.7 million, reflecting proceeds from issuance of Series F convertible preferred stock of $76.2 million, proceeds from exercise of Class A common stock warrants of $10.0 million and the exercise of stock options net of repurchases of $4.5 million.

Net cash provided by financing activities for 2019 was $132.7 million, reflecting proceeds from issuance of Series E convertible preferred stock of $124.6 million, proceeds from a convertible note of $5.0 million, the exercise of stock options net of repurchases of $1.6 million, and the exercise of convertible preferred stock warrants of $1.5 million.

Employee Compensation

We are considering adopting various employee compensation programs, including one possible program that would allow employees the opportunity to annually elect the proportion of their compensation that would be provided in the form of cash or equity. The details of any such program, and whether we would even implement any such program, have not been determined at this time. If we do decide to adopt a program like this in the future, it could result in us paying a greater percentage of our employees’ compensation in the form of cash or equity, depending on how our employees elect to receive their compensation. This could result in us using a larger amount of our cash reserves for the payment of compensation in future periods or could result in us granting a greater number of our shares subject to equity awards, which could increase our overall dilution, increase our stock-based compensation expense for financial accounting purposes, and increase our tax withholding and remittance obligations. How we determine any such tax withholding obligations would be satisfied could further impact our cash position or increase dilution.

 

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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We administer escrow and trust deposits held at third-party financial institutions representing funds received under real estate contracts, escrowed funds received under escrow agreements, and/or undisbursed amounts received for settlement of mortgage and home equity loans. Cash held for these purposes was approximately $0.6 million as of March 31, 2021. These funds are not considered assets of ours and, therefore, are not included in our consolidated balance sheet; however, we are contingently liable for the disposition of these funds on behalf of consumers. As of March 31, 2021, we did not have any other relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as structured finance or special purpose entities that were established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other purposes.

Indemnification Agreements

In the ordinary course of business, we enter into agreements of varying scope and terms pursuant to which we agree to indemnify customers, vendors, lessors, business partners, and other parties with respect to certain matters, including, but not limited to, losses arising out of the breach of such agreements, services to be provided by us, or from intellectual property infringement claims made by third parties. In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and certain officers and employees that will require us, among other things, to indemnify them against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors, officers, or employees. No demands have been made upon us to provide indemnification under such agreements, and there are no claims that we are aware of that could have a material effect on our consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, or consolidated statements of cash flows.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

We are exposed to certain market risks in the ordinary course of our business. These risks primarily include:

Interest Rate Risk

We had cash and cash equivalents of $352.3 million and marketable securities of $100.8 million as of March 31, 2021, which consisted of bank deposits, money market funds, U.S. treasury and agency securities, commercial paper, and corporate debt securities. The cash and cash equivalents are held primarily for working capital purposes. Such interest-earning instruments carry a degree of interest rate risk. To date, fluctuations in interest income have not been significant. The primary objective of our investment activities is to preserve principal while maximizing income without significantly increasing risk. We do not enter into investments for trading or speculative purposes and have not used any derivative financial instruments to manage our interest rate risk exposure. Due to the short-term nature of our investments, we have not been exposed to, nor do we anticipate being exposed to, material risks due to changes in interest rates. A hypothetical 10% change in interest rates during any of the periods presented would not have had a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Inflation Risk

We do not believe that inflation has had a material effect on our business, results of operations, or financial condition.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires us

 

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to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, costs, and expenses, and related disclosures. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and assumptions. Our actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

We believe that of our significant accounting policies, which are described in Note 2 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements, the following accounting policies involve a greater degree of judgment and complexity. Accordingly, these are the policies we believe are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our consolidated financial condition and results of operations.

As an emerging growth company, the JOBS Act allows us to delay adoption of new or revised accounting pronouncements applicable to public companies until such pronouncements are applicable to private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act). We intend to use this extended transition period under the JOBS Act until such time as we are no longer considered to be an emerging growth company. The adoption dates discussed below reflect this election.

Revenue Recognition

Overview

We generate revenue from fees paid by our customers to access our platform, and, to a lesser extent, from professional services related to the deployment of our platform, premium support services, and consulting services. Our customers have the ability to access our platform under subscription arrangements, in which customers commit to a minimum number of completed transactions at specified prices over the contract term, or under usage-based arrangements, in which customers pay a variable amount for completed transactions at specified prices. Under our subscription arrangements, we typically bill our customers for any committed amounts quarterly, semi-annually or annually in advance and for overages beyond a customer’s contracted minimum number of completed transactions on a monthly or quarterly basis in arrears. For usage-based arrangements, we typically bill our customers for any completed transactions on a monthly basis in arrears. Subscription arrangements are generally non-cancelable during the contract term while usage-based arrangements generally can be terminated at any time by the customer. Revenue from usage-based arrangements represented 12% of our revenue for both 2019 and 2020. Arrangements with customers do not provide the contractual right to take possession of our software at any point in time. We begin recognizing revenue when access to our platform is provisioned to our customers for an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for those services.

We adopted Accounting Standard Update, or ASU, 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, or Topic 606, as of January 1, 2019, utilizing the modified retrospective transition method. Under Topic 606, we determine revenue recognition through the following steps:

 

   

Identification of the contract, or contracts, with a customer—A contract with a customer exists when (i) we enter into an enforceable contract with a customer that defines each party’s rights regarding the services to be transferred and identifies the payment terms related to these services, (ii) the contract has commercial substance, and (iii) it is determined that collection of substantially all consideration for services that are transferred is probable based on the customer’s intent and ability to pay the promised consideration when it is due.

 

   

Identification of the performance obligations in the contract—Performance obligations promised in a contract are identified based on the services that will be transferred to the customer that are both capable of being distinct, whereby the customer can benefit from the services either on their own or together with other resources that are readily available from

 

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third parties or from us, and are distinct within the context of the contract, whereby the transfer of the services is separately identifiable from the other promises in the contract. To the extent that a contract includes multiple promised services, we apply judgement to determine whether promised services are capable of being distinct.

 

   

Determination of the transaction price—The transaction price is determined based on the consideration to which we will be entitled in exchange for transferring services to the customer. We estimate and include variable consideration for our subscription arrangements in the transaction price at contract inception to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is subsequently resolved. In estimating overage fees in subscription arrangements, we consider our historical experience and other external factors that may impact the expectation of future completed transactions beyond a customer’s contracted minimum number of completed transactions.

 

   

Allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract—We allocate the transaction price to each performance obligation on a relative standalone selling price basis, or SSP. The SSP is the price at which we would sell a promised service separately to a customer. In instances where we do not sell or price a service separately, we estimate the SSP by considering available information such as market conditions, internally approved pricing guidelines, and the underlying cost of delivering the performance obligation. Judgment is required to determine the SSP for each distinct performance obligation.

 

   

Recognition of revenue when, or as, we satisfy a performance obligation—For each performance obligation identified, we determine at contract inception whether it satisfies the performance obligation over time or at a point in time. We recognize fees for subscription arrangements ratably over the non-cancelable contract term of the arrangement as subscription services are provided, beginning on the commencement date of each contract, which is the date services are made available to our customers. Access to our platform represents a series of distinct services as we continually provide access to our platform, and fulfill our obligation to our customer over the non-cancelable contractual term and the customer receives and consumes the benefit of our platform throughout the contract period. The series of distinct services represents a single performance obligation that is satisfied over time. We recognize fees for success-based arrangements as the completed transactions are processed using our platform.

Professional Services Revenue

Professional services revenue consists of fees for services related to helping customers deploy, configure, and optimize the use of our technology. These services include consulting, system integration, data migration, process enhancement, and training. Our professional services contracts are typically on a fixed price basis and billed in full at the beginning of the contract term. Professional services revenue is recognized on a proportional performance basis, which measures the service hours performed to date relative to the total expected hours to completion.

Stock-Based Compensation

We measure and recognize our stock-based compensation based on estimated fair values for all stock awards. We use the Black-Scholes-Merton pricing model to determine the grant date fair value of stock options and recognize the resulting stock-based compensation on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the awards, which is generally the vesting period. We account for forfeitures as they occur.

We will continue to use judgment in evaluating the assumptions related to our stock-based compensation on a prospective basis. As we continue to accumulate additional data related to our

 

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common stock, we may have refinements to our estimates, which could materially impact our future stock-based compensation expense. For valuations after the consummation of this offering, our board of directors will determine the fair value of each share of underlying common stock based on the closing price of our common stock on the date of grant or other relevant determination date, as reported on the New York Stock Exchange. As of March 31, 2021, the aggregate intrinsic value of our outstanding options under the 2012 Plan was $381.6 million, with $145.9 million related to exercisable stock options.

Certain stock options granted to Mr. Ghamsari, Head of Blend, Co-Founder, and Chair of our board of directors pursuant to the Founder and Head of Blend Long-Term Performance Award vest upon the satisfaction of a service condition, liquidity event-related performance condition and performance-based market conditions. The liquidity event-related performance vesting condition is satisfied on an initial public offering condition. We expect the liquidity event-related performance vesting condition will be satisfied in connection with this offering, which if it had occurred on March 31, 2021, would have resulted in an increase to stock-based compensation expense of approximately $23.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021.

Common Stock Valuations

The fair value of the common stock underlying our stock-based awards has historically been determined by our board of directors, with input from management and contemporaneous third-party valuations. We believe that our board of directors has the relevant experience and expertise to determine the fair value of our common stock. Given the absence of a public trading market of our common stock, and in accordance with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Practice Aid, Valuation of Privately-Held Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation, our board of directors exercised reasonable judgment and considered numerous objective and subjective factors to determine the best estimate of the fair value of our common stock at each grant date. These factors include:

 

   

the results of contemporaneous valuations performed at periodic intervals by a third-party valuation firm;

 

   

the prices, rights, preferences, and privileges of our convertible preferred stock relative to those of our common stock;

 

   

the prices of our convertible preferred stock and common stock sold to investors in arms-length transactions;

 

   

our actual operating and financial performance and estimated trends and prospects for our future performance;

 

   

our stage of development;

 

   

the likelihood of achieving a liquidity event, such as an initial public offering, direct listing, or sale of our company, given prevailing market conditions;

 

   

the lack of marketability involving securities in a private company;

 

   

the market performance of comparable publicly traded companies; and

 

   

U.S. and global capital market conditions.

In valuing our common stock, our board of directors determined the equity value of our business generally using the income approach and the market approach valuation methods. In allocating the equity value, we considered and have used a combination of the option pricing method, or OPM, the Probability Weighted Expected Return Method, or PWERM, and the Hybrid Method (which is a

 

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combination of the OPM and PWERM). The Hybrid Method involves the estimation of multiple future potential outcomes for us and estimation of the probability of each respective potential outcome. The common stock per share value determined using this approach is ultimately based upon probability-weighted per share values resulting from the various future scenarios. Our scenarios included the use of an initial public offering scenario and a scenario assuming continued operation as a private entity (in which an OPM was applied). After the Equity Value is determined and allocated to the various classes of shares, a discount for lack of marketability, or DLOM, is applied to arrive at the fair value of the common stock. A DLOM is applied based on the theory that as a private company, an owner of the stock has limited opportunities to sell this stock as there is not a readily available market to sell the stock.

In addition, we also considered any secondary transactions involving our capital stock. In our evaluation of those transactions, we considered the facts and circumstances of each transaction to determine the extent to which they represented a fair value exchange. Factors considered include transaction volume, timing, whether the transactions occurred among unrelated parties, and whether the transactions involved investors with access to our financial information.

Application of these approaches involves the use of estimates, judgment, and assumptions that are highly complex and subjective, such as those regarding our expected future revenue, expenses, and future cash flows, discount rates, market multiples, the selection of comparable companies, and the probability of possible future events. Changes in any or all of these estimates and assumptions or the relationships between those assumptions impact our valuations as of each valuation date and may have a material impact on the valuation of our common stock.

For valuations after the completion of this offering, our board of directors will determine the fair value of each share of underlying Class A common stock based on the closing price of our Class A common stock as reported on the date of grant. Future expense amounts for any particular period could be affected by changes in our assumptions or market conditions.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See the section titled “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” in Note 2 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for more information.

 

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BUSINESS

Company Overview

It’s our vision to bring simplicity and transparency to financial services, so everyone can gain access to the capital they need to lead better lives. To realize this vision, we have built a market-leading cloud-based software platform for financial services firms that is designed to power the end-to-end consumer journey for any banking product. From the moment a consumer starts an application for a loan or a deposit account to the moment they digitally sign the final documents, our software platform streamlines the process, so financial services firms can deliver superior consumer experiences, drive growth, and increase operational efficiency.

Consumers expect modern banking experiences to be as simple as other online shopping experiences. However, financial services firms may not have the resources and in-house software expertise to fulfill consumer demands for intuitive, digital, and easy-to-use products. In addition, most financial services firms are burdened by antiquated, inflexible systems and use separate technology stacks for different product lines, making it difficult to drive rapid improvements. Consequently, a broad range of financial services firms including banks, credit unions, fintechs, and non-bank lenders have turned to Blend to help them accelerate their digital transformation initiatives and position themselves for future growth.

Our software platform powers the mission-critical interface between financial services firms and consumers. Our growing suite of out-of-the-box, white-label products currently powers digital-first consumer journeys for mortgages, home equity loans and lines of credit, vehicle loans, personal loans, credit cards, and deposit accounts. Each of our out-of-the-box products is built from an extensive library of modular components assembled into consumer journeys that typically include data collection, verification checks, product selection, pricing, pre-approvals, disclosures, addressing stipulations, and signing closing documents. Through our low-code, drag-and-drop design tools, we also enable the creation and deployment of new product offerings. While we currently offer products for consumer banking, we plan to extend our modular software platform over time to add support for commercial banking products. In 2020, our software platform helped financial services firms process nearly $1.4 trillion in loan applications.

We bring together an extensive ecosystem of more than 2,200 currently active technology, data, and service providers through our software platform, enabling financial services firms to collaborate with third-parties to provide best-in-class experiences to consumers. As consumers use our software platform to apply for financial services products, they can shop for realtors, insurance carriers, and other service providers through integrated marketplaces that are introduced at the precise moment these third parties are needed. As more consumers use our software platform, we are able to attract a broader range of ecosystem partners, which allows us to deliver more value to consumers and attract more financial services firms as customers. This creates a powerful network effect and differentiator for our business. As of March 31, 2021, the number of participants in our ecosystem has grown by more than 1,300% year-over-year.

Strong customer relationships are a cornerstone of our success. We establish ourselves as a critical and long-term strategic partner to our customers by powering essential revenue-generating experiences, integrating our software into back office systems, and by staffing teams chartered with increasing the value we deliver over time. Our customer relationships grow as our platform is used for a broader range of products. Customers typically complete an initial deployment for one or two products and then add more products over time, building toward a unified consumer experience that supports multi-product shopping journeys. Our dollar-based net retention rate was 162% as of December 31, 2020.

 

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Our success-based business model is designed to align our growth with the interests of our customers. We offer our products through software-as-a-service agreements, where fees are assessed based on completed transactions, such as a funded loan, new account opening, or closing transaction. We do not charge for abandoned or rejected applications, even though they cause us to incur costs. Completed transaction fees are determined by the number and type of software platform components that are needed to support each product offering. Although we generated an immaterial amount of revenue through commissions or service fees when consumers use our marketplaces to select a real estate agent, property and casualty insurance carrier, or title and settlement services entity in 2020, we expect this will become a significant part of our business in the future. In 2020, financial services firms used our software platform to process 1.4 million completed banking transactions, a 190% year-over-year increase relative to the 0.48 million completed banking transactions we helped our customers process in 2019.

Our customers are currently based in the United States and range in size from the largest banks, credit unions, fintechs, and non-bank mortgage lenders in the nation to smaller community lenders with less than $1 billion in assets under management. Representative customers include Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank, M&T Bank, Truist, BMO Harris Bank, Elements Financial Federal Credit Union, Mountain America Credit Union, Lennar Mortgage, PennyMac, Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc., and Opendoor.

As of December 31, 2020, we had 291 customers including 31 of the top 100 financial services firms in the United States by assets under management and 24 of the top 100 non-bank mortgage lenders by loan volume. In 2020, 18 customers each generated more than $1 million in revenue for us, which represented 53% of our revenue in 2020.

We have achieved significant growth in recent years. For 2019 and 2020, our revenue was $50.7 million and $96.0 million, respectively, representing a 90% year-over-year growth rate. We incurred net losses of $81.5 million and $74.6 million for 2019 and 2020, respectively, as we have continued to invest in growth to capture the large market opportunity available to us.

We continually seek to enhance the end-to-end banking journeys powered by our software platform. To accelerate the adoption of innovations in our mortgage and home equity products, on March 12, 2021, we signed a definitive agreement to acquire Title365, a leading title insurance agency, from Mr. Cooper Group Inc. The acquisition was completed on June 30, 2021. Title365 will be integrated with our software platform, which enables financial services firms to automate title commitments and streamline communication with consumers and settlement teams. Together we will enable our customers to accelerate the title, settlement, and closing process at scale for mortgages, home equity lines of credit, and home equity loans. For 2019 and 2020, Title365 revenue was $105.3 million and $212.1 million, respectively. As of March 31, 2021, customers of Title365 included six of the top 12 mortgage lenders by loan volume.

Trends in Our Favor

Key trends supporting our growth include:

Consumer expectations for digital experiences are rising

Consumers increasingly expect their banks to provide data-driven, personalized, digital experiences comparable to Amazon, Netflix, Apple, and other industry leaders. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated a shift in consumer behavior away from traditional branches and toward digital channels for banking services, resulting in a 30% increase in the use of mobile banking worldwide.13 The vast majority of Millennials and Gen Z now use a mobile banking app, signifying the importance of the availability of mobile offerings to future generations.

 

13. 

Boston Consulting Group, The Front-to-Back Digital Retail Bank, January 2021.

 

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Consumers increasingly want one-stop shopping experiences for financial services

Consumers prefer simplicity and convenience when it comes to shopping for financial services. Fifty-three percent of consumers would like to be offered bundled products, such as real estate services with a home loan or car deals with a pre-approved auto loan.14 To retain consumers and drive incremental revenue, financial services firms need to provide end-to-end consumer journeys that include these elements.

Competition among financial services firms is becoming more intense

Fintechs, neobanks, and other innovators are launching digital-first offerings that draw consumers away from traditional financial services firms. Forty-two percent of U.S. consumers use at least one fintech provider.15 In addition, consumers are switching financial services providers at a faster rate than in previous years. Traditional financial services firms must invest in seamless, technology-driven, and consumer-friendly offerings that lead to higher consumer satisfaction in order to preserve and grow their market share.

The pace of change is accelerating

Financial services firms are increasingly seeking partners to help them manage consumer experiences with more agility as they wrestle with changes caused by fluctuating rate environments, government stimulus programs, and evolving regulatory requirements. In an effort to remain competitive, 48% of banks and 42% of credit unions have partnered with fintech startups over the past three years to address specific technology needs.16 Among banks planning to partner with fintechs, 86% cite that improving the consumer experience is the top priority, followed by 42% and 38% for reducing operating expenses and reducing fraud, respectively.17

Low-code development tools are shortening product development cycles

The advent of no-code and low-code development tools is enabling product teams to build, deploy, and modify new products and deliver superior consumer experiences with greater speed and flexibility. Most large organizations will have adopted multiple low-code tools in some form by year-end 2021.18 Adoption of these tools will be essential for financial services firms to innovate rapidly in the face of changing consumer expectations and fluctuating market conditions.

Better access to data is powering higher levels of automation

As banking becomes more open, financial services firms are seeking to leverage the best data in the market to improve verification of consumer assets, income, employment, identity, and credit history. In addition, financial services firms are investing in technology to help them harness this data to drive automated workflows that reduce the number of manual tasks they need to perform in order to approve an application for a loan or deposit account. The aggregate potential cost savings for financial services firms from automated workflows is estimated to be at $447 billion by 2030, with back office credit underwriting accounting for $31 billion of that total.19 By leveraging data and software to make more informed decisions automatically, financial services firms will be able to provide a frictionless consumer experience, reduce time to close, and reduce fraud.

 

14. 

Deloitte Consulting LLP, Deloitte 2020 Voice of the customer: Retail banking experience, 2020.

15. 

McKinsey & Company, How US customers’ attitudes to fintech are shifting during the pandemic, December 2020.

16. 

Cornerstone Advisors, What’s Going On in Banking 2021, Rebounding From the Pandemic, January 2021.

17. 

Forbes, 5 Bank And Fintech Partnership Ideas To Generate Revenue, October 2020.

18. 

Gartner, Forecast Analysis: Low-Code Development Technologies, January 2021.

19. 

Autonomous Research, Machine Intelligence & Augmented Finance, April 2018.

 

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Our Opportunity

Financial services firms have been shifting for years to a digital-first approach to acquiring customers and deepening existing relationships. This imperative to compete through digital-first consumer

experiences creates a compelling opportunity for Blend. Few financial services firms can afford to build best-in-class digital consumer journeys on their own, and those that can typically prefer to accelerate time to market by working with partners that provide flexible, off-the-shelf components. In addition, few financial services firms have built their own captive insurance agencies or developed their own service provider marketplaces to streamline the consumer journey due to the cost and complexity of managing these initiatives.

Blend competes in several large markets, including IT spend for banking software and commissions for home insurance policies, title insurance policies, and real estate transactions. We believe that our software platform can address a significant share of the massive total addressable market that these opportunities represent:

 

   

Gartner estimates that global enterprise IT spending for software within the banking industry was approximately $72.4 billion in 2020, which is expected to grow annually at approximately 13% through 2025.

 

   

The American Land Title Association estimates that, in the United States, more than $19.2 billion was spent on title insurance premiums in 2020.

 

   

IBISWorld estimates that, in the United States, more than $105.7 billion was spent on home insurance premiums in 2020.

 

   

We estimate that, in the United States, a total of $123.5 billion was spent on realtor commissions in 2020 based on data from the National Association of Realtors, EffectiveAgents.com, and the St. Louis Federal Reserve. According to the National Association of Realtors, the number of total existing-home sales in the United States for 2020 was 5.64 million, and the average home sale price in 2020 was approximately $387,000, according to the St. Louis Federal Reserve. The average realtor commission rate for 2020, according to EffectiveAgents.com, was 5.656%. Our estimate of realtor commission spend for 2020 was calculated by multiplying the number of total existing-home sales by the average home sale price and then multiplying that product by the average realtor commission rate.

We currently estimate the serviceable addressable market for Blend to be greater than $33 billion, based on the number of home financing and consumer banking transactions in the United States in 2020 multiplied by our average revenue per transaction in each respective subsector in which we are currently active. These subsectors include (i) core mortgage products, such as mortgage funded loans and digital closings, (ii) homebuying ecosystem products, such as home insurance, realty, title and settlement and notarization, and (iii) consumer banking products, such as credit cards, home equity loans and lines of credit, vehicle loans, personal loans, and deposit accounts. We first estimated the size of each market subsector in which we are currently active by compiling a comprehensive set of market size data and identifying a low and high estimate for the number of transactions per subsector. We then multiplied the revenue per transaction for each of our currently available products by the low estimate for the number of transactions for the applicable subsector. We then added each of these subsector estimates together to arrive at our estimated serviceable addressable market figure of greater than $33 billion. We believe the serviceable addressable market for our offerings will continue to grow over time as we add more products to our software platform, grow our partner ecosystem, and expand internationally. In addition, we believe that our software platform is well positioned to address the critical requirements of and capture a meaningful portion of these markets.

 

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Limitations of Alternative Approaches

Consumers expect modern banking experiences to be as simple as other online shopping experiences. To thrive in an increasingly competitive market, financial services firms need to deliver personalized, high quality consumer experiences to grow revenue, while simultaneously lowering costs, so they can offer more competitive rates and invest in faster innovation cycles.

Financial services firms may not have the resources and in-house software expertise to meet rising consumer expectations. Most organizations are unable to offer consumers personalized product offerings, offers for third-party services, multi-product shopping experiences, or even the opportunity to continue applying for a single product across more than one channel. Many financial services firms find it difficult to use the customer data they have already collected to pre-populate an application form or cross-sell a product.

Due to the above, we believe digital transformation has never been more imperative for financial services firms. However, these efforts are often hampered by aging infrastructure. In addition, financial services firms typically use separate technology stacks for mortgages, consumer lending products, and deposit accounts, making it difficult to drive rapid improvements. This architecture is inflexible, costly to maintain, and produces data silos that result in poor consumer experiences.

Our Solutions

We have created a flexible cloud-based software platform for financial services firms that is designed to power the end-to-end consumer journey for any banking product. From the moment a consumer starts an application to the moment they close a loan or open a deposit account, our software platform streamlines the process, so financial services firms can deliver superior consumer experiences, drive growth, and increase operational efficiency.

We believe we are well positioned to benefit from the acceleration in digital transformation investment taking place across the financial services sector. Our software simplifies complex origination processes that can include hundreds of tasks and require interactions with dozens of external technology, data, and services providers. By automating these tasks and developing pre-built integrations, we help our customers potentially avoid years of expensive in-house software development and free up resources for other initiatives.

Blend’s Cloud-Based Software Platform

 

LOGO

Mortgage Home Equity Deposit Account Vehicle Loan Personal Loan Credit Card Custom Product JOURNEY BUILDER Experience Design Process Orchestration Persona-based Workspaces Verification Decisioning Workflow Intelligence Marketplaces APIs & INTEGRATIONS PARTNER ECOSYSTEM

 

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Product Offerings

Blend’s cloud-based software platform powers the mission-critical interface between financial services firms and consumers. Financial services firms can rapidly deploy our growing number of out-of-the-box, white-labeled products for:

 

   

Mortgage—provides an end-to-end digital mortgage experience from application to close that puts financial services firms at the center of the broader homeownership journey.

 

   

Home Equity—modernizes home equity line of credit and home equity loan origination experiences, delivering higher application submission rates and faster closings.

 

   

Vehicle Loan—enables rapid financing that helps consumers get into their car, boat, RV, or powersport vehicle faster.

 

   

Credit Card—increases application conversions through a configurable product selection experience, streamlined data collection, and instant approvals.

 

   

Personal Loan—drives faster pre-approvals for unsecured and secured personal loans, lines of credit, and overdraft protection lines.

 

   

Deposit Account—increases application conversion rates and reduces fraud risk with features that support financial services firms’ Bank Secrecy Act and anti-money laundering policies.

In addition, we have developed a product called Blend Close that streamlines traditional, hybrid, and fully digital closing experiences for mortgages, home equity lines of credit, and home equity loans.

Journey Builder

Each of our products is built from an extensive library of modular components. Blend can rapidly create new product offerings by assembling our modular components into workflows using our Journey Builder, which includes low-code, drag-and-drop design tools, as well as through other approaches.

Modular Components

The modular components that make up our products generally fall under the categories of verification, decisioning, workflow intelligence, and marketplaces.

Verification Components

Our verification components automate confirmation tasks that are needed to underwrite a loan or approve the opening of a new deposit account. We have pre-built integrations with providers of technology and services to address requirements for:

 

   

Identity verification—to help financial services firms reduce fraud risk and address compliance requirements for know-your-customer (KYC) and anti-money laundering (AML) laws, we have integrations that can capture data from government issued IDs and engage third-party identity verification service providers.

 

   

Asset verification—with consumer permission, we enable financial services firms to verify account assets from directly-sourced data, sparing applicants the burden of manually collecting this information and providing financial services firms with greater assurance of data accuracy and reliability.

 

   

Income and employment verification—we integrate with payroll data providers, enabling financial services firms to verify an applicant’s income, employment details, and work history.

 

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Credit—our software platform allows financial services firms to retrieve credit reports from any of the three major credit bureaus and supports both soft and hard credit inquiries.

Decisioning Components

Our decisioning components reduce the need for human intervention by automatically applying configurable business rules throughout an application workflow. Examples include:

 

   

Pre-approvals—we automate the generation of a pre-approval decision when consumers meet specific underwriting criteria established by a financial services firm.

 

   

Cross-selling—we enable financial services firms to present personalized product recommendations to consumers based on data collected in the course of another product application.

 

   

Adverse actions—we automatically generate adverse action notifications for consumers that do not meet minimum credit criteria established by the financial services firm.

Workflow Intelligence Components

Our workflow intelligence components manage data collection and automate tasks throughout the origination process. We create applications with branching logic to streamline initial data collection. Wherever possible, our software eliminates the need for document uploads by integrating with authoritative data sources. We also automate key processing tasks so consumers can begin to address stipulations immediately after a loan application is submitted, including product and pricing selection, automated requests for letters of explanation, and capturing digital signatures on disclosures packages, resulting in faster turn-around times.

Marketplace Components

Our curated marketplace components enable consumers to shop for products and services presented at the precise moment of need during an application for a loan or a deposit account. We currently offer marketplaces that enable consumers to find real estate agents, insurance carriers, and automobiles for sale online. These marketplaces help consumers quickly locate service providers with competitive rates and enable financial services firms to increase operational efficiency by providing a one-stop shopping experience. Our acquisition of Title365 will enable us to integrate the title, settlement, and escrow process further into our platform and develop a marketplace that provides consumers and financial services firms with the flexibility to choose title insurance partners that provide services at competitive rates.

APIs and Integrations

Through our open APIs we are able to seamlessly integrate the capabilities of technology, data, and service providers into our software platform. As we develop integrations with new partners, our customers can quickly experience the benefits across their product suite. In addition, financial services firms can use our APIs to develop integrations with the back office systems in their tech stack, creating a unified, agile architecture for powering superior consumer journeys.

The Blend Ecosystem

We bring together an extensive partner ecosystem through our software platform consisting of more than 2,200 currently active technology, data, and service providers that has grown by more than

 

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1,300% year-over-year as of March 31, 2021. We provide the central hub through which these partners collaborate to deliver best-in-class consumer journeys in highly efficient ways. In addition, we provide our ecosystem partners with a critical distribution channel to reach a universe of more than 100 million consumers at the precise moment they are looking for products and services through the financial services firms we serve.

By providing the software that powers consumer journeys at financial services firms across digital, contact center, and branch channels, we are able to benefit from a substantial volume of high-intent consumer traffic with no incremental acquisition costs. As more financial services firms become Blend customers or deploy additional products through our software platform, the number of consumers using our software platform grows, which attracts more service providers to our ecosystem to serve those consumers. As a result, consumers benefit from more opportunities to save time and money, financial services firms benefit from increased operational efficiency, our partners benefit from increased distribution, and Blend generates additional revenue. We believe this win-win-win-win model creates a powerful network effect that will continue to expand our serviceable addressable market over time

Our Partner Ecosystem and Network Effect

 

LOGO

Nearly $1.4 Trillion Loan Volume22 More Transactions More upside for partners to join the Blend ecosystem More Partners 2,200 + Ecosystem Partners 23 Better and more complete experience for consumers More Value Increased value for 21 customers and higher engagement from existing ones More Adoption 160% + Dollar-based Net Retenton9 Increased transaction volume processed on Blend's software platform

 

Key elements of our partner ecosystem include:

 

   

Technology Partners—we have built integrations with over 45 technology vendors including leading providers of CRM platforms, loan origination systems, core banking systems, document generation systems, and pricing and product engines. These integrations accelerate our deployments and reduce the need for financial services firms to build their own integrations.

 

20. 

As of December 31, 2020.

21. 

As of December 31, 2020.

22. 

As of March 31, 2021.

 

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Data Partners—we have partnerships with 29 data services providers that help us automate verification checks and reduce the need for consumers to upload documents. These data services providers include credit bureaus, payroll service providers, tax preparers, consumer asset data integrators, employment verification services, and anti-fraud services.

 

   

Marketplace Partners—we partner with more than 1,200 individual realtors and 24 insurance carriers who offer their services through marketplaces integrated into our consumer journeys,

enabling consumers to shop for service providers at the precise moment they need these services.

 

   

Settlement Services Partners—more than 900 settlement agencies have been onboarded onto our software platform, enabling us to streamline the settlement and closing process for consumers getting a mortgage, home equity line of credit, or home equity loan.

To provide consumers with optimal end-to-end journeys through our software platform, we have created our own property and casualty insurance agency and our own title insurance agency. Consistent with this strategy, on March 12, 2021 we signed a definitive agreement to acquire Title365, a leading title insurance agency, from Mr. Cooper Group Inc. The acquisition was completed on June 30, 2021. Title365 will be integrated with our platform, which enables financial services firms to automate title commitments and streamline communication with consumers and settlement teams. Title365 expands our partner ecosystem through its network of more than 7,000 notaries.

Key Benefits to Our Customers

We help our customers increase their revenue by powering best-in-class customer experiences that result in:

 

   

Increased consumer acquisition—our self-service consumer journeys are available at any hour on any device, which contributes to a higher volume of application submissions. In addition, through extensive automation, we enable loan teams to handle a greater volume of loans per month.

 

   

Deeper consumer relationships—we increase loyalty and lifetime value for our customers by allowing consumers to explore multiple product offers in a single session. For example, consumers can complete a mortgage application and be presented with an immediate opportunity to open a deposit account or apply for a credit card without having to re-enter information.

 

   

Increased consumer satisfaction—we enable consumers to apply for products in minutes on any device, transition seamlessly between channels throughout the origination process, benefit from as much human support as they prefer, and save money on realtor commissions, home insurance, title insurance, and automobile purchases. When consumers rate our product experience, the median rating is 9 out of 10.

We also position our customers for long-term success by helping them streamline operations and increase efficiency through:

 

   

Faster innovation cycles—through our software platform, we help financial services firms evolve their business at a faster pace and adapt more quickly to changing market conditions than ever before. Our flexible software platform reduces time to market for new product offerings and eliminates the need to build integrations with an extensive array of technology and data services providers.

 

   

Lower operating costs—we reduce labor costs, hedging costs, and warehouse line costs by automating workflows, shortening loan cycles, and enabling digital closings. Customers of our

 

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Mortgage product are able to reduce loan cycles by an average of 7.3 days and benefit from an average of $520 in cost savings and incremental revenue per loan, a return of 6.5x relative to our list price, according to a commissioned survey conducted by MarketWise Advisors LLC in 2020.

 

   

Lower development costs—our customers benefit from a flexible, white-label software platform that is regularly updated and enhanced by hundreds of engineering, product, and operations specialists.

 

   

Reduced risk of fraud and human errors—we aggregate financial data from multiple sources with consent from consumers, which reduces the need to upload, review, and transcribe documents.

Ultimately, it is our goal to help banks, credit unions, fintechs, and non-bank lenders proactively improve financial opportunities for consumers. By removing friction, increasing transparency, and bringing greater personalization to consumer acquisition workflows, we see the potential for our software platform to help financial services firms improve the lives of millions of consumers.

What Sets Us Apart

We have already achieved significant growth, and we believe we are well positioned to serve as a long-term strategic innovation partner and provider of mission-critical software to financial services firms due to the following factors:

 

   

Single software platform designed for any banking product—as a leading cloud-based software provider that streamlines the end-to-end consumer journey for mortgages, consumer loans, and deposit accounts through a single, unified software platform, we are a trailblazer with powerful competitive advantages. We support multi-product shopping experiences and enable consumers to move seamlessly across digital devices, contact centers, and branches throughout the origination process, providing additional benefits and incentives for customers to standardize on our software platform across products and channels. Since 2015, we have invested more than $165 million in research and development to build our software platform and grow our business. We believe the time, cost, and effort to replicate the breadth of our products and depth of our capabilities is difficult for others to match.

 

   

Configurable software platform for accelerating innovation—we enable the rapid development of new product offerings by leveraging our low-code design tools and an extensive library of modular components purpose-built for loan origination, account opening, and consumer onboarding. Through our software platform, we deliver product updates on a weekly basis. Our products are highly complex and require us to have advanced knowledge of modern software development techniques as well as deep industry expertise, including in-depth knowledge of financial services regulations, product offerings, and operational workflows for approving loans and opening accounts.

 

   

Expansive partner ecosystem—through our integrations and marketplaces we enable more than 2,200 currently active technology, data, and service providers to collaborate through our software platform and provide superior consumer experiences. The scale of our partner ecosystem has grown by more than 1,300% year-over-year as of March 31, 2021, and on June 30, 2021, we completed our acquisition of Title365, which further adds more than 7,000 notaries. By aggregating transaction volume across multiple financial services firms, we are able to negotiate competitive rates for technology and data services we bundle into our products. We believe it would take competitors substantial time, effort, and cost to replicate the scale and benefits of our rapidly growing partner ecosystem.

 

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Powerful network effects—by providing the software that powers consumer journeys at financial services firms across digital, contact center, and branch channels, we are able to benefit from a substantial volume of high-intent consumer traffic with zero incremental consumer acquisition costs. As more consumers use our software platform to apply for financial services products, we attract more partners to our ecosystem. This allows us to deliver more value to consumers, attract more financial services firms as customers, expand our existing relationships with financial services firms, and generate increased revenue from completed transactions, creating a powerful network effect and differentiator for our business. Our aim is to become the distribution platform of choice for technology, data, and service providers to efficiently reach and serve consumers undertaking major financial transactions.

 

   

Agency subsidiaries and licensing—we created our own property and casualty insurance agency with licensing in all 50 states to facilitate transactions in our home insurance marketplace, and on June 30, 2021, we completed our acquisition of Title365, one of the largest title insurance agencies in the United States, with licenses and partnerships covering all 50 states, in order to deliver the benefits of our software platform to financial services firms at greater scale. We believe the complexity, cost, and level of effort to duplicate this operational scale is difficult for others to replicate.

 

   

Extensive network of customers—we have become a supplier of mission-critical software to hundreds of financial services firms, including 31 of the top 100 financial services firms in the United States by assets under management and 24 of the top 100 non-bank mortgage lenders by loan volume, and we have a proven track record of delivering our products securely, at scale, and in a way that meets their demanding needs. Once deployed, we become deeply embedded in business processes and integrated with back office systems, which makes us difficult to replace. This gives us a strong vantage point to be able to cross-sell additional offerings to our customers. In addition, the scale and diversity of our customer base provides us with extensive data and deep insights that help us strengthen our software platform, enhancing our ability to serve existing and future customers.

Our Growth Strategies

We intend to continue driving growth through the following strategies, while always maintaining a laser focus on the success of our customers:

 

   

Increase the volume of banking transactions we power for our customers—we believe there is a large market for our software platform in the United States and around the world. Our revenue grows as we increase our transaction volume by attracting new customers and by growing our relationships with existing customers. Our customers include less than 5% of the top 100 financial services firms in the world, and we believe there is a large, untapped opportunity to provide additional product offerings to the financial services firms we currently serve. For example, in 2020 we launched a new product for traditional and digital closings that was purchased by more than 70 customers over the span of eight months. As of March 31, 2021, our product portfolio consisted of seven primary software products, and 61% of our customers were using two or more products or marketplaces, an increase of more than 100% over the prior 18 months.

 

   

Continue to invest in new product offerings—we see numerous opportunities to expand our product suite both horizontally and vertically over time in ways that help us increase the volume of transactions we power and increase our revenue per banking transaction. Through our deep customer relationships we gain insights that help us align our roadmap and strategy with the most pressing needs of financial services firms. While we focus today on consumer banking, we believe we can rapidly expand our library of modular components to support

 

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commercial banking products as well. In addition to developing products in-house, we anticipate pursuing selective acquisitions and partnerships to accelerate our growth. We believe we are well-positioned over the long term to become one of the top cloud-based banking platforms responsible for powering end-to-end consumer experiences across both origination and servicing.

 

   

Integrate more marketplaces into our end-to-end consumer journeys—we generate commissions as consumers use our integrated marketplaces to select a realtor, purchase insurance, and shop online for used cars, which helps us increase our revenue per banking transaction. As we integrate more shopping experiences into our products, we can generate additional commissions with zero incremental consumer acquisition costs, while enabling financial services firms to deliver better consumer experiences.

Our Customers

Strong customer relationships are a cornerstone of our success. Our customer relationships grow over time as our platform is used for a broader range of products. Customers typically complete an initial deployment for one or two products and then add more products over time, building toward a unified consumer experience that supports multi-product shopping journeys. Our dollar-based net retention rate was 162% as of December 31, 2020.

Our customers are currently based in the United States and range in size from the largest banks, credit unions, fintechs, and non-bank mortgage lenders in the nation to smaller community lenders with less than $1 billion in assets under management. Representative customers include Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank, M&T Bank, Truist, BMO Harris Bank, Elements Financial Federal Credit Union, Mountain America Credit Union, Lennar Mortgage, PennyMac, Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc., and Opendoor.

We focus our go-to-market strategy on large financial services firms. As of December 31, 2020, we had 291 customers, including 31 of the top 100 financial services firms in the United States by assets under management and 24 of the top 100 non-bank mortgage lenders by loan volume. In 2020, 18 customers each generated more than $1 million in revenue for us, which represented 53% of our revenue in 2020.

Customer Case Studies

U.S. Bank

With more than $550 billion in assets, U.S. Bank is the fifth largest commercial bank in the United States. As part of their strategy to become more central to the financial lives of their customers, the bank selected Blend in 2016 to modernize their mortgage experience. They expanded the use of Blend to include home equity loans and lines of credit in 2018, Blend’s home insurance marketplace in 2019, and Blend’s digital closings product in 2021. As a result of the partnership, U.S. Bank indicated they experienced:

 

   

On average, a 10 day reduction in purchase cycle times with some mortgage loan cycles as short as 7 days

 

   

Home equity loan cycles reduced from 40 days to 21 days

“We understand our customers’ focus is owning a home. Important in our selection process was choosing a technology partner who understood our vision for taking the hassle out of the mortgage process, allowing our team of mortgage professionals to focus on understanding and meeting our customers’ needs while advancing our mission of sustainable homeownership.” - Tom Wind, Executive Vice President, Consumer Lending.

 

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BMO Harris Bank

BMO Harris Bank is part of BMO Financial Group, a highly diversified financial services provider and the eighth largest bank, by assets, in North America with total assets of $973 billion as of January 31, 2021. In 2018, the bank selected Blend to help increase market share for their mortgage and home equity products, and in 2020 the decision was made to expand use of Blend to also cover personal loans. Blend has supplemented the bank’s strong branch presence and online banking experience by further enhancing its home financing digital capabilities. According to BMO Harris Bank, Blend helped to drive results in the following areas:

 

   

253% year-over-year increase in digital home equity applications from 2018 to 2019

 

   

Over 100,000 hours of processing time saved for home equity applications in a single year

“Blend has been an important part of the profitable growth across our mortgage and home equity lending products.” - Mark Shulman, Head of Consumer Lending.

Elements Financial Federal Credit Union

Elements Financial Federal Credit Union has more than 100,000 members and over $2 billion in assets. The credit union deployed Blend’s mortgage product in 2017 to improve their member experience and competitive position. In 2019, Elements Financial Federal Credit Union expanded its portfolio of Blend products to include home equity loans and lines of credit, vehicle loans, personal loans, credit cards, and deposit accounts. Key changes in average monthly results noted by Elements Financial Federal Credit Union after deploying Blend include:

 

   

105% average increase in application submission rate for deposit accounts

 

   

11% average increase in approved applications for vehicle loans, personal loans, and credit cards

 

   

60% average reduction in application submission times from 11.2 minutes to 4.4 minutes for vehicle loans, personal loans, and credit cards

“We want a consumer solution for all products because we don’t want our members to have different experiences on different platforms.” - Ron Senci, Executive Vice President of Sales and Lending.

Lennar Mortgage

Lennar Mortgage is a subsidiary of Lennar Corporation, a Fortune 500 company and the nation’s largest homebuilder. Lennar Mortgage selected Blend in 2017 to simplify the process for consumers to get a mortgage and added Blend’s home insurance marketplace in 2020. In 2018, Lennar Mortgage reported the following key benefits from their partnership with Blend:

 

   

2 hours average time saved by loan officers per loan

 

   

42% higher consumer NPS score

 

   

Mortgage loan cycles as short as 10 days

“The thing that we like about Blend is that they’re forward-thinking.” - Tom Moreno, CIO Lennar Financial Services.

Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc.

Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc., or PRMI, is a nationwide, multibillion-dollar mortgage lender with over 250 branches, licensed in 49 states and more than 1,800 employees. Blend was selected in 2017

 

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to improve the PRMI customer experience and maximize each loan officer’s productivity. In 2020, PRMI reported key results from their use of Blend including:

 

   

33% loan volume growth in 2019

 

   

53% of applications are submitted on mobile devices

 

   

Mortgage applications submitted in as little as 9 minutes

“Organizations like ours are looking for solutions that allow us to transact business more effectively, remove potential defects and stumbling blocks out of the process, and help us to create a better customer experience at a lower cost.” - Chris Jones, President of Retail.

Opendoor

Opendoor is a leading digital platform for residential real estate that has enabled more than 90,000 customers to buy and sell homes. In 2018, Opendoor selected Blend to accelerate their ability to bring a mortgage product to market. The relationship further expanded in 2021 when Opendoor began using Blend’s integrated marketplace for property and casualty insurance. Key results from using Blend for the quarter ending March 31, 2021 include:

 

   

40% of applications submitted via mobile devices on average

 

   

66.2 average consumer Net Promoter Score

“Blend helped us meet our goals of delivering a digital experience to our customers, while accelerating our time to market.” - Eric Wu, Co-Founder and CEO.

Sales and Marketing

We focus on building successful long-term customer relationships through a go-to-market approach we call the Customer First model. Under this approach, accounts are staffed with a Relationship Manager and Customer Success Manager who work together to align revenue growth with value delivery.

Our products are sold through a direct sales force that continues to manage customer relationships on an ongoing basis post-sale. To create incentives for acquiring new customers and growing existing relationships, compensation is based on a combination of closing new deals and growing transaction volume through our software platform. We use a “land and expand” approach to growing customer relationships, typically completing an initial deployment for one or two products and then adding more products over time.

Our marketing is designed to highlight the success of our customers and engage the market through high-value, personalized offers and experiences. Our marketing efforts are focused on building brand awareness, inbound lead generation, market education, and supporting our direct sales team. To maintain a high level of engagement with our customers, we host a customer conference called Forward and an executive summit called Forum where we discuss the latest innovations shaping the future of lending and banking with our customers and with leaders across the industry.

Customer Success

We work in close partnership with our customers to help them rapidly deploy our software platform and realize value as quickly as possible from the breadth of our features. By investing deeply in the success of our customers, we seek to build a strong foundation for long-term relationships. Each

 

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customer is supported by a team of deployment and integration specialists. Most new customer deployments are completed within three to four months, including integrations to back-end systems. To reduce friction during the sales process, deployment services are typically delivered at near break-even costs, and we provide our customers with a free testing environment.

We also provide free training services and maintain an online knowledge base with best practices and training information to help our customers educate more than 55,000 loan originators, processors, and support staff. We publish weekly release notes featuring product updates, and our support professionals are available 24 hours per day, seven days per week, and 52 weeks per year to answer questions and help customers resolve issues.

Research & Development

Our software platform operates as the interface that connects consumers, financial services firms, and third-party service providers such as realtors, property and casualty insurance providers, title agencies, and notaries. We invest substantial resources in research and development to expand our software platform by developing new components, features, and product offerings. Our engineering, product, and design teams build our software platform and products in close partnership with our customers and use focus groups with both customers and consumers to gain a deep understanding of the tasks and workflows we automate. We also analyze the data from millions of applications flowing through our system to understand opportunities for driving further efficiencies and improvements.

We use Agile software development methodologies and automated testing to support continuous product deployment with new code shipping nearly every week. Our modular platform architecture uses microservices and APIs to support the ability for our customers to create unique financial product offerings and consumer journeys. As of December 31, 2020, we had 209 full-time employees, or 36% of our total headcount, involved in research and development and related activities. Our research and development organization is based in San Francisco, California with additional resources around the United States.

Our Culture and Employees

We have built a unique culture around a series of beliefs and practices we call The Blend Way. The key elements of our belief system are:

1. Create Long Term Customer Value—we aim to consistently improve every day by integrating four key sources of customer value into all that we do: increased growth, reduced friction, reduced complexity, and reduced risk and cost.

2. Be a Dream Team—we aim to hire the best people, catalyze their professional performance and growth, and build a collaborative culture where highly diverse talent will thrive.

3. Act with Urgency—we aim to act quickly, learn and move on. We’re on a decades-long journey, where every second counts.

4. Focus on Inputs Over Outcomes—we aim to improve our decision-making quality rather than focusing on near-term results, believing that intelligent decision-making will yield the best outcomes over time.

5. Be Bold and Take Action—we aim to be agile and courageous in the pursuit of a big vision, nimbly leaning into the next tough challenge or ambiguous problem that’s yet to be solved.

6. Create Unique Advantages—we aim to build our competitive edge by delivering unique value, and maintain that edge through a perpetual innovator’s mindset.

 

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7. Distribute Ownership—we aim to ensure our builders have the authority, autonomy, and ownership to quickly and freely create.

8. Lead with Candor and Context—we aim to recognize the inherent power in all of us, knowing that access to straightforward information shared openly is the best catalyst to manifest that power.

Our employees are essential for our continued growth. Our culture, industry success, and competitive compensation enable us to successfully retain our employees and to effectively recruit new talent aligned with our vision. We have received numerous awards for corporate culture and professional development and were recently listed by Forbes as one of America’s Best Startup Employers for 2021 and by Inc. Magazine as one of America’s Best Workplaces for 2021.

Central to Blend’s culture is our commitment to Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging. Our core goals in this area include becoming an equitable employer of the future, creating an open and equitable consumer banking ecosystem, and demonstrating social impact and community investment. To achieve these goals, we cultivate diverse talent pipelines, partner with organizations committed to promoting racial equity and greater accessibility in the financial services ecosystem, and support philanthropic causes. Over the past year, we have contributed funds to support disaster relief, racial equity, and the combating of violence against the Asian- and Asian-American community.

As of December 31, 2020, we had a total of 577 employees. None of our employees are represented by a labor union or covered by a collective bargaining agreement. We have not experienced any work stoppages, and we consider our relations with our employees to be good.

Our Commitment to Social Impact

Blend’s mission is to expand access to the world’s financial resources. Our digital-first products help financial services firms deliver financial products to consumers that improve their lives. We are proud to build consumer journeys that are accessible to all, especially those in underbanked communities.

In August 2020, we launched the Equitable Ecosystem Initiative to drive accessibility and promote racial equity in the financial services ecosystem through community partnerships, technology investments, and regulatory engagement. We have partnered with organizations to increase opportunity for new and prospective Black homebuyers. We have also supported the longevity of Minority Depository Institutions, or MDIs, and Community Development Financial Institutions, or CDFIs, including through the creation of a partnership with a financial services firm to drive capital to MDIs and by offering to provide Blend’s software platform to MDIs and CDFIs for free. In addition, we are committed to working closely with non-profits, industry partners, and our customers to develop enhancements to our software platform that further support more equitable outcomes for underbanked communities.

We have also joined the Pledge 1% movement, a community of companies devoted to driving positive social impact. As a member of this community we have committed 1% of our product and employee time to supporting our Equitable Ecosystem Initiative, and we encourage employees to support causes of their choice by offering 24 hours of paid time off for participating in volunteer programs.

Competition

The primary competitors for our software platform include point solution vendors, providers of back office software with proprietary digital capabilities, and systems developed internally at financial

 

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services firms. We also expect new players to enter the market and existing companies to allocate more resources to develop and market products that compete with ours. We contract with several providers of back-office software for financial services firms in order to integrate our products with their software, and these providers may choose to offer competing software products. We believe we distinguish ourselves from the competition through the breadth of our product offerings, the flexibility of our configurable platform architecture, our ability to support multi-product shopping experiences, the scale of our ecosystem, the service-provider marketplaces integrated into our product offerings, the size and scale of our customer base, and our ability to power superior end-to-end consumer journeys.

The principal competitive factors in our industry include:

 

   

product functionality;

 

   

consumer experience;

 

   

employee user experience;

 

   

time to value;

 

   

total cost of ownership;

 

   

flexibility;

 

   

scalability;

 

   

ease of integration;

 

   

level of customer satisfaction;

 

   

ability to innovate rapidly;

 

   

brand awareness; and

 

   

brand reputation.

We believe our product strategy, speed of innovation, and company culture allow us to compete favorably with respect to these factors. However, we expect competition to increase as our competitors invest more in their digital capabilities. Our ability to remain competitive will depend on our ongoing efforts to expand our product capabilities and increase the value we deliver to our customers.

Intellectual Property

We believe that our success depends in part on our ability to protect our core technology and innovations. We rely on a combination of trademark, patent, copyright, and trade secret laws in the United States and other jurisdictions, as well as license agreements, contractual restrictions, non-disclosure agreements, intellectual property assignment agreements, and other contractual protections, to establish and protect our intellectual property rights. We control access to our proprietary technology by entering into confidentiality and invention assignment agreements with our employees and contractors, and confidentiality agreements with third parties. Though we rely in part upon these legal and contractual protections, we believe that factors such as the technological and creative skills of our personnel, creation of new services, features and functionality, and frequent enhancements to our software platform are more essential to establishing and maintaining our technology leadership position. In addition, we use open source software in our services. The terms of various open source licenses have not been interpreted by United States courts, and there is a risk that such licenses could be construed in a manner that imposes unanticipated conditions or restrictions on our services.

 

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As of March 31, 2021, we had one issued patent in the United States and patent applications pending in the United States, European Patent Office, Canada, and Australia. We continue to evaluate our intellectual property portfolio, and may seek patent protection for additional intellectual property developed by us in the future. Additionally, we have registered the term “Blend” in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, and as of March 31, 2021, we had pending trademark applications in the United States as well as Canada. We also have registered domain names that we use in, or are related to, our business, most importantly blend.com.

We intend to pursue additional intellectual property protection to the extent we believe it would be beneficial and cost-effective. Despite our efforts to protect our intellectual property rights, they may not be respected in the future or may be invalidated, circumvented, or challenged. For additional information, see the section titled “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property—Failure to adequately protect our intellectual property could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.”

Government Regulation

Our customers and prospective customers are highly regulated and are generally required to comply with stringent regulations in connection with performing business functions that our products and services address. Additionally, we facilitate compliance with these regulatory requirements. While we currently operate our business in an effort to ensure our business itself is not subject to extensive regulation, there is a risk that certain regulations could become applicable to us, including as we expand the functionality of and services offered through our software platform. In addition, we and our partners, vendors, and other service providers must comply with laws and regulatory regimes that apply to us directly and our partners, vendors, and other service providers indirectly, including through certain of our products, as a technology provider to financial services firms, and in areas such as privacy, data security and data protection, and our contractual relationships with our customers.

In particular, certain laws, regulations, and rules our customers are subject to, and we facilitate compliance with, include:

 

   

TILA, and Regulation Z promulgated thereunder, and similar state laws, which require certain disclosures to borrowers regarding the terms and conditions of their loans and credit transactions, and require creditors to comply with certain lending practice restrictions as well as TRID, which imposes specific requirements around the collection of information, charging of fees, and disclosure of specific loan terms and costs upon receipt of an application for credit;

 

   

RESPA and Regulation X which require certain disclosures to be made to the borrower at application, as to the financial services firm’s good faith estimate of loan origination costs, and at closing with respect to the real estate settlement statement, prohibits giving or accepting any fee, kickback or a thing of value for the referral of real estate settlement services or accepting a portion or split of a settlement fee other than for services actually provided for affiliated business relationships, prohibits receiving anything other than a legitimate return on ownership, requiring use of an affiliate, and failing to provide a disclosure of the affiliate relationship;

 

   

ECOA, and Regulation B promulgated thereunder, and similar state fair lending laws, which prohibit creditors from discouraging or discriminating against credit applicants on the basis of race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, marital status, the fact that all or part of the applicant’s income derives from any public assistance program or the fact that the applicant has in good faith exercised any right under the federal Consumer Credit Protection Act;

 

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FCRA, and Regulation V promulgated thereunder, imposes certain obligations on consumer reporting agencies, users of consumer reports and those that furnish information to consumer reporting agencies, including obligations relating to obtaining consumer reports, marketing using consumer reports, taking adverse action on the basis of information from consumer reports and protecting the privacy and security of consumer reports and consumer report information;

 

   

Section 5 of the FTC Act, which prohibits unfair and deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce, and Section 1031 of the Dodd-Frank Act, which prohibits unfair, deceptive or abusive acts or practices in connection with any consumer financial product or service, and analogous state laws prohibiting unfair, deceptive or abusive acts or practices;

 

   

GLBA, and Regulation P promulgated thereunder, which includes limitations on financial services firms’ disclosure of nonpublic personal information about a consumer to nonaffiliated third parties, in certain circumstances requires financial services firms to limit the use and further disclosure of nonpublic personal information by nonaffiliated third parties to whom they disclose such information and requires financial services firms to disclose certain privacy notices and practices with respect to information sharing with affiliated and unaffiliated entities as well as to safeguard personal borrower information, and other privacy laws and regulations;

 

   

EFTA, and Regulation E promulgated thereunder, which provide guidelines and restrictions on the electronic transfer of funds from consumers’ bank accounts, including requirements for overdraft services and a prohibition on a creditor requiring a consumer to repay a credit agreement in preauthorized (recurring) electronic fund transfers and disclosure and authorization requirements in connection with such transfers;

 

   

HPA, which requires certain disclosures and the cancellation or termination of mortgage insurance once certain equity levels are reached;

 

   

HMDA, and Regulation C, which require reporting of loan origination data, including the number of loan applications taken, approved, denied and withdrawn;

 

   

FHA, which prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, sex, national origin, and certain other characteristics;

 

   

The SAFE Act, which imposes state licensing requirements on mortgage loan originators;

 

   

state laws and regulations impose requirements related to unfair or deceptive business practices and consumer protection, as well as other state laws relating to privacy, information security, conduct in connection with data breaches;

 

   

TCPA, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, which impose various consumer consent requirements and other restrictions in connection with telemarketing activity and other communication with consumers by phone, fax or text message, and which provide guidelines designed to safeguard consumer privacy in connection with such communications;

 

   

CAN-SPAM and TSR, and analogous state laws, which impose various restrictions on marketing conducted use of email, telephone, fax or text message;

 

   

ESIGN Act, and similar state laws, particularly UETA, which authorize the creation of legally binding and enforceable agreements utilizing electronic records and signatures and which require financial services firms to obtain a consumer’s consent to electronically receive disclosures required under federal and state laws and regulations;

 

   

ADA, which has been interpreted to include websites as “places of public accommodations” that must meet certain federal requirements related to access and use;

 

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RFPA and similar state laws enacted to provide the financial records of financial services firms’ customers a reasonable amount of privacy from government scrutiny;

 

   

BSA and the USA PATRIOT Act, which relate to compliance with anti-money laundering, borrower due diligence and record-keeping policies and procedures;

 

   

the regulations promulgated by OFAC under the U.S. Treasury Department related to the administration and enforcement of sanctions against foreign jurisdictions and persons that threaten U.S. foreign policy and national security goals, primarily to prevent targeted jurisdictions and persons from accessing the U.S. financial system; and

 

   

other state-specific and local laws and regulations.

In addition to the laws, regulations, and rules that apply to our customers, and that we facilitate compliance with, we, in our capacity as a service provider to financial services firms and as a provider of marketplace services directly to consumers, and our partners, vendors, and other service providers, may be deemed to be subject to certain laws, regulations, and rules through our relationships with our customers including RESPA, FCRA, FTC Act, GLBA, FHA, TCPA, CAN-SPAM, TSR, ESIGN Act, ADA, OFAC, and state laws and regulations that impose requirements related to unfair or deceptive business practices and consumer protection, as well as other state laws relating to privacy, information security, conduct in connection with data breaches.

We are also subject to a variety of laws, rules, and regulations relating to the real estate, property and casualty insurance, title insurance and settlement services industries, mobile- and internet-based businesses, and data security, advertising, privacy, and consumer protection laws. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Legal and Regulatory Environment” for additional information and a discussion of our regulatory risks.

Data Privacy and Security

The data we collect, use, receive, and otherwise process is integral to our business, providing us with insights to improve our software platform and our products. Our collection, use, receipt, and other processing of data in our business subjects us to numerous U.S. state and federal laws and regulations addressing privacy, data protection, information security, and the collection, storing, sharing, use, transfer, disclosure, protection and processing of certain types of data. Such regulations include, for example, GLBA, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, CAN-SPAM, Canada’s Anti-Spam Law, TCPA, FCRA, the FTC Act, and CCPA. We work to comply with, and to help allow customers to comply with, applicable laws and regulations relating to privacy, data protection and information security. This helps underpin our strategy of building trust and providing a strong experience to customers.

Despite our efforts to comply with applicable laws, regulations, and other obligations relating to privacy, data protection, and information security, it is possible that our interpretations of the law, practices, or software platform could be inconsistent with, or fail or be alleged to fail to meet all requirements of, such laws, regulations, or obligations. Our failure, or the failure by our partners, vendors, service providers, or customers, to comply with applicable laws or regulations or any other obligations relating to privacy, data protection, or information security, or any compromise of security that results in unauthorized access to, or use or release of personal information or other data relating to consumers or other individuals, or the perception that any of the foregoing types of failure or compromise has occurred, could damage our reputation, discourage new and existing customers and consumers from using our software platform, or result in fines, investigations, or proceedings by governmental agencies and private claims and litigation, any of which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

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See the section titled “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Legal and Regulatory Environment—Changes in laws or regulations relating to privacy, data protection or the protection or transfer of personal information, or any actual or perceived failure by us to comply with such laws and regulations or any other obligations relating to privacy, data protection or the protection or transfer of personal data, could adversely affect our business.” for additional information about our approach to laws and regulations relating to privacy, data protection, and information security.

Facilities

Our corporate headquarters is located in San Francisco, California, where we currently occupy facilities totaling approximately 47,000 square feet under a lease agreement that expires in 2025. We also lease offices in New York, New York and Thousand Oaks, California. We do not own any real property. We believe that our current facilities are adequate to meet our current needs, and we believe we can acquire suitable additional or alternative space as needed.

Legal Proceedings

From time to time, we may become involved in legal proceedings or be subject to claims arising in the normal course of business. We are not presently party to any litigation that, if determined adversely to us, we believe would be likely to have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

Future litigation may be necessary, among other things, to defend ourselves or our customers by determining the scope, enforceability, and validity of third-party proprietary rights or to establish our proprietary rights. The results of any litigation cannot be predicted with certainty, particularly in the areas of unsettled and evolving law in which we operate, and an unfavorable resolution in any legal proceedings could materially affect our future business, financial condition, or results of operations. Regardless of the outcome, litigation can have an adverse impact on us because of defense and settlement costs, diversion of management resources, and other factors.

 

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MANAGEMENT

Executive Officers and Directors

The following table provides information regarding our executive officers and directors as of March 31, 2021:

 

Name

   Age     

Position(s)

Executive Officers:

     

Nima Ghamsari

     35      Head of Blend, Co-Founder, and Director

Timothy J. Mayopoulos

     62      President and Director

Marc Greenberg

     50      Head of Finance and Head of People

Crystal Sumner

     37      Head of Legal, Compliance, and Risk and Corporate Secretary

Non-Employee Directors:

     

Gerald Chen(1)(2)(3)

     46      Director

Erin James Collard(2)(3)

     41      Director

Roger Ferguson, Jr.(1)(2)

     69      Director

Ann Mather(1)

     60      Director

 

(1)

Member of our audit committee

(2)

Member of our compensation committee

(3)

Member of our nominating and corporate governance committee

Executive Officers

Nima Ghamsari. Mr. Ghamsari is one of our co-founders and has served as Head of Blend and a member of our board of directors since May 2012. He previously worked at Palantir Technologies, a software company. Mr. Ghamsari holds a B.S. in Computer Science from Stanford University.

Mr. Ghamsari was selected to serve on our board of directors because of the perspective and experience he brings as Head of Blend and one of our co-founders.

Timothy J. Mayopoulos. Mr. Mayopoulos has served as our President since January 2019 and as a member of our board of directors since April 2019. Prior to joining us, Mr. Mayopoulos served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Fannie Mae, a government-sponsored enterprise, from June 2012 to October 2018, having previously served in various other roles, including as its Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary from April 2009 to June 2012. Mr. Mayopoulos also previously held senior roles at various financial institutions, including Bank of America, Deutsche Bank, Credit Suisse First Boston, and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette. Mr. Mayopoulos has served on the board of directors of Science Applications International Corporation, a technology integrator, since January 2015 and LendingClub Corporation, a digital marketplace bank, since August 2016. Mr. Mayopoulos holds an A.B. in English from Cornell University and a J.D. from the New York University School of Law.

Mr. Mayopoulos was selected to serve on our board of directors because of his financial expertise and experience in financial services and the banking industry.

Marc Greenberg. Mr. Greenberg has served as our Head of Finance since September 2018, and as our Head of People since March 2020. Prior to joining us, Mr. Greenberg led the finance operations and most recently served as Vice President of Finance and Strategy at Pixar Animation Studios, a computer animation film studio, or Pixar, from November 2002 to August 2018. Mr. Greenberg holds a B.S. in Business and Management from the University of Maryland at College Park.

 

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Crystal Sumner. Ms. Sumner currently serves as our Head of Legal, Compliance, and Risk and Corporate Secretary and has served in multiple roles since she joined us in June 2016. Prior to joining us, Ms. Sumner served as Product and Regulatory Counsel of Eventbrite Inc., an event management and ticketing website, from October 2014 to June 2016, and as an Enforcement Attorney for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau from June 2011 to September 2014. Prior to her in-house experience, Ms. Sumner was an attorney with O’Melveny & Myers LLP. Ms. Sumner holds a B.A. in International Business from Texas Tech University and a J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law.

Non-Employee Directors

Gerald Chen. Mr. Chen has served as a member of our board of directors since July 2017. He has been a General Partner at Greylock Partners, a venture capital firm, since June 2013. Mr. Chen has served as a member of the board of directors of Truera, a startup developing a machine learning model intelligence platform, since April 2019 and Chronosphere, a cloud native monitoring tool, since July 2019, and also serves on the board of directors of several other private companies. Mr. Chen holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

Mr. Chen was selected to serve on our board of directors because of his extensive experience with technology companies and in the venture capital industry.

Erin James Collard. Mr. Collard is one of our co-founders and has served as a member of our board of directors since August 2015. Previously, Mr. Collard served as our Chief Financial Officer from January 2013 to September 2018. He has over a decade of financial and technology experience, having served as both head trader and managing director at Clarium Capital Management LLC, an investment management and hedge fund company. Mr. Collard holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Sheffield and an M.Sc. in Economics from the University of Warwick.

Mr. Collard was selected to serve on our board of directors because of the perspective and experience he brings as one of our co-founders.

Roger Ferguson, Jr. Mr. Ferguson has served as a member of our board of directors since March 2021. Mr. Ferguson served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of TIAA, a major financial services company, from April 2008 to April 2021. Mr. Ferguson previously served as Chairman of America Holding Corporation, Head of Financial Services, and a member of the Executive Committee of Swiss Re, a global reinsurance company, from 2006 to 2008. Prior to that, Mr. Ferguson joined the Board of Governors of the U.S. Federal Reserve System in 1997 and served as its Vice Chairman from 1999 to 2006, and he also served as an associate and partner at McKinsey & Company from 1984 to 1997. Mr. Ferguson has served as a member of the board of directors of Alphabet Inc. since June 2016, as a member of the board of directors of General Mills, Inc., a manufacturer and marketer of branded consumer foods, since December 2015, where he serves as a member of the finance committee and as chair of the corporate governance committee, as a member of the board of directors of International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc., a creator of flavors and fragrances, since April 2010, where he serves as chair of the compensation committee, and as a member of the board of directors of Corning Incorporated, a manufacturing company. Mr. Ferguson serves on the New York State Insurance Advisory Board and the boards of the American Council of Life Insurers, the Institute for Advanced Study, the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the Conference Board. He is a fellow of the American Philosophical Society and the Academy of Arts & Sciences and is a member of the Smithsonian Institution’s Board of Regents, the Economic Club of New York, the Council on Foreign Relations, and the Group of Thirty. Mr. Ferguson holds a B.A in Economics, a J.D., and a Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard University.

 

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Mr. Ferguson was selected to serve on our board of directors because of his financial expertise and extensive experience in financial services and the banking industry.

Ann Mather. Ms. Mather has served on our board of directors since June 2019. Ms. Mather served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Pixar from September 1999 to April 2004. Ms. Mather has served as a member of the board of directors of Alphabet Inc., a global technology company, since November 2005, Netflix, Inc., a streaming media company, since June 2010, Arista Networks, Inc., a computer networking company, since July 2013, Airbnb, Inc., a vacation rental online marketplace company, since August 2018, and Bumble Inc., an online dating app, since March 2020. Ms. Mather has also served as an independent trustee to the Dodge & Cox Funds board of trustees since 2011 and previously served as a member of the board of directors of Shutterfly, Inc., an internet-based image publishing company, from May 2013 to September 2019, and Glu Mobile, Inc., a publisher of mobile games, from September 2005 to February 2021. Ms. Mather holds a Master of Arts from the University of Cambridge, and is an honorary fellow of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge and a chartered accountant.

Ms. Mather was selected to serve on our board of directors because of her background serving as a finance executive at a number of technology companies and her experience serving as a director of various private and public companies.

Family Relationships

There are no family relationships among any of our executive officers or directors.

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

Our board of directors will adopt a code of business conduct and ethics that applies to all of our employees, officers, and directors, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, and other executive and senior financial officers. The full text of our code of business conduct and ethics will be posted on the investor relations page on our website. We intend to disclose any amendments to our code of business conduct and ethics, or waivers of its requirements, on our website or in filings under the Exchange Act.

Board of Directors

Our business and affairs are managed under the direction of our board of directors. Our board of directors currently consists of six directors. Pursuant to our current certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated voting agreement, our current directors were elected as follows:

 

   

Messrs. Ghamsari, Collard, Ferguson, and Mayopoulos were elected as the designees nominated by holders of our common stock;

 

   

Mr. Chen was elected as the designee nominated by holders of our Series D convertible preferred stock; and

 

   

Ms. Mather was elected as the designee nominated by holders of our common stock and convertible preferred stock.

Our amended and restated voting agreement will terminate and the provisions of our current certificate of incorporation by which our directors were elected will be amended and restated in connection with this offering. After this offering, the number of directors will be fixed by our board of directors, subject to the terms of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws that will become effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering. Each of our current directors will continue to serve as a director until the election and qualification of their successor, or until their earlier death, resignation, or removal.

 

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Director Independence

Our board of directors has undertaken a review of the independence of each director. Based on information provided by each director concerning their background, employment, and affiliations, our board of directors has determined that Messrs. Chen and Ferguson and Ms. Mather do not have a relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director and that each of these directors is “independent” as that term is defined under the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange. In making these determinations, our board of directors considered the current and prior relationships that each non-employee director has with our company and all other facts and circumstances our board of directors deemed relevant in determining their independence, including the beneficial ownership of our capital stock by each non-employee director, and the transactions involving them described in the section titled “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.”

In addition, certain phase-in periods with respect to director independence will be available to us under the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange. We do expect to take advantage of certain of these provisions. These phase-in periods allow us to satisfy the majority independent board requirement within one year of the date of this prospectus, and would require us to have at least one independent member on our nominating and corporate governance committee and at least one independent member on our compensation committee by the date of this prospectus, a majority of independent members on each committee within 90 days of the date of this prospectus, and fully-independent committees within one year of the date of this prospectus.

Committees of the Board of Directors

Our board of directors will establish an audit committee, a compensation committee, and a nominating and corporate governance committee. The composition and responsibilities of each of the committees of our board of directors is described below. Members will serve on these committees until their resignation or until as otherwise determined by our board of directors.

Audit Committee

Following the completion of this offering, our audit committee will consist of Messrs. Chen and Ferguson and Ms. Mather, with Ms. Mather serving as Chair, and each of whom will meet the requirements for independence under the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange and SEC rules and regulations. Each member of our audit committee will also meet the financial literacy and sophistication requirements of the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange. In addition, our board of directors has determined that each of Mr. Ferguson and Ms. Mather is an audit committee financial expert within the meaning of Item 407(d) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act. Following the completion of this offering, our audit committee will, among other things:

 

   

select a qualified firm to serve as the independent registered public accounting firm to audit our financial statements;

 

   

help to ensure the independence and performance of the independent registered public accounting firm;

 

   

review and discuss the scope and results of the audit with the independent registered public accounting firm, and review, with management and the independent registered public accounting firm, our interim and year-end results of operations;

 

   

review our financial statements and our critical accounting policies and estimates;

 

   

oversee and monitor the integrity of our financial statements, accounting and financial reporting processes, and internal controls;

 

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oversee the design, implementation, and performance of our internal audit function;

 

   

oversee our compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements;

 

   

oversee our technology security and data privacy programs;

 

   

develop procedures for employees to submit concerns anonymously about questionable accounting or audit matters;

 

   

oversee our policies on risk assessment and risk management;

 

   

oversee compliance with our code of business conduct and ethics;

 

   

review related party transactions; and

 

   

approve or, as required, pre-approve, all audit and all permissible non-audit services to be performed by the independent registered public accounting firm.

Our audit committee will operate under a written charter, to be effective prior to the completion of this offering, that satisfies the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange.

Compensation Committee

Following the completion of this offering, our compensation committee will consist of Messrs. Chen, Collard, and Ferguson, with Mr. Chen serving as Chair. Each of Messrs. Chen and Ferguson will meet the requirements for independence under the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange. We intend to rely on the phase-in provisions of the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange. Messrs. Chen and Ferguson are also non-employee directors, as defined pursuant to Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, or Rule 16b-3. Following the completion of this offering, our compensation committee will, among other things:

 

   

review, approve and determine, or make recommendations to our board of directors regarding, the compensation of our executive officers, including our principal executive officer;

 

   

administer our equity compensation plans;

 

   

review, approve, and administer incentive compensation plans;

 

   

establish and review general policies and plans relating to compensation and benefits of our employees and be responsible for our overall compensation philosophy;

 

   

evaluate and make recommendations regarding non-employee director compensation to our full board of directors;

 

   

assist in the evaluation of the performance of our executive officers, including our principal executive officer; and

 

   

periodically review and discuss with our board of directors the corporate succession plans for executive officers.

Our compensation committee may delegate its authority and duties as it deems appropriate in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Accordingly, our compensation committee may delegate non-exclusive authority to grant equity and other awards under our compensation plans that comply with Section 16 of the Exchange Act to a subcommittee comprised entirely of members of the compensation committee that meet the requirements of a “non-employee director” or such awards will be approved by the full board of directors.

Our compensation committee will operate under a written charter, to be effective prior to the completion of this offering, that satisfies the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange.

 

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Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

Following the completion of this offering, our nominating and corporate governance committee will consist of Messrs. Chen and Collard, with Mr. Collard serving as Chair. Mr. Chen will meet the requirements for independence under the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange. We intend to rely on the phase-in provisions of the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange. Following the completion of this offering, our nominating and corporate governance committee will, among other things:

 

   

identify, evaluate and select, or make recommendations to our board of directors regarding, nominees for election to our board of directors;

 

   

consider and make recommendations to our board of directors regarding the composition of our board of directors and its committees;

 

   

evaluate the performance of our board of directors and of individual directors;

 

   

oversee and review developments in corporate governance practices;

 

   

evaluate the adequacy of our corporate governance practices and reporting; and

 

   

develop and make recommendations to our board of directors regarding corporate governance guidelines and matters.

Our nominating and corporate governance committee will operate under a written charter, to be effective prior to the completion of this offering, that satisfies the applicable listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

None of the members of our compensation committee is or has been an officer or employee of our company. None of our executive officers currently serves, or in the past year has served, as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee (or other board committee performing equivalent functions) of any entity that has one or more of its executive officers serving on our board of directors or compensation committee. See the section titled “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions” for information about related party transactions involving members of our compensation committee or their affiliates.

Non-Employee Director Compensation

The compensation received by Nima Ghamsari and Timothy J. Mayopoulos as employees is set forth in the section titled “Executive Compensation—Summary Compensation Table.”

Except as noted below with respect to certain option awards, in 2020, none of our non-employee directors received compensation for their service as directors.

 

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The following table lists all outstanding equity awards held by our non-employee directors as of December 31, 2020:

 

     Option Awards  

Name

   Grant
Date
     Number of Shares
Underlying
Unexercised
Option Awards(1)
    Option
Exercise
Price
     Option
Expiration
Date
 

Gerald Chen

     —          —         —          —    

Erin James Collard

     10/26/2015        800,000 (2)    $ 0.45        10/25/2025  
     4/18/2016        66,666 (2)    $ 0.54        4/17/2026  
     2/8/2017        53,333 (2)    $ 0.54        2/7/2027  
     2/21/2018        100,000 (2)    $ 0.87        2/20/2028  

Roger Ferguson, Jr.(3)

     —          —         —          —    

Joseph Lonsdale(4)

     —          —         —          —    

Eugene Marinelli(5)

     —          —         —          —    

Ann Mather

     7/30/2019        999,267 (6)    $ 2.31        7/29/2029  

 

(1)

Each of the outstanding equity awards listed in the table above was granted pursuant to our 2012 Plan.

(2)

The shares subject to this option are fully vested and immediately exercisable.

(3)

Mr. Ferguson joined our board of directors in March 2021.

(4)

Mr. Lonsdale resigned from our board of directors in March 2021.

(5)

Mr. Marinelli resigned from our board of directors in September 2020, and has continued to serve as an adviser to our board of directors.

(6)

1/60th of the shares subject to this option vest monthly beginning on July 26, 2019, subject to Ms. Mather’s continued role as a service provider to us. This option is subject to an early exercise provision and is immediately exercisable.

We entered into an offer letter with Mr. Collard in March 2021, in connection with his continued service on our board of directors. The offer letter provides that Mr. Collard will be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with his attendance at meetings of the board of directors or any of its committees. In addition, the offer letter provides for the grant of a stock option to purchase 93,240 shares vesting in 24 monthly installments over the next two years of service, which we granted to Mr. Collard in March 2021.

We entered into an offer letter with Mr. Ferguson in March 2021, in connection with his appointment to our board of directors in March 2021. The offer letter provides that Mr. Ferguson will be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with his attendance at meetings of the board of directors or any of its committees. In addition, the offer letter provides for annual cash compensation of $100,000, which will be paid quarterly in arrears for the first year of Mr. Ferguson’s service, as well as the grant of a stock option to purchase 34,965 shares, vesting in 12 monthly installments over the next year of service, which we granted to Mr. Ferguson in March 2021. Pursuant to the terms of his offer letter, Mr. Ferguson will receive compensation worth at least $400,000, payable in cash, equity awards, or both, at our board of directors’ discretion, as compensation for his second year of service.

Outside Director Compensation Policy

In June 2021, our board of directors adopted, and we intend to ask our stockholders to approve, a new compensation policy for our non-employee directors, or the compensation policy. The compensation policy will be effective as of the date of the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, but no compensation will be paid under the compensation policy prior to January 1, 2022 for anyone serving as an outside director as of its effective date. It is designed to attract, retain and reward non-employee directors.

 

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Under this compensation policy, each non-employee director will be eligible to receive the compensation for board services described below. We also will reimburse our non-employee directors for reasonable, customary and documented travel expenses to board of directors meetings.

The compensation policy provides that a maximum annual limit of $800,000 of cash and equity compensation that may be paid, issued, or granted to a non-employee director in any fiscal year. For purposes of this limitation, the value of equity awards will be based on the grant date value calculated in accordance with the Black-Scholes-Merton Option pricing model. Any cash compensation paid, or equity awards granted to a person for their services as an employee, or for their services as a consultant (other than as a non-employee director) will not count for purposes of the limitation. The maximum limit does not reflect the intended size of any potential compensation or equity awards to our non-employee directors.

Annual Retainer

Starting on January 1, 2022, each non-employee director who has not entered into a letter agreement with us that governs his or her compensation as a non-employee director will be eligible to receive an annual retainer of $400,000, or the Annual Retainer, for services performed during the then-current calendar year. There are no per-meeting attendance fees for attending board meetings. Any portion of the Annual Retainer that the non-employee director does not elect to forego in favor of receiving Retainer Options (as defined below) will be paid in cash in approximately equal monthly installments during the then-current calendar year, subject to the individual continuing to remain a non-employee director on the applicable payment date. If an individual first becomes a non-employee director after January 1 of any calendar year, such non-employee director will receive a pro-rated portion of the Annual Retainer based on the number of calendar months remaining in the calendar year in which the individual first becomes a non-employee director (with the month the individual first becomes a non-employee director counted as a remaining calendar month).

Retainer Options

Each non-employee director may elect, in accordance with the terms of the compensation policy, to convert all or a portion of his or her Annual Retainer into a number of options to purchase shares of our Class A common stock, or Retainer Options. The number of shares of Class A common stock subject to each Retainer Option will be equal to the quotient of (i) 1/12th of the dollar value of the Annual Retainer that the non-employee director elected to forego over the annual period, divided by the value (based on the Retainer Option’s grant date value calculated in accordance with the Black-Scholes-Merton Option pricing model) on the Retainer Option’s grant date. If a non-employee director first becomes a member of the board of directors after January 31 of a calendar year, the number of shares subject to each Retainer Option will be calculated based on the number of Retainer Option grant dates remaining in the applicable calendar year.

Each Retainer Option will be granted on the last calendar day of each month of the applicable calendar year (or the most recent trading day prior to the last calendar day of the month if such date is not a trading day), subject to the non-employee director remaining a member of our board of directors on the applicable grant date. Each Retainer Option will have a ten-year term (subject to earlier termination as provided in the 2021 Plan), will be fully vested as of the grant date and will have an exercise price equal to 100% of our Class A common stock on the grant date.

Each non-employee director who, as of the effective date of the compensation policy, has entered into a letter agreement with us that governs his or her compensation as a non-employee director, will not be eligible to receive compensation under the terms of the compensation policy until the equity award or other compensation pursuant to such letter agreement has fully vested or been earned. For the year in which the non-employee director has earned or otherwise vested in the totality of the compensation set forth in his or her letter agreement with us, then for such calendar year the non-employee director will be entitled to receive a pro-rated amount of the Annual Retainer for such calendar year.

 

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Our named executive officers, consisting of our principal executive officer and the next two most highly compensated executive officers, as of December 31, 2020, were:

 

   

Nima Ghamsari, Head of Blend, Co-Founder, and a member of our board of directors;

 

   

Timothy J. Mayopoulos, our President and a member of our board of directors; and

 

   

Crystal Sumner, our Head of Legal, Compliance, and Risk and Corporate Secretary.

Summary Compensation Table

The amounts below represent the compensation awarded to or earned by or paid to our named executive officers in 2020:

 

Name and Principal Position

  Year     Salary
($)
    Bonus
($)
    Option
Awards
($)(1)
    Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
    All Other
Compensation
($)
    Total
($)
 

Nima Ghamsari

    2020       325,000       —         —         —         —         325,000  

Head of Blend, Co-Founder, and Director

             

Timothy J. Mayopoulos

    2020       500,000       —         —         680,000 (2)      144,157 (3)      1,324,157  

President and Director

             

Crystal Sumner

    2020       350,000       25,000 (4)      292,400       —         —         667,400  

Head of Legal, Compliance, and Risk and Corporate Secretary

             

 

(1)

The amount reported represents the aggregate grant-date fair value of the options awarded to the named executive officers in 2020, calculated in accordance with ASU No. 2016 09 “Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718),” or ASC 718. These amounts do not reflect the actual economic value that may be realized by the named executive officer. The assumptions used in determining the grant date fair value of the options reported in these columns are set forth in Note 12 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.

(2)

This amount represents the aggregate grant-date value of a grant of stock options to purchase 113,333 shares granted to Mr. Mayopoulos in lieu of payment in cash of a bonus of $680,000, pursuant to an election Mr. Mayopoulos made in March 2020.

(3)

This amount includes (i) reimbursement for certain travel and housing expenses in the amount of $98,127 and (ii) reimbursement of taxes related to travel benefits in the amount of $46,030.

(4)

The amount reported consists of a discretionary bonus paid in 2021, in recognition of our company performance and Ms. Sumner’s contributions to that performance in 2020.

Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards

Mr. Mayopoulos participated in our 2020 Executive Bonus Plan, or our 2020 Bonus Plan. Under the 2020 Bonus Plan, participants were entitled to be considered for a bonus, but the decision as to whether to pay the bonus, and the amount of any bonus, are entirely at our absolute discretion. Bonuses were paid annually and may exceed 100% if we surpass the designated performance goal.

The bonus payment to Mr. Mayopoulos was calculated formulaically based solely on the achievement of the annual recurring revenue performance goal described in the 2020 Bonus Plan. The actual bonus amount paid to Mr. Mayopoulos under the 2020 Bonus Plan is set forth in the Summary Compensation Table under the column titled “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation.”

 

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Bonus

Ms. Sumner received a discretionary bonus of $25,000 paid in 2021, in recognition of our company performance in 2020 and Ms. Sumner’s contributions to that performance.

Outstanding Equity Awards at 2020 Year-End

The following table sets forth information regarding outstanding equity awards held by our named executive officers as of December 31, 2020:

 

     Option Awards  

Name

   Grant
Date(1)
     Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
    Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable
     Option
Exercise
Price ($)(2)
     Option
Expiration
Date
 

Nima Ghamsari

     4/18/2016        200,000 (3)      —          0.54        4/17/2026  
     2/21/2018        200,000 (3)      —          0.87        2/20/2028  
     12/4/2019        4,796,470 (4)      —          2.31        12/3/2029  

Timothy J. Mayopoulos

     1/25/2019        3,000,000 (5)      —          1.29        1/24/2029  
     2/27/2020        133,333 (6)      —          2.31        2/26/2030  

Crystal Sumner

     8/22/2016        224,148 (7)      —          0.54        8/21/2026  
     8/22/2016        51,851 (3)      —          0.54        8/21/2026  
     2/8/2017        14,303 (3)      —          0.54        2/7/2027  
     12/17/2018        160,000 (3)      —          0.87        12/16/2028  
     3/29/2020        333,333 (8)      —          2.31        3/28/2030  

 

(1)

Each of the outstanding equity awards listed in the table above was granted pursuant to our 2012 Plan.

(2)

This column represents the fair value of a share of our Class A common stock on the grant date, as determined by our board of directors.

(3)

The shares subject to this option are fully vested and immediately exercisable.

(4)

1/84th of the shares subject to this option vest monthly following January 1, 2020, subject to Mr. Ghamsari’s continued role as a service provider to us. If Mr. Ghamsari is subject to an involuntary termination any time after a change in control, then 100% of the then unvested shares shall immediately vest. This option is subject to an early exercise provision and is immediately exercisable.

(5)

1/4th of the shares subject to this option vested on January 18, 2020, and 1/48th of the shares subject to this option vest monthly thereafter, subject to Mr. Mayopoulos’s continued role as a service provider to us. If Mr. Mayopoulos is subject to an involuntary termination any time after a change in control, then 50% of the then unvested shares shall immediately vest. This option is subject to an early exercise provision and is immediately exercisable.

(6)

1/12th of the shares subject to this option vest monthly following June 1, 2020, subject to Mr. Mayopoulos’s continued role as a service provider to us. This option is subject to an early exercise provision and is immediately exercisable.

(7)

39,170 of the shares subject to this option vested on October 20, 2018, and 1/48th of the shares subject to this option vest monthly thereafter, subject to Ms. Sumner’s continued role as a service provider to us. 50% of the unvested shares subject to the option will vest if Ms. Sumner is subject to an involuntary termination following a change in control of the company. This option is subject to an early exercise provision and is immediately exercisable.

(8)

1/48th of the shares subject to this option vest monthly beginning on February 1, 2020, subject to Ms. Sumner’s continued role as a service provider to us. This option is subject to an early exercise provision and is immediately exercisable.

Founder and Head of Blend Long-Term Performance Award

In March 2021, our board of directors granted a stand-alone nonstatutory stock option to Mr. Ghamsari, covering a maximum of 26,057,181 shares of our Class A common stock, which we

 

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refer to as the Founder and Head of Blend Long-Term Performance Award. An amendment to the Founder and Head of Blend Long-Term Performance Award was approved by our board of directors on June 30, 2021, which we refer to as the Amendment. The Founder and Head of Blend Long-Term Performance Award has an exercise price of $8.58 per share, which was the fair market value of our Class A common stock at the time of grant as determined by our board of directors. The Founder and Head of Blend Long-Term Performance Award has a 15-year term, subject to earlier termination when the shares subject to the award are no longer eligible to vest, and vests upon the satisfaction of a service condition, a liquidity-event related performance condition, and/or a performance-based market condition, as described below.

Our board of directors, in consultation with an independent compensation consultant, considered many factors in determining whether to grant the Founder and Head of Blend Long-Term Performance Award and the size and terms of the award. The board of directors considered Mr. Ghamsari’s significant ownership percentage in the company obtained primarily in connection with his co-founding of Blend and the amount of his ownership interests that were unvested as of the date of the grant in its deliberations of this award. The board of directors reviewed market data for similarly situated executives at comparable companies with an emphasis on the ownership percentage and equity value of founder chief executive officers at the time of an initial public offering. The board of directors was intent on establishing an award that would encourage long-term sustained stockholder valuation by including a long vesting schedule with post-vesting holding requirements. The Founder and Head of Blend Long-Term Performance Award is meant to support our transition to a public company while providing a meaningful incentive to Mr. Ghamsari with sustained long-term value creation for our stockholders, and minimize dilution if returns are lower than contemplated.

The Founder and Head of Blend Long-Term Performance Award has a performance period that commences upon the expiration of the lock-up period associated with an underwritten public offering of our common stock (or certain other events detailed in the option agreement) and expires on the earlier of the 10-year anniversary of the date of grant, a change in control of the company, or Mr. Ghamsari ceasing to satisfy the service condition discussed below. Shares subject to the award that are not vested at the end of the performance period will terminate and be forfeited for no consideration.

 

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The Founder and Head of Blend Long-Term Performance Award is divided into five tranches. If an initial public offering (or other listing) of our common stock is not completed within 15 months of the award’s date of grant, the Founder and Head of Blend Long-Term Performance Award will terminate in full. If an initial public offering (or certain other listings) of our common stock is completed within 15 months of the date of grant, then the shares in tranche one will vest upon the initial public offering and the shares in tranches two through five will have a “Company Stock Price Hurdle” associated with the vesting of such tranche. The applicable performance goal must be achieved by the “Tranche Expiration Date” set forth below for any shares subject to a particular tranche to vest. Except as set forth below, on the first trading day on which the applicable performance goal is achieved, a number of shares subject to the award will vest and become exercisable equal to the “Number of Shares” corresponding to the applicable performance goal for the applicable tranche in the table below, subject to Mr. Ghamsari satisfying the service condition through the vesting date:

 

Tranche

   Number of
Shares
    

Performance Goal

   Company
Stock Price
Hurdle
  

Tranche Expiration Date

1      1,954,289      IPO    N/A    15-month anniversary of Date of Grant
2      5,862,866      Company Stock Price Hurdle    $41.91    Four-year anniversary of Date of Grant
3      4,560,006      Company Stock Price Hurdle    $83.82    Six-year anniversary of Date of Grant
4      5,862,866      Company Stock Price Hurdle    $209.55    Eight-year anniversary of Date of Grant
5      7,817,154      Company Stock Price Hurdle    $419.10    10-year anniversary of Date of Grant

The Company Stock Price Hurdle will be achieved if the average closing price of a share of our Class A common stock during any 90 consecutive calendar day period during the performance period and the average closing price of our Class A common stock during the last 30 consecutive calendar day period during such 90-day average equals or exceeds the value set forth in the table above. There is no linear interpolation between hurdles. The Company Stock Price Hurdles and the number of associated shares that will vest will be adjusted to reflect any stock splits, stock dividends, combinations, reorganizations, reclassifications, or similar events. Additionally, if the annual return of the S&P 500 Equal-Weighted Financial Index is 40% or above for a consecutive three-year period during the performance period, the Company Stock Price Hurdles that have not been achieved at such time will be increased by 20%. If data for the S&P 500 Equity-Weighted Financial Index is no longer published, the index shall become the S&P 500 Equal-Weighted Index. Such increase may occur only once during the performance period.

Vested shares (including shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of the option not used to pay the associated exercise price and tax withholding in connection with the exercise of the option) generally must be held for two years from the vesting date, or if earlier, until there is a change in control of the company or a termination of service due to death or disability.

In order to vest in an applicable tranche of shares, Mr. Ghamsari must satisfy the service condition through the date a performance goal is achieved. The service condition is met if he remains our chief executive officer, or, following the fifth anniversary of the date of grant (the date any of the following occur, a “Vesting Eligibility Window Start Date”), moving to a different service role as determined by the company, an agreed upon termination between Mr. Ghamsari and our board of directors, or a qualifying termination of Mr. Ghamsari’s employment with us, which means an involuntary termination without cause or good reason (as such terms are defined in the option agreement). If, after the fifth anniversary of the date of grant, there is a Vesting Eligibility Window Start Date, then Mr. Ghamsari

 

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would remain eligible to earn a portion of the shares subject to unvested tranches through the expiration of the performance period as follows:

 

     Percentage of Unvested
Shares Subject to each
Unvested Tranche that
will Remain Eligible to
Vest
 
Vesting Eligibility Window Start Date    Change
in Role
    Agreed
Departure or
Qualifying
Termination
 

On or after the fifth anniversary of the date of grant, but prior to the sixth anniversary of the date of grant

     30     10

On or after the sixth anniversary of the date of grant, but prior to the seventh anniversary of the date of grant

     35     15

On or after the seventh anniversary of the date of grant, but prior to the eighth anniversary of the date of grant

     40     20

On or after the eighth anniversary of the date of grant, but prior to the ninth anniversary of the date of grant

     45     25

On or after the ninth anniversary of the date of grant, but prior to the tenth anniversary of the date of grant

     50     25

In the event of a change in control of the company (as defined in the option agreement), the per share deal price will be used to determine whether any then-unachieved Company Stock Price Hurdles are achieved (with no linear interpolation between stock price hurdles). Additionally, if the per share deal price equals or exceeds $41.91, then 25% of the remaining unvested shares subject to the award will vest (after first determining if any additional Company Stock Price Hurdles are achieved) as of immediately prior to the closing of the change in control, with any remaining unvested shares terminating.

Prior to the Amendment of this award, we estimated the grant date fair value of the first tranche of the Founder and Head of Blend Long-Term Performance Award using the Black-Scholes-Merton Option pricing model, which resulted in the estimated fair value of $11.79 per share. We estimated the grant date fair value of the remaining tranches using a model based on multiple stock price paths developed through the use of a Monte Carlo simulation that incorporates into the valuation the possibility that the Company Stock Price Hurdles may not be satisfied. The weighted average grant date fair value of the remaining tranches was estimated to be $3.96 per share. Prior to the Amendment, we estimated that we would recognize total stock-based compensation expense of approximately $87.6 million. We are currently evaluating the impact of the Amendment on the fair value of the Founder and Head of Blend Long-Term Performance Award.

Executive Employment Agreements

Nima Ghamsari

We have entered into a confirmatory employment letter agreement with Mr. Ghamsari. The letter agreement does not have a specific term and provides that Mr. Ghamsari is an at-will employee. Mr. Ghamsari’s current annual base salary is $325,000.

Timothy J. Mayopoulos

We have entered into a confirmatory employment letter agreement with Mr. Mayopoulos. The letter agreement does not have a specific term and provides that Mr. Mayopoulos is an at-will employee. Mr. Mayopoulos’s current annual base salary is $500,000. The letter agreement also provides for reimbursement for certain housing and commuting expenses, plus reimbursement of taxes incurred by Mr. Mayopoulos to the extent such benefits are taxable, in an amount not to exceed $250,000 in the aggregate on an annual basis.

 

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Crystal Sumner

We have entered into a confirmatory employment letter agreement with Ms. Sumner. The letter agreement does not have a specific term and provides that Ms. Sumner is an at-will employee. Ms. Sumner’s current annual base salary is $350,000.

Future Compensation Programs

We are always considering ways to structure compensation to attract and retain talented employees and incentivize them to grow the value of the company for our stockholders. One program we have been considering is to allow employees the opportunity to annually elect the proportion of their compensation that would be provided in the form of cash or equity. The equity awards could be in the form of options to purchase shares of our Class A common stock or other form of equity awards that we think would be appropriate. The details of any such program, and whether we would even implement any such program, have not been determined at this time. If we do decide to adopt a program like this in the future, it could result in us paying a greater percentage of our employees’ compensation in the form of cash or equity, depending on how our employees elect to receive their compensation. This could result in us using a larger amount of our cash reserves for the payment of compensation or could result in us granting a greater number of our shares subject to equity awards, which could increase our overall dilution, increase our stock-based compensation expense for financial accounting purposes, and increase our tax withholding and remittance obligations. How we determine any such tax withholding obligations would be satisfied could further impact our cash position or increase dilution.

Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control

We have entered into a change in control severance agreement with each of Mr. Mayopoulos and Ms. Sumner that provides for certain severance and change in control benefits only in the circumstances as described below. Each change in control severance agreement supersedes any prior agreement or arrangement the named executive officer may have had with us prior to its effective date that provides for change in control payments or benefits.

Each change in control severance agreement will terminate on the date that all of the obligations of the parties to the change in control severance agreement have been satisfied.

If, during the period beginning three months before a change in control (as defined in such agreement) and ending 12 months following a change in control, the named executive officer’s employment is terminated either (i) by us (or any of our subsidiaries) without cause (as defined in such agreement) (and other than by reason of death or disability) or (ii) by the named executive officer for good reason (as defined in such agreement), the named executive officer will be entitled to receive the following benefits if the named executive officer timely signs and does not revoke our then-standard separation agreement and release of claims in our favor:

 

   

50% accelerated vesting and exercisability (as applicable) of all equity awards outstanding as of the date of such termination and, in the case of an equity award with performance-based vesting unless otherwise specified in the applicable equity award agreement governing such award, all performance goals and other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at 50% of target levels.

The named executive officer’s receipt of any vesting acceleration upon a qualifying termination is subject to such named executive officer having resigned from all officer and director positions with all members of the company group and executing any documents that we may require in connection with the same.

 

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The executive’s receipt of any vesting acceleration upon a qualifying termination is subject to the executive having resigned from all officer and director positions with all members of the company group and executing any documents that the Company may require in connection with the same.

If any of the benefits provided for under these change in control severance agreements or otherwise payable to each of Mr. Mayopoulos and Ms. Sumner would constitute “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code and could be subject to the related excise tax, the named executive officer would be entitled to receive either full payment of benefits under his or her change in control severance agreement or such lesser amount which would result in no portion of the benefits being subject to the excise tax, whichever results in the greater amount of after-tax benefits to the named executive officer. The change in control severance agreements do not require us to provide any tax gross-up payments.

Employee Benefit and Stock Plans

2021 Equity Incentive Plan

In July 2021, our board of directors adopted, and our stockholders will approve, our 2021 Equity Incentive Plan. Our 2021 Plan will become effective on the business day immediately prior to the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Our 2021 Plan will provide for the grant of incentive stock options, within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, to our employees and any parent and subsidiary corporations’ employees, and for the grant of nonstatutory stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, or RSUs, and performance awards to our employees, directors, and consultants and our parent and subsidiary corporations’ employees and consultants. Our 2012 Plan will terminate immediately prior to the effectiveness of the 2021 Plan with respect to the grant of future awards.

Authorized Shares. Subject to the adjustment provisions of and the automatic increase described in our 2021 Plan, a total of 23,000,000 shares of our Class A common stock will be reserved for issuance pursuant to our 2021 Plan. In addition, subject to the adjustment provisions of our 2021 Plan, the shares reserved for issuance under our 2021 Plan also will include (i) any shares that, as of the day immediately prior to the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, have been reserved but not issued pursuant to any awards granted under the 2012 Plan, and are not subject to any awards thereunder, plus (ii) any shares subject to stock options, RSUs, or similar awards granted under our 2012 Plan that, on or after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, expire or otherwise terminate without having been exercised or issued in full, are tendered to or withheld by us for payment of an exercise price or for tax withholding obligations, or are forfeited to or repurchased by us due to failure to vest (provided that the maximum number of shares that may be added to our 2021 Plan pursuant to the foregoing is 36,101,718 shares). Subject to the adjustment provisions of our 2021 Plan, the number of shares available for issuance under our 2021 Plan will also include an annual increase on the first day of each fiscal year beginning with the 2022 fiscal year and ending on the ten year anniversary of the date our board of directors approved the 2021 Plan, in an amount equal to the least of:

 

   

34,500,000 shares of our Class A common stock;

 

   

5% of the total number of shares of all classes of our common stock outstanding on the last day our immediately preceding fiscal year; or

 

   

a lesser number of shares determined by the administrator.

If a stock option or stock appreciation right granted under the 2021 Plan expires or becomes unexercisable without having been exercised in full or is surrendered pursuant to an exchange program or, with respect to restricted stock, RSUs, or stock-settled performance awards, is forfeited to, or reacquired by, us due to failure to vest, then the unpurchased shares (or for awards other than stock options or stock appreciation rights, the forfeited or reacquired shares) which were subject thereto will become available for future issuance under the 2021 Plan (unless the 2021 Plan has terminated). With respect to stock appreciation rights, only the net shares actually issued will cease to be available under

 

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the 2021 Plan and all remaining shares under stock appreciation rights will remain available for future issuance under the 2021 Plan (unless the 2021 Plan has terminated). Shares that have actually been issued under the 2021 Plan under any award will not be returned to the 2021 Plan; provided, however, that if shares issued pursuant to awards of restricted stock, RSUs or performance awards are repurchased or forfeited to us due to failure to vest, such shares will become available for future grant under the 2021 Plan. Shares used to pay the exercise price of an award or to satisfy the tax withholding obligations related to an award will become available for future issuance under the 2021 Plan. To the extent an award is paid out in cash rather than shares, the cash payment will not result in a reduction in the number of shares available for issuance under the 2021 Plan.

Plan Administration. Our compensation committee is expected to administer our 2021 Plan and may further delegate authority to one or more subcommittees of our board of directors, committees, or our officers to the extent such delegation complies with applicable laws. Subject to the provisions of our 2021 Plan, the administrator will have the power to administer our 2021 Plan and make any determinations and perform any actions deemed necessary or advisable for administering our 2021 Plan, including but not limited to: the power to determine the fair market value of our Class A common stock; select the service providers to whom awards may be granted and grant awards to such service providers; determine the number of shares covered by each award; approve forms of award agreements for use under our 2021 Plan; determine the terms and conditions of awards (including, but not limited to, the exercise price, the time or times when the awards may be exercised (which may be based on performance criteria), any vesting acceleration or waiver or forfeiture restrictions, and any restriction or limitation regarding any award or the shares relating thereto); construe and interpret the terms of our 2021 Plan and awards granted under it, including but not limited to determining whether and when a change in control has occurred; establish, amend, and rescind rules and regulations relating to our 2021 Plan, and adopt sub-plans relating to the 2021 Plan; interpret, modify, or amend each award, including but not limited to the discretionary authority to extend the post-termination exercisability period of awards; allow participants to satisfy tax withholding obligations in any manner permitted by the 2021 Plan; delegate ministerial duties to any of our employees; authorize any person to take any steps and execute, on our behalf, any documents required for an award previously granted by the administrator to be effective; temporarily suspend the exercisability of an award if the administrator deems such suspension to be necessary or appropriate for administrative purposes, provided that, unless prohibited by applicable laws, such suspension shall be lifted in all cases not less than ten trading days before the last date that the award may be exercised; allow a participant to defer the receipt of payment of cash or the delivery of shares that would otherwise be due to such participant under an award; and make any determinations necessary or appropriate under the adjustment provisions of the 2021 Plan. The administrator also has the authority to institute and determine the terms and conditions of an exchange program under which (i) outstanding awards are surrendered or cancelled in exchange for awards of the same type (which may have higher or lower exercise prices and different terms), awards of a different type, and/or cash; (ii) participants would have the opportunity to transfer any outstanding awards to a financial institution or other person or entity selected by the administrator; and/or (iii) the exercise price of an outstanding award is increased or reduced. The administrator’s decisions, determinations, and interpretations will be final and binding on all participants and any other holders of awards.

Stock Options. Our 2021 Plan permits the grant of options. The exercise price of options granted under our 2021 Plan must be at least equal to the fair market value of our Class A common stock on the date of grant, except that options may be granted with a lower exercise price to a service provider that is not a U.S. taxpayer, or pursuant to certain transactions. The term of an option is determined by the administrator, provided that the term of an incentive stock option may not exceed ten years. With respect to any employee who owns more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of our outstanding stock or the stock of any parent or subsidiary, the term of an incentive stock option granted to such participant must not exceed five years and the exercise price must equal at least 110% of the

 

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fair market value of our common stock on the grant date. The administrator determines the methods of payment of the exercise price of an option, which may include cash, check or wire transfer, cashless exercise, net exercise, promissory note, shares, or other consideration or method of payment acceptable to the administrator, to the extent permitted by applicable law. After the termination of service of an employee, director, or consultant, he or she may exercise his or her option for the period of time stated in his or her option agreement. In the absence of a specified time in an award agreement, if termination is due to death or disability, the option will remain exercisable for six months (or expiration of its term, if earlier). In all other cases, in the absence of a specified time in an award, the option will remain exercisable for thirty days (or expiration of its term, if earlier). These exercise periods may be tolled in certain circumstances, for example if exercise prior to the end of the applicable period is not permitted because of applicable laws. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event may an option be exercised later than the expiration of its term.

Stock Appreciation Rights. Our 2021 Plan permits the grant of stock appreciation rights. Stock appreciation rights allow the recipient to receive the appreciation in the fair market value of our Class A common stock between the exercise date and the date of grant. The term of stock appreciation rights is determined by the administrator. After the termination of service of an employee, director, or consultant, he or she may exercise his or her stock appreciation right for the period of time stated in his or her stock appreciation rights agreement. In the absence of a specified time in an award agreement, if termination is due to death or disability, the stock appreciation rights will remain exercisable for six months (or expiration of its term, if earlier). In all other cases, in the absence of a specified time in an award agreement, the stock appreciation rights will remain exercisable for thirty days following the termination of service (or expiration of its term, if earlier). These exercise periods may be tolled in certain circumstances, for example if exercise prior to the end of the applicable period is not permitted because of applicable laws. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event may a stock appreciation right be exercised later than the expiration of its term. Subject to our 2021 Plan, the administrator determines the other terms of stock appreciation rights, including when such rights become exercisable and whether to pay any increased appreciation in cash or with shares of our Class A common stock, or a combination thereof. The per share exercise price for the shares to be issued pursuant to the exercise of a stock appreciation right to a U.S. taxpayer must be no less than 100% of the fair market value of our Class A common stock per share on the date of grant.

Restricted Stock. Our 2021 Plan permits the grant of restricted stock. Restricted stock awards are grants of shares of our Class A common stock that vest in accordance with terms and conditions established by the administrator. The administrator determines the number of shares of restricted stock granted to any employee, director, or consultant and, subject to our 2021 Plan, determines the terms and conditions of such awards. The administrator has the authority to impose whatever conditions to the vesting of restricted stock it determines to be appropriate (for example, the administrator may set restrictions based on the achievement of specific performance goals or continued service to us); provided, however, that the administrator, in its sole discretion, may accelerate the time at which any restrictions will lapse or be removed. Restricted stock may also be granted without any restrictions (e.g., vested stock bonuses). Recipients of restricted stock awards generally have voting rights with respect to such shares upon grant without regard to vesting, unless the administrator provides otherwise, but recipients of restricted stock will not be entitled to receive dividends and other distributions with respect to shares while such shares are unvested, unless the administrator provides otherwise. Shares of restricted stock that do not vest will be subject to our right of repurchase or forfeiture.

Restricted Stock Units. Our 2021 Plan permits the grant of RSUs. RSUs will represent an amount equal to the fair market value of one share of our Class A common stock. Subject to the provisions of our 2021 Plan, the administrator determines the terms and conditions of RSUs, including the vesting criteria and the form and timing of payment. The administrator has the authority to set vesting criteria

 

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based upon the achievement of company-wide, divisional, business unit, or individual goals (including, but not limited to, continued employment or service), or any other basis determined by the administrator in its discretion. The administrator, in its sole discretion, may settle earned RSUs in the form of cash, in shares, or in some combination of both. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the administrator, in its sole discretion, may reduce or waive any criteria that must be met to earn the RSUs.

Performance Awards. Our 2021 Plan permits the grant of performance awards. Performance awards are awards that will result in a payment to a participant if performance goals established by the administrator are achieved or the awards otherwise vest. The administrator will set objectives or vesting provisions, that, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the value of the payout for the performance awards. The administrator may set vesting criteria based on the achievement of company-wide, divisional, business unit, or individual goals (including, but not limited to, continued employment or service), or any other basis determined by the administrator in its discretion. Each performance award’s threshold, target, and maximum payout values are established by the administrator on or before the grant date. After the grant of a performance award, the administrator, in its sole discretion, may reduce or waive any performance objectives or other vesting provisions for such performance award. The administrator, in its sole discretion, may pay earned performance awards in the form of cash, in shares, or in some combination thereof.

Non-Employee Directors. Our 2021 Plan provides that all of our non-employee directors will be eligible to receive all types of awards (except for incentive stock options) under our 2021 Plan. In order to provide a maximum limit on the awards that can be made to our non-employee directors, our 2021 Plan provides that in any given fiscal year, a non-employee director will not be paid, issued, or granted cash retainer fees and equity awards (including, but not limited to, awards granted under the 2021 Plan) with an aggregate value greater than $800,000, (excluding awards granted to him or her as a consultant or employee). The value of each equity award will be based on its grant date fair value determined according to GAAP. The maximum limits do not reflect the intended size of any potential grants or a commitment to make grants to our non-employee directors under our 2021 Plan in the future.

Non-Transferability of Awards. Unless the administrator provides otherwise or as otherwise required by applicable laws, our 2021 Plan generally does not allow for the transfer of awards and only the recipient of an award may exercise an award during his or her lifetime. If the administrator makes an award transferable, such award will contain such additional terms and conditions as the administrator deems appropriate.

Certain Adjustments. If any extraordinary dividend or other extraordinary distribution (whether in cash, shares, other securities, or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, reclassification, repurchase, or exchange of shares of our Class A common stock or other of our securities, other change in our corporate structure affecting the shares, or any similar equity restructuring transaction affecting our shares occurs (including a change in control), the administrator, to prevent diminution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be provided under the 2021 Plan, will adjust the number and class of shares that may be delivered under the 2021 Plan and/or the number, class, and price of shares covered by each outstanding award, and the numerical share limits set forth in our 2021 Plan. The conversion of any of our convertible securities and ordinary course repurchases of our shares or other securities will not be treated as an event that will require adjustment under the 2021 Plan.

Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of our proposed dissolution or liquidation, the administrator will notify each participant, at such time prior to the effective date of such proposed transaction as the administrator determines. To the extent it has not been previously exercised, awards will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed transaction.

 

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Merger or Change in Control. Our 2021 Plan provides that in the event of a merger or change in control, as defined under our 2021 Plan, each outstanding award will be treated as the administrator determines, without a requirement to obtain a participant’s consent, including, without limitation, that such award will be continued by the successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation or that the vesting of any such awards may accelerate automatically upon consummation of such transaction. An award generally will be considered continued if, following the transaction, (i) the award gives the right to purchase or receive the consideration received in the transaction by holders of our shares or (ii) the award is terminated in exchange for an amount of cash and/or property, if any, equal to the amount that would have been received upon the exercise or realization of the award at the closing of the transaction, which payment may be subject to any escrow applicable to holders of our Class A common stock in connection with the transaction or subjected to the award’s original vesting schedule. The administrator will not be required to treat all awards or portions thereof or the vested and unvested portions of an award, or all participants similarly.

In the event that a successor corporation or its parent or subsidiary does not continue an outstanding award (or some portion of such award), then such award will fully vest, all restrictions on such award will lapse, all performance goals or other vesting criteria applicable to such award will be deemed achieved at 100% of target levels, and such award will become fully exercisable, if applicable, for a specified period prior to the transaction, unless specifically provided for otherwise under the applicable award agreement or other written agreement with the participant. The award will then terminate upon the expiration of the specified period of time. Unless specifically provided for otherwise under the applicable award agreement or other written agreement with the participant, if an option or stock appreciation right is not continued, the administrator will notify the participant in writing or electronically that such option or stock appreciation right will be exercisable for a period of time determined by the administrator in its sole discretion and the option or stock appreciation right will terminate upon the expiration of such period.

With respect to awards granted to a non-employee director, in the event of a change in control, all of his or her options and stock appreciation rights, if any, will vest fully and become immediately exercisable, all restrictions on his or her restricted stock and RSUs will lapse, and all performance goals or other vesting requirements for his or her performance awards will be deemed achieved at 100% of target levels, and all other terms and conditions met unless specifically provided otherwise under the applicable award agreement, a Company policy related to director compensation, or other written agreement with the participant, that specifically references this default rule.

Clawback. Awards granted under the 2021 Plan will be subject to recoupment under any clawback policy that we are required to adopt pursuant to the listing standards of any national securities exchange or association on which our stock is listed or as otherwise required by applicable laws, and the administrator will also be able to specify in an award agreement that the participant’s rights, payments, and benefits with respect to an award will be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain specified events.

Amendment and Termination. The administrator will have the authority to amend, alter, suspend, or terminate our 2021 Plan, provided we will obtain stockholder approval of any amendment to the extent necessary or desirable to comply with applicable laws. However, no amendment, alteration, suspension or termination of our 2021 Plan or an award under it may, materially impair the existing rights of any participant without the participant’s consent. Our 2021 Plan will continue in effect until it is terminated, provided that incentive stock options may not be granted after the ten year anniversary of the date our board of directors approved the 2021 Plan, and the automatic annual share increase will end on the ten year anniversary of the date our board of directors approved the 2021 Plan.

 

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2012 Stock Plan

Our 2012 Stock Plan was originally adopted by our board of directors in May 2012 and was most recently amended in June 2021. Our stockholders originally approved our 2012 Plan in October 2012.

Our 2012 Plan provides for the direct award or sale of shares of our Class A common stock, for the grant of options to purchase shares of our Class A common stock, and for the grant of RSUs to acquire shares of our Class A common stock (each, an award and the recipient of such award, a participant) to employees, non-employee directors, and consultants of ours and employees and consultants of any parent or subsidiary of ours. Options granted under our 2012 Plan may include nonstatutory stock options as well as incentive stock options intended to qualify under Section 422 of the Code. It is expected that on the business day immediately prior to the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, our 2012 Plan will be terminated and we will not grant any additional awards under our 2012 Plan thereafter. However, our 2012 Plan will continue to govern the terms and conditions of the outstanding awards previously granted under our 2012 Plan.

Plan Administration. Our 2012 Plan is administered by our board of directors or one or more committees appointed by our board of directors. Each committee will consist, as required by applicable law, of one or more members of our board of directors and will have such authority and be responsible for such functions as our board of directors has assigned to it (the board of directors, or its designated committee, the administrator). Subject to the provisions of the 2012 Plan, the administrator has full authority and discretion to take any actions it deems necessary or advisable for the administration of our 2012 Plan. All decisions, interpretations, and other actions of the administrator are final and binding on all participants and all persons deriving their rights from a participant.

The administrator’s powers include the power to institute and determine the terms and conditions of an exchange program under which (i) outstanding awards are surrendered or cancelled in exchange for awards of the same type (which may have higher or lower exercise prices and different terms), awards of a different type, or cash, (ii) participants would have the opportunity to transfer any outstanding awards to a financial institution or other person or entity selected by the administrator, or (iii) the exercise price of an outstanding award is reduced or increased.

Eligibility. Employees, non-employee directors, and consultants of ours and employees or consultants or our parent or subsidiary companies are eligible to receive awards, provided such consultants render bona fide services not in connection with the offer and sale of securities in a capital raising transaction and do not directly promote or maintain a market for our securities, in each case, within the meaning of Form S-8 promulgated under the U.S. securities laws. Only our employees or employees of our parent or subsidiary companies are eligible to receive incentive stock options.

Stock Options. Stock options have been granted under our 2012 Plan. Subject to the provisions of our 2012 Plan, the administrator determines the term of an option, the number of shares subject to an option and the time period in which an option may be exercised.

The term of an option is stated in the applicable award agreement, but the term of an option may not exceed 10 years from the grant date. The administrator determines the exercise price of options, which generally may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of our Class A common stock on the grant date. However, an incentive stock option granted to a person who owns more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of our outstanding stock or of our parent or any subsidiary may have a term of no longer than five years from the grant date and must have an exercise price of at least 110% of the fair market value of our Class A common stock on the grant date. In addition, to the extent that the aggregate fair market value of the shares with respect to which incentive stock options are exercisable for the first time by an employee during any calendar year (under all our plans and those of any parent or subsidiary) exceeds $100,000, such options will be treated as nonstatutory stock options.

 

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The administrator determines how a participant may pay the exercise price of an option, and the permissible methods are generally set forth in the 2012 Plan or the applicable award agreement. If a participant’s “service” (as defined in our 2012 Plan) terminates, that participant may exercise the vested portion of his or her option for the period of time stated in the 2012 Plan or the applicable award agreement. Vested options generally will remain exercisable for three months or such earlier or later period of time as set forth in the applicable award agreement (but in no event earlier than 30 days after the termination of service) if a participant’s service terminates for a reason other than death or disability. If a participant’s service terminates due to death or disability, vested options generally will remain exercisable for six months (in the case of a termination due to disability) or 12 months (in the case of a termination due to death and in no event earlier than six months after the participant’s death) from the date of termination (or such other longer period as set forth in the applicable award agreement). In no event will an option remain exercisable beyond its original term. If a participant does not exercise his or her option within the time specified in the award agreement, the option will terminate. Except as described above, the administrator has the discretion to determine the post-termination exercisability periods for an option.

Restricted Stock Units. RSUs may be granted under our 2012 Plan. Subject to the terms and conditions of our 2012 Plan and the individual award agreement, the administrator determines the terms, conditions, and restrictions related to the RSUs, including the vesting criteria, if any, which, depending on the extent to which the criteria are met, will determine the number of RSUs that will be paid to a participant. The administrator may set vesting criteria based upon the achievement of company-wide, divisional, business unit, or individual goals (including continued employment or service), or any other basis determined by the administrator in its discretion.

Upon meeting any applicable vesting criteria, a participant holding an award of RSUs is entitled to receive a payout as determined by the administrator. At any time after the grant of RSUs, the administrator may, in its sole discretion, reduce or waive any vesting criteria that must be met to earn the RSUs. Payment of earned RSUs will be made at the time(s) determined by the administrator and set forth in the award agreement, subject to applicable laws. Unless otherwise provided in the award agreement, the administrator may settle earned RSUs in cash, shares of our Class A common stock, or a combination of both. On the date set forth in the award agreement, all unearned RSUs will be forfeited to us.

Non-Transferability of Awards. Unless determined otherwise by the administrator, an award may be transferable by a participant only by (i) a beneficiary designation, (ii) a will, or (iii) the laws of descent and distribution, except that if the applicable option agreement so provides, a nonstatutory option may also be transferable by gift or domestic relations order to a family member of participant. An incentive stock option may be exercised during an applicable participant’s lifetime only by participant or by participant’s guardian or legal representative.

Certain Adjustments. In the event of a subdivision of our outstanding shares of Class A common stock, a declaration of a dividend payable in our shares of Class A common stock, a combination or consolidation of our outstanding Class A common stock into a lesser number of shares, a reclassification, or any other increase or decrease in the number of our issued shares of Class A common stock effected without our receipt of consideration, proportionate adjustments will automatically be made in each of (i) the number and kind of our shares of Class A common stock available for future grant under our 2012 Plan, (ii) the number and kind of our shares of Class A common stock covered by each outstanding award, (iii) the exercise price of each outstanding option and the purchase price applicable to any unexercised stock purchase right, and (iv) any repurchase price that applies to shares of our Class A common stock granted under our 2012 Plan pursuant to the terms of our repurchase right under the applicable award agreement. In the event of a declaration of an extraordinary dividend payable in a form other than shares of our Class A common stock in an amount

 

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that has a material effect on the fair market value of our Class A common stock, a recapitalization, a spin-off, or a similar occurrence, the administrator at its sole discretion may make appropriate adjustments in one or more of the items listed in (i) through (iv) above or any adjustments required by the California Corporations Code.

Mergers and Consolidations. In the event that we are party to a merger or consolidation, or in the event of a sale of all or substantially all of our stock or assets, all shares of our Class A common stock acquired under our 2012 Plan and all awards will be treated in the manner described in the definitive transaction agreement, or, in the event the transaction does not entail a definitive agreement, in the manner determined by the board of directors, with such determination having final and binding effect on all parties. Such agreement or determination need not treat all awards (or portions of an award) in an identical manner and may provide for one or more of the following without limitation with respect to each outstanding award: (i) the continuation of the award by us (if we are the surviving corporation), (ii) the assumption of the award by the surviving corporation or its parent, (iii) the substitution by the surviving corporation or its parent of a new award for the award, (iv) the cancellation of the award and a payment to participant with respect to each share of Class A common stock subject to the award that is vested of the transaction date equal to the excess of (A) over the value, as determined by our board of directors, of the property (including cash) received by the holder of a share of our Class A common stock as a result of the transaction, over (B) the per share exercise price of the award, if any, (v) suspension of participant’s right to exercise the award during a limited period of time as necessary to permit the closing of the transaction, or (vi) termination of any right the participant has to exercise the option prior to vesting such that following the closing of the transaction, the option may only be exercised to the extent it is vested. For the avoidance of doubt, the board of directors has discretion to accelerate, in whole or part, the vesting and exercisability of an award in connection with a corporate transaction described above.

In the event that the successor corporation does not assume or substitute for an award (or portion thereof), participant will fully vest in and have the right to exercise all of his or her outstanding options, all restrictions on shares of our Class A common stock and RSUs will lapse, and, with respect to awards with performance-based vesting, all performance goals or other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at 100% of target levels and all other terms and conditions met, in all cases, unless specifically provided otherwise under the applicable award agreement or other written agreement between us and participant. In addition, if an option is not assumed or substituted in the event of a merger or consolidation, the administrator will notify each participant in writing or electronically that the option will be exercisable for a period of time determined by the administrator in its sole discretion and the option will terminate upon the expiration of such period.

Clawback. Our board of directors may specify in an award agreement that participant’s rights, payments, and benefits with respect to an award will be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain specified events, in addition to any otherwise applicable vesting or performance conditions of an award. An award will be subject to any clawback policy of ours as may be established or amended from time to time. Our board of directors may require a participant to forfeit, return, or reimburse us all or a portion of the award and any amounts paid under the award pursuant to the terms of the clawback policy or as necessary or appropriate to comply with applicable laws.

Amendment and Termination. Our board of directors may amend, suspend, or terminate our 2012 Plan at any time and for any reason; provided, however, that any amendment to our 2012 Plan will be subject to the approval of our stockholders if it increases the number of our shares of Class A common stock reserved under our 2012 Plan (except as provided in the 2012 Plan) or materially changes the class of persons eligible to receive incentive stock options. As noted above, it is expected that on the business day immediately prior to the effective date of the registration statement of which this

 

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prospectus forms a part, our 2012 Plan will be terminated and we will not grant any additional awards under our 2012 Plan thereafter.

Executive Incentive Compensation Plan

In June 2021, our board of directors adopted an Executive Incentive Compensation Plan, or our Bonus Plan, effective as of June 2021. The Bonus Plan is administered by our board of directors or a committee appointed by our board of directors. Unless and until our board of directors determines otherwise, our compensation committee will be the administrator of the Bonus Plan. The Bonus Plan allows our compensation committee to provide incentive awards to selected employees, including our named executive officers, determined by our compensation committee, which may be based upon performance goals established by our compensation committee. Our compensation committee, in its sole discretion, may establish a target award for each participant under the Bonus Plan, which may be expressed as a percentage of the participant’s average annual base salary for the applicable performance period or a fixed dollar amount or such other amount or based on such other formula or factors as the compensation committee determines.

Under the Bonus Plan, our compensation committee will determine the performance goals, if any, applicable to awards, which goals may include, without limitation: attainment of research and development milestones; bookings; business divestitures and acquisitions; capital raising; cash flow; cash position; contract awards or backlog; corporate transactions; customer renewals; customer retention rates from an acquired company, subsidiary, business unit or division; earnings (which may include any calculation of earnings, including but not limited to earnings before interest and taxes, earnings before taxes, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and net taxes); earnings per share; expenses; financial milestones; gross margin; growth in stockholder value relative to the moving average of the S&P 500 Index or another index; internal rate of return; leadership development or succession planning; license or research collaboration arrangements; market share; net income; net profit; net sales; new product or business development; new product invention or innovation; number of customers; operating cash flow; operating expenses; operating income; operating margin; overhead or other expense reduction; patents; procurement; product defect measures; product release timelines; productivity; profit; regulatory milestones or regulatory-related goals; retained earnings; return on assets; return on capital; return on equity; return on investment; return on sales; revenue; revenue growth; sales bookings; sales results; sales growth; savings; stock price; time to market; total stockholder return; working capital; unadjusted or adjusted actual contract value; unadjusted or adjusted total contract value; and individual objectives such as peer reviews or other subjective or objective criteria. As determined by our compensation committee, the performance goals may be based on GAAP or non-GAAP results and any actual results may be adjusted by our compensation committee for one-time items or unbudgeted or unexpected items and/or payment of actual awards when determining whether the performance goals have been met. The performance goals may be based on any factors our compensation committee determines relevant, including, without limitation, on an individual, divisional, portfolio, project, business unit, segment, or company-wide basis. Any criteria used may be measured on such basis as our compensation committee determines. The performance goals may differ from participant to participant and from award to award.

Our compensation committee, at any time prior to payment of an actual award, may increase, reduce or eliminate a participant’s actual award, or increase, reduce or eliminate the amount allocated to the bonus pool. The actual award may be below, at or above a participant’s target award, in our compensation committee’s discretion. Our compensation committee may determine the amount of any increase, reduction or elimination based on such factors as it deems relevant, and it will not be required to establish any allocation or weighting with respect to the factors it considers.

 

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Actual awards generally will be paid in cash (or its equivalent) in a single lump sum. The compensation committee reserves the right to settle an actual award with a grant of an equity award with such terms and conditions, including any vesting requirements, as determined by the compensation committee. Unless otherwise determined by our compensation committee, to earn an actual award, a participant must be employed by us (or an affiliate of us, as applicable) on the date the bonus is paid. Payment of bonuses occurs as soon as practicable after the end of the applicable performance period, but no later than the dates set forth in the Bonus Plan. All awards under the Bonus Plan will be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, or recoupment in accordance with any clawback policy that we are required to adopt pursuant to any rule, regulation or law. Our compensation committee may also impose such other clawback, recovery or recoupment provisions with respect to an award under the Bonus Plan as it may determine is necessary or appropriate.

Our board of directors or its compensation committee will have the authority to amend or terminate the Bonus Plan provided such action does not alter or impair the existing rights of any participant with respect to any earned bonus without the participant’s consent. The Bonus Plan will remain in effect until terminated in accordance with the terms of the Bonus Plan.

401(k) Plan

We maintain a tax-qualified retirement plan that provides eligible U.S. employees with an opportunity to save for retirement on a tax-advantaged basis, or the 401(k) Plan. 401(k) Plan participants are able to defer eligible compensation on a pre-tax or after tax (Roth) basis, subject to applicable annual Code limits. The 401(k) plan is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code with the 401(k) plan’s related trust intended to be tax exempt under Section 501(a) of the Code. As a tax-qualified retirement plan, pre-tax contributions to the 401(k) plan and earnings on those contributions are not taxable to the employees until distributed from the 401(k) plan, and earnings on Roth contributions are not taxable when distributed from the 401(k) plan.

 

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

In addition to the compensation arrangements, including employment, termination of employment and change in control arrangements, discussed in the sections titled “Management” and “Executive Compensation,” the following is a description of each transaction since January 1, 2018 and each currently proposed transaction in which:

 

   

we have been or are to be a participant;

 

   

the amount involved exceeded or exceeds $120,000; and

 

   

any of our directors, executive officers or holders of more than 5% of our outstanding capital stock, or any immediate family member of, or person sharing the household with, any of these individuals or entities, had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.

Equity Financings

Series D Convertible Preferred Stock Financing

From July 2017 to March 2018, we issued and sold an aggregate of 30,876,270 shares of our Series D convertible preferred stock at a purchase price of $3.562605 per share for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $110 million. Purchasers of our Series D convertible preferred stock included venture capital funds that beneficially owned more than 5% of our outstanding share capital and/or are represented on our board of directors. The following table presents the number of shares and the total purchase price paid by these persons. The terms for these purchases were the same for all purchasers of our Series D convertible preferred stock.

 

Investor

   Total
Shares
     Total
Purchase Price
 

Entities affiliated with Lightspeed(1)

     3,368,320      $ 11,999,998.44  

 

(1)

Shares purchased by Lightspeed Venture Partners IX, L.P. and Lightspeed Venture Partners Select, L.P. Entities affiliated with Lightspeed currently hold more than 5% of our outstanding capital stock.

Series E Convertible Preferred Stock Financing

In May 2019, we issued an aggregate of 1,328,302 shares of our Series E convertible preferred stock upon conversion of a convertible note at a purchase price equal to 80% of $4.753482 per share for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $5 million. From May 2019 to September 2019, we issued and sold an aggregate of 26,295,947 shares of our Series E convertible preferred stock at a purchase price of $4.753482 per share for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $125 million. Purchasers of our Series E convertible preferred stock included venture capital funds that beneficially owned more than 5% of our outstanding share capital and/or are represented on our board of directors. The following table presents the number of shares and the total purchase price paid by these persons. The terms for these purchases were the same for all purchasers of our Series E convertible preferred stock.

 

Investor

   Total
Shares
     Total
Purchase
Price
 

Entities affiliated with Greylock Partners(1)

     210,370      $ 999,996.35  

Entities affiliated with Lightspeed(2)

     2,261,500      $ 10,749,999.55  

 

(1)

Shares purchased by Greylock 15 Limited Partnership, Greylock 15-A Limited Partnership and Greylock 15 Principals Partnership. Entities affiliated with Greylock Partners currently hold more than 5% of our outstanding capital stock and Gerald Chen, a member of our board of directors, is a Partner at Greylock Partners.

 

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(2)

Shares purchased by Lightspeed Venture Partners IX, L.P. and Lightspeed Venture Partners Select, L.P. Entities affiliated with Lightspeed currently hold more than 5% of our outstanding capital stock.

Series F Convertible Preferred Stock Financing

From August 2020 to September 2020, we issued and sold an aggregate of 9,906,980 shares of our Series F convertible preferred stock at a purchase price of $7.727718 per share for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $76.6 million. Purchasers of our Series F convertible preferred stock included venture capital funds that beneficially owned more than 5% of our outstanding share capital and/or are represented on our board of directors. The following table presents the number of shares and the total purchase price paid by these persons. The terms for these purchases were the same for all purchasers of our Series F convertible preferred stock.

 

Investor

   Total
Shares
     Total Purchase
Price
 

General Atlantic (BL), L.P.(1)

     478,569      $ 3,698,248.86  

Entities affiliated with Greylock Partners(2)

     13,586      $ 104,999.09  

Ossa Investments Pte. Ltd.(3)

     925,906      $ 7,155,145.62  

 

(1)

General Atlantic (BL), L.P. currently holds more than 5% of our outstanding capital stock.

(2)

Shares purchased by Greylock 15 Limited Partnership, Greylock 15-A Limited Partnership and Greylock 15 Principals Partnership. Entities affiliated with Greylock Partners currently hold more than 5% of our outstanding capital stock and Gerald Chen, a member of our board of directors, is a Partner at Greylock Partners.

(3)

Ossa Investments Pte. Ltd., or Ossa, currently holds more than 5% of our outstanding capital stock.

Investors’ Rights Agreement

We are party to an amended and restated investors’ rights agreement, dated as of January 11, 2021, or the investors’ rights agreement, which provides, among other things, that certain holders of our capital stock, including entities affiliated with Coatue 36 US LLC, or Coatue, Formation8, General Atlantic, Greylock Partners, Lightspeed, Ossa, and Tiger Global Management LLC, or Tiger Global, have the right to demand that we file a registration statement or request that their shares of our capital stock be covered by a registration statement that we are otherwise filing. Gerald Chen, a member of our board of directors, is or has been affiliated with Greylock Partners. See the section titled “Description of Capital Stock—Registration Rights” for additional information regarding these registration rights.

Right of First Refusal

Pursuant to our bylaws, certain of our equity compensation plans, and certain agreements with our stockholders, including an amended and restated right of first refusal and co-sale agreement, or the right of first refusal and co-sale agreement, dated as of January 11, 2021, we or our assignees have a right to purchase shares of our capital stock which stockholders propose to sell to other parties. This right will terminate upon completion of this offering. Entities affiliated with Coatue, Formation8, General Atlantic, Greylock Partners, Lightspeed, Ossa, and Tiger Global are party to the right of first refusal and co-sale agreement. Gerald Chen, a member of our board of directors, is or has been affiliated with Greylock Partners. Nima Ghamsari, Head of Blend, Co-Founder, and Chair of our board of directors, is a party to the right of first refusal and co-sale agreement.

Voting Agreement

We are party to an amended and restated voting agreement, dated as of January 11, 2021, or the voting agreement, under which certain holders of our capital stock, including entities affiliated with

 

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Coatue, Formation8, General Atlantic, Greylock Partners, Lightspeed, Ossa, and Tiger Global, have agreed to vote their shares of our capital stock on certain matters, including with respect to the election of directors. Upon completion of this offering, our voting agreement will terminate and none of our stockholders will have any special rights regarding the election or designation of members of our board of directors. Gerald Chen, a member of our board of directors, is or has been affiliated with Greylock Partners. Nima Ghamsari, Head of Blend, Co-Founder, and Chair of our board of directors, is a party to our voting agreement.

2021 Tender Offer

In January 2021, we facilitated a tender offer whereby Coatue and certain entities affiliated with Tiger Global commenced a tender offer to purchase shares of our Class A common stock and convertible preferred stock from certain of our securityholders for $12.45 per share. Upon completion of the tender offer in March 2021, an aggregate of 442,469 shares of our capital stock were tendered pursuant to the tender offer for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $5,508,776.

Founder Promissory Note and Stock Pledge Agreement

On November 20, 2018, we entered into a secured partial-recourse promissory note and stock pledge agreement, or the stock pledge agreement, with Nima Ghamsari, Head of Blend, Co-Founder, and Chair of our board of directors. We purchased from Mr. Ghamsari a promissory note in the principal amount of $2,666,544. This promissory note was due on November 20, 2025, bore interest at the rate of 3.04% per annum and was secured by the stock pledge agreement. The stock pledge agreement provided, among other things that 5,977,011 shares of our Class A common stock held by Mr. Ghamsari were pledged to us to secure the payment and performance of the obligations of Mr. Ghamsari under the promissory note. Mr. Ghamsari repaid the promissory note on June 17, 2021.

Customer Arrangements with TIAA

Roger Ferguson, Jr., a member of our board of directors, served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of TIAA, from April 2008 to April 2021. In 2018, 2019, and 2020, we recognized revenue from sales of our products and services to TIAA in the amounts of $351,000, $556,190, and $527,641, respectively.

Other Transactions

We have granted stock options to our executive officers. See the sections titled “Executive Compensation—Outstanding Equity Awards at 2020 Year-End” for a description of these stock options.

To facilitate the Class B Stock Exchange, we will enter into an exchange agreement with Mr. Ghamsari, effective as of immediately prior to effectiveness of the filing of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, pursuant to which 10,916,666 shares of our Class A common stock beneficially owned by Mr. Ghamsari will automatically be exchanged for an equivalent number of shares of our Class B common stock immediately prior to the completion of this offering. In addition, following the completion of this offering, and pursuant to the Equity Award Exchange Agreement to be entered into between us and Mr. Ghamsari, Mr. Ghamsari shall have a right (but not an obligation), to require us to exchange any shares of Class A common stock received upon the exercise of options to purchase shares of Class A common stock for an equivalent number of shares of Class B common stock. This Equity Award Exchange applies only to equity awards granted to Mr. Ghamsari prior to the effectiveness of the filing of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. As of March 31, 2021, there were 31,253,651 shares of our Class A common stock subject to options held by Mr. Ghamsari that may be exchanged, upon exercise, for an equivalent number of shares of our Class B common stock following this offering.

 

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Other than as described above under this section titled “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions,” since January 1, 2018, we have not entered into any transactions, nor are there any currently proposed transactions, between us and a related party where the amount involved exceeds, or would exceed, $120,000, and in which any related person had or will have a direct or indirect material interest. We believe the terms of the transactions described above were comparable to terms we could have obtained in arm’s-length dealings with unrelated third parties.

Limitation of Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors

We expect to adopt an amended and restated certificate of incorporation, which will become effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering, and which will contain provisions that limit the liability of our directors for monetary damages to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law. Consequently, our directors will not be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duties as directors, except liability for the following:

 

   

any breach of their duty of loyalty to our company or our stockholders;

 

   

any act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

   

unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions as provided in Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law; or

 

   

any transaction from which they derived an improper personal benefit.

Any amendment to, or repeal of, these provisions will not eliminate or reduce the effect of these provisions in respect of any act, omission or claim that occurred or arose prior to that amendment or repeal. If the Delaware General Corporation Law is amended to provide for further limitations on the personal liability of directors of corporations, then the personal liability of our directors will be further limited to the greatest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law.

In addition, we expect to adopt amended and restated bylaws, which will become effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering, and which will provide that we will indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any person who is or was a party or is threatened to be made a party to any action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that they are or were one of our directors or officers or is or was serving at our request as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise. Our amended and restated bylaws are expected to provide that we may indemnify to the fullest extent permitted by law any person who is or was a party or is threatened to be made a party to any action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that they are or were one of our employees or agents or is or was serving at our request as an employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise. Our amended and restated bylaws will also provide that we must advance expenses incurred by or on behalf of a director or officer in advance of the final disposition of any action or proceeding, subject to limited exceptions.

Further, we have entered into or will enter into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers that may be broader than the specific indemnification provisions contained in the Delaware General Corporation Law. These indemnification agreements require us, among other things, to indemnify our directors and executive officers against liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service. These indemnification agreements also require us to advance all expenses incurred by the directors and executive officers in investigating or defending any such action, suit or proceeding. We believe that these agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified individuals to serve as directors and executive officers.

The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions that are expected to be included in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, amended and restated bylaws and in indemnification

 

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agreements that we have entered into or will enter into with our directors and executive officers may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors and executive officers for breach of their fiduciary duties. They may also reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation against our directors and executive officers, even though an action, if successful, might benefit us and other stockholders. Further, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent that we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and executive officers as required by these indemnification provisions. At present, we are not aware of any pending litigation or proceeding involving any person who is or was one of our directors, officers, employees or other agents or is or was serving at our request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, for which indemnification is sought, and we are not aware of any threatened litigation that may result in claims for indemnification.

We have obtained insurance policies under which, subject to the limitations of the policies, coverage is provided to our directors and executive officers against loss arising from claims made by reason of breach of fiduciary duty or other wrongful acts as a director or executive officer, including claims relating to public securities matters, and to us with respect to payments that may be made by us to these directors and executive officers pursuant to our indemnification obligations or otherwise as a matter of law.

Certain of our non-employee directors may, through their relationships with their employers, be insured or indemnified against certain liabilities incurred in their capacity as members of our board of directors.

The underwriting agreement will provide for indemnification by the underwriters of us and our officers and directors for certain liabilities arising under the Securities Act or otherwise.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling our company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

Policies and Procedures for Related Party Transactions

Following the completion of this offering, our audit committee will have the primary responsibility for reviewing and approving or disapproving “related party transactions,” which are transactions between us and related persons in which the aggregate amount involved exceeds or may be expected to exceed $120,000 and in which a related person has or will have a direct or indirect material interest. Upon completion of this offering, our policy regarding transactions between us and related persons will provide that a related person is defined as a director, executive officer, nominee for director or greater than 5% beneficial owner of our Class A common stock, in each case since the beginning of the most recently completed year, and any of their immediate family members. Our audit committee charter that will be in effect upon completion of this offering will provide that our audit committee shall review and approve or disapprove any related party transactions.

 

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PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our capital stock as of May 31, 2021, and as adjusted to reflect the sale of our Class A common stock in this offering assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of our Class A common stock, for:

 

   

each of our named executive officers;

 

   

each of our directors;

 

   

all of our current directors and executive officers as a group; and

 

   

each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of any class of our voting securities.

We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules of the SEC, and thus it represents sole or shared voting or investment power with respect to our securities. Unless otherwise indicated below, to our knowledge, the persons and entities named in the table have sole voting and sole investment power with respect to all shares that they beneficially owned, subject to community property laws where applicable. The information does not necessarily indicate beneficial ownership for any other purpose, including for purposes of Sections 13(d) and 13(g) of the Securities Act.

We have based our calculation of the percentage of beneficial ownership prior to this offering on 193,084,607 shares of our Class A common stock outstanding, 12,883,331 shares of our Class B common stock outstanding, and no shares of our Class C common stock outstanding as of May 31, 2021 (after giving effect to the Capital Stock Conversion, the Reclassification, and the Class B Stock Exchange), which includes:

 

   

146,872,568 shares of Class A common stock resulting from the Capital Stock Conversion, which we expect will occur upon the completion of this offering;

 

   

46,557,872 shares of our Class A common stock outstanding, which number of shares excludes the shares being exchanged in the Class B Exchange; and

 

   

12,883,331 shares of our Class B common stock, which includes 12,883,331 shares of our Class A common stock outstanding beneficially owned by Mr. Ghamsari that will be exchanged for an equivalent number of our Class B common stock in the Class B Exchange immediately prior to the completion of this offering.

We have based our calculation of the percentage of beneficial ownership after this offering on 20,000,000 shares of our Class A common stock issued by us in this offering and 213,084,607 shares of our Class A common stock and 12,883,331 shares of our Class B common stock outstanding immediately after the completion of this offering, assuming that the underwriters will not exercise their option to purchase up to an additional 3,000,000 shares of our Class A common stock from us in full. We have deemed shares of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock (after giving effect to the Equity Award Exchange) subject to stock options that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of May 31, 2021 to be outstanding and to be beneficially owned by the person holding the stock option for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of that person. We did not deem these shares outstanding, however, for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. We have also deemed, pursuant to the Equity Award Exchange, the full exchange of shares of Class A common stock received upon the exercise of 5,184,093 options to purchase shares of Class A common stock held by our Mr. Ghamsari, which options are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of May 31, 2021, for an equivalent number of shares of Class B common stock.

 

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The table below does not reflect any shares of Class A common stock that may be purchased in this offering. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each beneficial owner listed in the table below is c/o Blend Labs, Inc., 415 Kearny Street, San Francisco, California 94108.

 

                   Percentage of Shares Beneficially
Owned (%)
     Percentage
of Total
Voting
Power
After
the
Offering
 

Name

   Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned
     Before the
Offering
    After the
Offering
 
     Class A
Common
Stock
     Class B
Common
Stock
     Class A
Common
Stock
    Class B
Common
Stock
    Class A
Common
Stock
    Class B
Common
Stock
 

Executive Officers and Directors:

                 

Nima Ghamsari(1)

     —          18,067,424        —         100     —         100      77.2

Timothy J. Mayopoulos(2)

     3,946,664        —          2.0     —         1.8     —          *  

Crystal Sumner(3)

     1,131,968        —                   —         *       —          *  

Gerald Chen(4)

     10,034,191        —          5.2     —         4.7     —          1.4

Erin James Collard(5)

     1,591,354        —                   —         *       —          *  

Roger Ferguson, Jr. (6)

     34,965        —                   —         *       —          *  

Ann Mather(7)

     999,267        —                   —         *       —          *  

All executive officers and directors as a group (8 persons)(8)

     19,286,741        18,067,424        9.9     100     8.9     100      79.8

5% Stockholders:

                 

Entities affiliated with Coatue(9)

     11,236,100        —          5.8     —         5.3     —          1.5

Entities affiliated with Formation8(10)

     16,220,511        —          8.4     —         7.6     —          2.2

General Atlantic (BL), L.P.(11)

     10,333,949        —          5.4     —         4.8     —          1.4

Entities affiliated with Greylock Partners(12)

     10,034,191        —          5.2     —         4.7     —          1.4

Entities affiliated with Lightspeed(13)

     25,727,237        —          13.3     —         12.1     —          3.5

Ossa Investments Pte. Ltd.(14)

     11,875,773        —          6.2     —         5.6     —          1.6

Entities affiliated with Tiger Global(15)

     11,236,097        —          5.8     —         5.3     —          1.5

 

*

Represents beneficial ownership of less than one percent (1%) of the outstanding shares of our common stock.

 

(1)

Consists of (i) 12,883,331 shares of Class B common stock held of record by Mr. Ghamsari; and (ii) 5,184,093 shares of Class B common stock subject to options exercisable within 60 days of May 31, 2021, assuming the satisfaction of the service condition and the liquidity event-related performance condition pursuant to tranche one of the Founder and Head of Blend Long-Term Performance Award, and excluding options that vest pursuant to tranches two through five of the Founder and Head of Blend Long-Term Performance Award. See the section titled “Executive Compensation—Founder and Head of Blend Long-Term Performance Award” for additional information.

 

(2)

Consists of (i) 357,518 shares of Class A common stock held of record by Mr. Mayopoulos; and (ii) 3,589,146 shares of Class A common stock subject to options exercisable within 60 days of May 31, 2021, 1,797,480 of which would be fully vested as of such date.

 

(3)

Consists of (i) 396,346 shares of Class A common stock held of record by Ms. Sumner; and (ii) 735,622 shares of Class A common stock subject to options exercisable within 60 days of May 31, 2021, 312,289 of which would be fully vested as of such date.

 

(4)

Consists of shares held by Greylock 15 Limited Partnership, Greylock 15 Principals Limited Partnership, and Greylock 15-A Limited Partnership referenced in footnote (12) below. Mr. Chen disclaims beneficial ownership of all securities other than those he owns directly, if any, or by virtue of his indirect pro rata interest, as a managing member of Greylock LLC, in the Class A common stock owned by Greylock 15, Greylock Principals, and/or Greylock 15-A.

 

(5)

Consists of (i) 1,055,893 shares of Class A common stock held of record by Prometheus Trust, of which Mr. Collard is the trustee; and (ii) 535,461 shares of Class A common stock subject to options exercisable within 60 days of May 31, 2021, 453,876 of which would be fully vested as of such date.

 

(6)

Consists of 34,965 shares of Class A common stock subject to options exercisable within 60 days of May 31, 2021, 8,741 of which would be fully vested as of such date.

 

(7)

Consists of (i) 799,267 shares of Class A common stock held of record by Ms. Mather; and (ii) 200,000 shares of Class A common stock held of record by Black Bear Territory LLC, of which Ms. Mather is a manager.

 

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(8)

Consists of (i) 13,348,156 shares of Class A common stock and 12,883,331 shares of Class B common stock beneficially owned by our executive officers and directors; (ii) 5,938,585 shares of Class A common stock subject to options exercisable within 60 days of May 31, 2021 held by our executive officers and directors, 3,026,888 of which would be fully vested as of such date; and (iii) 5,184,092 shares of Class B common stock subject to options exercisable within 60 days of May 31, 2021 held by Mr. Ghamsari, none of which would be fully vested as of such date.

 

(9)

Consists of 11,236,100 shares of Class A common stock held of record by Coatue US 36 LLC (on an as-converted basis). Coatue US 36 LLC is managed by Coatue Management, L.L.C. as the investment manager. The sole owner of Coatue Management, L.L.C. is Coatue Management Partners L.P., for which Coatue Management Partners GP L.L.C. serves as general partner. Philippe Laffont serves as managing member of Coatue Management Partners GP L.L.C. Coatue US 36 LLC, Coatue Management, L.L.C., and Philippe Laffont disclaim beneficial ownership over all of the securities reported herein except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein. The business address for each of these entities and individuals is 9 West 57th Street, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10019.

 

(10)

Consists of 16,220,511 shares of Class A common stock held of record by Formation8 Partners Fund I, L.P, or Formation8. Formation8 GP, LLC, or Formation8 GP, has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares held by Formation8. The managing members of Formation8 GP are James Kim, Brian Koo, and Joe Lonsdale. The business address for each of these entities and individuals is 4962 El Camino Real, Suite 212, Los Altos, CA 94022.

 

(11)

Consists of 10,333,949 shares of Class A Common Stock held of record by General Atlantic (BL), L.P., or GA BL. The limited partners that share beneficial ownership of the shares held by GA BL are the following General Atlantic investment funds, or the GA Funds: General Atlantic Partners 100, L.P., or GAP 100; General Atlantic Partners (Bermuda) EU, L.P., or GAP Bermuda EU; General Atlantic Partners (Lux) SCSp, or GAP Lux; GAP Coinvestments III, LLC, or GAPCO III; GAP Coinvestments IV, LLC, or GAPCO IV; GAP Coinvestments V, LLC, or GAPCO V; and GAP Coinvestments CDA, L.P., or GAPCO CDA. The general partner of GA BL is General Atlantic (SPV) GP, LLC, or GA SPV. The general partner of GAP Lux is General Atlantic GenPar, (Lux) SCSp, or GA GenPar Lux, and the general partner of GA GenPar Lux is General Atlantic (Lux) S.à r.l., or GA Lux. The general partner of GAP Bermuda EU and the sole shareholder of GA Lux is General Atlantic GenPar (Bermuda), L.P., or GenPar Bermuda. GAP (Bermuda) Limited is the general partner of GenPar Bermuda. The general partner of GAP 100 is General Atlantic GenPar, L.P., or GA GenPar, and the general partner of GA GenPar is General Atlantic LLC, or GA LLC. GA LLC is the managing member of GAPCO III, GAPCO IV, and GAPCO V, the general partner of GAPCO CDA, and is the sole member of GA SPV. There are nine members of the management committee of GA LLC, or the GA Management Committee. The members of the GA Management Committee are also the members of the management committee of GAP (Bermuda) Limited. GA LLC, GA GenPar, GAP (Bermuda) Limited, GenPar Bermuda, GA Lux, GA GenPar Lux, GA BL, GA SPV, and the GA Funds, collectively, the GA Group, are a “group” within the meaning of Rule 13d-5 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Each of the members of the GA Management Committee disclaims ownership of the shares except to the extent that he has a pecuniary interest therein. The business address for each of these entities and individuals other than GAP Bermuda EU, GAP Lux, GA GenPar Lux, GA Lux, GenPar Bermuda, and GAP (Bermuda) Limited) is c/o General Atlantic Service Company, L.P., 55 East 52nd Street, 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10055. The business address for GAP Bermuda EU, GenPar Bermuda, and GAP (Bermuda) Limited is Clarendon House, 2 Church Street, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda. The business address for GAP Lux, GA GenPar Lux, and GA Lux is Luxembourg is 412F, Route d’Esch, L-2086 Luxembourg.

 

(12)

Consists of (i) 9,030,775 shares of Class A common stock held of record by Greylock 15 Limited Partnership, or Greylock 15; (ii) 501,708 shares of Class A common stock held of record by Greylock 15 Principals Limited Partnership, or Greylock Principals; and (iii) 501,708 shares of Class A common stock held of record by Greylock 15-A Limited Partnership, or Greylock 15-A. Greylock 15 GP LLC, or Greylock LLC, is the general partner of each of Greylock 15, Greylock Principals, and Greylock 15-A. Asheem Chandna, Reid Hoffman, James Slavet, Donald Sullivan, and David Sze are the senior managing members of Greylock LLC. The managing members of Greylock LLC may be deemed to share the power to vote or direct the voting of and to dispose or direct the disposition of our Class A common stock beneficially owned by Greylock 15, Greylock Principals, and Greylock 15-A. Each of the managing members of Greylock LLC disclaims beneficial ownership of all securities other than those he owns directly, if any, or by virtue of his indirect pro rata interest, as a managing member of Greylock LLC, in the Class A common stock owned by Greylock 15, Greylock Principals, and/or Greylock 15-A. Gerald Chen, a partner at Greylock Partners and a managing member of Greylock LLC, serves on our board of directors. The business address for each of these entities and individuals is 2550 Sand Hill Road, Suite 200, Menlo Park, CA 94025.

 

(13)

Consists of (i) 17,418,355 shares of Class A common stock held of record by Lightspeed Venture Partners IX, L.P., or Lightspeed IX; (ii) 6,047,382 shares of Class A common stock held of record by Lightspeed Venture Partners Select, L.P., or Lightspeed Select; and (iii) 2,261,500 shares of Class A common stock held of record by Lightspeed Venture Partners Select III, L.P., or Lightspeed Select III. Lightspeed General Partner IX, L.P., or LGP IX, is the general partner of Lightspeed IX. Lightspeed Ultimate General Partner IX, Ltd., or LUGP IX, is the general partner of LGP IX. Barry Eggers, Ravi Mhatre, and Peter Nieh are the directors of LUGP IX and share voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares held by Lightspeed IX. Messrs. Eggers, Mhatre, and Nieh disclaim beneficial ownership of the shares held by Lightspeed IX except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein. Lightspeed General Partner Select, L.P., or LGP Select, is the general partner of Lightspeed Select. Lightspeed Ultimate General Partner Select, Ltd., or LUGP Select, is the general partner of LGP Select. Lightspeed General Partner Select III, L.P., or LGP Select III, is the general partner of Lightspeed Select III. Lightspeed Ultimate General Partner Select III, Ltd., or LUGP Select III is the general partner of LGP Select III. Barry Eggers, Jeremy Liew, Ravi Mhatre, and Peter Nieh are the directors of each of LUGP Select and LUGP Select III and share voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares held by each of Lightspeed Select and Lightspeed Select III. Messrs. Eggers, Liew, Mhatre, and Nieh disclaim beneficial ownership of the shares held by each of Lightspeed Select and Lightspeed Select III except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein. The business address for each of these entities and individuals is 2200 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, California 94025.

 

(14)

Consists of 11,875,773 shares of Class A common stock held of record by Ossa Investments Pte. Ltd. Ossa Investments Pte. Ltd. is a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Hotham Investments Pte Ltd, or Hotham, which in turn is a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Fullerton Management Pte Ltd, or Fullerton, which in turn is a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Temasek Holdings (Private) Limited, or Temasek. In such capacities, each of Hotham, Fullerton, and Temasek may be deemed to have voting and dispositive power over the shares held by Ossa Investments Pte. Ltd. The business address for each of these entities is 60B Orchard Road #06-18 Tower 2, The Atrium@Orchard, Singapore 238891.

 

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(15)

Consists of (i) 5,534,464 shares of Class A Common Stock held of record by Tiger Global Investments, L.P.; (ii) 2,082,120 shares of Class A common stock held of record by Tiger Global Long Opportunities Master Fund, L.P.; (iii) 3,615,898 shares of Class A common stock held of record by Tiger Global PIP 12 Holdings, L.P; and (iv) 3,615 shares of Class A common stock held of record by other entities and persons affiliated with Tiger Global Management, LLC. All such shares are controlled by Tiger Global Management, LLC, Chase Coleman, and Scott Shleifer. The business address for each of these entities and individuals is 9 West 57th Street, 35th Floor, New York, New York 10019.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

General

The following description summarizes certain important terms of our capital stock, as they are expected to be in effect immediately prior to the completion of this offering. We expect to adopt an amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws that will become effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering, and this description summarizes the provisions that are expected to be included in such documents. Because it is only a summary, it does not contain all the information that may be important to you. For a complete description of the matters set forth in this section titled “Description of Capital Stock,” you should refer to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, amended and restated bylaws and amended and restated investors’ rights agreement, which are included as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, and to the applicable provisions of Delaware law. Immediately following the completion of this offering, our authorized capital stock will consist of 3,200,000,000 shares of capital stock, $0.00001 par value per share, of which:

 

   

1,800,000,000 shares are designated as Class A common stock;

 

   

600,000,000 shares are designated as Class B common stock;

 

   

600,000,000 shares are designated as Class C common stock, and

 

   

200,000,000 shares are designated as preferred stock.

Assuming the completion of the Capital Stock Conversion and the Reclassification, which will occur immediately prior to the completion of this offering, as of March 31, 2021, there were 188,677,071 shares of our Class A common stock outstanding, held by 663 stockholders of record, 10,916,666 shares of our Class B common stock outstanding (after giving effect to the Class B Stock Exchange), held by one stockholder of record, no shares of our Class C common stock outstanding, and no shares of preferred stock outstanding. Pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our board of directors will have the authority, without stockholder approval except as required by the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange, to issue additional shares of our Class A common stock and Class C common stock. Until the Final Conversion Date, any issuance of additional shares of Class B common stock requires the approval of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Class B common stock voting as a separate class.

Common Stock

We have three classes of authorized common stock, Class A common stock, Class B common stock, and Class C common stock. The rights of the holders of Class A common stock, Class B common stock, and Class C common stock are identical, except with respect to voting and conversion.

Dividend Rights

Subject to preferences that may apply to any shares of preferred stock outstanding at the time, the holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends out of funds legally available if our board of directors, in its discretion, determines to issue dividends and then only at the times and in the amounts that our board of directors may determine. See the section titled “Dividend Policy” for additional information.

Voting Rights

Holders of our Class A common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders, holders of our Class B common stock are entitled to 40 votes for

 

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each share held on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders, and holders of our Class C common stock are not entitled to vote on any matter that is submitted to a vote of stockholders, except as otherwise required by law. The holders of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock vote together as a single class, unless otherwise required by law. Under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, approval of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of our Class B common stock voting as a separate class is required to increase the number of authorized shares of our Class B common stock. In addition, Delaware law could require either holders of our Class A common stock, our Class B common stock, or our Class C common stock to vote separately as a single class in the following circumstances:

 

   

if we were to seek to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to increase or decrease the par value of a class of stock, then that class would be required to vote separately to approve the proposed amendment; and

 

   

if we were to seek to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation in a manner that alters or changes the powers, preferences or special rights of a class of stock in a manner that affected its holders adversely, then that class would be required to vote separately to approve the proposed amendment.

Until the Final Conversion Date, approval of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of our Class B common stock voting as a separate class will be required to amend or modify any provision of the amended and restated certificate of incorporation inconsistent with, or otherwise alter, any provision of the amended and restated certificate of incorporation to modify the voting, conversion, or other rights, powers, preferences, privileges, or restrictions of our Class B common stock.

We have not provided for cumulative voting for the election of directors in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.

No Preemptive or Similar Rights

Our common stock is not entitled to preemptive rights, and is not subject to conversion, redemption or sinking fund provisions.

Right to Receive Liquidation Distributions

If we become subject to a liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, the assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders would be distributable ratably among the holders of our common stock and any participating preferred stock outstanding at that time, subject to prior satisfaction of all outstanding debt and liabilities and the preferential rights of and the payment of liquidation preferences, if any, on any outstanding shares of preferred stock.

Conversion of Class B Common Stock

Each share of Class B common stock is convertible at any time at the option of the holder into one share of Class A common stock. Following the completion of this offering, shares of Class B common stock will automatically convert into shares of Class A common stock upon sale or transfer except for certain transfers described in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, including estate planning or other transfers among Mr. Ghamsari and his affiliates where exclusive voting control with respect to the shares of Class B common stock are retained by or granted to Mr. Ghamsari.

Each share of Class B common stock will convert automatically into one share of Class A common stock upon (i) the date fixed by our board of directors that is no less than 61 days and no more than 180 days following the first date following the completion of this offering on which the number of shares

 

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of our capital stock, including Class A common stock, Class B common stock and Class C common stock, and any shares of capital stock underlying equity securities or other convertible instruments, held by Mr. Ghamsari and his affiliates is less than 35% of the Class B common stock held by Mr. Ghamsari and his affiliates as of immediately following the completion of this offering; (ii) 12 months after the death or permanent and total disability of Mr. Ghamsari, during which 12-month period the shares of our Class B common stock shall be voted as directed by a person designated by Mr. Ghamsari and approved by our board of directors (or if there is no such person, then our secretary then in office); (iii) the date fixed by our board of directors that is no less than 61 days and no more than 180 days following the date on which Mr. Ghamsari is terminated for cause (as defined in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation); or (iv) the date fixed by our board of directors that is no less than 61 days and no more than 180 days following the date upon which (A) Mr. Ghamsari is no longer providing services to us as an officer or employee and (B) Mr. Ghamsari is no longer a member of our board of directors, either as a result of Mr. Ghamsari’s voluntary resignation or as a result of a request or agreement by Mr. Ghamsari not to be renominated for election as a member of our board of directors at a meeting of our stockholders or (v) the 50-year anniversary of the closing of this offering.

Conversion of Class C Common Stock

After the conversion of all outstanding shares of our Class B common stock into shares of Class A common stock, all outstanding shares of Class C common stock will convert automatically into Class A common stock, on a share-for-share basis, on the date or time specified by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock, voting as a separate class.

Fully Paid and Non-Assessable

In connection with this offering, our legal counsel will opine that the shares of our Class A common stock to be issued in this offering will be fully paid and non-assessable.

Preferred Stock

After the completion of this offering, no shares of our preferred stock will be outstanding. Pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that will become effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering, our board of directors will have the authority, subject to limitations prescribed by Delaware law, to issue preferred stock in one or more series, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each series and to fix the designation, powers, preferences and rights of the shares of each series and any of its qualifications, limitations or restrictions, in each case without further vote or action by our stockholders. Our board of directors can also increase or decrease the number of shares of any series of preferred stock, but not below the number of shares of that series then outstanding, without any further vote or action by our stockholders. Our board of directors may authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of our common stock. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company and might adversely affect the market price of our common stock and the voting and other rights of the holders of our common stock. We have no current plan to issue any shares of preferred stock.

Options

As of March 31, 2021, we had outstanding options to purchase an aggregate of 34,716,604 shares of our Class A common stock, with a weighted average exercise price of approximately $3.03 per share,

 

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under our 2012 Plan, which includes outstanding options held by Mr. Ghamsari subject to the Equity Award Exchange. As of March 31, 2021, there were 31,253,651 shares of our Class A common stock subject to options held by Mr. Ghamsari that may be exchanged, upon exercise and pursuant to the Equity Award Exchange, for an equivalent number of shares of our Class B common stock following this offering.

Warrants

As of March 31, 2021, we had outstanding warrants to purchase 1,269,919 shares of our Series D-1 convertible preferred stock. On July 2, 2021, we issued a warrant to purchase 598,431 shares of our Series G convertible preferred stock. Upon the completion of this offering, these warrants may remain outstanding. If outstanding upon the completion of this offering, these warrants shall become warrants to purchase shares of our Class A common stock.

Registration Rights

After the completion of this offering, the holders of up to 148,216,035 shares of our Class A common stock will be entitled to rights with respect to the registration of their shares under the Securities Act. We refer to such parties as holders in this subsection. These registration rights are contained in our IRA. We and certain holders of our capital stock are parties to the IRA. The registration rights set forth in the IRA shall terminate upon (a) after five years following the earlier of the consummation of this offering, (b) as to any holder, such earlier time after this offering at which such holder (i) can sell all shares held by it in compliance with Rule 144(b)(1)(i) or (ii) holds one percent (1%) or less of our outstanding Class A common stock and all registrable securities under the IRA held by such holder (together with any affiliate of the holder with whom such holder must aggregate its sales under Rule 144) can be sold in any three month period without registration in compliance with Rule 144 or (c) after the consummation of a liquidation transaction. We will pay the registration expenses (other than underwriting discounts, selling commissions, and stock transfer taxes) of the holders of the shares registered pursuant to the registrations described below, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel chosen by the holders of the shares included in such registrations. In an underwritten offering, the managing underwriters, if any, have the right, subject to specified conditions, to limit the number of shares such holders may include. We expect that our stockholders will waive their rights under the IRA (i) to receive notice of this offering, and (ii) to include their registrable shares in this offering.

Demand Registration Rights

After the completion of this offering, certain holders of our Class A common stock will be entitled to certain demand registration rights. At any time beginning six months after the effective date of this offering, the holders of shares then registrable under the IRA can request that we register the offer and sale of any of their shares in an underwritten offering, if the anticipated aggregate offering price, net of underwriting discounts, selling commissions, and stock transfer taxes, would exceed $5 million. We are obligated to effect only two such registrations. If we determine that it would be materially detrimental to our stockholders to effect such a demand registration, we have the right to defer such registration, not more than once in any twelve month period, for a period of up to 90 days. Additionally, we will not be required to effect a demand registration during the period beginning 60 days prior to our good faith estimate of the date of the filing of, and ending up to 180 days following the effectiveness of, a registration statement relating to the public offering of our common stock or if such holders propose to dispose of shares that may be immediately registered on Form S-3 as described below.

 

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Piggyback Registration Rights

After the completion of this offering, if we propose to register the offer and sale of our Class A common stock under the Securities Act, in connection with the public offering of such Class A common stock the holders will be entitled to certain “piggyback” registration rights allowing the holders to include their shares in such registration, subject to certain marketing and other limitations. As a result, whenever we propose to file a registration statement under the Securities Act, other than with respect to (1) a registration relating to the sale of securities to employees of us or a subsidiary pursuant to an equity incentive, stock option, stock purchase or similar plan, (2) a registration related to any employee benefit plan or a corporate reorganization or other transaction covered by Rule 145 promulgated under the Securities Act, (3) a registration on any registration form which does not include substantially the same information as would be required to be included in a registration statement covering the sale of the shares of our Class A common stock or (4) a registration in which the only Class A common stock being registered is Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of debt securities that are also being registered, the holders of these shares are entitled to notice of the registration and have the right, subject to certain limitations, to include their shares in the registration.

S-3 Registration Rights

After the completion of this offering, the holders of up to 148,216,035 shares of our Class A common stock will be entitled to certain Form S-3 registration rights. The holders of these shares can make a request that we register any of their shares then registrable under the IRA on Form S-3 if we are qualified to file a registration statement on Form S-3 and if the reasonably anticipated aggregate gross proceeds of the shares offered would equal or exceed $2 million. We will not be required to effect a registration on Form S-3 if we, within 30 days of receipt of such a request by the holders, give notice of its bona fide intention to effect the filing of a registration statement with the SEC within 120 days of receipt of such request. We will not be required to effect a registration on Form S-3 during the period beginning 30 days prior to our good faith estimate of the date of the filing of, and ending up to 90 days following the effectiveness of, a registration statement relating to the public offering of our common stock. Additionally, we will not be required to effect more than two registrations on Form S-3 within any 12-month period; provided, that if at any time we are eligible to file an automatic shelf registration statement.

Anti-Takeover Provisions

Certain provisions of Delaware law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws, which will become effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering, which are summarized below, may have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging another person from acquiring control of us. They are also designed, in part, to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to negotiate first with our board of directors. We believe that the benefits of increased protection of our potential ability to negotiate with an unfriendly or unsolicited acquirer outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging a proposal to acquire us because negotiation of these proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.

Delaware Law

We will be governed by the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. In general, Section 203 prohibits a public Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless:

 

   

the business combination or transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder was approved by the board of directors prior to the time that the stockholder became an interested stockholder;

 

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upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding shares owned by directors who are also officers of the corporation and shares owned by employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or

 

   

at or subsequent to the time the stockholder became an interested stockholder, the business combination was approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder.

In general, Section 203 defines a “business combination” to include mergers, asset sales, and other transactions resulting in financial benefit to a stockholder and an “interested stockholder” as a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns, or within three years did own, 15% or more of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock. These provisions may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing changes in control of our company.

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaw Provisions

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws, which will become effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering, will include a number of provisions that could deter hostile takeovers or delay or prevent changes in control of our board of directors or management team, including the following:

Multi-Class Stock

As described above in “—Common Stock—Voting Rights,” our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides for a multi-class common stock structure, as a result of which holders of our Class B common stock will be entitled to 40 votes per share, while holders of Class A common stock are entitled to one vote per share. Holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders.

Because of our multi-class structure, until the Final Conversion Date, Mr. Ghamsari will be able to determine or significantly influence matters submitted to our stockholders for approval even if he owns significantly less than 50% of the shares of our outstanding capital stock on an as-converted to Class A common stock basis. Mr. Ghamsari’s concentrated control could discourage others from initiating a potential merger, takeover, or other change of control transaction that other stockholders may view as beneficial.

Separate Class B Vote for Certain Transactions

Until the Final Conversion Date, holders of our Class B common stock will have the right to vote as a separate class on amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that affect the rights of our Class B common stock. See the section titled “—Common Stock—Voting Rights.”

Board of Directors Vacancies

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws will authorize only our board of directors to fill vacant directorships, including newly created seats. In addition, the number of directors constituting our board of directors will be permitted to be set only by a resolution adopted by a majority vote of our entire board of directors. These provisions would prevent a

 

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stockholder from increasing the size of our board of directors and then gaining control of our board of directors by filling the resulting vacancies with its own nominees. This will make it more difficult to change the composition of our board of directors and will promote continuity of management.

Stockholder Action; Special Meeting of Stockholders

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that until the Voting Threshold Date, our stockholders may only take action by written consent if such action is first recommended or approved by our board of directors, except as set forth above under “—Board of Directors Vacancies”. After the Voting Threshold Date, our stockholders will not be able to take action by written consent for any matter and will only be able to take action at annual or special meetings. As a result, a holder controlling a majority of the voting power of our capital stock would not be able to amend our amended and restated bylaws or remove directors without holding a meeting of our stockholders called in accordance with our amended and restated bylaws, or until the Voting Threshold Date, unless previously approved by our board of directors. Our amended and restated bylaws will further provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by a majority of our board of directors, the chairperson of our board of directors, or our principal executive officer, thus prohibiting a stockholder from calling a special meeting. These provisions might delay the ability of our stockholders to force consideration of a proposal or for stockholders controlling a majority of the voting power of our capital stock to take any action, including the removal of directors.

Advance Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations

Our amended and restated bylaws will provide advance notice procedures for stockholders seeking to bring business before our annual meeting of stockholders or to nominate candidates for election as directors at our annual meeting of stockholders. Our amended and restated bylaws will also specify certain requirements regarding the form and content of a stockholder’s notice. These provisions might preclude our stockholders from bringing matters before our annual meeting of stockholders or from making nominations for directors at our annual meeting of stockholders if the proper procedures are not followed. We expect that these provisions may also discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of our company.

No Cumulative Voting

The Delaware General Corporation Law provides that stockholders are not entitled to cumulate votes in the election of directors unless a corporation’s certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation does not provide for cumulative voting.

Amendment of Charter and Bylaws Provisions

Any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or bylaws will require the approval of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock voting as a single class.

Issuance of Undesignated Preferred Stock

Our board of directors will have the authority, without further action by our stockholders, to issue up to 200,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock with rights and preferences, including voting rights, designated from time to time by our board of directors. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock would enable our board of directors to render more difficult or to discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or other means.

 

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Exclusive Forum

Our amended and restated bylaws will provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers, or other employees to us or our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the company or any director or officer of the company arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, (iv) any action to interpret, apply, enforce, or determine the validity of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or amended and restated bylaws, or (v) any other action asserting a claim that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine shall be a state or federal court located within the State of Delaware, in all cases subject to the court’s having jurisdiction over indispensable parties named as defendants. Our amended and restated bylaws will also provide that the federal district courts of the United States of America will be the exclusive forum for resolving any complaint asserting a course of action under the Securities Act. Nothing in our amended and restated bylaws precludes stockholders that assert claims under the Exchange Act from bringing such claims in state or federal court, subject to applicable law. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in our securities shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to these provisions. Although we believe these provisions benefit us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law for the specified types of actions and proceedings, the provisions may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against us or our directors and officers.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

Upon the completion of this offering, the transfer agent and registrar for our Class A common stock will be Computershare Trust Company, N.A. The transfer agent and registrar’s address is 250 Royall Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021.

Limitations of Liability and Indemnification

See the section titled “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Limitation of Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors.”

Listing

We have applied to list our Class A common stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “BLND”.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN INDEBTEDNESS

Credit Agreement

General

On June 30, 2021, or the Closing Date, we entered into a credit agreement among us, our material U.S. subsidiaries (other than Title365 and its direct and indirect subsidiaries), as guarantors, the lenders party thereto and Owl Rock Technology Finance Corp., or Owl Rock, as administrative agent and collateral agent, or our credit agreement. Our credit agreement provides for $225.0 million of senior secured term loans, or the term facility, and a $25.0 million senior secured revolving loan facility, or the revolving facility. The revolving facility has a $10.0 million letter of credit sublimit. The revolving facility also includes a swingline sub-facility, or the swingline facility, that accommodates same-day borrowing of base rate loans. The sublimit for the swingline facility is $5.0 million.

The term facility was fully drawn upon to provide, in part, the acquisition consideration being paid in connection with the purchase of a 90.1% stake in Title365. The revolving facility is currently undrawn.

Our credit agreement includes the right to request additional commitments for new incremental term loans and revolving loans, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $30.0 million (plus the amounts of certain prepayments made prior to the date of incurrence of such incremental loans); provided that no more than $10.0 million of the incremental loans may be in the form of incremental revolving loans). Such incremental loans are uncommitted and subject to certain minimum amount requirements.

The term facility and the revolving facility will each mature on the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date.

Amortization, Interest Rates, and Fees

No amortization payments are required with respect to either the term facility or the revolving facility, with the full principal amount of each due at maturity.

The borrowings under the term facility and the revolving facility bear interest at a floating rate which can be, at our option, either (i) an adjusted LIBOR rate for a specified interest period plus an applicable margin of 7.50% or (ii) a base rate plus an applicable margin of 6.50%. The LIBOR rate applicable to the term facility and the revolving facility is subject to a “floor” of 1.00%, and the base rate is subject to a floor of 2.00%.

The base rate for any day is a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (i) the federal funds effective rate in effect on such day, plus 0.50%, (ii) the rate of interest for such day as published in the Wall Street Journal as the “prime rate,” and (iii) the adjusted LIBOR rate for a one-month interest period, plus 1.00%.

In addition to paying interest on loans outstanding under the term facility and the revolving facility, we are required to pay a commitment fee of 0.50% per annum of the unused commitments under the revolving facility. We are also required to pay letter of credit fees, customary fronting fees and other customary documentary fees in connection with the issuance of letters of credit.

Voluntary Prepayments

Voluntary prepayment of outstanding loans under the term facility is permitted at any time, subject to the prepayment premium described below.

 

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Voluntary repayment or prepayment of amounts outstanding under the revolving facility are permitted at any time, and such amounts may subsequently be reborrowed, unless the revolving commitments are simultaneously reduced or terminated.

Voluntary prepayments or repayments of the term facility and the revolving facility are subject to prior written notice, minimum amount requirements, and customary “breakage” costs with respect to LIBOR loans.

Mandatory Prepayments

Our credit agreement requires us to prepay, subject to certain exceptions, the term facility with:

 

   

100% of net cash proceeds above a threshold amount of certain asset sales and casualty events, subject to reinvestment rights and certain other exceptions; and

 

   

100% of the net cash proceeds of certain debt incurrences.

Mandatory prepayments are subject to the prepayment premium described below.

Prepayment Premium

Voluntary prepayments of the term facility and mandatory prepayments in connection with debt incurrences, asset sales and casualty events (but, in the case of asset sales and casualty events, only with respect to asset sales or casualty events impacting all or substantially all of our and our subsidiaries’ assets) are subject to a prepayment premium if occurring prior to the second anniversary of the Closing Date. The prepayment premium is equal to all interest payments that would have been made on the principal amount subject to such prepayment through, but excluding, the second anniversary of the Closing Date (subject to a discount rate equal to a specified treasury rate plus 0.50%).

Guarantees

Subject to certain exceptions, all obligations under our credit agreement are jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally, guaranteed on a senior secured basis by all of our existing and future direct and indirect subsidiaries (other than Title365 and all of its direct and indirect subsidiaries, unrestricted subsidiaries, foreign subsidiaries, foreign subsidiary holding companies, subsidiaries prohibited by applicable law from becoming guarantors, immaterial subsidiaries, and certain other exempted subsidiaries), or collectively, the guarantors.

Security

Our obligations and the obligations of the guarantors under our credit agreement are secured by perfected first priority pledges of and security interests in (i) substantially all of the existing and future equity interests of our subsidiaries and those of each guarantor, subject to certain limitations and exceptions (including the exclusion of all equity interests issued by Title365 and its direct and indirect subsidiaries) and (ii) substantially all of our and the guarantors’ tangible and intangible assets, in each case, subject to certain exceptions.

Certain Covenants

Our credit agreement contains a number of covenants that, among other things, restrict or subject to certain exceptions, the ability of us or our subsidiaries to:

 

   

incur additional indebtedness;

 

   

create or incur liens;

 

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engage in consolidations, amalgamations, mergers, liquidations, dissolutions or dispositions;

 

   

sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of assets;

 

   

pay dividends and distributions on, or purchase, redeem, defease, or otherwise acquire or retire for value, capital stock;

 

   

change the nature of our business or its fiscal year;

 

   

prepay certain junior indebtedness or modify certain documents (including limitations on modifications of organizational documents;

 

   

make acquisitions, investments, loans (including guarantees), advances, or capital contributions; and

 

   

create negative pledges or restrictions on the payment of dividends.

In addition, our credit agreement includes a liquidity covenant requiring that we maintain liquidity (which includes undrawn availability under the revolving facility) of at least $25.0 million. The liquidity covenant is tested quarterly.

Events of Default

Our credit agreement includes certain customary events of default, including, among others, failure to pay principal, interest, or other amounts (subject to grace periods); material inaccuracy of representations and warranties; violation of covenants; specified cross-default and cross-acceleration to other material indebtedness; certain bankruptcy and insolvency events; invalidity of guarantees or grants of security interest; certain undischarged judgments; and change of control.

Warrant

In connection with our credit agreement, we also issued a warrant to purchase shares of our Series G convertible preferred stock, or the Series G Warrant, to the lenders under our credit agreement as of the Closing Date. The issue date of the Series G Warrant, or the Issue Date, was July 2, 2021.

The Series G Warrant permits the holders to, upon exercise, receive 598,431 shares of our Class A common stock, or the Exercise Shares, for an issue price of $13.827822, or the Exercise Price. We refer to the date of such exercise as the Exercise Date. The Exercise Date must occur within ten years of the Issue Date.

The Series G Warrant is transferrable in whole or in part to any Affiliate (as defined in the Series G Warrant) of the holder upon delivery of the Series G Warrant and the form of assignment, provided that the transferee agrees to be bound by all provisions of the Series G Warrant and is not a competitor of us.

The Series G Warrant may be net exercised if the market value of one share of our Exercise Shares is greater than the Exercise Price. In lieu of exercising the Series G Warrant by payment of cash, the holder may receive Exercise Shares equal to the following:

X=(Y(A-B))/A

Where X= the number of Exercise Shares to be issued

Y= the number of Exercise Shares for which the Series G Warrant has been exercised for

A= the fair market value of one Exercise Share

B= the Exercise Price in effect.

 

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SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our Class A common stock, and we cannot predict the effect, if any, that market sales of shares of our Class A common stock or the availability of shares of our Class A common stock for sale will have on the market price of our Class A common stock prevailing from time to time. Future sales of our Class A common stock in the public market, or the availability of such shares for sale in the public market, could adversely affect market prices prevailing from time to time. As described below, only a limited number of shares of our Class A common stock will be available for sale shortly after this offering due to contractual and legal restrictions on resale. Nevertheless, sales of our Class A common stock in the public market after such restrictions lapse, or the perception that those sales may occur, could adversely affect the prevailing market price at such time and our ability to raise equity capital in the future.

Following the completion of this offering, based on the number of shares of our capital stock outstanding as of March 31, 2021, we will have a total of 208,677,071 shares of our Class A common stock outstanding, 10,916,666 shares of our Class B common stock outstanding, and no shares of our Class C common stock outstanding. Of these outstanding shares, all 20,000,000 shares of our Class A common stock sold in this offering will be freely tradable, except that any shares purchased in this offering by our affiliates, as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, would only be able to be sold in compliance with the Rule 144 limitations described below.

The remaining outstanding shares of our Class A common stock (including shares issued upon conversion of our Class B common stock) will be, and shares subject to stock options or warrants will be upon issuance, deemed “restricted securities” as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act. Restricted securities may be sold in the public market only if they are registered under the Securities Act or if they qualify for an exemption from registration under Rule 144 or Rule 701 under the Securities Act, which rules are summarized below. As a result of the lock-up and market standoff agreements described below and the provisions of our IRA described in the section titled “Description of Capital Stock—Registration Rights,” and subject to the provisions of Rule 144 or Rule 701, shares of Class A common stock (including shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of certain options and shares of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of shares of Class B common stock) will be available for sale in the public market as follows:

 

   

beginning on the date of this prospectus, all 20,000,000 shares of our Class A common stock sold in this offering will be immediately available for sale in the public market;

 

   

beginning on the date of the Employee Early Release, if such release has been triggered, 5,071,077 shares of Class A common stock (including shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of certain options) held by current and former employees, consultants, or advisors, but excluding current executive officers and directors, will be eligible for sale in the public market from time to time thereafter subject in some cases to the volume and other restrictions of Rule 144;

 

   

beginning on the date of the Earnings-Related Release (not including shares released in connection with the Employee Early Release), if such release has been triggered:

 

   

36,631,629 shares of Class A common stock held by former holders of our convertible preferred stock will be eligible for sale in the public market from time to time thereafter subject in some cases to the volume and other restrictions of Rule 144;

 

   

4,411,060 shares of Class A common stock held by executive officers and directors (including shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of certain options and shares of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of shares of Class B common stock) will be eligible for sale in the public market from time to time thereafter subject in some cases to the volume and other restrictions of Rule 144; and

 

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6,693,604 shares of Class A common stock (including shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of certain options) held by all other holders will be eligible for sale in the public market from time to time thereafter subject in some cases to the volume and other restrictions of Rule 144; and

 

   

beginning on the Final Lock-Up Release Date, the remainder of the shares of our Class A common stock (including shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of certain options and shares of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of shares of Class B common stock) will be eligible for sale in the public market from time to time thereafter, subject in some cases to the volume and other restrictions of Rule 144, as described below.

Lock-Up and Market Standoff Agreements

We have agreed that we will not (i) offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with the SEC a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to any shares of our Class A common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any shares of our Class A common stock, or publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge, disposition or filing, or (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers all or a portion of the economic consequences associated with the ownership of any shares of Class A common stock or any such other securities (regardless of whether any of these transactions are to be settled by the delivery of shares of Class A common stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise), in each case without the prior written consent of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Allen & Company LLC for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus, other than the shares of our Class A common stock to be sold hereunder and certain other exceptions.

Our directors, our executive officers and holders of a substantial majority of all of our capital stock and securities convertible into our capital stock have entered or will enter into lock-up agreements with the underwriters prior to the commencement of this offering pursuant to which each of these persons or entities, with limited exceptions, for a period of time up to 180 days after the date of this prospectus, may not, without the prior written consent of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Allen & Company LLC, (i) offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option to purchase, lend or otherwise dispose of any shares of Class A common stock or any options or warrants to purchase any shares of Class A common stock, or any securities convertible into, exchangeable for or that represent the right to receive shares of our Class A common stock (we refer to such options, warrants or other securities as derivative instruments), (ii) engage in any hedging or other transaction or arrangement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Class A common stock or derivative instruments, or (iii) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Class A common stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise.

The restrictions described in the immediately preceding paragraph and contained in the lock-up agreements between our directors, our executive officers and holders of a substantial majority of all of our capital stock and securities convertible into our capital stock and the underwriters do not apply to certain transactions, subject in certain cases to various conditions, including transfers of shares of our Class A common stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our Class A common stock (i) as a bona fide gift or gifts, charitable contribution, or bona fide estate planning purposes; (ii) to any member of the party’s immediate family or to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the party or the immediate family of the party, or if the party is a trust, to a trustor or beneficiary of the trust or to the estate of a beneficiary of such trust; (iii) upon death or by will, testamentary document, or the laws of intestate succession; (iv) to a nominee or custodian of a person

 

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or entity to whom a disposition or transfer would be permissible under clauses (i) through (iii) above; (v) to us upon death, disability, or termination of employment; (vi) in connection with a sale of shares of our Class A common stock acquired (A) from the underwriters in this offering or (B) in open market transactions after the date of the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part; (vii) for a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, or other business entity, (A) to another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, or other business entity that is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act) of the party, or to any investment fund or other entity controlling, controlled by, managing or managed by, or under common control with the party or its affiliates or (B) as part of a distribution, transfer, or disposition without consideration by the party to its stockholders, partners, members, or other equity holders; (viii) to us for the purposes of exercising (including for the payment of tax withholdings or remittance payments due as a result of such exercise) on a “net exercise” basis options to purchase shares of our common stock that are held as of the date of the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and were issued pursuant to equity awards granted under a stock incentive plan or other equity award plan described in this prospectus; (ix) to us in connection with the repurchase of shares of our common stock issued pursuant to equity awards granted under a stock incentive plan or other equity award plan described in this prospectus or pursuant to the agreements pursuant to which such shares were issued as described in this prospectus, and provided that such repurchase is in connection with the termination of the party’s service provider relationship with us; (x) pursuant to a bona fide third-party tender offer, merger, consolidation, or other similar transaction that is approved by our board of directors and made to all holders of our capital stock the result of which is that any “person” (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), or group of persons, becomes the beneficial owner of more than 50% of total voting power of our voting stock or the voting stock of the surviving entity; (xi) in connection with the conversion or reclassification of our outstanding preferred stock into shares of our common stock, or any reclassification or conversion of our common stock; (xii) by operation of law, pursuant to a final qualified domestic order, divorce settlement, divorce decree, or separation agreement; (xiii) to the underwriters pursuant to the underwriting agreement; (xiv) with the prior written consent of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Allen & Company LLC; or (xv) if the party is a non-executive and non-director employee, in connection with the creation of any charge, lien, mortgage, pledge, or other security interest or posting as collateral any of the shares of our common stock in connection with a bona fide loan transaction. In addition, such lock-up restrictions do not prevent a party from entering into a written plan meeting the requirements of Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act after the date of the lock-up agreement relating to the transfer, sale, or other disposition of such party’s securities, if then permitted by us and subject to certain exceptions.

In addition, our executive officers, directors, and holders of a substantial majority of all of our capital stock and securities convertible into or exchangeable for our capital stock have entered into market standoff agreements with us under which they have agreed that, subject to certain exceptions, for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus, they will not, without our prior written consent, dispose of or hedge any shares or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our Class A common stock. In the event that the lock-up period under the lock-up agreements with the underwriters is subject to early termination in accordance with the terms of the lock-up agreements, as more fully described in the section titled “Underwriting,” we would not expect to enforce such market standoff agreement from and after the early termination of such lock-up period.

Our lock-up period has three potential release dates described in the paragraphs below.

Employee Early Release

The terms of the lock-up agreements will expire as to 25% of the vested shares of common stock subject to the lock-up agreements (including shares issuable upon exercise of vested options) held as of the date that is ten days prior to the date of this prospectus by current and former employees,

 

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consultants, or advisors, but excluding current executive officers and directors, upon the First Early Release Triggering Day that occurs in an open trading window and where the last reported closing price of our Class A common stock on the New York Stock Exchange is at least 25% greater than the public offering price per share, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, for any five trading days out of the ten-consecutive full trading day period ending on the First Early Release Triggering Day, which ten-consecutive full trading day period is subject to reduction upon satisfaction of certain conditions.

Earnings-Related Release

The terms of the lock-up agreements will expire as to 25% of the vested shares of common stock subject to the lock-up agreements (including shares issuable upon exercise of vested options) held as of the date that is ten days prior to the date of this prospectus, upon the Second Early Release Triggering Day that is at least 90 days following the date of this prospectus, occurs during an open trading window, and where the last reported closing price of our Class A common stock on the New York Stock Exchange is at least 25% greater than the public offering price per share, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, for any five trading days out of the ten-consecutive full trading day period ending on the Second Early Release Triggering Day.

Final Lock-Up Release

To the extent not released on the Employee Early Release or the Earnings-Related Release described above, all remaining shares of common stock subject to the lock-up agreements may be sold upon the earlier of (i) if the lock-up period is scheduled to end during or within five trading days prior to the closing of an open trading window, ten trading days prior to the closing of such open trading window or (ii) otherwise, 181 days after the date of this prospectus. In the event the lock-up period will end pursuant to the Blackout-Related Release, we will notify Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Allen & Company LLC of the date of the impending Blackout-Related Release promptly upon our determination of the date of the Blackout-Related Release and will publicly announce the date of the expected Blackout-Related Release through a major news service, or on a Form 8-K, at least two trading days in advance of such release.

The following table summarizes the potential lock-up expiration dates:

 

Type of Release    Conditions    Expiration Date    Shares Released
Employee Early Release   

•  Our Class A common stock begins trading on the New York Stock Exchange

 

•  Trading is within an open trading window

 

•  The last reported closing price of our Class A common stock on the New York Stock Exchange is at least 25% greater than the public offering price per share, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, for any five trading days out of the ten-consecutive full trading day period, or the Employee Early Release Conditions

   The trading day immediately following the first trading day on which the Employee Early Release Conditions are met; provided that if the date of this prospectus is more than five but less than ten trading days prior to the First Early Release Triggering Day, the ten-consecutive day period shall be reduced to the amount of trading days between the date of this prospectus and the Employee Early Release    25% of the vested shares (approximately 5,071,077 shares) subject to the lock-up agreements (including shares issuable upon exercise of vested options) held as of the date that is ten days prior to the date of this prospectus by current and former employees, consultants, and advisors, but excluding current executive officers and directors
Earnings-Related Early Release   

•  Our Class A common stock begins trading on the New York Stock Exchange

 

•  90 days have elapsed since the date of this prospectus

   The trading day immediately following the first trading day on which the Earnings-Related Release Conditions are met    25% of the vested shares (approximately 47,736,293 shares) subject to the lock-up agreements (including shares issuable upon exercise of vested options) held as of the

 

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Type of Release    Conditions    Expiration Date    Shares Released
  

 

•  Trading is within an open trading window

 

•  The last reported closing price of our Class A common stock on the New York Stock Exchange is at least 25% greater than the public offering price per share, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, for any five trading days out of the ten-consecutive full trading day period, or the Earnings-Related Release Conditions

      date that is ten days prior to the date of this prospectus
Blackout-Related Release    The lock-up period is scheduled to end during or within five trading days prior to the close of an open trading window    Ten trading days prior to the closing of the open trading window    All remaining shares
Final Lock-Up Release    Time-based condition    181 days after the date of this prospectus    All remaining shares

In addition, our executive officers, directors, and holders of a substantial majority of all of our capital stock and securities convertible into or exchangeable for our capital stock, except in certain cases to the extent they have otherwise signed lock-up agreements described above have entered into market standoff agreements with us under which they have agreed that, subject to certain exceptions, for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus, they will not, without our prior written consent, dispose of or hedge any shares or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our Class A common stock. In the event that the lock-up period under the lock-up agreements with the underwriters is subject to early termination in accordance with the terms of the lock-up agreements, as more fully described in the section titled “Underwriting,” we would not expect to enforce such market standoff agreement from and after the early termination of such lock-up period.

Rule 144

In general, Rule 144 provides that once we have been subject to the public company reporting requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act for at least 90 days, a person who is not deemed to have been one of our affiliates for purposes of the Securities Act at any time during the 90 days preceding a sale and who has beneficially owned the shares of our Class A common stock proposed to be sold for at least six months is entitled to sell those shares without complying with the manner of sale, volume limitation or notice provisions of Rule 144, subject to compliance with the public information requirements of Rule 144. If such a person has beneficially owned the shares proposed to be sold for at least one year, including the holding period of any prior owner other than our affiliates, then that person would be entitled to sell those shares without complying with any of the requirements of Rule 144.

In general, Rule 144 provides that our affiliates or persons selling shares of our Class A common stock on behalf of our affiliates are entitled to sell upon expiration of the market standoff agreements and lock-up agreements described above, within any three-month period, a number of shares of our Class A common stock that does not exceed the greater of:

 

   

1% of the number of shares of our Class A common stock then outstanding, which will equal 2,086,771 shares immediately after the completion of this offering; or

 

   

the average weekly trading volume of our Class A common stock during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to that sale.

 

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Sales of our Class A common stock made in reliance upon Rule 144 by our affiliates or persons selling shares of our Class A common stock on behalf of our affiliates are also subject to certain manner of sale provisions and notice requirements and to the availability of current public information about us.

Rule 701

Rule 701 generally allows a stockholder who purchased shares of our capital stock pursuant to a written compensatory plan or contract and who is not deemed to have been an affiliate of our company during the immediately preceding 90 days to sell these shares in reliance upon Rule 144, but without being required to comply with the public information, holding period, volume limitation or notice provisions of Rule 144. Rule 701 also permits affiliates of our company to sell their Rule 701 shares under Rule 144 without complying with the holding period requirements of Rule 144. All holders of Rule 701 shares, however, are required to wait until 90 days after the date of this prospectus before selling those shares pursuant to Rule 701.

Registration Rights

Pursuant to our IRA, after the completion of this offering, the holders of up to 148,216,035 shares of our Class A common stock, or certain transferees, will be entitled to certain rights with respect to the registration of the offer and sale of those shares under the Securities Act. See the section titled “Description of Capital Stock—Registration Rights” for a description of these registration rights. If the offer and sale of these shares of our Class A common stock are registered, the shares will be freely tradable without restriction under the Securities Act, subject to the Rule 144 limitations applicable to affiliates, and a large number of shares may be sold into the public market.

Registration Statement

We intend to file a registration statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act promptly after the effectiveness of this offering to register shares of our common stock subject to options outstanding, as well as reserved for future issuance, under our equity compensation plans. The registration statement on Form S-8 is expected to become effective immediately upon filing, and shares of our common stock covered by the registration statement will then become eligible for sale in the public market, subject to the Rule 144 limitations applicable to affiliates, vesting restrictions, and any applicable market standoff agreements and lock-up agreements. See the section titled “Executive Compensation—Employee Benefit and Stock Plans” for a description of our equity compensation plans.

 

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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS FOR

NON-U.S. HOLDERS OF OUR CLASS A COMMON STOCK

The following is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to “non-U.S. holders” (as defined below) of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our Class A common stock issued pursuant to this offering, but does not purport to be a complete analysis of all the potential tax considerations relating thereto. This summary is based upon the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, administrative rulings and judicial decisions, all as of the date hereof. These authorities may be changed, possibly retroactively, which may result in U.S. federal income tax consequences different from those set forth below. We have not requested a ruling from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, with respect to the statements made and the conclusions reached in the following summary, and there can be no assurance that the IRS will not take a contrary position regarding the tax consequences described herein, or that any such contrary position would not be sustained by a court.

This summary does not address the tax considerations arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. jurisdiction, or under U.S. federal gift and estate tax laws. In addition, this discussion does not address tax considerations applicable to a non-U.S. holder’s particular circumstances or non-U.S. holders that may be subject to special tax rules, including, without limitation:

 

   

banks, insurance companies or other financial institutions (except to the extent specifically set forth below);

 

   

persons subject to the alternative minimum tax or Medicare contribution tax on net investment income;

 

   

tax-exempt organizations or governmental organizations;

 

   

pension plans or tax-exempt retirement plans;

 

   

controlled foreign corporations, passive foreign investment companies and corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax;

 

   

brokers or dealers in securities or currencies;

 

   

traders in securities or other persons that elect to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for their holdings in our stock;

 

   

persons that own, or are deemed to own, more than five percent of our capital stock (except to the extent specifically set forth below);

 

   

certain former citizens or long-term residents of the United States;

 

   

partnerships or entities classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes or other pass-through entities (and investors therein);

 

   

persons who hold our Class A common stock as a position in a hedging transaction, “straddle,” “conversion transaction” or other risk reduction transaction or integrated investment;

 

   

persons who hold or receive our Class A common stock pursuant to the exercise of any employee stock option or otherwise as compensation;

 

   

persons subject to special tax accounting rules as a result of any item of gross income with respect to our Class A common stock being taken into account in an “applicable financial statement” (as defined in Section 451(b) of the Code);

 

   

persons who do not hold our common stock as a capital asset within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code; or

 

   

persons deemed to sell our common stock under the constructive sale provisions of the Code.

 

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In addition, if a partnership or other entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds our Class A common stock, the tax treatment of a partner in such partnership generally will depend on the status of the partner and upon the activities of the partnership. Accordingly, partnerships, or other entities or arrangements treated as partnerships, that hold our Class A common stock, and partners in such partnerships, should consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of our Class A common stock.

This discussion is for informational purposes only and is not tax advice. You are urged to consult your tax advisor with respect to the application of the U.S. federal income tax laws to your particular situation, as well as any tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our Class A common stock arising under the U.S. federal gift or estate tax laws or under the laws of any U.S. state or local, non-U.S. or other taxing jurisdiction or under any applicable tax treaty.

Non-U.S. Holder Defined

For purposes of this discussion, you are a “non-U.S. holder” if you are a holder of our Class A common stock and are not a partnership (or entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) and are not, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, any of the following:

 

   

an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;

 

   

a corporation (or any other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

   

an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or

 

   

a trust (x) whose administration is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and which has one or more “United States persons” (within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code), or U.S. persons, who have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (y) which has made a valid election to be treated as a U.S. person.

Distributions

We do not anticipate paying any dividends on our capital stock in the foreseeable future. However, if we do make distributions of cash or other property (other than certain pro rata distributions of our stock) on our Class A common stock, those payments will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, if any, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. To the extent those distributions exceed both our current and our accumulated earnings and profits, they will constitute a return of capital and will first reduce your basis in our Class A common stock, but not below zero, and then will be treated as gain from the sale or other disposition of property as described below under “—Gain on Disposition of Our Class A common stock.”

Except as otherwise described below in the paragraph on effectively connected income and the sections titled “—Backup Withholding and Information Reporting” and “—FATCA,” any dividend paid to you generally will be subject to U.S. withholding tax either at a rate of 30% of the gross amount of the dividend or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty between the United States and your country of residence. If we or another withholding agent apply over-withholding or if a non-U.S. holder does not timely provide us with the required certification, the non-U.S. holder may be entitled to a refund or credit of any excess tax withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim with the IRS.

 

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In order to receive a reduced treaty rate, you must provide the applicable withholding agent with an IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E or other appropriate version of IRS Form W-8, including any required attachments and your taxpayer identification number, certifying qualification for the reduced rate. In addition, you will be required to update such forms and certifications from time to time as required by law. If you are eligible for a reduced rate of U.S. withholding tax pursuant to an income tax treaty, you may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS. If you hold our stock through a financial institution or other agent acting on your behalf, you will be required to provide appropriate documentation to the agent, which then will be required to provide certification to us or our paying agent, either directly or through other intermediaries. You should consult your tax advisor regarding entitlement to benefits under any applicable income tax treaties.

Dividends received by you that are effectively connected with your conduct of a U.S. trade or business (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by you in the United States) are generally exempt from such withholding tax, subject to the discussions below on backup withholding and FATCA withholding. In order to obtain this exemption, you must provide us with an IRS Form W-8ECI or other applicable IRS Form W-8, including any required attachments and your taxpayer identification number, certifying qualification for the reduced rate. In addition, you will be required to update such forms and certifications from time to time as required by law. Such effectively connected dividends, although not subject to U.S. federal withholding tax, are includable on your U.S. federal income tax return and taxed to you at the same graduated rates applicable to U.S. persons, net of certain deductions and credits. If you are a corporate non-U.S. holder, dividends you receive that are effectively connected with your conduct of a U.S. trade or business may also be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30%, or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty between the United States and your country of residence. You should consult your tax advisor regarding any applicable tax treaties that may provide for different rules.

Gain on Disposition of Our Class A Common Stock

Except as otherwise described below in the sections titled “—Backup Withholding and Information Reporting,” and “—FATCA,” you generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any gain realized upon the sale or other disposition of our Class A common stock unless:

 

   

the gain is effectively connected with your conduct of a U.S. trade or business (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the gain is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by you in the United States);

 

   

you are an individual who is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the calendar year in which the sale or other disposition occurs and other conditions are met; or

 

   

our Class A common stock constitutes a United States real property interest by reason of our status as a “United States real property holding corporation,” or USRPHC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes at any time within the shorter of the five-year period preceding your disposition of, or your holding period for, our Class A common stock, and, in the case where shares of our Class A common stock are regularly traded on an established securities market, you own, or are treated as owning, more than 5% of our Class A common stock at any time during the foregoing period.

In general, a corporation is a USRPHC if the fair market value of its U.S. real property interests equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market value of its worldwide property interests and its other assets used or held for use in a trade or business (all as determined for U.S. federal income tax

 

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purposes). Although there can be no assurance in this regard, we believe, and this discussion assumes, that we currently are not, and will not become, a USRPHC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, because the determination of whether we are a USRPHC depends on the fair market value of our U.S. real property interests relative to the fair market value of our other business assets, there can be no assurance that we will not become a USRPHC at some point in the future. Even if we become a USRPHC, however, as long as our Class A common stock is regularly traded on an established securities market, such Class A common stock will be treated as U.S. real property interests only if you actually or constructively hold more than five percent of such regularly traded Class A common stock at any time during the shorter of the five-year period preceding your disposition of, or your holding period for, our Class A common stock.

If you are a non-U.S. holder described in the first bullet above, you will generally be required to pay tax on the net gain derived from the sale under the same graduated U.S. federal income tax rates applicable to U.S. persons (and a corporate non-U.S. holder described in the first bullet above also may be subject to the branch profits tax at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty), unless otherwise provided by an applicable income tax treaty between the United States and your country of residence. If you are a non-U.S. holder described in the second bullet above, you will generally be required to pay a 30% tax (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty between the United States and your country of residence) on the gain derived from the sale or other disposition of our stock, which gain may be offset by certain U.S. source capital losses (provided you have timely filed U.S. federal income tax returns with respect to such losses). You should consult your tax advisor regarding any applicable income tax treaty or other treaties that may provide for different rules.

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

Generally, we must report annually to the IRS the amount of dividends paid to you, your name and address, and the amount of tax withheld, if any. A similar report will be sent to you. Pursuant to applicable income tax treaties or other agreements, the IRS may make these reports available to tax authorities in your country of residence.

Payments of dividends or of proceeds on the sale or other disposition of stock made to you may be subject to information reporting and backup withholding unless you establish an exemption, for example, by properly certifying your status as a nonresident of the United States on an IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E or another appropriate version of IRS Form W-8. Any documentation provided to an applicable withholding agent may need to be updated in certain circumstances.

Information reporting and backup withholding at a rate of 24% under current law generally will apply to the proceeds of a sale or other disposition of our Class A common stock by a non-U.S. holder effected by or through the U.S. office of any broker, U.S. or foreign, unless the holder certifies its status as a non-U.S. holder and satisfies certain other requirements, or otherwise establishes an exemption. Generally, information reporting and backup withholding will not apply to a payment of the proceeds from a sale or other disposition of our stock to a non-U.S. holder where the transaction is effected outside the United States through a foreign broker. However, for information reporting purposes, sales or other dispositions effected through a non-U.S. office of a broker with substantial U.S. ownership or operations generally will be treated in a manner similar to sales or other dispositions effected through a U.S. office of a broker. Notwithstanding the foregoing, backup withholding and information reporting may apply if either we or our paying agent has actual knowledge, or reason to know, that you are a U.S. person. Non-U.S. holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of the information reporting and backup withholding rules to them.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax; rather, the U.S. federal income tax liability of persons subject to backup withholding generally will be reduced by the amount of tax withheld. If withholding

 

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results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund or credit may generally be obtained from the IRS, provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS in a timely manner.

FATCA

Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, and the Treasury regulations and administrative guidance issued thereunder, or collectively, FATCA, generally impose U.S. federal withholding tax at a rate of 30% on dividends on and the gross proceeds from a sale or other disposition of our Class A common stock if paid to a “foreign financial institution” (as defined in the Code), unless otherwise provided by the Treasury Secretary or such institution enters into an agreement with the U.S. government to withhold on certain payments and to collect and provide to the U.S. tax authorities substantial information regarding the U.S. account holders of such institution (which includes certain equity and debt holders of such institution, as well as certain account holders that are non-U.S. entities with U.S. owners) or otherwise establishes an exemption. FATCA also generally imposes a U.S. federal withholding tax of 30% on dividends paid on and the gross proceeds from a sale or other disposition of our Class A common stock if paid to a “non-financial foreign entity” (as defined in the Code) unless otherwise provided by the Treasury Secretary or such entity provides the withholding agent with a certification identifying, and information with respect to, certain direct and indirect “substantial United States owners” (as defined in the Code), or substantial U.S. owners, of the entity, certifies that it does not have any such substantial U.S. owners or otherwise establishes and certifies to an exemption. The withholding provisions under FATCA generally apply to dividends on our Class A common stock. The Treasury Secretary has issued proposed regulations providing that the withholding provisions under FATCA do not apply with respect to the gross proceeds from a sale or other disposition of our Class A common stock. The preamble to such proposed regulations state that such proposed regulations may be relied upon by taxpayers until final regulations are issued. An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and your country of tax residence may modify the requirements described in this paragraph. Non-U.S. holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the possible implications of FATCA on their investment in our Class A common stock.

The preceding discussion of material U.S. federal tax considerations is for general information only. It is not tax advice. Each prospective investor should consult its own tax advisor regarding the particular U.S. federal, state and local and non-U.S. tax consequences of purchasing, holding and disposing of our Class A common stock, including the consequences of any proposed change in applicable laws.

 

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UNDERWRITING

We and the underwriters named below will enter into an underwriting agreement with respect to the shares being offered. Subject to certain conditions, each underwriter will severally agree to purchase the number of shares indicated in the following table. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Allen & Company LLC are the representatives of the underwriters.

 

Underwriters

   Number of Shares  

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

  

Allen & Company LLC

                       

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

  

KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc.

  

Truist Securities, Inc.

  

UBS Securities LLC

  

Piper Sandler & Co.

  

William Blair & Company, L.L.C.

  

Canaccord Genuity LLC

  

Drexel Hamilton LLC

  

Loop Capital Markets LLC

  

Samuel A. Ramirez & Company, Inc.

  
  

 

 

 

Total

     20,000,000  
  

 

 

 

The underwriters will be committed to take and pay for all of the shares being offered, if any are taken, other than the shares covered by the option described below unless and until this option is exercised.

The underwriters will have an option to buy up to an additional 3,000,000 shares from us to cover sales by the underwriters of a greater number of shares than the total number set forth in the table above. They may exercise that option for 30 days. If any shares are purchased pursuant to this option, the underwriters will severally purchase shares in approximately the same proportion as set forth in the table above.

The following table shows the per share and total underwriting discounts and commissions to be paid to the underwriters by us. Such amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase 3,000,000 additional shares.

 

     No Exercise      Full Exercise  

Per Share

   $        $    

Total

   $        $    

Shares sold by the underwriters to the public will initially be offered at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus. Any shares sold by the underwriters to securities dealers may be sold at a discount of up to $                per share from the initial public offering price. After the initial offering of the shares, the representatives may change the offering price and the other selling terms. The offering of the shares by the underwriters is subject to receipt and acceptance and subject to the underwriters’ right to reject any order in whole or in part.

We will agree that we will not (i) offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right, or warrant to purchase or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with the SEC a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to, any shares of our common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any shares of our Class A common stock, or publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge, disposition, or filing, or (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers all or a portion of the economic consequences associated

 

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with the ownership of any shares of Class A common stock or any such other securities (regardless of whether any of these transactions are to be settled by the delivery of shares of Class A common stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise), in each case without the prior written consent of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Allen & Company LLC for a period of time up to 180 days after the date of this prospectus, other than the shares of our Class A common stock to be sold hereunder and certain other exceptions.

Our directors, our executive officers, and holders of a substantial majority of our capital stock and securities convertible into our capital stock will enter into lock-up agreements with the underwriters prior to the commencement of this offering pursuant to which each of these persons or entities, with limited exceptions, for a period of time up to 180 days after the date of this prospectus, may not, without the prior written consent of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Allen & Company LLC, (i) offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option to purchase, lend or otherwise dispose of any shares of Class A common stock or any options or warrants to purchase any shares of Class A common stock, or any securities convertible into, exchangeable for or that represent the right to receive shares of our Class A common stock (we refer to such options, warrants or other securities as derivative instruments), (ii) engage in any hedging or other transaction or arrangement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Class A common stock or derivative instruments, or (iii) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Class A common stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise.

The restrictions described in the immediately preceding paragraph and contained in the lock-up agreements between our directors, our executive officers and holders of a substantial majority of all of our capital stock and securities convertible into our capital stock and the underwriters do not apply to certain transactions, subject in certain cases to various conditions, including transfers of shares of our Class A common stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our Class A common stock (i) as a bona fide gift or gifts, charitable contribution, or bona fide estate planning purposes; (ii) to any member of the party’s immediate family or to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the party or the immediate family of the party, or if the party is a trust, to a trustor or beneficiary of the trust or to the estate of a beneficiary of such trust; (iii) upon death or by will, testamentary document, or the laws of intestate succession; (iv) to a nominee or custodian of a person or entity to whom a disposition or transfer would be permissible under clauses (i) through (iii) above; (v) to us upon death, disability, or termination of employment; (vi) in connection with a sale of shares of our Class A common stock acquired (A) from the underwriters in this offering or (B) in open market transactions after the date of the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part; (vii) for a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, or other business entity, (A) to another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, or other business entity that is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act) of the party, or to any investment fund or other entity controlling, controlled by, managing or managed by, or under common control with the party or its affiliates or (B) as part of a distribution, transfer, or disposition without consideration by the party to its stockholders, partners, members, or other equity holders; (viii) to us for the purposes of exercising (including for the payment of tax withholdings or remittance payments due as a result of such exercise) on a “net exercise” basis options to purchase shares of our common stock that are held as of the date of the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and were issued pursuant to equity awards granted under a stock incentive plan or other equity award plan described in this prospectus; (ix) to us in connection with the repurchase of shares of our common stock issued pursuant to equity awards granted under a stock incentive plan or other equity award plan described in this prospectus or pursuant to the agreements pursuant to which such shares were issued as described in this prospectus, and provided that such repurchase is in connection with the termination of the party’s service provider relationship with us; (x) pursuant to a bona fide third-party tender offer, merger, consolidation, or other similar transaction that is approved by

 

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our board of directors and made to all holders of our capital stock the result of which is that any “person” (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), or group of persons, becomes the beneficial owner of more than 50% of total voting power of our voting stock or the voting stock of the surviving entity; (xi) in connection with the conversion or reclassification of our outstanding preferred stock into shares of our common stock, or any reclassification or conversion of our common stock; (xii) by operation of law, pursuant to a final qualified domestic order, divorce settlement, divorce decree, or separation agreement; (xiii) to the underwriters pursuant to the underwriting agreement; (xiv) with the prior written consent of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Allen & Company LLC; or (xv) if the party is a non-executive and non-director employee, in connection with the creation of any charge, lien, mortgage, pledge, or other security interest or posting as collateral any of the shares of our common stock in connection with a bona fide loan transaction. In addition, such lock-up restrictions do not prevent a party from entering into a written plan meeting the requirements of Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act after the date of the lock-up agreement relating to the transfer, sale, or other disposition of such party’s securities, if then permitted by us and subject to certain exceptions.

Employee Early Release

The terms of the lock-up agreements will expire as to 25% of the vested shares of common stock subject to the lock-up agreements (including shares issuable upon exercise of vested options) held as of the date that is ten days prior to the date of this prospectus by current and former employees, consultants, or advisors, but excluding current executive officers and directors, upon the First Early Release Triggering Day that occurs in an open trading window and where the last reported closing price of our Class A common stock on the New York Stock Exchange is at least 25% greater than the public offering price per share, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, for any five trading days out of the ten-consecutive full trading day period ending on the First Early Release Triggering Day, which ten-consecutive full trading day period is subject to reduction upon satisfaction of certain conditions.

Earnings-Related Release

The terms of the lock-up agreements will expire as to 25% of the vested shares of common stock subject to the lock-up agreements (including shares issuable upon exercise of vested options) held as of the date that is ten days prior to the date of this prospectus, upon the Second Early Release Triggering Day that is at least 90 days following the date of this prospectus, occurs during an open trading window, and where the last reported closing price of our Class A common stock on the New York Stock Exchange is at least 25% greater than the public offering price per share, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, for any five trading days out of the ten-consecutive full trading day period ending on the Second Early Release Triggering Day.

Final Lock-Up Release

To the extent not released on the Employee Early Release or the Earnings-Related Release described above, all remaining shares of common stock subject to the lock-up agreements may be sold upon the earlier of (i) if the lock-up period is scheduled to end during or within five trading days prior to the closing of an open trading window, ten trading days prior to the closing of such open trading window or (ii) otherwise, 180 days after the date of this prospectus. In the event that the lock-up period will end pursuant to the Blackout-Related Release, we will notify Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Allen & Company LLC of the date of the impending Blackout-Related Release promptly upon our determination of the date of the Blackout-Related Release and will publicly announce the date of the expected Blackout-Related Release at least two trading days in advance of such release.

Prior to the offering, there has been no public market for the shares. The initial public offering price will be negotiated among the representatives and us. Among the factors to be considered in determining

 

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the initial public offering price of the shares, in addition to prevailing market conditions, will be the company’s historical performance, estimates of the business potential and earnings prospects of the company, an assessment of the company’s management and the consideration of the above factors in relation to market valuation of companies in related businesses.

We have applied to list our Class A common stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “BLND”.

In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell shares of Class A common stock in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of shares than they are required to purchase in the offering, and a short position represents the amount of such sales that have not been covered by subsequent purchases. A “covered short position” is a short position that is not greater than the amount of additional shares for which the underwriters’ option described above may be exercised. The underwriters may cover any covered short position by either exercising their option to purchase additional shares or purchasing shares in the open market. In determining the source of shares to cover the covered short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase additional shares pursuant to the option described above. “Naked” short sales are any short sales that create a short position greater than the amount of additional shares for which the option described above may be exercised. The underwriters must cover any such naked short position by purchasing shares in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the Class A common stock in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of various bids for or purchases of Class A common stock made by the underwriters in the open market prior to the completion of the offering.

The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the representatives have repurchased shares sold by or for the account of such underwriter in stabilizing or short covering transactions.

Purchases to cover a short position and stabilizing transactions, as well as other purchases by the underwriters for their own accounts, may have the effect of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the company’s stock, and together with the imposition of the penalty bid, may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the Class A common stock. As a result, the price of the Class A common stock may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. The underwriters are not required to engage in these activities and may end any of these activities at any time. These transactions may be effected on the New York Stock Exchange, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

European Economic Area and United Kingdom

In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area and the United Kingdom (each a “Relevant State”), no common shares (the “Shares”) have been offered or will be offered pursuant to the offering to the public in that Relevant State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the Shares which has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Regulation), except that offers of Shares may be

 

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made to the public in that Relevant State at any time under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Regulation:

 

  (a)

to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined under the Prospectus Regulation;

 

  (b)

to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined under the Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the Representatives for any such offer; or

 

  (c)

in any other circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation,

provided that no such offer of Shares shall require the company or any Representative to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the Prospectus Regulation.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to any Shares in any Relevant State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any Shares to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for any Shares, and the expression “Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.

United Kingdom

Each Underwriter has represented and agreed that:

 

  (a)

it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended, the “FSMA”)) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of the shares in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to the company or the selling stockholders; and

 

  (b)

it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the shares in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.

Canada

The securities may be sold in Canada only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions, and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the securities must be made in accordance with an exemption form, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.

Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this offering memorandum (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.

 

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Hong Kong

The shares may not be offered or sold in Hong Kong by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (“Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance”) or which do not constitute an invitation to the public within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (“Securities and Futures Ordinance”), or (ii) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made thereunder, or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance, and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the shares may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to shares which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” in Hong Kong as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made thereunder.

Singapore

This prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the shares may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the shares be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor (as defined under Section 4A of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”)) under Section 274 of the SFA, (ii) to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA) pursuant to Section 275(1) of the SFA, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA, in each case subject to conditions set forth in the SFA.

Where the shares are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor, the securities (as defined in Section 239(1) of the SFA) of that corporation shall not be transferable for 6 months after that corporation has acquired the shares under Section 275 of the SFA except: (1) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA), (2) where such transfer arises from an offer in that corporation’s securities pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, (3) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer, (4) where the transfer is by operation of law, (5) as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA, or (6) as specified in Regulation 32 of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Shares and Debentures) Regulations 2005 of Singapore (“Regulation 32”).

Where the shares are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an accredited investor, the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferable for 6 months after that trust has acquired the shares under Section 275 of the SFA except: (1) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA), (2) where such transfer arises from an offer that is made on terms that such rights or

 

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interest are acquired at a consideration of not less than S$200,000 (or its equivalent in a foreign currency) for each transaction (whether such amount is to be paid for in cash or by exchange of securities or other assets), (3) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer, (4) where the transfer is by operation of law, (5) as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA, or (6) as specified in Regulation 32.

Japan

The securities have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act of Japan (Act No. 25 of 1948, as amended), or the FIEA. The securities may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to or for the benefit of any resident of Japan (including any person resident in Japan or any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan) or to others for reoffering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to or for the benefit of any resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the FIEA and otherwise in compliance with any relevant laws and regulations of Japan.

We estimate that our share of the total expenses of the offering, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $            .

We will agree to indemnify the several underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include sales and trading, commercial and investment banking, advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, market making, brokerage and other financial and non-financial activities and services. Certain of the underwriters and their respective affiliates have provided, and may in the future provide, a variety of these services to us and to persons and entities with relationships with us, for which they received or will receive customary fees and expenses.

In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates, officers, directors, and employees may purchase, sell, or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade securities, derivatives, loans, commodities, currencies, credit default swaps, and other financial instruments for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and trading activities may involve or relate to assets, securities and/or instruments of the issuer (directly, as collateral securing other obligations or otherwise) and/or persons and entities with relationships with us. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may also communicate independent investment recommendations, market color or trading ideas and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such assets, securities, or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they should acquire, long and/or short positions in such assets, securities and instruments.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C., Palo Alto, California, which has acted as our counsel in connection with this offering, will pass upon the validity of the shares of our Class A common stock being offered by this prospectus. The underwriters have been represented by Goodwin Procter LLP, Redwood City, California.

EXPERTS

Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements at December 31, 2019 and 2020, and for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2020, as set forth in their report. We have included our financial statements in the prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP’s report, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

The financial statements of Title Carve-Out, a carve-out of certain operations of Mr. Cooper Group Inc., as of December 31, 2019 and 2020, and for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2020, have been included herein and in the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part in reliance upon the report of WithumSmith+Brown, PC, independent registered public accounting firm, appearing elsewhere herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

We have submitted with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of our Class A common stock offered by this prospectus. This prospectus, which constitutes a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement, some of which is contained in exhibits to the registration statement as permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information with respect to us and our Class A common stock, we refer you to the registration statement, including the exhibits filed as a part of the registration statement. Statements contained in this prospectus concerning the contents of any contract or any other document are not necessarily complete. If a contract or document has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, please see the copy of the contract or document that has been filed. Each statement in this prospectus relating to a contract or document filed as an exhibit is qualified in all respects by the filed exhibit. The SEC maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy statements and other information about issuers, like us, that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is www.sec.gov.

As a result of this offering, we will become subject to the information and reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and, in accordance with this law, will file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. We also maintain a website at www.blend.com. Upon completion of this offering, you may access these materials free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Information contained on our website is not a part of this prospectus and the inclusion of our website address in this prospectus is an inactive textual reference only.

 

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BLEND LABS, INC.

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

     Page  

Blend Labs, Inc. and Subsidiaries

  

Audited Financial Statements

  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     F-2  

Blend Labs, Inc. Consolidated Balance Sheets

     F-3  

Blend Labs, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss

     F-4  

Blend Labs, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

     F-5  

Blend Labs, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

     F-7  

Blend Labs, Inc. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

     F-8  

Unaudited Interim Financial Statements

  

Blend Labs, Inc. Consolidated Balance Sheets

     F-39  

Blend Labs, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss

     F-40  

Blend Labs, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

     F-41  

Blend Labs, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

     F-43  

Blend Labs, Inc. Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

     F-44  

Title Carve Out (A Carve-out of Certain Operations of Mr. Cooper Group Inc.)

  

Audited Financial Statements

  

Independent Auditors’ Report

     F-64  

Title365 Carve Out Balance Sheets

     F-66  

Title365 Carve Out Statements of Operations

     F-67  

Title365 Carve Out Statements of Changes in Invested Equity

     F-68  

Title365 Carve Out Statements of Cash Flows

     F-69  

Title365 Carve Out Notes to Financial Statements

     F-71  

Unaudited Financial Statements

  

Title365 Carve Out Condensed Balance Sheets

     F-82  

Title365 Carve Out Condensed Statements of Operations

     F-83  

Title365 Carve Out Condensed Statements of Changes in Invested Equity

     F-84  

Title365 Carve Out Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

     F-85  

Title365 Carve Out Notes to Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements

     F-86  

 

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Table of Contents

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Blend Labs, Inc.

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Blend Labs, Inc. (the Company) as of December 31, 2019 and 2020, the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2019 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Adoption of New Accounting Standard

As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed its method of accounting for leases in 2020 as a result of the adoption of Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), and related amendments.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2019.

San Francisco, California

April 15, 2021, except as to the ninth paragraph of Note 16, as to which the date is July 2, 2021

 

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Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

 

     December 31,  
     2019     2020  

Assets

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 22,646     $ 41,092  

Marketable securities

     104,622       110,631  

Trade and other receivables

     2,903       14,981  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     14,056       19,268  

Restricted cash

     620       173  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     144,847       186,145  

Property and equipment, net

     2,961       4,594  

Operating lease right-of-use assets

     —         12,685  

Intangible assets, net

     4,137       1,208  

Deferred contract costs, non-current

     3,372       5,414  

Restricted cash, non-current

     5,196       5,023  

Other non-current assets

     788       676  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 161,301     $ 215,745  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

    

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 3,144     $ 3,437  

Deferred revenue, current

     12,396       13,622  

Accrued compensation

     3,335       9,060  

Other current liabilities

     2,856       8,910  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     21,731       35,029  

Deferred rent

     2,492       —    

Operating lease liabilities, non-current

     —         14,004  

Other long-term liabilities

     2,111       3,375  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     26,334       52,408  

Commitments and contingencies (Note 7)

    

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Founders Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.00001 par value: 1,037,500 and 1,026,008 shares authorized as of December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively; 1,026,007 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and 2020

     —         —    

Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.00001 par value: 116,906,959 and 127,097,070 shares authorized as of December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively; 110,897,672 and 121,352,684 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and 2020 respectively; aggregate liquidation preference of $309,125 and $387,841 as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020, respectively

     306,820       385,225  

Class A common stock, $0.00001 par value: 133,952,885 and 143,161,807 shares authorized as of December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively; 12,898,459 and 15,038,726 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively

     —         —    

Class B common stock, $0.00001 par value: 210,000,000 and 228,333,333 shares authorized as of December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively; 26,034,946 and 32,908,824 shares issued and outstanding, including 1,356,169 and 495,650 shares of early exercised stock options as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020, respectively

     1       1  

Additional paid-in capital

     26,288       50,968  

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     93       (5

Accumulated deficit

     (198,235     (272,852
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     134,967       163,337  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 161,301     $ 215,745  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

 

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Blend Labs, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
           2019                 2020        

Revenue

   $ 50,671     $ 96,029  

Cost of revenue

     19,547       34,289  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     31,124       61,740  

Operating expenses:

    

Research and development

     48,597       55,503  

Sales and marketing

     37,660       51,420  

General and administrative

     26,589       30,108  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     112,846       137,031  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

     (81,722     (75,291

Other income (expense), net

     283       700  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss before income taxes

     (81,439     (74,591

Provision for income taxes

     13       26  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

   $ (81,452   $ (74,617
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Change in unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities

     143       (98
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive loss

   $ (81,309   $ (74,715
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per share:

    

Basic and diluted:

   $ (2.49   $ (1.89
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average shares used in calculating net loss per share:

    

Basic and diluted:

     32,776       39,407  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

 

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Blend Labs, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

(In thousands, except share data)

 

    Founders Preferred
Stock
    Convertible Preferred
Stock
    Common Stock     Additional
Paid-In
Capital
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
    Accumulated
Deficit
    Total
Stockholders’
Equity
 
    Class A     Class B  
    Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount  

Balances as of December 31, 2018

    1,037,499     $ —         82,852,384     $ 174,375       13,742,523     $ —         22,609,725     $ 1     $ 13,745     $ (50   $ (116,783   $ 71,288  

Issuance of Series E Convertible Preferred Stock, net of issuance costs of $351

    —         —         26,295,947       124,647       —         —         —         —         —         —         —         124,647  

Conversion of convertible promissory note into Series E Convertible Preferred Stock

    —         —         1,328,302       6,298       —         —         —         —         —         —         —         6,298  

Issuance of Series D Convertible Preferred Stock upon exercise of Convertible Preferred Stock warrants

    —         —         421,039       1,500       —         —         —         —         —         —         —         1,500  

Conversion of Founders Preferred Stock to Class A common stock

    (11,492     —         —         —         11,492       —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options, net of repurchases

    —         —         —         —         —         —         2,569,665       —         1,432       —         —         1,432  

Vesting of early exercised stock options

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         597       —         —         597  

Vesting of performance-based Convertible Preferred Stock warrants

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         625       —         —         625  

Stock-based compensation

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         9,889       —         —         9,889  

Conversion of Class A to Class B common stock upon stock sales by former employees

    —         —         —         —         (855,556     —         855,556       —         —         —         —         —    

Other comprehensive income (loss), net

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         143       —         143  

Net loss

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         (81,452     (81,452
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balances as of December 31, 2019

    1,026,007     $ —         110,897,672     $ 306,820       12,898,459     $ —         26,034,946     $ 1     $ 26,288     $ 93     $ (198,235   $ 134,967  

 

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Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Continued)

(In thousands, except share data)

 

    Founders Preferred
Stock
    Convertible Preferred
Stock
    Common Stock     Additional
Paid-In
Capital
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
    Accumulated
Deficit
    Total
Stockholders’
Equity
 
    Class A     Class B  
    Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount  

Balances as of December 31, 2019

    1,026,007     $ —         110,897,672     $ 306,820       12,898,459     $ —         26,034,946     $ 1     $ 26,288     $ 93     $ (198,235   $ 134,967  

Issuance of Series F Convertible Preferred Stock, net of issuance costs of $311

    —         —         9,906,980       76,247       —         —         —         —         —         —         —         76,247  

Issuance of Series D Convertible Preferred Stock upon exercise of Convertible Preferred Stock warrants

    —         —         548,032       2,158       —         —         —         —         —         —         —         2,158  

Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options, net of repurchases

    —         —         —         —         —         —         6,207,212       —         4,161       —         —         4,161  

Issuance of common stock upon exercise of common stock warrants

    —         —         —         —         2,806,933       —         —         —         10,000       —         —         10,000  

Vesting of early exercised stock options

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         210       —         —         210  

Vesting of performance-based Convertible Preferred Stock warrants

    —         —         —         —         —         —           —         185       —         —         185  

Stock-based compensation

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         10,124       —         —         10,124  

Conversion of Class A to Class B common stock upon stock sales by a former employee

    —         —         —         —         (666,666     —         666,666       —         —         —         —         —    

Other comprehensive income (loss), net

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         (98     —         (98

Net loss

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         (74,617     (74,617
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balances as of December 31, 2020

    1,026,007     $ —         121,352,684     $ 385,225       15,038,726     $ —         32,908,824     $ 1     $ 50,968     $ (5   $ (272,852   $ 163,337  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

 

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Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands)

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
         2019                2020      

Operating activities

       

Net loss

   $ (81,452      $ (74,617

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

       

Stock-based compensation

     9,889          10,124  

Depreciation and amortization

     4,764          3,993  

Amortization of deferred contract costs

     2,266          3,648  

Interest on discount on convertible note

     1,248          —    

Non-cash operating lease expense

     —            2,354  

Other

     288          719  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

       

Trade and other receivables

     301          (12,171

Prepaid expenses and other assets, current and non-current

     (7,133        (6,539

Deferred contract costs, non-current

     (845        (2,042

Accounts payable

     2,583          293  

Deferred revenue

     5,727          1,226  

Accrued compensation

     2,273          5,725  

Operating lease liabilities

     —            (2,573

Other liabilities, current and non-current, and deferred rent

     1,152          4,847  
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net cash used in operating activities

     (58,939        (65,013
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Investing activities

       

Purchases of marketable securities

     (150,744        (173,965

Sales of marketable securities

     3,498          36,746  

Maturities of marketable securities

     82,353          130,624  

Purchases of property and equipment

     (580        (1,313

Purchases of intangible assets

     (40        (9
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (65,513        (7,917
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Financing activities

       

Repurchases of unvested early exercised stock options

     (52        (18

Proceeds from exercises of stock options, including early exercises

     1,648          4,527  

Proceeds from exercises of common stock warrants

     —            10,000  

Proceeds from issuance of Convertible Preferred Stock, net of issuance costs

     124,647          76,247  

Proceeds from convertible debt

     4,990          —    

Proceeds from exercises of Series D Convertible Preferred Stock warrants

     1,500          —    

Other

     (67        —    
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

     132,666          90,756  
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash

     8,214          17,826  

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of year

     20,248          28,462  
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of year

   $ 28,462        $ 46,288  
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash within the consolidated balance sheets:

       

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 22,646        $ 41,092  

Restricted cash

     5,816          5,196  
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash

   $ 28,462        $ 46,288  
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

       

Cash paid for income taxes

   $ 8        $ 26  
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:

       

Vesting of early exercised stock options

   $ 597        $ 210  
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Non-cash additions to property and equipment

   $ —          $ 1,347  
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Property and equipment in accrued expenses

   $ 38        $ 6  
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations

   $ —          $ 1,398  
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Exercise of Series D Convertible Preferred Stock warrants included in prepaid expenses and other current assets

   $ —          $ 2,158  
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

 

F-7


Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

1. Description of Business and Basis of Presentation

Description of Business

Blend Labs, Inc. (the “Company”) was incorporated on April 17, 2012. The Company offers a cloud-based software platform for financial services firms that is designed to power the end-to-end consumer journey for banking products. The Company’s solution makes the journey from application to close fast, simple, and transparent for consumers, while helping financial services firms increase productivity, deepen customer relationships, and deliver exceptional consumer experiences.

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and include the consolidated accounts of Blend Labs, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Segment Information

The Company operates as one operating segment. The Company’s chief operating decision makers are its chief executive officer and president, who review financial information presented on a consolidated basis for purposes of making operating decisions, assessing financial performance, and allocating resources.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make, on an ongoing basis, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported and disclosed in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results may ultimately differ from management’s estimates. Such estimates include, but are not limited to, the lives of tangible and intangible assets, period of benefit for deferred contract costs, the incremental borrowing rate used to determine lease liabilities, fair value of stock-based compensation, estimates of variable consideration, standalone selling price for each deliverable included in customer contracts involving multiple performance obligations, contingencies, and income taxes.

COVID-19

The impact of the global novel coronavirus disease 2019 (“COVID-19”) continues to rapidly evolve. While certain impacts of COVID-19 have been favorable to the sale of the Company’s products and services, the Company does not yet know the full extent of potential impacts on its business or operations or on the global economy as a whole, particularly if the COVID-19 pandemic persists for an extended period of time. Given the uncertainty, the Company cannot reasonably estimate the impact on its future results of operations, cash flows, or financial condition. As of the date of issuance of the consolidated financial statements, the Company is not aware of any specific event or circumstance that would require it to update its estimates, judgments, or the carrying value of its assets or liabilities. These estimates may change, as new events occur and additional information is obtained and are recognized in the consolidated financial statements as soon as they become known. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and any such differences may be material to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

F-8


Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

Revenue Recognition

Overview

The Company generates revenue from fees paid by its customers to access the Company’s platform and to a lesser extent, from professional services related to the deployment of the platform, premium support services, and consulting services. The Company’s customers have the ability to access its platform under subscription arrangements, in which customers commit to a minimum number of completed transactions at specified prices over the contract term, or under usage-based arrangements, in which customers pay a variable amount for completed transactions at specified prices. Subscription arrangements are generally non-cancelable during the contract term while usage-based arrangements generally can be terminated at any time by the customer. Under its subscription arrangements, the Company typically bills its customers for committed amounts quarterly, semi-annually, or annually in advance and for overages beyond a customer’s contracted minimum number of completed transactions on a monthly or quarterly basis in arrears. For usage-based arrangements, the Company typically bills its customers for any completed transactions on a monthly basis in arrears. Revenue from usage-based arrangements represented 12% of the Company’s revenue for both of the years ended 2019 and 2020. Arrangements with customers do not provide the contractual right to take possession of the Company’s software at any point in time. Revenue is recognized when access to the Company’s platform is provisioned to its customers for an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those services.

The Company adopted Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“Topic 606”), as of January 1, 2019, utilizing the modified retrospective transition method.

Under Topic 606, the Company determines revenue recognition through the following steps:

 

   

Identification of the contract, or contracts, with a customer—A contract with a customer exists when (i) the Company enters into an enforceable contract with a customer that defines each party’s rights regarding the services to be transferred and identifies the payment terms related to these services, (ii) the contract has commercial substance, and (iii) it is determined that collection of substantially all consideration for services that are transferred is probable based on the customer’s intent and ability to pay the promised consideration when it is due.

 

   

Identification of the performance obligations in the contract—Performance obligations promised in a contract are identified based on the services that will be transferred to the customer that are both capable of being distinct, whereby the customer can benefit from the services either on their own or together with other resources that are readily available from third parties or from the Company, and are distinct within the context of the contract, whereby the transfer of the services is separately identifiable from the other promises in the contract. To the extent that a contract includes multiple performance obligations, the Company applies judgment to determine whether promised services are capable of being distinct and distinct within the context of the contract. If these criteria are not met, the promised services are accounted for as a combined performance obligation. To date, the Company has concluded that promised services included in contracts with multiple performance obligations are distinct.

 

   

Determination of the transaction price—The transaction price is determined based on the consideration to which the Company will be entitled in exchange for transferring services to the customer. The Company estimates and includes variable consideration for its subscription arrangements in the transaction price at contract inception to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the

 

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Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

 

uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is subsequently resolved. In estimating overage fees in subscription arrangements, the Company considers historical experience and other external factors that may impact the expectation of future completed transactions. At each reporting period, the Company assesses the expected overage fees, if any, that will be earned for the duration of the contract term. Revenue is presented net of any taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities.

 

   

Allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract—The Company allocates the transaction price to each performance obligation on a relative standalone selling price (“SSP”) basis. The SSP is the price at which the Company would sell a promised service separately to a customer. In instances where the Company does not sell or price a service separately, the Company estimates the SSP by considering available information such as market conditions, internally approved pricing guidelines, and the underlying cost of delivering the performance obligation. Judgment is required to determine the SSP for each distinct performance obligation.

 

   

Recognition of revenue when, or as, the Company satisfies a performance obligation—For each performance obligation identified, the Company determines at contract inception whether it satisfies the performance obligation over time or at a point in time. The Company recognizes fees for subscription arrangements ratably over the non-cancelable contract term of the arrangement as subscription services are provided, beginning on the commencement date of each contract, which is the date services are made available to its customers. Access to the platform represents a series of distinct services as the Company continually provides access to the platform, and fulfills its obligation to, the customer over the non-cancelable contractual term and the customer receives and consumes the benefit of the platform throughout the contract period. The series of distinct services represents a single performance obligation that is satisfied over time. The Company recognizes fees for usage-based arrangements as the completed transactions are processed through the platform.

Professional Services Revenue

Professional services revenue consists of fees for services related to helping customers deploy, configure, and optimize the use of the Company’s technology. These services include consulting, system integration, data migration, and process enhancement. The Company’s professional services contracts are typically billed on a fixed price basis at the beginning of the contract term. Professional services revenue is recognized on a proportional performance basis, which measures the service hours performed to date relative to the total expected hours to completion.

Contract assets

The Company records a contract asset when revenue recognized on a contract exceeds the billings for the period. Contract assets are included in prepaid expenses and other current assets in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

Deferred Revenue

Deferred revenue represents billings or payments received in advance of revenue recognition. Balances consist primarily of prepaid subscription services and professional and training services not yet provided as of the balance sheet dates. Amounts that will be recognized during the succeeding 12-month period are recorded as deferred revenue, current, and the remaining portion, if any, is

 

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Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

recorded as deferred revenue, non-current. Payment terms and conditions vary by contract type, although terms generally include a requirement of payment within 30 to 60 days. In instances where the timing of revenue recognition differs from the timing of invoicing, the Company has determined its contracts generally do not include a significant financing component. The primary purpose of the Company’s invoicing terms is to provide customers with simplified and predictable ways of purchasing its services, not to receive financing from its customers or to provide customers with financing.

Deferred Contract Costs

The Company capitalizes incremental and recoverable costs of obtaining contracts with customers. The capitalized amounts consist primarily of sales commissions paid to the Company’s sales force. Capitalized amounts also include commissions paid to employees on renewals of subscription contracts, partner referral fees, and payroll taxes.

Deferred contract costs related to new revenue contracts are amortized on a straight-line basis over an estimated period of benefit of three years. The Company determined the period of benefit by taking into consideration customer attrition and estimated technology life cycles. Deferred contract costs related to renewal contracts are not commensurate with new revenue contracts but are instead deferred and amortized on a straight-line basis over the renewal period. Amortization expense is included in sales and marketing expenses in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

The Company periodically evaluates whether there have been any changes in its business, market conditions, or other events which would indicate that the period of benefit should be changed or that there are potential indicators of impairment.

As of December 31, 2019 and 2020, total unamortized deferred contract costs were $6.6 million and $10.3 million, respectively. $3.2 million and $4.9 million was recorded within prepaid expenses and other current assets and $3.4 million and $5.4 million was recorded within deferred contract costs, non-current, on the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively. The Company recorded $2.3 million and $3.6 million in amortization of deferred contract acquisition costs included in sales and marketing expenses within the statements of operations and comprehensive loss for the year ended December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively.

Cost of Revenue

Costs of subscribed hosting, support, and professional services are expensed as incurred. Costs of subscribed hosting services and support revenue primarily consist of expenses related to hosting the Company’s services and providing support to the Company’s customers. These expenses are comprised of third-party web hosting costs and software licenses, customer support, and other customer related activities. Costs of professional services consists primarily of personnel and related direct costs, including employee salaries, payroll taxes, business expenses (e.g., employee travel and lodging expenses for customer projects), as well as allocated overhead.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company places its cash with high credit quality and federally insured institutions. Cash with any one institution may be in excess of federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and management believes the exposure to credit risk is not significant. The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity date of three months or less

 

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Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents. As of December 31, 2019 and 2020, cash and cash equivalents consisted of cash, money market accounts, and highly liquid investments. The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of the maturities.

Escrow or Trust Funds

The Company administers escrow and trust deposits held at third-party financial institutions representing funds received under real estate contracts, escrowed funds received under escrow agreements, and/or undisbursed amounts received for settlement of mortgage and home equity loans. Cash held by the Company for these purposes was approximately $0 and $2.0 million as of December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively. These funds are not considered assets of the Company and, therefore, are not included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets; however, the Company remains contingently liable for the disposition of these funds on behalf of its customers.

Marketable Securities

Marketable securities consist primarily of U.S. treasury and agency securities, commercial paper, and corporate debt securities. The Company’s policy generally requires investments to be investment grade, with the primary objective of minimizing the potential risk of principal loss. The Company classifies its marketable securities as available-for-sale securities at the time of purchase and reevaluates such classification at each balance sheet date. The Company has classified its investments as current based on the nature of the investments and their availability for use in current operations.

Available-for-sale securities are recorded at fair value each reporting period. Unrealized gains and losses on these investments are reported as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) on the consolidated balance sheets until realized. Interest income is reported within other income on the consolidated statements of operations. The Company periodically evaluates its investments to assess whether those with unrealized loss positions are other-than-temporarily impaired. The Company considers various factors in determining whether to recognize an impairment charge, including the length of time the investment has been in a loss position, the extent to which the fair value is less than the Company’s cost basis, the financial condition of the issuer and any changes thereto, changes in market interest rates and the Company’s intent to sell, or whether it is more likely than not it will be required to sell the investment before recovery of the investment’s cost basis. Realized gains and losses are determined based on the specific identification method and are reported in other income (expense), net in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. The Company did not consider any of its investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired as of December 31, 2019 and 2020.

Restricted Cash

The Company has classified amounts that are not available for use in its operations as restricted cash. Restricted cash consists of collateral for letters of credit related to security deposits for its San Francisco and New York office facility lease arrangements. At December 31, 2019 and 2020, the Company had restricted cash of $5.8 million and $5.2 million, respectively. Approximately $0.6 million and $0.2 million was classified as current on the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively.

 

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Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

Fair Value Measurement

The Company measures its cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, trade and other receivables, accounts payable, and other current liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis. In addition, the Company measures certain other assets including intangible assets at fair value on a nonrecurring basis.

Trade and Other Receivables

The Company early adopted ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”) as of January 1, 2020. Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoice amount net of the allowance for expected credit losses. In determining the Company’s estimate of reserves, it considered all expected future credit losses. Reserves for credit losses were not material for the periods presented.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:

 

Computer and software

  

3 years

Furniture and fixtures

  

5 years

Leasehold improvements

  

Shorter of useful life or lease term

Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred, and major renewals and betterments are capitalized. Gains or losses on disposal of property and equipment are recognized in the period when the assets are sold or disposed of and the related cost and accumulated depreciation is removed from their respective accounts.

Software Development Costs

The Company capitalizes costs to develop software for internal use incurred during the application development stage. Costs related to preliminary project activities and post implementation activities are expensed as incurred. Once an application has reached the development stage, management has authorized and committed to the funding of the software project, it is probable the project will be completed and the software will be used to perform the function intended, internal and external costs are capitalized until the application is substantially complete and ready for its intended use. There were no material qualifying costs incurred during the application development stage in any of the periods presented. Amortization expense was $3.8 million and $2.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively. As of December 31, 2019 and 2020, $4.0 million and $1.0 million was recorded within Intangible assets, net on the consolidated balance sheets, respectively.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company evaluates the carrying value of long-lived assets, such as property and equipment and capitalized software development costs, whenever events or changes in circumstances occur that could impact the recoverability of the asset group to which the assets relate. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of the asset to the future estimated undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are

 

F-13


Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. No impairment was recorded for the year ended December 31, 2019 and 2020.

Advertising Costs

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. The Company recorded $4.1 million and $3.6 million in advertising expense for the year ended December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively, as part of sales and marketing expenses in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

Research and Development Costs

Research and development costs within the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss include personnel costs, including stock-based compensation expense associated with the Company’s engineering personnel responsible for the design, development, and testing of the product, depreciation of equipment used in research and development and allocated facilities, and information technology costs. Research and development costs are expensed as incurred.

Lease Obligations

On January 1, 2020, the Company early adopted ASU 2016-02, Leases (“Topic 842”), using the modified retrospective method, which resulted in the recognition of right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and lease liabilities for operating leases on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as of January 1, 2020, with no impact to its consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss for the year ended December 31, 2020. The prior period amounts have not been adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with the Company’s historical accounting under Topic 840, Leases (“Topic 840”). See further discussion of the impact of the adoption below in Recently Adopted Accounting Standards.

The Company measures lease liabilities based on the present value of the total lease payments not yet paid discounted based on the Company’s incremental borrowing rate, which is the estimated rate the Company would be required to pay for a collateralized borrowing equal to the total lease payments over the term of the lease. The lease liability also includes expected renewals on its leases, if any. The Company measures right-of-use assets based on the corresponding lease liability adjusted for (i) payments made to the lessor at or before the commencement date, (ii) initial direct costs the Company incurs and (iii) tenant incentives under the lease. The Company begins to recognize rent expense when the lessor makes the underlying asset available to the Company. For short-term leases, the Company records rent expense in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss on a straight-line basis over the lease term and records variable lease payments as incurred. The Company has no finance leases.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company measures and recognizes its stock-based compensation based on estimated fair values for all stock awards. The Company estimates the fair value of stock options issued to employees on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model, which is impacted by the estimated fair value of the Company’s common stock, as well as certain assumptions including the expected volatility over the term of the option awards, the expected term of the awards, risk-free interest rates and the expected dividend yield. The Company recognizes the resulting stock-based

 

F-14


Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

compensation on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the awards, which is generally the vesting period. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes using an asset and liability approach. Under this method, the Company recognizes deferred income tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the tax basis of an asset or liability and its reported amount in the consolidated financial statements, as well as from net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax amounts are measured using enacted statutory tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance is provided against deferred tax assets that, based on all available positive and negative evidence, is not expected to be realized. Such evidence includes, but is not limited to, recent cumulative earnings or losses, expectations of future taxable income by taxing jurisdiction, the anticipated reversal or expiration dates of the deferred tax assets and tax planning strategies.

The Company recognizes tax benefits from uncertain tax positions only if it believes that it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities based on the technical merits of the position. The benefits recognized in the consolidated financial statements from such positions are then measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than a 50% likelihood of being sustained.

Other Income (Expense), Net

Other income (expense), net primarily consists of interest income earned from the Company’s investment portfolio and interest expense.

Concentrations of Credit Risk and Significant Customers

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, marketable securities, and trade accounts receivable. The Company maintains its cash equivalents primarily in money market funds and highly liquid investments that are issued or guaranteed by the United States government or its agencies.

The following customers comprised 10% or more of the Company’s revenue for the year ended December 31, 2019 and 2020:

 

Customer

   2019      2020  

A

     14%        13%  

B

     11%        N/A  

The following customers comprised 10% or more of the Company’s trade receivables as of December 31, 2019 and 2020:

 

Customer

   2019      2020  

A

     45%        34%  

B

     14%        N/A  

C

     N/A        11%  

 

F-15


Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

Deferred Offering Costs

Deferred offering costs consist primarily of accounting, legal, and other fees related to the Company’s proposed initial public offering (“IPO”). The deferred offering costs will be offset against IPO proceeds upon the consummation of the IPO. In the event the offering is aborted, deferred offering costs will be expensed. As of December 31, 2020, deferred offering costs were immaterial, and are included in other non-current assets on the consolidated balance sheets.

JOBS Act Accounting Election

As an emerging growth company (“EGC”), the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (“JOBS Act”) allows the Company to delay adoption of new or revised accounting pronouncements applicable to public companies until such pronouncements are applicable to private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act). The Company intends to use this extended transition period under the JOBS Act until such time as the Company is no longer considered to be an EGC. The adoption dates discussed below reflect this election.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

In December 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (Topic 740). The standard issued guidance on the accounting for income taxes that, among other provisions, eliminates certain exceptions to existing guidance related to the approach for intra-period tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences. This guidance also requires an entity to reflect the effect of an enacted change in tax laws or rates in its effective income tax rate in the first interim period that includes the enactment date of the new legislation, aligning the timing of recognition of the effects from enacted tax law changes on the effective income tax rate with the effects on deferred income tax assets and liabilities. Under existing guidance, an entity recognizes the effects of the enacted tax law change on the effective income tax rate in the period that includes the effective date of the tax law. The guidance is effective for the Company for annual reporting periods, and interim reporting periods within those annual periods, beginning January 1, 2022, and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40). The guidance simplifies the accounting for convertible debt instruments and convertible preferred stock by removing the existing guidance in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 470-20 that requires entities to account for beneficial conversion features and cash conversion features in equity, separately from the host convertible debt or preferred stock. The guidance is effective for the Company for annual reporting periods, and interim reporting periods within those annual periods, beginning January 1, 2024, and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

Topic 842 requires lessees to record on their balance sheets a lease liability for the obligation to make lease payments and an operating lease ROU asset for the right to use the underlying asset for the

 

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Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

lease term. The Company early adopted Topic 842 as of January 1, 2020 and elected not to restate comparative periods presented in the consolidated financial statements. The Company elected the practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance, which allowed the Company to carryforward its historical lease classification, its assessment of whether a contract was or contains a lease, and its initial direct costs for any leases that existed prior to January 1, 2020. The Company also elected to combine its lease and non-lease components for its facility leases. The Company has elected not to recognize lease liabilities and ROU assets for short-term leases, which are leases with initial terms of 12 months or less and for which there is not a purchase option that is reasonably certain to be exercised. All leases are classified as operating leases.

Upon early adoption of Topic 842 on January 1, 2020, the Company recorded ROU assets and lease liabilities of $13.6 million and $16.4 million, respectively, on the consolidated balance sheets. The difference between the ROU assets and lease liabilities is the unamortized balance of deferred rent, which prior to January 1, 2020, was included as a separate liability within accrued expenses and other liabilities and deferred rent. The Company adopted Topic 842 using the Comparatives Under 840 Option, under which the Company does not restate any prior periods and continues to apply ASC 840 in the comparative period. The Company has included the disclosures required by ASU 2016-02 in “Note 7—Commitments and Contingencies”.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The standard requires an entity to utilize a new impairment model known as the current expected credit loss (“CECL”) model to estimate its lifetime “expected credit loss” and record an allowance that, when deducted from the amortized cost basis of the financial asset, presents the net amount expected to be collected on the financial asset. The CECL model is expected to result in more timely recognition of credit losses. This guidance also requires new disclosures for financial assets measured at amortized cost, loans and available-for-sale debt securities. Entities will apply the standard’s provisions as a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is adopted. The standard is effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2023. The Company early adopted the standard effective January 1, 2020 and the adoption of this standard did not have a material impact to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other-Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract. The amendments in this update align the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal use software license). The standard is effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2021, and early adoption is permitted. The Company early adopted effective January 1, 2020 and the adoption of this standard did not have a material impact to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

3. Revenue Recognition

Disaggregation of Revenue

The following table provides information about disaggregated revenue from customers for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020 (in thousands):

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
           2019                  2020        

Platform services

   $ 46,644      $ 92,685  

Professional services

     4,027        3,344  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total revenue

   $ 50,671      $ 96,029  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Contract Balances

The following table provides information about receivables, contract assets, and contract liabilities from contracts with customers as of December 31, 2019 and 2020 (in thousands):

 

Contract Accounts

  

Balance Sheet Line Reference

   2019     2020  

Contract assets—current

  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

   $ 7,935     $ 7,079  

Contract liabilities—current

  

Deferred revenue, current

   $ (12,396   $ (13,622

The Company recognized all amounts included in deferred revenue as of December 31, 2019, during the year ended December 31, 2020. There was no long-term deferred revenue as of December 31, 2019 and 2020. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company recognized approximately $11.4 million of revenue from performance obligations satisfied in previous periods due to changes in the transaction price, including changes in the estimate of variable consideration that were not probable of resulting in a significant reversal of revenue.

Remaining Performance Obligations

Transaction price allocated to the remaining performance obligation, referred to by the Company as remaining performance obligations, represents contracted revenue that has not yet been recognized, which includes unearned revenue and unbilled amounts that will be recognized as revenue in future periods. Transaction price allocated to the remaining performance obligation represents contracted revenue and estimated revenue from variable consideration. Unbilled portions of the remaining performance obligation are subject to future economic risks including bankruptcies, regulatory changes and other market factors.

The Company excludes amounts related to performance obligations associated with usage-based contracts with termination rights and professional services.

As of December 31, 2020, total remaining performance obligations were $89.3 million, of which $59.2 million is expected to be recognized in the next twelve months and the remainder thereafter.

 

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Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

4. Marketable Securities

The carrying amount, unrealized gain, and fair value of available-for-sale debt securities by major security type are as follows (in thousands):

 

     December 31, 2019  
     Amortized
Cost
     Gross
Unrealized
Gain
     Gross
Unrealized
Loss
     Fair Value  

Cash equivalents:

           

Money market funds

   $ 352      $ —        $ —        $ 352  

Commercial paper

     1,000        —          —          1,000  

U.S. treasury and agency securities

     10,816        1        —          10,817  

Debt securities

     2,501        —          —          2,501  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total cash equivalents

     14,669        1        —          14,670  

Marketable securities:

           

U.S. treasury and agency securities

     6,306        —          —          6,306  

Debt securities

     98,224        92        —          98,316  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total marketable securities

     104,530        92        —          104,622  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 119,199      $         93      $       —        $ 119,292  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     December 31, 2020  
     Amortized
Cost
     Gross
Unrealized
Gain
     Gross
Unrealized
Loss
     Fair Value  

Cash equivalents:

           

Money market funds

   $ 24,036      $ —        $ —        $ 24,036  

Commercial paper

     1,150        —          —          1,150  

U.S. treasury and agency securities

     —          —          —          —    

Debt securities

     —          —          —          —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total cash equivalents

     25,186        —          —          25,186  

Marketable securities:

           

U.S. treasury and agency securities

     89,342        5        (5      89,342  

Commercial paper

     2,848        —          —          2,848  

Debt securities

     17,774        —          (6      17,768  

Certificates of deposit

     673        —          —          673  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total marketable securities

     110,637        5        (11      110,631  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 135,823      $           5      $       (11    $ 135,817  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

All marketable securities classified as available-for-sale at December 31, 2019 and 2020 were due within one year. As of December 31, 2019 and 2020, marketable securities individually and in the aggregate in an unrealized loss position were immaterial.

The Company determines realized gains or losses on the sale of equity and debt securities on a specific identification method. The Company did not recognize any impairment losses during the year ended December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively.

 

F-19


Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

5. Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities

The Company reports assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets based upon the level of judgment associated with inputs used to measure their fair value. The categories are as follows:

Level 1—Observable inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2—Observable inputs are quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or inputs other than quoted prices which are observable for the assets or liabilities, either directly or indirectly through market corroboration, for substantially the full term of the financial instruments.

Level 3—Unobservable inputs which are supported by little or no market activity and which are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. These inputs are based on the Company’s assumptions used to measure assets and liabilities at fair value and require significant management judgment or estimation.

The following table presents information about the Company’s financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis based on the fair value hierarchy (in thousands):

 

     December 31, 2019  
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Assets:

           

Cash equivalents:

           

Money market funds

   $ 352      $ —        $ —        $ 352  

Commercial paper

     —          1,000        —          1,000  

U.S treasury and agency securities

     —          10,817        —          10,817  

Debt securities

     —          2,501        —          2,501  

Marketable securities:

           

U.S treasury and agency securities

     —          6,306        —          6,306  

Debt securities

     —          98,316        —          98,316  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $       352      $ 118,940      $       —        $ 119,292  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     December 31, 2020  
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Assets:

           

Cash equivalents:

           

Money market funds

   $ 24,036      $ —        $ —        $ 24,036  

Commercial paper

     —          1,150        —          1,150  

Marketable securities:

           

U.S. treasury and agency securities

     —          89,342        —          89,342  

Commercial paper

     —          2,848        —          2,848  

Debt securities

     —          17,768        —          17,768  

Certificate of deposit

        673        —          673  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 24,036      $ 111,781      $       —        $ 135,817  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

F-20


Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

6. Significant Balance Sheet Components

Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets

Prepaid expenses and other current assets consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     As of December 31,  
     2019      2020  

Contract assets

   $ 7,935      $ 7,079  

Deferred contract costs

     3,253        4,855  

Preferred stock warrant exercise receivable

     —          2,158  

Other prepaid expenses and other current assets

     2,868        5,176  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total prepaid expenses and other current assets

   $ 14,056      $ 19,268  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Property and Equipment, Net

Property and equipment, net consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     As of December 31,  
     2019      2020  

Computer and software

   $ 1,782      $ 2,277  

Furniture and fixtures

     660        1,094  

Leasehold improvements

     2,722        4,455  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Property and equipment, gross

     5,164        7,826  

Accumulated depreciation and amortization

     (2,203      (3,232
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total property and equipment, net

   $ 2,961      $ 4,594  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Depreciation expense for the year ended December 31, 2019 and 2020 was $1.0 million and $1.1 million, respectively.

Intangible Assets, Net

Intangible assets subject to amortization consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     As of December 31,  
     2019      2020  

Capitalized software development costs

   $ 11,391      $ 11,391  

Domain name

     201        210  

Less: accumulated amortization

     (7,455      (10,393
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total intangible assets, net

   $ 4,137      $ 1,208  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The domain name asset is amortized on a straight-line basis over its estimated useful life of 15 years and capitalized software development costs are amortized over 3 years. Amortization expense of intangible assets for the year ended December 31, 2019 and 2020 was $3.8 million and $2.9 million, respectively.

 

F-21


Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

Total future amortization expense as of December 31, 2020 was as follows (in thousands):

 

Year ending December 31,

   Amount  

2021

   $ 1,064  

2022

     17  

2023

     17  

2024

     17  

2025

     17  

Thereafter

     76  
  

 

 

 

Total future amortization expense

   $ 1,208  
  

 

 

 

Other Current Liabilities

Other current liabilities consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     As of December 31,  
     2019      2020  

Accrued expenses

   $ 2,542      $ 6,011  

Operating lease liabilities, current portion

     —          2,580  

Other

     314        319  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total other current liabilities

   $ 2,856      $ 8,910  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

7. Commitments and Contingencies

Operating Leases

The Company leases its facilities under non-cancelable operating leases with various expiration dates. Leases may contain escalating payments. Outstanding standby letters of credit related to the Company’s office lease facilities as of December 31, 2020 were $5.2 million and classified as restricted cash.

In 2017, the Company entered into an eight-year lease for its San Francisco headquarters location and the lease ends in 2025. In March 2020, the Company entered into a lease agreement for approximately 15,000 square feet for office space in Thousand Oaks, California. Total lease payments under this operating lease are approximately $3.5 million and are payable over the 91-month lease term.

The Company’s operating lease costs (gross lease expense) were $3.4 million in 2020. The Company’s short-term lease costs were $0.2 million in 2020. The Company’s variable lease costs amounted to $2.0 million in 2020. The Company received sublease income of $0.9 and $0.7 million for the year ended 2019 and 2020, respectively, which is recorded within Other income (expense), net on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. There is no future non-cancelable sublease income remaining as of December 31, 2020.

The Company’s lease agreements do not contain any residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants.

As of December 31, 2020, the weighted average remaining operating lease term was 5.1 years. The weighted average discount rate used to estimate operating lease liabilities for leases that existed as of December 31, 2020 was 6.6%. Operating cash flows from operating leases was $3.6 million for 2020.

 

F-22


Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

As of December 31, 2020, maturities of operating lease liabilities, which do not include short-term leases, by year are as follows (in thousands):

 

Year ending December 31,

   Amount  

2021

   $ 3,577  

2022

     3,743  

2023

     3,945  

2024

     4,063  

2025

     2,945  

Thereafter

     1,369  
  

 

 

 

Total lease payments

     19,642  
  

 

 

 

Less: imputed interest

     (3,058
  

 

 

 

Total operating lease liabilities

   $ 16,584  
  

 

 

 

Certain facility lease agreements contain rent holidays, allowances and rent escalation provisions. Under ASC 840, the Company recognized the related rental expense on a straight-line basis over the lease period of the facility and recorded the difference between amounts charged to operations and amounts paid as deferred rent. Rent expense was $3.6 million for the year December 31, 2019.

Future minimum lease payments by year under non-cancelable operating leases calculated under Topic 840 as of December 31, 2019 was as follows (in thousands):

 

Year ending December 31,

   Amount  

2020

   $ 3,676  

2021

     3,305  

2022

     3,337  

2023

     3,437  

2024

     3,541  

Thereafter

     2,407  
  

 

 

 

Total minimum lease payments

   $ 19,703  
  

 

 

 

Purchase Commitments

The following is a schedule of future non-cancelable purchase obligations with certain service providers as of December 31, 2020 (in thousands):

 

Year ending December 31,

   Amount  

2021

   $ 8,240  

2022

     6,583  

2023

     5,303  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 20,126  
  

 

 

 

Contingencies

From time to time, the Company has become involved in claims and other legal matters arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company investigates these claims as they arise. The Company

 

F-23


Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

records a loss contingency when it is probable that an asset has been impaired or a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. The Company also discloses material contingencies when it is believed a loss is not probable but reasonably possible. Accounting for contingencies requires the Company to use judgment related to both the likelihood of a loss and the estimate of the amount or range of loss. The Company has no material contingencies accrued for as of December 31, 2019 and 2020.

Warranties, Indemnifications, and Contingent Obligations

The Company’s platform, products, and services are generally warranted to perform substantially as described in the associated documentation and to satisfy defined levels of uptime reliability. The Company historically has not incurred any material costs associated with warranties.

The Company enters into indemnification provisions under (i) its agreements with other companies in the ordinary course of business, typically with business partners, contractors, customers, and landlords and (ii) its agreements with investors. Under these provisions, the Company generally indemnifies and holds harmless the indemnified party for losses suffered or incurred by the indemnified party as a result of the Company’s activities or, in some cases, as a result of the indemnified party’s activities under the agreement. These indemnification provisions often include indemnifications relating to representations made by the Company with regard to intellectual property rights. These indemnification provisions generally survive termination of the underlying agreement. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these indemnification provisions is unlimited. The Company has not incurred material costs to defend lawsuits or settle claims related to these indemnification agreements. Accordingly, the Company has no liabilities recorded for these agreements as of December 31, 2019 and 2020.

The Company has agreed to indemnify its officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by its bylaws and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware for certain events or occurrences arising as a result of the officers or directors serving in such capacity. The coverage applies only to acts that occurred during the tenure of the officer or director and has an unlimited term. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these indemnification agreements is unlimited. The Company believes the estimated fair value of these indemnification agreements is minimal and has no liabilities recorded for these agreements as of December 31, 2019 and 2020.

8. Convertible Note

In February 2019, the Company entered into an unsecured convertible promissory note (the “Convertible Note”) in the aggregate principal amount of $5.0 million. The Convertible Note had a maturity date of February 6, 2021 and an interest rate of four percent (4%) per annum. The Company had the right to prepay the Convertible Note, subject to consent of the majority note holders. The outstanding amount of the Convertible Note was convertible into shares of the Company’s most senior series of preferred stock at a conversion price equal to the lesser of 80% of the lowest cash price paid per share by the investors in the next equity financing round or the quotient resulting from dividing $750 million by the fully diluted capitalization immediately prior to the closing of a qualifying transaction.

In May 2019, the Convertible Note was converted to 1,328,302 shares of Series E Convertible Preferred Stock upon the closing of the Company’s Series E Convertible Preferred Stock financing.

 

F-24


Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

The aggregate principal and accrued interest in the amount of $5.1 million was reclassified into Convertible Preferred Stock upon conversion of the Convertible Note. The Company recorded an additional $1.2 million of interest expense for a beneficial conversion feature resulting from the discount of the conversion price, which was also recorded to Series E Convertible Preferred Stock upon conversion, in addition to the aggregate principal and accrued interest amounts.

9. Convertible Preferred Stock

Authorized shares of Convertible Preferred Stock below do not include 1,026,008 of Founders Convertible Preferred Stock. The preferred stock authorized may be issued from time to time in one or more series.

The designated series are as follows:

 

     December 31, 2019  
     Shares
Authorized
     Shares Issued
and
Outstanding
     Net Carrying
Value (in
thousands)
     Aggregate
Liquidation
Preference (in
thousands)
 

Series A

     15,483,330        15,483,318      $ 6,081      $ 6,107  

Series B

     12,180,448        12,180,443        10,642        10,975  

Series B-1

     8,382,809        8,382,807        9,927        10,000  

Series C

     15,583,719        15,583,713        37,923        38,000  

Series D

     33,334,113        31,643,142        111,302        112,732  

Series D-1

     4,317,726        —          —          —    

Series E

     27,624,814        27,624,249        130,945        131,311  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     116,906,959        110,897,672      $ 306,820      $ 309,125  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     December 31, 2020  
     Shares
Authorized
     Shares Issued
and
Outstanding
     Net Carrying
Value (in
thousands)
     Aggregate
Liquidation
Preference (in
thousands)
 

Series A

     15,483,330        15,483,318      $ 6,081      $ 6,107  

Series B

     12,180,448        12,180,443        10,642        10,975  

Series B-1

     8,382,809        8,382,807        9,927        10,000  

Series C

     15,583,719        15,583,713        37,923        38,000  

Series D

     33,334,113        31,643,142        111,302        112,732  

Series D-1

     4,317,726        548,032        2,158        2,158  

Series E

     27,624,259        27,624,249        130,945        131,311  

Series F

     10,190,666        9,906,980        76,247        76,558  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     127,097,070        121,352,684      $ 385,225      $ 387,841  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

From May to September 2019, the Company completed a closing of its Series E Convertible Preferred Stock financing. In connection with the financing, the Company authorized 27,624,814 shares of Series E Convertible Preferred Stock to be issued at a price of $4.753482 per share. Each share is convertible into fully paid shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis. The Company issued 26,295,947 shares of Series E Convertible Preferred Stock at $4.753482 per share for total cash proceeds of $124.6 million, net of closing costs of $0.4 million. In addition, the Convertible Note

 

F-25


Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

(see Note 8) was converted into 1,328,302 shares of Series E Convertible Preferred Stock for $6.3 million.

During 2019, a holder of Founders Convertible Preferred Stock converted 11,492 shares to Class A Common Stock, which were then sold as part of the secondary sale (see Note 12).

During 2020, the Company completed a closing of its Series F Convertible Preferred Stock financing. In connection with the financing, the Company authorized up to 10,190,666 shares of Series F Convertible Preferred Stock to be issued at a price of $7.727718 per share. Each share is convertible into fully paid shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis. The Company issued 9,906,980 shares of Series F Convertible Preferred Stock at $7.727718 per share for total cash proceeds of $76.2 million, net of closing costs of $0.3 million.

The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of the Founders Convertible Preferred Stock (Founders Preferred), Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (Series A), the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (Series B), Series B-1 Convertible Preferred Stock (Series B-1), Series C Convertible Preferred Stock (Series C), Series D Convertible Preferred Stock (Series D), Series D-1 Convertible Preferred Stock (Series D-1), Series E Convertible Preferred Stock (Series E), and Series F Convertible Preferred Stock (Series F) are as follows:

Voting

All preferred shareholders of Series A, Series B, Series B-1, Series C, Series D, Series D-1, Series E, Series F, and Founders Preferred (collectively, Preferred Stock) have the right to the number of votes into which such Preferred Stock could then be converted into Class A common shares. Class A common shares have ten times the voting power of Class B common shares. Class B common shareholders have the right to one vote per Class B common share held.

Dividends

The holders of Series A, Series B, Series B-1, Series C, Series D, Series D-1, Series E, Series F (collectively, Senior Preferred), and Founders Preferred shall be entitled to receive, on an equal priority and pari passu basis, a 6% noncumulative dividend, when and if declared by the Company’s Board of Directors. No dividends shall be paid on the common stock unless the Company shall also declare and pay a dividend to the holders of the Senior Preferred in priority to any dividend declared and paid to the holders of common stock.

The Company has never declared or paid any cash dividends and does not presently plan to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future.

Liquidation Preference

In the event of any liquidation including deemed liquidation events, dissolution, winding up of the Company, either voluntary or involuntary, the holders of Senior Preferred shall be entitled to receive, prior and in preference to any distribution of any of the assets of the Company and proceeds of the liquidation transaction to the holders of common stock and Founders Preferred, by reason of their ownership thereof, an amount per share equal to the sum of the applicable original issue price for such series of Senior Preferred, plus declared but unpaid dividends on such share. The Senior Preferred shall be entitled to be paid out their liquidation preference on an equal priority and pari passu basis.

 

F-26


Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

If, upon the occurrence of such event, the assets distributed among the holders of Senior Preferred are insufficient to permit the payment to such holders of the full aforesaid preferential amounts, then the entire assets of the Company and proceeds from the Liquidation Transaction legally available for distribution are distributed ratably among the holders of Senior Preferred in proportion to the full preferential amount each such holder is otherwise entitled to receive. All deemed liquidation events that may result in the preferred stock being redeemed for cash are subject to vote or approval by the board of directors which is controlled by the common stockholders.

Conversion

Each share of Preferred Stock is convertible at the option of the holder, into fully paid shares of Class A common stock determined by dividing the original issue price for such series by the conversion price applicable to such series, subject to certain anti-dilution adjustments. The initial conversion price shall be $0.30 per share for the Founders Preferred, $0.394392 per share for the Series A, $0.901041 per share for the Series B, $1.192917 per share for the Series B-1, $2.438442 per share for the Series C, $3.562605 per share for the Series D, $3.937257 for the Series D-1, $4.753482 for the Series E, and $7.727718 for the Series F. Each share of Preferred Stock will convert into Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis.

Each share of Preferred Stock shall automatically be converted into shares of Class A common stock at the conversion rate then in effect for such series of Preferred Stock immediately upon the earlier of (i) the Company’s sale of its common stock in a public offering pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) which results in a price per share of not less than $7.727718 and aggregate cash proceeds to the Company of not less than $50.0 million (net of underwriting discounts and commissions) (a “Qualified IPO”) or (ii) the date specified by vote or written consent of the holders of a majority of the then outstanding shares of Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class and not as separate series on an as converted to common stock basis.

10. Warrants

Convertible Preferred Stock Warrants

In March 2018, the Company issued five performance-based warrant awards to purchase up to 2,111,997 shares of Series D Preferred Stock and 4,317,725 shares of Series D-1 Preferred Stock to the same investor. These awards vest upon satisfaction of certain customer referrals and referred revenue targets. All warrants expire in March 2021. In March 2019, 421,039 Series D warrants were exercised at a price of $3.562605 per share resulting in the issuance of additional Series D Preferred Stock with $1.5 million in total proceeds.

In December 2020, 548,032 Series D-1 warrants were exercised at a price of $3.937257 per share resulting in $2.2 million in total proceeds.

 

F-27


Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

A summary of the convertible preferred stock warrants as of December 31, 2019 is as follows:

 

Series

   Warrants
Issued
     Warrants
Outstanding
     Exercise
Price
     Warrants
Vested and
Exercisable at
December 31,
2019
     Warrants
Vested and
Expected
to Vest
 

Series D

     842,078        421,039      $ 3.562605        421,039        421,039  

Series D

     1,269,919        1,269,919      $ 2.288787        —          —    

Series D-1

     4,317,725        4,317,725      $ 3.937257        1,638,789        2,194,976  

A summary of the convertible preferred stock warrants as of December 31, 2020 is as follows:

 

Series

   Warrants
Issued
     Warrants
Outstanding
     Exercise
Price
     Warrants
Vested and
Exercisable at
December 31,
2020
     Warrants
Vested and
Expected
to Vest
 

Series D

     842,078        421,039      $ 3.562605        421,039        421,039  

Series D

     1,269,919       
1,269,919
 
   $ 2.288787        —          —    

Series D-1

     4,317,725        3,769,693      $ 3.937257        1,434,105        1,646,943  

Common Stock Warrants

In October 2017, the Company entered into an agreement pursuant to which the Company issued a warrant to a customer to purchase up to 2,806,933 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the warrant was exercised in full for total proceeds to the Company of $10.0 million. No warrants to purchase common stock were outstanding as of December 31, 2020.

11. Common Stock

As of December 31, 2019, the Company had authorized 133,952,885 and 210,000,000 shares of par value $0.00001 Class A and Class B common stock, respectively; and 12,898,459 of Class A shares and 26,034,946 of Class B shares were issued and outstanding, respectively. As of December 31, 2020, the Company had authorized 143,161,807 and 228,333,333 shares of par value $0.00001 Class A and Class B common stock, respectively; and 15,038,726 of Class A shares and 32,908,824 of Class B shares were issued and outstanding, respectively. Common stockholders are entitled to dividends if and when declared by the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company has never declared or paid any cash dividends and does not presently plan to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future.

During the year ended December 31, 2019, upon stock sales by a former employee, 855,556 shares of Class A common stock were converted to 855,556 shares of Class B common stock. During the year ended December 31, 2020, upon stock sales by a former employee, 666,666 shares of Class A common stock were converted to 666,666 shares of Class B common stock.

12. Stock Option Plan

Stock Option Plan

Effective May 1, 2012, the Company adopted the 2012 Stock Plan (the “2012 Plan”). As of December 31, 2020, the Company’s board of directors had authorized 62,749,654 shares of Class B

 

F-28


Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

common stock to be reserved for grants under the 2012 Plan. As of December 31, 2020, 7,416,368 shares of Class B common stock options were available for issuance under the 2012 Plan. Options granted under the 2012 Plan may be either incentive stock options or nonqualified stock options. Incentive stock options (ISOs) may be granted only to employees (including officers and directors). Non-qualified stock options (NSOs) may be granted to employees and consultants. The exercise price of ISOs and NSOs shall not be less than 100% of the estimated fair value of the common shares on the date of grant, respectively, as determined by the Company’s board of directors. The exercise price of an ISO granted to a 10% or greater stockholder shall not be less than 110% of the estimated fair value of the common shares on the date of grant. Options generally vest over a period of four years. However, in the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company granted 4,796,470 stock options to an executive with a vesting term of 7 years.

A summary of the activity under the 2012 Plan is set forth as follows:

 

     Number of
options
     Weighted
average
exercise
price
     Weighted
average
remaining
contractual
life (years)
     Aggregate
intrinsic
value (in
thousands)
 

Balance as of January 1, 2019:

     24,893,173      $ 0.66        —        $ 15,417  

Granted

     16,675,082      $ 2.04        

Exercised

     (2,638,173    $ 0.63        

Cancelled and forfeited

     (3,720,758    $ 0.84        
  

 

 

          

Balance as of December 31, 2019

     35,209,324      $ 1.29        8.19      $ 44,962  

Granted

     7,840,354      $ 2.85        

Exercised

     (6,292,363    $ 0.72        

Cancelled and forfeited

     (3,007,330    $ 1.71        
  

 

 

          

Balance as of December 31, 2020

     33,749,985      $ 1.74        7.95      $ 175,444  
  

 

 

          

Vested and exercisable as of December 31, 2019

     11,829,698      $ 0.63        6.19      $ 23,180  

Vested and exercisable as of December 31, 2020

     13,674,929      $ 1.11        6.74      $ 79,457  

The weighted average grant-date fair value of options granted during the year ended December 31, 2019 and 2020 was $1.05 and $1.86 per share, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised during the year ended December 31, 2019 and 2020 was $5.2 million and $39.1 million, respectively.

Early Exercise of Common Stock Options

The Company’s board of directors authorized certain stock option holders to exercise unvested options to purchase shares of Class B common stock. Shares received from such early exercises are subject to repurchase in the event of the optionee’s termination of service as a service provider (as defined in the 2012 Plan), at the original issuance price, until the options are fully vested. As of December 31, 2019 and 2020, 222,836 shares and 162,317 shares of Class B common stock were subject to repurchase, respectively. As of December 31, 2019 and 2020, the cash proceeds received for unvested shares of Class B common stock recorded within Other long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets was $0.2 million and $0.3 million, respectively.

 

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Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

Stock-Based Compensation

The estimated grant date fair values of the employee stock options granted during the year ended December 31, 2019 and 2020 were calculated using the Black-Scholes-Merton Option pricing model, based on the following weighted average assumptions:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
         2019             2020      

Expected term (years)

     6.24       5.90  

Expected volatility

     38.83     35.14

Risk-free interest rate

     1.97     0.58

Expected dividend yield

     —         —    

Risk-Free Interest Rate. The risk-free interest rate is based on U.S. treasury zero-coupon issues with remaining terms similar to the expected term of the options at date of grant.

Expected Term. The expected term represents the period that the Company’s share-based awards are expected to be outstanding. The expected term assumptions were determined based on the vesting terms, exercise terms, and contractual lives of the options.

Expected Dividend Yield. The Company has never declared or paid any cash dividends and does not plan to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future, and, therefore, used an expected dividend yield of zero in the valuation model.

Expected Volatility. Expected volatility of the stock is based on the Company’s public company peer group after consideration of their size, maturity, profitability, growth, risk, and return on investment as the Company’s stock is not publicly traded. The stock volatility assumptions represent an average of the historical volatilities of the common stock of the Company’s peer group.

Fair Value. The Company’s board of directors and in part based upon a valuation provided by a third-party valuation firm, determined the fair value of the Company’s common stock in connection with the grant of stock options and stock awards. Due to there being no public market for the Company’s common stock, its board of directors considered the third-party valuation and other factors, including but not limited to, secondary sales of the Company’s common stock, revenue growth, the current status of its operations, its financial condition, its stage of development, and its competition to establish the fair market value of the Company’s common stock at the time of grant of the stock option or stock award.

The Company recorded total stock-based compensation expense as follows (in thousands):

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
           2019                  2020        

Cost of revenue

   $ 46      $ 79  

Research and development

     3,431        4,250  

Sales and marketing

     966        3,675  

General and administrative

     5,446        2,120  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 9,889      $ 10,124  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Included in stock-based compensation expense are amounts related to the sale of employee stock on the secondary market to existing investors at a price above fair market value at the time of the sale.

 

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Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

This results in incremental expense based on the difference between the price paid and the estimated fair value on the date of the transactions of $6.2 million, of which $4.4 million was included as part of general and administrative expense, $1.7 million as part of research and development expense, and $0.1 million as part of sales and marketing expense in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss for the year ended December 31, 2019. Secondary stock sales resulted in incremental expense of $3.5 million, of which $0.3 million was included as part of general and administrative expense, $1.6 million as part of research and development expense, and $1.6 million as part of sales and marketing expense in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss for the year ended December 31, 2020.

As of December 31, 2020, the total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense was approximately $23.7 million. This is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 3.49 years. The total fair value of shares vested during the year ended December 31, 2020 was $6.4 million.

In November 2018, an executive was issued a partial-recourse promissory note (the “Employee Note”) in the amount of $2.7 million. The Employee Note has a maturity date of November 19, 2025 and an interest rate of 3.04% per annum. The employee has the right to prepay the Employee Note at any time, without penalty. The Company recorded $2.7 million as contra-equity in 2018. An additional $0.1 million in stock-based compensation expense related to this note was recognized during the year ended December 31, 2019. There were 1,133,333 and 333,333 shares of unvested common stock that were exercised via the Employee Note as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020, respectively.

13. Income Taxes

The total provision for income taxes consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
           2019                  2020        

Current:

     

Federal

   $ —        $ —    

State

     13        26  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total current

     13        26  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred:

     

Federal

     

State

             —                  —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total deferred

     —          —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total provision for income taxes

   $ 13      $ 26  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

The following summarizes the differences between the income tax provision recorded by the Company and the amount computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate of 21% to loss before income tax for the year ended December 31, 2019 and 2020 (in thousands):

 

     As of December 31,  
     2019      2020  

Tax benefit at federal statutory rate

   $ (17,102    $ (15,664

State taxes, net of federal benefit

     10        21  

Change in valuation allowance

     16,388        16,431  

Research and other credits

     (1,643      (1,245

Stock-based compensation

     1,739        572  

Permanent differences

     621        (89
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total provision for income taxes

   $ 13      $ 26  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of loss and credit carryforwards and temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets are as follows (in thousands):

 

     As of December 31,  
     2019      2020  

Deferred tax assets:

     

Net operating loss carryforwards

   $ 45,959      $ 65,334  

Research and other credits

     7,610        9,914  

Fixed assets

     223        —    

Lease liability

     —          4,287  

Accruals and reserves

     1,457        1,501  

Stock-based compensation

     150        551  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross deferred tax assets

     55,399        81,587  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less: valuation allowance

     (52,536      (73,936
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total deferred tax assets

   $ 2,863      $ 7,651  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred tax liabilities:

     

Deferred contract costs

   $ (1,547    $ (2,608

Fixed assets

     —          (55

Right-of-use asset

     —          (3,282

Deferred revenue

     (1,316      (1,706
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross deferred tax liabilities

     (2,863      (7,651
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total net deferred taxes

   $ —        $ —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

A valuation allowance is provided when, based on all available positive and negative evidence, it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will not be realized. At December 31, 2019 and 2020, the Company maintained a full valuation allowance on its net deferred tax assets due to the history of cumulative losses.

At December 31, 2020, the Company recorded a valuation allowance of $73.9 million. The valuation allowance on the net deferred tax assets increased by $21.4 million during 2020. The increase in the

 

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Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

valuation allowance is mainly due to an increase in deferred tax assets resulting from net operating losses in 2020.

At December 31, 2020, the Company had net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards for federal and state income tax purposes of approximately $252.7 million and $145.9 million, respectively, available to reduce future taxable income. The federal net operating losses generated before 2018 will begin to expire in 2032. The federal net operating losses generated in and after 2018 may be carried forward indefinitely. The state NOL carryforwards vary by state and begin to expire in 2024.

At December 31, 2020, the Company had $7.6 million of federal research credit carryforwards which will begin to expire in 2033 and state research credit carryforwards of $6.5 million which have no expiration date.

The Company files U.S. federal and state income tax returns with varying statutes of limitations. Due to the Company’s net operating losses and tax credit carryforwards, all years remain subject to future examination by tax authorities.

Utilization of the net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards may be subject to annual limitations due to the ownership change limitation provided by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and similar state provisions. Events which may cause limitations in the amount of the NOLs that the Company may use in any one year include, but are not limited to, a cumulative ownership change of more than 50% over a three-year period. Any annual limitations may result in the expiration of NOL and credits before they are able to be utilized.

As of December 31, 2020, the Company had $4.2 million of unrecognized tax benefits, none of which, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate. The Company’s policy is to include interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within the provision for income taxes. Interest and penalties were not significant during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020. The Company does not expect any material changes to its unrecognized tax benefits within the next twelve months.

The following table reflects the changes in the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits (in thousands):

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
           2019                  2020        

Beginning Balance

   $ 1,146      $ 3,167  

Gross increases—tax positions in prior periods

     703        —    

Gross increases—tax positions in current periods

     1,318        1,188  

Gross decreases—tax positions in prior periods

     —          (200
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Ending balance

   $ 3,167      $ 4,155  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

In March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) was enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act, among other things, permits NOL carryovers and carrybacks to offset 100% of taxable income for taxable years beginning before 2021. In addition, the CARES Act allows NOLs incurred in 2018, 2019, and 2020 to be carried back to each of the five preceding taxable years to generate a refund of previously paid income taxes. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the CARES Act, but at present does not expect that the NOL carryback provision of the CARES Act would have a material impact.

 

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Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

14. Employee Benefit Plan

The Company maintains a 401(k) plan that covers all eligible employees in the United States. Employer matching contributions are discretionary. The Company has not matched eligible participants’ 401(k) contributions to date.

15. Net Loss Per Share

The Company computes net loss per share using the two-class method required for multiple classes of common stock. The Company has two classes of authorized common stock for which voting rights differ by class.

Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss attributable to each class of stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of stock outstanding during the period, adjusted for options early exercised subject to repurchase.

For the calculation of diluted net loss per share, net loss per share attributable to common stockholders for basic net loss per share is adjusted by the effect of dilutive securities, including awards under the Company’s equity compensation plans. Diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders is computed by dividing the resulting net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of fully diluted common shares outstanding. The Company uses the “if-converted” method for calculating any potential dilutive effect of the convertible notes on diluted net loss per share. For the periods presented, potentially dilutive shares relating to stock options, convertible preferred stock, preferred and common stock warrants, and options early exercised subject to repurchase were not included in the computation of diluted net loss per share as the effect of including these shares in the calculation would have been anti-dilutive.

 

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Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

The following table presents the calculation of basic and diluted net loss per share (in thousands, except per share data):

 

    Year ended
December 31, 2019
    Year ended
December 31, 2020
 
    Class A
Common
    Class B
Common
    Class A
Common
    Class B
Common
 

Numerator:

       

Net loss

  $ (32,702   $ (48,750   $ (24,486   $ (50,131
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to common stockholders

  $ (32,702   $ (48,750   $ (24,486   $ (50,131
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Denominator:

       

Basic shares:

       

Weighted average common shares—Basic

    13,159       19,617       12,932       26,475  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted shares:

       

Weighted average common shares—Diluted

    13,159       19,617       12,932       26,475  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders:

       

Basic

  $ (2.49   $ (2.49   $ (1.89   $ (1.89
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted

  $ (2.49   $ (2.49   $ (1.89   $ (1.89
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to the Company’s common stockholders (in thousands, except per share data):

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
           2019                  2020        

Net loss attributable to common stockholders

   $ (81,452    $ (74,617

Weighted average shares used in computing net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted

     32,776        39,407  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted

   $ (2.49    $ (1.89
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

F-35


Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

As the Company has reported net loss for each of the periods presented, all potentially dilutive securities are antidilutive. The following potential outstanding shares of common stock were excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders for the periods presented because including them would have been antidilutive:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2019      2020  

Outstanding stock options

     35,209,324        33,749,985  

Early exercised options subject to repurchase

     222,836        162,317  

Options exercised via promissory note

     4,000,000        4,000,000  

Common stock warrants

     2,806,933        —    

Convertible preferred stock warrants

     6,008,683        5,460,651  

Founders preferred stock

     1,026,007        1,026,007  

Convertible preferred stock

     110,897,672        121,352,684  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total anti-dilutive securities

     160,171,455        165,751,644  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

16. Subsequent Events

The Company evaluated its December 31, 2020 consolidated financial statements for subsequent events through April 15, 2021, the date the consolidated financial statements were originally issued. After the original issuance of the December 31, 2020 consolidated financial statements and through July 6, 2021, the Company has evaluated subsequent events or transactions that have occurred that may require disclosure in the accompanying financial statements. Except as described below, the Company has concluded that no events or transactions have occurred that may require disclosure in the accompanying financial statements.

In January 2021, the Company made a $3.0 million investment in a privately-held company via a convertible promissory note. Interest accrues at 2% per annum and outstanding principal and accrued interest is due and payable at the earliest of (i) 60 months from the execution of the note, (ii) an initial public offering, or (iii) change in control, unless otherwise converted to shares of the investee.

In January 2021, the Company’s board of directors approved the amendment of the Company’s certificate of incorporation and authorized increases to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock to 198,765,859 shares, Class B Common Stock to 286,666,667 shares, and Convertible Preferred Stock to 149,566,300 shares. In addition, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the creation of a new series of Convertible Preferred Stock designated as Series G Convertible Preferred Stock, consisting of 22,752,911 authorized shares. In January through March 2021, the Company issued an aggregate of 22,418,562 shares of Series G Convertible Preferred Stock at a price of $13.827822 per share for total proceeds of approximately $310.0 million. Each share is convertible into fully paid shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis. In addition, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a secondary sale of an aggregate of 334,341 shares of the Company’s Founders Preferred Stock at a price per share of $13.827822 to the new Series G investors, and upon the effectiveness of the sale, the shares sold were exchanged with the Company for an equal number of shares of Series G Convertible Preferred stock. There were no proceeds to the Company in connection with the secondary sale of Founders Preferred Stock and related exchange into Series G Convertible Preferred Stock.

 

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Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

In January 2021, the Company’s board of directors approved a third-party tender offer, which allowed for eligible option holders and stockholders to sell shares of capital stock to the Series G investors. The third-party tender offer was completed in March 2021, in which an aggregate of 442,469 shares of common stock and convertible preferred stock were purchased from participating stockholders and option holders.

In March 2021, the Company’s board of directors approved an amendment to one of the Company’s outstanding performance-based preferred stock warrants to purchase shares of Series D-1 in which the performance period and expiration date were extended from March 2021 to September 2021. As of the modification date, there were no warrants vested and exercisable.

In March 2021, the Company entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 90.1% ownership of Title365, a title insurance agency, from Mr. Cooper Group Inc. for a purchase price of approximately $422.0 million in cash, subject to adjustments (the “Planned Acquisition”). The Company obtained a commitment letter for debt financing in the form of a $225.0 million term loan, (the “Term Loan”), and a $25.0 million revolving credit facility, (the “Revolving Credit Facility”). The Term Loan is expected to be funded at the closing of the Planned Acquisition to assist in the payment of the purchase price. The Revolving Credit Facility is expected to remain undrawn. The Term Loan and Revolving Credit Facility will mature on the date that is five years after the closing date of the Planned Acquisition. The Term Loan will not amortize and both the Term Loan and Revolving Credit Facility will accrue interest at a rate equal to the London Interbank Offer Rate for dollars, (the “LIBOR”), subject to a floor of 1.00% per annum, (the “Adjusted LIBOR”), plus 7.50% or the Alternate Base Rate, (the “ABR”), as determined by the highest of (i) the prime commercial lending rate published by the Wall Street Journal as the “prime rate”, (ii) the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus 0.50% and (iii) the one-month Adjusted LIBOR plus 1.00% per annum subject to a floor of 2.00% plus 6.50%. Interest is payable in cash on a quarterly basis. In connection with the Debt Financing, the Company will issue to the debtholder a Series G Preferred Stock Warrant, or the Series G Warrant, for the purchase of up to 598,431 shares of Series G Convertible Preferred Stock at a price per share of $13.827822 if exercised prior to an IPO, or 598,431 shares of Class A Common Stock if exercised after an IPO. The Series G Warrant will expire 10 years from the issue date, which is expected to be the closing of the Planned Acquisition. The Planned Acquisition is expected to close in the second or third quarter of 2021.

In March 2021, the Company’s board of directors granted to its Founder and Head of Blend a stand-alone stock option issued outside of the 2012 Plan covering a maximum of 26,057,181 shares of Class B common stock with an exercise price of $8.58 per share. The stock option grant has a 15-year term, subject to earlier termination when shares subject to the award are no longer eligible to vest, and vests upon the satisfaction of a service condition, liquidity event-related performance condition, and performance-based market conditions. If an IPO is completed within 15 months of the date of grant, 1,954,289 shares will vest. If an IPO is not achieved, or if the Company completes certain equity or debt financing events prior to an IPO, or if there is a change in control (as defined in the agreement) prior to an IPO, no shares subject to the stock option will vest, and the stand-alone stock option will immediately terminate for no consideration. The remaining tranches of shares will vest dependent on performance goals tied to the Company’s stock price and specified expiration dates for each tranche. The grant had an aggregate grant date fair value of $87.6 million, of which $23.0 million is attributable to the first tranche, which would be recognized as stock-based compensation expense when the IPO condition is achieved.

Subsequent to December 31, 2020, and through April 15, 2021, the Company’s board of directors granted stock options for 6,183,127 shares of Class B common stock to employees and directors with

 

F-37


Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

a weighted average exercise price of $8.58 per share that are subject to service-based vesting conditions. The grants had an aggregate grant date fair value of $44.5 million, which is expected to be recognized as stock-based compensation expense over approximately 4 years. These grants exclude the Founder and Head of Blend stand-alone stock option grant noted above.

On June 29, 2021, the Company’s board of directions approved a three-for-one reverse stock split of its capital stock, which the Company’s stockholders subsequently approved on July 2, 2021 and which became effective on July 2, 2021. The authorized number of shares of each class and series of the Company’s capital stock was proportionally decreased in accordance with the three-for-one reverse stock split and the par value of each class of capital stock was not adjusted as a result of the reverse stock split. All common stock, convertible preferred stock, stock options, warrants, and per share information presented within these consolidated financial statements have been adjusted to reflect this reverse stock split on a retroactive basis for all periods presented.

On June 30, 2021, the Company completed its acquisition of 90.1% ownership of Title365 for approximately $422.0 million in cash consideration. In connection with the closing of the acquisition, the Company entered into a credit agreement, which provides for $225.0 million of senior secured term loan and a $25.0 million senior secured revolving loan facility. The revolving facility has a $10.0 million letter of credit. The revolving facility also includes a $5.0 million sub-facility. (unaudited)

 

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Table of Contents

Unaudited Interim Financial Statements

Blend Labs, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

 

     December 31,
2020
    March 31,
2021
 
           (unaudited)  

Assets

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 41,092   $ 352,311

Marketable securities

     110,631     100,840

Trade and other receivables

     14,981     14,848

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     19,268     18,175

Restricted cash

     173     173
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     186,145     486,347

Property and equipment, net

     4,594     4,529

Operating lease right-of-use assets

     12,685     12,092

Intangible assets, net

     1,208     692

Deferred contract costs, non-current

     5,414     4,556

Restricted cash, non-current

     5,023     5,023

Other non-current assets

     676     6,559
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 215,745   $ 519,798
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

    

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 3,437   $ 3,946

Deferred revenue, current

     13,622     14,399

Accrued compensation

     9,060     7,256

Other current liabilities

     8,910     13,634
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     35,029     39,235

Operating lease liabilities, non-current

     14,004     13,304

Other long-term liabilities

     3,375     4,796
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     52,408     57,335
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 7)

    

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Founders Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.00001 par value: 1,026,008 shares authorized as of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021; 1,026,007 and 691,666 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021, respectively

     —         —    

Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.00001 par value: 127,097,070 and 149,566,300 shares authorized as of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021, respectively; 121,352,684 and 146,180,902 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021 respectively; aggregate liquidation preference of $387,841 and $710,477 as of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021, respectively

     385,225     702,940

Class A common stock, $0.00001 par value: 143,161,807 and 198,765,859 shares authorized as of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021, respectively; 15,038,726 and 15,038,726 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021, respectively

     —         —    

Class B common stock, $0.00001 par value: 228,333,333 and 286,666,667 shares authorized as of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021, respectively; 32,908,824 and 37,682,443 shares issued and outstanding, including 495,650 and 881,119 shares of early exercised stock options as of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021, respectively

     1     1

Additional paid-in capital

     50,968     59,431

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     (5     10

Accumulated deficit

     (272,852     (299,919
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     163,337     462,463
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 215,745   $ 519,798
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to interim consolidated financial statements

 

F-39


Table of Contents

Unaudited Interim Financial Statements

Blend Labs, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
           2020                 2021        
     (unaudited)  

Revenue

   $ 15,603   $ 31,875

Cost of revenue

     7,358     10,860
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     8,245     21,015

Operating expenses:

    

Research and development

     11,821     17,074

Sales and marketing

     13,430     15,865

General and administrative

     6,078     15,283
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     31,329     48,222
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

     (23,084     (27,207

Other income (expense), net

     240     150
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss before income taxes

     (22,844     (27,057

Provision for income taxes

     7     10
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

   $ (22,851   $ (27,067

Change in unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities

     (172     15
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive loss

   $ (23,023   $ (27,052
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per share:

    

Basic and diluted:

   $ (0.62   $ (0.60
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average shares used in calculating net loss per share:

    

Basic and diluted:

     36,828       45,090  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to interim consolidated financial statements

 

F-40


Table of Contents

Unaudited Interim Financial Statements

Blend Labs, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

(In thousands, except share data)

 

    Founders Preferred
Stock
    Convertible Preferred
Stock
    Common Stock     Additional
Paid-In
Capital
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
    Accumulated
Deficit
    Total
Stockholders’
Equity
 
    Class A     Class B  
    Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount  

Balances as of December 31, 2019

    1,026,007     $ —       110,897,672   $ 306,820     12,898,459     $ —       26,034,946     $ 1   $ 26,288   $ 93   $ (198,235   $ 134,967

Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options, net of repurchases

    —         —         —         —         —         —         3,487,354       —         2,044     —         —         2,044

Vesting of early exercised stock options

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         94     —         —         94

Stock-based compensation

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         3,239     —         —         3,239

Other comprehensive income (loss), net

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         (172     —         (172

Net loss

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         (22,851     (22,851
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balances as of March 31, 2020

    1,026,007     $ —         110,897,672     $ 306,820     12,898,459   $ —       29,522,300     $ 1   $ 31,665   $ (79   $ (221,086   $ 117,321

 

F-41


Table of Contents

Unaudited Interim Financial Statements

Blend Labs, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Continued)

(In thousands, except share data)

 

    Founders Preferred

Stock
    Convertible Preferred

Stock
    Common Stock     Additional

Paid-In

Capital
    Accumulated

Other

Comprehensive

Income (Loss)
    Accumulated

Deficit
    Total

Stockholders’

Equity
 
    Class A     Class B  
    Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount  

Balances as of December 31, 2020

    1,026,007     $ —         121,352,684     $ 385,225     15,038,726     $ —         32,908,824     $ 1   $ 50,968   $ (5   $ (272,852   $ 163,337

Issuance of Series G Convertible Preferred Stock, net of issuance costs of $299

    —         —         22,418,562       309,701     —         —         —         —         —         —         —         309,701

Exercise of convertible preferred stock warrants

    —         —         2,075,315       8,014     —         —         —         —         —         —         —         8,014

Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options, net of repurchases

    —         —         —         —         —         —         4,773,619       —         4,172     —         —         4,172

Vesting of early exercised stock options

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         157     —         —         157

Vesting of performance-based Convertible Preferred Stock warrants

    —         —         —         —         —         —           —         118     —         —         118

Stock-based compensation

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         4,016     —         —         4,016

Conversion of Founders preferred stock to Series G during Series G Financing Round

    (334,341     —         334,341       —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Other comprehensive income (loss), net

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         15     —         15

Net loss

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —         (27,067     (27,067
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balances as of March 31, 2021

    691,666     $ —         146,180,902     $ 702,940     15,038,726   $ —         37,682,443   $ 1   $ 59,431   $ 10   $ (299,919   $ 462,463
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to interim consolidated financial statements

 

F-42


Table of Contents

Unaudited Interim Financial Statements

Blend Labs, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands)

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
           2020                 2021        

Operating activities

    

Net loss

   $ (22,851   $ (27,067

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

    

Stock-based compensation

     3,239       4,016  

Depreciation and amortization

     1,206       823  

Amortization of deferred contract costs

     771       1,319  

Non-cash operating lease expense

     565       593  

Other

     98       481  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

    

Trade and other receivables

     (4,771     133  

Prepaid expenses and other assets, current and non-current

     (1,791     (3,728

Deferred contract costs, non-current

     643       858  

Accounts payable

     (678     509  

Deferred revenue

     2,290       777  

Accrued compensation

     (1,064     (1,804

Operating lease liabilities

     (625     (665

Other liabilities, current and non-current

     857       3,361  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in operating activities

     (22,111     (20,394
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investing activities

    

Purchases of marketable securities

     (27,722     (25,400

Sales of marketable securities

     30,447       —    

Maturities of marketable securities

     34,825       34,850  

Purchases of property and equipment

     (103     (302

Purchase of other investment

     —         (3,000
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by investing activities

     37,447       6,148  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Financing activities

    

Repurchases of unvested early exercised stock options

     (16     —    

Proceeds from exercises of stock options, including early exercises

     2,057       5,750  

Proceeds from issuance of Convertible Preferred Stock, net of issuance costs

     —         309,701  

Payment of deferred offering costs

     —         (158

Proceeds from exercises of Convertible Preferred Stock warrants

     —         10,172  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

     2,041       325,465  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash

     17,377       311,219  

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period

     28,462       46,288  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period

   $ 45,839     $ 357,507  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash within the consolidated balance sheets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 40,023     $ 352,311  

Restricted cash

     5,816       5,196  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash

   $ 45,839     $ 357,507  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

    

Cash paid for income taxes

   $ —       $ 25  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:

    

Vesting of early exercised stock options

   $ 94     $ 157  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Property and equipment in accrued expenses

   $ —       $ 47  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Deferred offering costs not yet paid

   $ —       $ 1,381  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to interim consolidated financial statements

 

F-43


Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

1. Description of Business and Basis of Presentation

Description of Business

Blend Labs, Inc. (the “Company”) was incorporated on April 17, 2012. The Company offers a cloud-based software platform for financial services firms that is designed to power the end-to-end consumer journey for banking products. The Company’s solution makes the journey from application to close fast, simple, and transparent for consumers, while helping financial services firms increase productivity, deepen customer relationships, and deliver exceptional consumer experiences.

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) and include the consolidated accounts of Blend Labs, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Unaudited Interim Financial Information

The accompanying interim consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2021, the interim consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021 are unaudited. These unaudited interim consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and do not include all disclosures normally required in annual consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the annual audited consolidated financial statements and include all normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2021 and the Company’s consolidated results of operations and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2021 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full fiscal year or any other future interim or annual periods. The information contained within the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2020.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The Company’s significant accounting policies are discussed in “Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in its Prospectus. There have been no significant changes to these policies during the three months ended March 31, 2021.

Deferred Contract Costs

The Company capitalizes incremental and recoverable costs of obtaining contracts with customers. The capitalized amounts consist primarily of sales commissions paid to the Company’s sales force. Capitalized amounts also include commissions paid to employees on renewals of subscription contracts, partner referral fees, and payroll taxes.

 

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Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

As of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021, total unamortized deferred contract costs were $10.3 million and $9.1 million, respectively. $4.9 million and $4.5 million was recorded within prepaid expenses and other current assets and $5.4 million and $4.6 million was recorded within deferred contract costs, non-current, on the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021, respectively. The Company recorded $0.8 million and $1.3 million in amortization of deferred contract acquisition costs included in sales and marketing expenses within the statements of operations and comprehensive loss for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively.

Concentrations of Credit Risk and Significant Customers

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, marketable securities, and trade accounts receivable. The Company maintains its cash equivalents primarily in money market funds and highly liquid investments that are issued or guaranteed by the United States government or its agencies.

The following customer comprised 10% or more of the Company’s revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021:

 

Customer

   2020     2021  

A

     14     13

The following customers comprised 10% or more of the Company’s trade receivables as of:

 

Customer

   December 31,
2020
    March 31,
2021
 

A

     34     21

B

         23

C

     11    

Deferred Offering Costs

Deferred offering costs consist primarily of accounting, legal, and other fees related to the Company’s proposed initial public offering (“IPO”). The deferred offering costs will be offset against IPO proceeds upon the consummation of the IPO. In the event the offering is aborted, deferred offering costs will be expensed. As of December 31, 2020, deferred offering costs were immaterial. As of March 31, 2021, deferred offering costs were $1.5 million and are included in other non-current assets on the consolidated balance sheets.

Note Receivable

In January 2021, the Company made a $3.0 million investment in a privately-held company via a convertible promissory note. Interest accrues at 2% per annum and outstanding principal and accrued interest is due and payable at the earliest of (i) 60 months from the execution of the note, (ii) an initial public offering, or (iii) change in control, unless otherwise converted to shares of the investee. The outstanding principal and unpaid accrued interest are convertible into 4,500,000 shares of the issuer’s Series Seed Preferred Stock either at the option of the issuer, upon a change in control, upon the issuer’s initial public offering, or upon a qualified equity financing. The conversion option is not bifurcated from the promissory note as the option does not meet the net settlement criteria of a

 

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Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

derivative instrument definition due to the option not being readily convertible to cash. The Company also has a call option to merge the issuer with the Company for aggregate consideration of $500.0 million. The value of the call option was determined to be inconsequential. The note receivable is included within other non-current assets on the consolidated balance sheets.

JOBS Act Accounting Election

As an emerging growth company (“EGC”), the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (“JOBS Act”) allows the Company to delay adoption of new or revised accounting pronouncements applicable to public companies until such pronouncements are applicable to private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)). The Company intends to use this extended transition period under the JOBS Act until such time as the Company is no longer considered to be an EGC. The adoption dates discussed below reflect this election.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

In December 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (Topic 740). The standard issued guidance on the accounting for income taxes that, among other provisions, eliminates certain exceptions to existing guidance related to the approach for intra-period tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences. This guidance also requires an entity to reflect the effect of an enacted change in tax laws or rates in its effective income tax rate in the first interim period that includes the enactment date of the new legislation, aligning the timing of recognition of the effects from enacted tax law changes on the effective income tax rate with the effects on deferred income tax assets and liabilities. Under existing guidance, an entity recognizes the effects of the enacted tax law change on the effective income tax rate in the period that includes the effective date of the tax law. The guidance is effective for the Company for annual reporting periods, and interim reporting periods within those annual periods, beginning January 1, 2022, and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848), with amendments in 2021. This update provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying U.S. GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by the discontinuation of London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or by another reference rate expected to be discontinued. The guidance in ASU 2020-04 is optional and may be elected over time as reference rate reform activities occur. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40). The guidance simplifies the accounting for convertible debt instruments and convertible preferred stock by removing the existing guidance in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 470-20 that requires entities to account for beneficial conversion features and cash conversion features in equity, separately from the host convertible debt or preferred stock. The guidance is effective for the Company for annual reporting periods, and interim reporting periods within those annual periods, beginning January 1, 2024, and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

3. Revenue Recognition

Disaggregation of Revenue

The following table provides information about disaggregated revenue from customers for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021 (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
           2020                  2021        

Platform services

   $ 14,620    $ 31,083

Professional services

     983      792
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total revenue

   $ 15,603    $ 31,875
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Contract Balances

The following table provides information about contract assets and contract liabilities from contracts with customers as of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021 (in thousands):

 

Contract Accounts

  

Balance Sheet Line Reference

   As of
December 31,
2020
     As of
March 31,
2021
 

Contract assets—current

  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

   $ 7,079    $ 5,767

Contract liabilities—current

  

Deferred revenue, current

   $ 13,622    $ 14,399

During the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021, the Company recognized revenue of $3.8 million and $6.9 million, respectively, which was included in the deferred revenue balance as of December 31, 2019 and 2020. There was no long-term contract assets or deferred revenue as of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021. During the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021, the Company recognized approximately $0.9 million and $5.6 million, respectively, of revenue from performance obligations satisfied in previous periods due to changes in the transaction price, including changes in the estimate of variable consideration that were not probable of resulting in a significant reversal of revenue.

Remaining Performance Obligations

Transaction price allocated to the remaining performance obligations represents contracted revenue that has not yet been recognized, which includes unearned revenue and unbilled amounts that will be recognized as revenue in future periods. Transaction price allocated to the remaining performance obligations represents contracted revenue and estimated revenue from variable consideration. Amounts included in the remaining performance obligation are subject to future economic risks including bankruptcies, regulatory changes and other market factors.

The Company excludes amounts related to performance obligations associated with usage-based contracts with termination rights and professional services.

As of March 31, 2021, total remaining performance obligations were $81.6 million, of which $55.5 million is expected to be recognized in the next twelve months and the remainder thereafter.

 

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Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

4. Marketable Securities

The carrying amount, unrealized gain and loss, and fair value of available-for-sale securities by major security type are as follows (in thousands):

 

     December 31, 2020  
     Amortized
Cost
     Gross
Unrealized
Gain
     Gross
Unrealized
Loss
     Fair Value  

Cash equivalents:

           

Money market funds

   $ 24,036    $ —      $ —      $ 24,036

Commercial paper

     1,150      —          —          1,150
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total cash equivalents

     25,186      —          —          25,186

Marketable securities:

           

U.S. treasury and agency securities

     89,342      5      (5      89,342

Commercial paper

     2,848      —                —          2,848

Debt securities

     17,774      —          (6      17,768

Certificates of deposit

     673        —          —          673  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total marketable securities

     110,637        5        (11      110,631  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 135,823    $           5    $ (11    $ 135,817
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     March 31, 2021  
     Amortized
Cost
     Gross
Unrealized
Gain
     Gross
Unrealized
Loss
     Fair Value  

Cash equivalents:

           

Money market funds

   $ 36,703    $ —      $ —      $ 36,703

Commercial paper

     3,250      —          —          3,250
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total cash equivalents

     39,953      —          —          39,953

Marketable securities:

           

U.S. treasury and agency securities

     72,559      13            —          72,572

Commercial paper

     5,699      —          —          5,699

Debt securities

     16,894      6      (4      16,896

Certificates of deposit

     5,673        —          —          5,673  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total marketable securities

     100,825        19        (4      100,840  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 140,778    $         19    $ (4    $ 140,793
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

All marketable securities classified as available-for-sale as of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021 were due within one year. As of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021, marketable securities in an unrealized loss position were immaterial, individually and in the aggregate.

The Company determines realized gains or losses on the sale of available-for-sale securities on a specific identification method. The Company did not recognize any impairment due to credit losses during the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021.

 

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Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

5. Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities

The Company reports assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets based upon the level of judgment associated with inputs used to measure their fair value. The categories are as follows:

Level 1—Observable inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2—Observable inputs are quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or inputs other than quoted prices which are observable for the assets or liabilities, either directly or indirectly through market corroboration, for substantially the full term of the financial instruments.

Level 3—Unobservable inputs which are supported by little or no market activity and which are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. These inputs are based on the Company’s assumptions used to measure assets and liabilities at fair value and require significant management judgment or estimation.

The following table presents information about the Company’s financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis based on the fair value hierarchy (in thousands):

 

     December 31, 2020  
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Assets:

           

Cash equivalents:

           

Money market funds

   $ 24,036    $ —      $ —      $ 24,036

Commercial paper

     —          1,150      —          1,150

Marketable securities:

           

U.S. treasury and agency securities

     —          89,342      —          89,342

Commercial paper

     —          2,848      —          2,848

Debt securities

     —          17,768      —          17,768

Certificate of deposit

     —          673      —          673
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 24,036    $ 111,781    $       —      $ 135,817
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     March 31, 2021  
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Assets:

           

Cash equivalents:

           

Money market funds

   $ 36,703    $ —      $ —      $ 36,703

Commercial paper

     —          3,250      —          3,250

Marketable securities:

           

U.S. treasury and agency securities

     —          72,572      —          72,572

Commercial paper

     —          5,699      —          5,699

Debt securities

     —          16,896      —          16,896

Certificate of deposit

     —          5,673      —          5,673
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 36,703    $ 104,090    $       —      $ 140,793
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

6. Significant Balance Sheet Components

Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets

Prepaid expenses and other current assets consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     As of
December 31,
     As of
March 31,
 
     2020      2021  

Contract assets

   $ 7,079    $ 5,767

Deferred contract costs

     4,855      4,502

Preferred stock warrant exercise receivable

     2,158      —    

Other prepaid expenses and other current assets

     5,176      7,906
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total prepaid expenses and other current assets

   $ 19,268    $ 18,175
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Property and Equipment, Net

Property and equipment, net consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     As of
December 31,
     As of
March 31,
 
     2020      2021  

Computer and software

   $ 2,277    $ 2,457

Furniture and fixtures

     1,094      1,264

Leasehold improvements

     4,455      4,341
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Property and equipment, gross

     7,826      8,062

Accumulated depreciation and amortization

     (3,232      (3,533
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total property and equipment, net

   $ 4,594    $ 4,529  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Depreciation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021 was $0.3 million and $0.3 million, respectively.

Intangible Assets, Net

Intangible assets subject to amortization consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     As of
December 31,
     As of
March 31,
 
     2020      2021  

Capitalized software development costs

   $ 11,391    $ 11,391

Domain name

     210      210

Less: accumulated amortization

     (10,393      (10,909
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total intangible assets, net

   $ 1,208    $ 692
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

The domain name asset is amortized on a straight-line basis over its estimated useful life of 15 years and capitalized software development costs are amortized over 3 years. Amortization expense of intangible assets for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021 was $0.9 million and $0.5 million, respectively.

Total future amortization expense as of March 31, 2021 was as follows (in thousands):

 

Year ending December 31,

   Amount  

Remainder of 2021

   $ 548

2022

     17

2023

     17

2024

     17

2025

     17

Thereafter

     76
  

 

 

 

Total future amortization expense

   $ 692
  

 

 

 

Other Current Liabilities

Other current liabilities consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     As of
December 31,
     As of
March 31,
 
     2020      2021  

Accrued expenses

   $ 2,477    $ 2,866

Accrued professional fees

     701      4,694  

Accrued connectivity fees

     2,833      3,365  

Operating lease liabilities, current portion

     2,580      2,615  

Other

     319      94
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total other current liabilities

   $ 8,910    $ 13,634
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

7. Commitments and Contingencies

Operating Leases

The Company leases its facilities under non-cancelable operating leases with various expiration dates. Leases may contain escalating payments. Restricted cash that is not available for use in the operations consists of collateral for standby letters of credit related to the Company’s office lease facilities. Restricted cash balances as of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021 were $5.2 million.

In 2017, the Company entered into an eight-year lease for its San Francisco headquarters location and the lease ends in 2025. In March 2020, the Company entered into a lease agreement for approximately 15,000 square feet for office space in Thousand Oaks, California. Total lease payments under this operating lease are approximately $3.5 million and are payable over the 91-month lease term.

The Company’s operating lease costs (gross lease expense) were $0.8 million and $0.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively. The Company’s short-term lease costs for leases with the term of less than twelve months were immaterial for both periods. The Company’s variable lease costs amounted to $0.5 million and $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31,

 

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Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

2020 and 2021, respectively. The Company received sublease income of $0.2 million and $0 for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively, which is recorded within Other income (expense), net on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

The Company’s lease agreements do not contain any residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants.

As of March 31, 2021, the weighted average remaining operating lease term was 4.9 years. The weighted average discount rate used to estimate operating lease liabilities for leases that existed as of March 31, 2021 was 6.6%. Operating cash flows from operating leases were $0.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021.

As of March 31, 2021, maturities of operating lease liabilities, which do not include short-term leases, by year are as follows (in thousands):

 

Year ending December 31,

   Amount  

Remainder of 2021

   $ 2,648

2022

     3,743

2023

     3,945

2024

     4,063

2025

     2,945

Thereafter

     1,369
  

 

 

 

Total lease payments

     18,713
  

 

 

 

Less: imputed interest

     (2,794
  

 

 

 

Total operating lease liabilities

   $ 15,919
  

 

 

 

Planned Acquisition Advisory Agreement

The Company engaged a third party financial advisor to provide assistance in connection with the Planned Acquisition (see Note 8). The fee for the advisory services consists of $1.0 million due upon execution of the definitive agreement, which is reflected in general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss for the three months ended March 31, 2021. Additionally, we entered into a commitment to pay the third party financial advisor $4.0 million plus an additional discretionary fee of up to $1.0 million in an amount to be determined at the Company’s sole discretion, which will be due only upon the consummation of the Planned Acquisition.

8. Planned Acquisition and Term Loan

Planned Acquisition

In March 2021, the Company entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 90.1% ownership of Title365, a title insurance agency, from Mr. Cooper Group Inc. for a purchase price of approximately $422.0 million in cash, subject to adjustments (the “Planned Acquisition”). The acquisition of Title365 will enable the Company’s customers to streamline the title, settlement, and closing process at scale for mortgages, home equity lines of credit, and home equity loans. The Planned Acquisition is expected to close in the second or third quarter of 2021.

 

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Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

Term Loan

In March 2021, in conjunction with the Planned Acquisition, the Company obtained a commitment letter for debt financing in the form of a $225.0 million term loan (the “Term Loan”), and a $25.0 million revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”). The Term Loan is expected to be funded at the closing of the Planned Acquisition to assist in the payment of the purchase price. The Revolving Credit Facility is expected to remain undrawn at the closing. The Term Loan and Revolving Credit Facility will mature on the date that is five years after the closing date of the Planned Acquisition. The Term Loan will not amortize and both the Term Loan and Revolving Credit Facility will accrue interest at a rate equal to the LIBOR for dollars, subject to a floor of 1.00% per annum, (the “Adjusted LIBOR”), plus 7.50% or the Alternate Base Rate, (the “ABR”), as determined by the highest of (i) the prime commercial lending rate published by the Wall Street Journal as the “prime rate”, (ii) the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus 0.50%, and (iii) the one-month Adjusted LIBOR plus 1.00% per annum subject to a floor of 2.00% plus 6.50%. Interest is payable in cash on a quarterly basis. In connection with the debt financing, the Company will issue to the debtholder a Series G Preferred Stock Warrant for the purchase of up to 598,431 shares of Series G Convertible Preferred Stock if exercised prior to an IPO, or 598,431 shares of Class A common stock if exercised after an IPO, subject to adjustments at a price per share of $13.827822. The Series G Preferred Stock Warrant will be issued upon the closing of the Planned Acquisition and will expire 10 years from the issue date.

9. Convertible Preferred Stock

Authorized shares of Convertible Preferred Stock below do not include 691,666 of Founders Convertible Preferred Stock. The preferred stock authorized may be issued from time to time in one or more series.

The designated series are as follows:

 

     December 31, 2020  
     Shares
Authorized
     Shares Issued
and
Outstanding
     Net Carrying
Value (in
thousands)
     Aggregate
Liquidation
Preference (in
thousands)
 

Series A

     15,483,330        15,483,318      $ 6,081    $ 6,107

Series B

     12,180,448        12,180,443        10,642      10,975

Series B-1

     8,382,809        8,382,807        9,927      10,000

Series C

     15,583,719        15,583,713        37,923      38,000

Series D

     33,334,113        31,643,142        111,302      112,732

Series D-1

     4,317,726        548,032        2,158      2,158

Series E

     27,624,259        27,624,249        130,945      131,311

Series F

     10,190,666        9,906,980        76,247      76,558
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     127,097,070        121,352,684      $ 385,225    $ 387,841
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

     March 31, 2021  
     Shares
Authorized
     Shares Issued
and
Outstanding
     Net Carrying
Value (in
thousands)
     Aggregate
Liquidation
Preference (in
thousands)
 

Series A

     15,483,330        15,483,316      $ 6,081    $ 6,107

Series B

     12,180,448        12,180,443        10,642      10,975

Series B-1

     8,382,809        8,382,807        9,927      10,000

Series C

     15,583,719        15,583,713        37,923      38,000

Series D

     33,334,113        32,064,181        112,802      114,232

Series D-1

     4,317,726        2,202,310        8,672      8,671

Series E

     27,624,259        27,624,249        130,945      131,311

Series F

     9,906,985        9,906,980        76,247      76,558

Series G

     22,752,911        22,752,903        309,701      314,623
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     149,566,300        146,180,902      $ 702,940    $ 710,477
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

In the first quarter of 2021, the Company issued an aggregate of 22,418,562 shares of Series G Convertible Preferred Stock at a price of $13.827822 per share for total proceeds of approximately $309.7 million, net of issuance costs. Each share is convertible into fully paid shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis. In addition, the Company’s board of directors approved a secondary sale of an aggregate of 334,341 shares of the Company’s Founders Convertible Preferred Stock at a price per share of $13.827822 to the new Series G investors, and upon the effectiveness of the sale, the shares sold were exchanged with the Company for an equal number of shares of Series G Convertible Preferred Stock. There were no proceeds to the Company in connection with the secondary sale of Founders Preferred Stock and related exchange into Series G Convertible Preferred Stock. The difference between the fair value of the Founders Convertible Preferred Stock prior to the exchange and the consideration received by the sellers has been recognized as incremental stock-based compensation expense of $1.2 million.

The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of the Founders Convertible Preferred Stock (Founders Preferred), Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (Series A), the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (Series B), Series B-1 Convertible Preferred Stock (Series B-1), Series C Convertible Preferred Stock (Series C), Series D Convertible Preferred Stock (Series D), Series D-1 Convertible Preferred Stock (Series D-1), Series E Convertible Preferred Stock (Series E), Series F Convertible Preferred Stock (Series F), and Series G Convertible Preferred Stock (Series G) are as follows:

Voting

All preferred shareholders of Series A, Series B, Series B-1, Series C, Series D, Series D-1, Series E, Series F, Series G, and Founders Preferred (collectively, “Preferred Stock”) have the right to the number of votes into which such Preferred Stock could then be converted into shares of Class A common stock. Shares of Class A common stock have ten times the voting power of shares of Class B common stock. Holders of Class B common stock have the right to one vote per share of Class B common stock held.

Dividends

The holders of Series A, Series B, Series B-1, Series C, Series D, Series D-1, Series E, Series F, Series G (collectively, “Senior Preferred”), and Founders Preferred shall be entitled to receive, on an

 

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Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

equal priority and pari passu basis, a 6% noncumulative dividend, when and if declared by the Company’s board of directors. No dividends shall be paid on the common stock unless the Company shall also declare and pay a dividend to the holders of the Senior Preferred in priority to any dividend declared and paid to the holders of common stock.

The Company has never declared or paid any cash dividends and does not presently plan to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future.

Liquidation Preference

In the event of any liquidation including deemed liquidation events, dissolution, winding up of the Company, either voluntary or involuntary, the holders of Senior Preferred shall be entitled to receive, prior and in preference to any distribution of any of the assets of the Company and proceeds of the liquidation transaction to the holders of common stock and Founders Preferred, by reason of their ownership thereof, an amount per share equal to the sum of the applicable original issue price for such series of Senior Preferred, plus declared but unpaid dividends on such share. The Senior Preferred shall be entitled to be paid out their liquidation preference on an equal priority and pari passu basis.

If, upon the occurrence of such event, the assets distributed among the holders of Senior Preferred are insufficient to permit the payment to such holders of the full aforesaid preferential amounts, then the entire assets of the Company and proceeds from the liquidation transaction legally available for distribution are distributed ratably among the holders of Senior Preferred in proportion to the full preferential amount each such holder is otherwise entitled to receive. All deemed liquidation events that may result in the preferred stock being redeemed for cash are subject to vote or approval by the board of directors which is controlled by the common stockholders.

Conversion

Each share of Preferred Stock is convertible at the option of the holder, into fully paid shares of Class A common stock determined by dividing the original issue price for such series by the conversion price applicable to such series, subject to certain anti-dilution adjustments. The initial conversion price shall be $0.30 per share for the Founders Preferred, $0.394392 per share for the Series A, $0.901041 per share for the Series B, $1.192917 per share for the Series B-1, $2.438442 per share for the Series C, $3.562605 per share for the Series D, $3.937257 for the Series D-1, $4.753482 for the Series E, $7.277718 for the Series F, and $13.827822 for the Series G. Each share of Preferred Stock is convertible into Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis.

Each share of Preferred Stock shall automatically be converted into shares of Class A common stock at the conversion rate then in effect for such series of Preferred Stock immediately upon the earlier of (i) the Company’s sale of its common stock in a public offering pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) which results in a price per share of not less than $13.827822 and aggregate cash proceeds to the Company of not less than $50.0 million (net of underwriting discounts and commissions) (a “Qualified IPO”), (ii) by means of an effective registration statement under the Exchange Act without a related underwritten offering (a “Direct Listing”), (iii) a merger, consolidation, or share exchange or similar transaction with a publicly-traded “special purpose acquisition company” (“SPAC”), or (iv) the date specified by vote or written consent of the holders of a majority of the then outstanding shares of Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class and not as separate series on an as converted to common stock basis.

 

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Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

10. Warrants

Convertible Preferred Stock Warrants

In March 2018, the Company issued five performance-based warrant awards to purchase up to 2,111,997 shares of Series D and 4,317,725 shares of Series D-1 to the same investor. These awards vest upon satisfaction of certain customer referrals and referred revenue targets. During the three months ended March 31, 2020, no warrants were exercised. During the three months ended March 31, 2021, the investor exercised 421,039 shares of Series D warrants and 1,654,276 shares of Series D-1 warrants for total proceeds of $8.0 million.

In March 2021, the Company’s board of directors approved an amendment to one of the Company’s outstanding performance-based preferred stock warrants to purchase up to 1,269,919 shares of Series D-1 with an exercise price of $3.937257 per share in which the performance period and expiration date were extended from March 2021 to September 2021. As of the modification date, there were no warrants vested and exercisable, and the modification did not result in incremental expense as the Company determined that the performance criteria was not probable of being achieved. The remaining performance-based warrant awards expired in March 2021.

11. Common Stock

As of March 31, 2021, the Company had authorized 198,765,859 and 286,666,667 shares of par value $0.00001 Class A common stock and Class B common stock, respectively; and 15,038,726 shares of Class A common stock and 37,682,443 shares of Class B common stock were issued and outstanding, respectively. Common stockholders are entitled to dividends if and when declared by the Company’s board of directors. The Company has never declared or paid any cash dividends and does not presently plan to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future.

12. Stock Option Plan

Stock Option Plan

Effective May 1, 2012, the Company adopted the 2012 Stock Plan (the “2012 Plan”). As of March 31, 2021, the Company’s board of directors had authorized 62,749,654 shares of Class B common stock to be reserved for grants under the 2012 Plan. As of March 31, 2021, 1,675,989 stock options to purchase shares of Class B common stock were available for issuance under the 2012 Plan. Options granted under the 2012 Plan may be either incentive stock options or nonqualified stock options. Incentive stock options (“ISOs”) may be granted only to employees (including officers and directors). Non-qualified stock options (“NSOs”) may be granted to employees and consultants. The exercise price of ISOs and NSOs shall not be less than 100% of the estimated fair value of the common shares on the date of grant, respectively, as determined by the Company’s board of directors. The exercise price of an ISO granted to a 10% or greater stockholder shall not be less than 110% of the estimated fair value of the common shares on the date of grant. Options generally vest over a period of four years.

 

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Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

A summary of the activity under the 2012 Plan is set forth as follows:

 

     Number of
options
     Weighted
average
exercise
price
     Weighted
average
remaining
contractual
life (years)
     Aggregate
intrinsic
value (in
thousands)
 

Balance as of December 31, 2020

     33,749,985      $ 1.74      7.95      $ 175,444

Granted

     6,183,127      $ 8.58      

Exercised

     (4,773,729    $ 1.20      

Cancelled and forfeited

     (442,779    $ 2.22      
  

 

 

          

Balance as of March 31, 2021

     34,716,604      $ 3.03      8.33      $ 381,624
  

 

 

          

Vested and exercisable as of March 31, 2021

     11,465,611      $ 1.29      7.10      $ 145,872

The weighted average grant-date fair value of options granted during the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021 was $1.08 and $7.20 per share, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021 was $7.1 million and $61.1 million, respectively.

Non-Plan Executive Grant

In March 2021, the Company’s board of directors granted to its Founder and Head of Blend a stand-alone stock option issued outside of the 2012 Plan covering a maximum of 26,057,181 shares of Class B common stock with an exercise price of $8.58 per share. The stock option grant has a 15-year term, subject to earlier termination when shares subject to the award are no longer eligible to vest, and vests upon the satisfaction of a service condition, liquidity event-related performance condition, and performance-based market conditions. If an IPO is completed within 15 months of the date of grant, 1,954,289 shares will vest. If an IPO is not achieved, or if the Company completes certain equity or debt financing events prior to an IPO, or if there is a change in control (as defined in the stock option agreement) prior to an IPO, no shares subject to the stock option will vest, and the stand-alone stock option will immediately terminate for no consideration. The remaining tranches of shares will vest dependent on performance goals tied to the Company’s stock price and specified expiration dates for each tranche.

The first tranche of 1,954,289 shares was valued using the Black-Scholes-Merton Option pricing model. The estimated grant date fair value of the first tranche was $11.79 per share based on the following assumptions:

 

Fair value of common stock

   $ 17.73  

Expected term (years)

     7.69  

Expected volatility

     40.00

Risk-free interest rate

     2.03

Expected dividend yield

     —    

 

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Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

The remaining tranches were valued using a Monte Carlo simulation model to determine the grant date fair value for each tranche. The weighted average estimated grant date fair value of the remaining tranches was $3.96 per share based on the following assumptions:

 

Fair value of common stock

   $ 17.73  

Contractual term (years)

     15.00  

Expected volatility

     40.00

Risk-free interest rate

     2.03

Expected dividend yield

     —    

As of March 31, 2021, no compensation expense was recorded because the satisfaction of the IPO performance condition was not yet probable. If the IPO had occurred on March 31, 2021, the Company would have recognized $23.0 million in stock-based compensation expense related to the first tranche. The total unrecognized compensation expense related to the non-plan executive grant for all tranches was $87.6 million as of March 31, 2021 and will be recognized over a weighted average remaining period of 3.1 years.

Early Exercise of Common Stock Options

The Company’s board of directors has authorized certain stock option holders to exercise unvested options to purchase shares of Class B common stock. Shares received from such early exercises are subject to repurchase in the event of the optionee’s termination of service as a service provider (as defined in the 2012 Plan), at the original issuance price, until the options are fully vested. As of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021, 162,317 and 747,786 shares of Class B common stock were subject to repurchase, respectively. As of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021, the cash proceeds received for unvested shares of Class B common stock recorded within Other long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets were $0.3 million and $1.7 million, respectively.

Stock-Based Compensation

The estimated grant date fair values of the employee stock options granted during the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021 under the 2012 Plan were calculated using the Black-Scholes-Merton Option pricing model, based on the following weighted average assumptions:

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
         2020             2021      

Expected term (years)

     5.90       6.07  

Expected volatility

     39.06     32.86

Risk-free interest rate

     0.79     1.13

Expected dividend yield

     —         —    

Risk-Free Interest Rate. The risk-free interest rate is based on U.S. treasury zero-coupon issues with remaining terms similar to the expected term of the options at date of grant.

Expected Term. The expected term represents the period that the Company’s share-based awards are expected to be outstanding. The expected term assumptions were determined based on the vesting terms, exercise terms, and contractual lives of the options.

Expected Dividend Yield. The Company has never declared or paid any cash dividends and does not plan to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future, and, therefore, used an expected dividend yield of zero in the valuation model.

 

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Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

Expected Volatility. Expected volatility of the stock is based on the Company’s public company peer group after consideration of their size, maturity, profitability, growth, risk, and return on investment as the Company’s stock is not publicly traded. The stock volatility assumptions represent an average of the historical volatilities of the common stock of the Company’s peer group.

Fair Value. The Company’s board of directors and in part based upon a valuation provided by a third-party valuation firm, determined the fair value of the Company’s common stock in connection with the grant of stock options and stock awards. Due to there being no public market for the Company’s common stock, its board of directors considered the third-party valuation and other factors, including but not limited to, secondary sales of the Company’s common stock, revenue growth, the current status of its operations, its financial condition, its stage of development, and its competition to establish the fair market value of the Company’s common stock at the time of grant of the stock option or stock award.

The Company recorded total stock-based compensation expense as follows (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
         2020              2021      

Cost of revenue

   $ 19    $ 58

Research and development

     757      1,386

Sales and marketing

     1,791      1,373

General and administrative

     672      1,199
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 3,239    $ 4,016
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Included in stock-based compensation expense are amounts related to the sale of employee stock on the secondary market to existing investors at a price above fair market value at the time of the sale. Stock-based compensation related to the secondary sales, which represents the amount paid to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock in excess of fair value, was approximately $1.9 million, of which $0.1 million was included in research and development, $1.0 million in sales and marketing, and $0.8 million in general and administrative in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss for the three months ended March 31, 2020. Stock-based compensation related to secondary sales during the three months ended March 31, 2021 was immaterial.

In January 2021, the Company’s board of directors approved a third-party tender offer, which allowed for eligible option holders and stockholders to sell shares of capital stock to the Series G investors. The third-party tender offer was completed in March 2021, in which an aggregate of 442,469 shares of common stock and Convertible Preferred Stock were purchased from participating stockholders and option holders. There was no stock-based compensation recognized related to such third-party tender offer as the purchase price was lower than the fair value.

As of March 31, 2021, the total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense under the 2012 Plan was approximately $64.9 million. This is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 3.53 years. The total fair value of shares vested during the three months ended March 31, 2021 was $2.0 million.

In November 2018, an executive was issued a partial-recourse promissory note (the “Employee Note”) in the amount of $2.7 million in order to exercise a stock-based compensation award for 4,000,000 shares subject to vesting conditions. The Employee Note has a maturity date of November 19, 2025

 

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Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

and an interest rate of 3.04% per annum. The employee has the right to prepay the Employee Note at any time, without penalty. The Company recorded $2.7 million as contra-equity in 2018. There were 133,333 shares of common stock remaining that were subject to vesting conditions as of March 31, 2021.

13. Income Taxes

The Company’s provision for income taxes was $7 thousand and $10 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively, which consists primarily of U.S. state income taxes. For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2021, the Company maintained a full valuation allowance on its net deferred tax assets as it was more likely than not that those deferred tax assets would not be realized. As of March 31, 2021, the Company files tax returns in the U.S. federal and various state jurisdictions. Due to the Company’s U.S. net operating loss carryforwards, its income tax returns generally remain subject to examination by federal and most state tax authorities.

14. Net Loss Per Share

The Company computes net loss per share using the two-class method required for multiple classes of common stock. The Company has two classes of authorized common stock for which voting rights differ by class.

Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss attributable to each class of stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of stock outstanding during the period, adjusted for options early exercised subject to repurchase.

For the calculation of diluted net loss per share, net loss per share attributable to common stockholders for basic net loss per share is adjusted by the effect of dilutive securities, including awards under the Company’s equity compensation plans. Diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders is computed by dividing the resulting net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of fully diluted common shares outstanding. For the periods presented, potentially dilutive shares relating to stock options, convertible preferred stock, preferred and common stock warrants, and options early exercised subject to repurchase were not included in the computation of diluted net loss per share as the effect of including these shares in the calculation would have been antidilutive.

 

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Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

The following table presents the calculation of basic and diluted net loss per share (in thousands, except per share data):

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2020      2021  
     Class A
Common
     Class B
Common
     Class A
Common
     Class B
Common
 

Numerator:

           

Net loss

   $ (8,003    $ (14,848    $ (9,028    $ (18,039
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to common stockholders

   $ (8,003    $ (14,848    $ (9,028    $ (18,039
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Denominator:

           

Basic shares:

           

Weighted average common shares—Basic

     12,899        23,929        15,039        30,051  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted shares:

           

Weighted average common shares—Diluted

     12,899        23,929      15,039        30,051
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders:

           

Basic

   $ (0.62    $ (0.62    $ (0.60    $ (0.60
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted

   $ (0.62    $ (0.62    $ (0.60    $ (0.60
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to the Company’s common stockholders (in thousands, except per share data):

 

     Three Months Ended March 31  
           2020                  2021        

Net loss attributable to common stockholders

   $ (22,851    $ (27,067

Weighted average shares used in computing net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted

     36,828        45,090  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted

   $ (0.62    $ (0.60
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

As the Company has reported net loss for each of the periods presented, all potentially dilutive securities are antidilutive. The following potential outstanding shares of common stock were excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders for the periods presented because including them would have been antidilutive:

 

     March 31,  
     2020      2021  

Outstanding stock options

     34,181,832        34,716,604  

Early exercised options subject to repurchase

     106,758        747,786  

Options exercised via promissory note

     4,000,000      4,000,000

Non-plan executive option grant

     —          26,057,181  

Common stock warrants

     2,806,933        —    

Convertible preferred stock warrants

     6,008,683        1,269,919  

Founders preferred stock

     1,026,007        691,666  

Convertible preferred stock

     110,897,672        146,180,902  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total anti-dilutive securities

     159,027,885        213,664,058  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

15. Subsequent Events

The Company evaluated its March 31, 2021 unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for subsequent events through May 28, 2021, the date the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements were originally issued.

On May 28, 2021, the Company’s board of directors approved an increase in the number of shares of the Company’s Class B common stock available for issuance under the 2012 Plan by 6,766,667 shares from 62,749,654 to 69,516,321 shares.

Subsequent to March 31, 2021, and through May 28, 2021, the Company’s board of directors granted stock options to purchase 3,964,821 shares of Class B common stock to employees and directors, with a weighted average exercise price of $14.01 per share, that are subject to service-based vesting conditions. The grants had an aggregate grant date fair value of $22.2 million, which is expected to be recognized as stock-based compensation expense over approximately 4 years.

After the original issuance of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and through July 6, 2021, the Company has evaluated subsequent events or transactions that have occurred that may require disclosure in the accompanying financial statements. Except as described below, the Company has concluded that no events or transactions have occurred that may require disclosure in the accompanying financial statements.

Subsequent to May 28, 2021, and through July 6, 2021, the Company’s board of directors granted stock options to purchase 400,472 shares of Class B common stock to employees and directors with a weighted average exercise price of $14.01 per share that are subject to service-based vesting conditions. The grants had an aggregate grant date fair value of $2.2 million, which is expected to be recognized as stock-based compensation expense over approximately 4 years.

On June 17, 2021, the Employee Note (see Note 12) was repaid in full, inclusive of the principal amount and accrued interest of approximately $3.0 million.

 

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Table of Contents

Blend Labs, Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

On June 30, 2021, the Company’s board of directors approved a modification to the Founder and Head of Blend Long-Term Performance Award (see Note 12) related to market-based performance targets that impact the Company Stock Price Hurdles. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of modification on the fair value of the award.

On June 30, 2021, the Company completed its acquisition of 90.1% ownership of Title365. In connection with the closing of the acquisition, the Company entered into a credit agreement, which provides for $225.0 million of senior secured term loan and a $25.0 million senior secured revolving loan facility. The revolving facility has a $10.0 million letter of credit sublimit. The revolving facility also includes a $5.0 million swingline sub-facility. On July 2, 2021, in connection with the credit agreement, the Company issued the Series G Preferred Stock Warrant to purchase 598,431 shares of Series G Convertible Preferred Stock at an exercise price per share of $13.827822 (see Note 8).

In connection with the issuance of the Series G Preferred Stock Warrant, the Company’s board of directors and stockholders approved an increase in the number of authorized shares of the Company’s Series G Convertible Preferred Stock.

On June 29, 2021, the Company’s board of directors approved a three-for-one reverse stock split of its capital stock, which the Company’s stockholders subsequently approved on July 2, 2021 and which became effective on July 2, 2021. The authorized number of shares of each class and series of the Company’s capital stock was proportionally decreased in accordance with the three-for-one reverse stock split and the par value of each class of capital stock was not adjusted as a result of the reverse stock split. All common stock, convertible preferred stock, stock options, warrants, and per share information presented within these unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been adjusted to reflect this reverse stock split on a retroactive basis for all periods presented.

 

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LOGO

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders,

Mr. Cooper Group Inc.:

We have audited the accompanying carve-out financial statements of Title Carve Out (a carve-out of certain operations of Mr. Cooper Group Inc.), which comprise the balance sheets as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the related statements of operations, changes in invested equity and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes to the financial statements.

Management’s Responsibility for the Financial Statements

Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these carve-out financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America; this includes the design, implementation and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

Auditor’s Responsibility

Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement.

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements.

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.

Opinion

In our opinion, the carve-out financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Title Carve Out (a carve-out of certain operations of Mr. Cooper Group Inc.) as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

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Table of Contents

Emphasis of Matter

We draw attention to Note 1 of the carve-out financial statements, which describes the basis of presentation. The carve-out financial statements reflect the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses directly attributable to Title Carve Out (a carve-out of certain operations of Mr. Cooper Group Inc.), as well as allocations deemed reasonable by management. Our opinion is not modified with respect to this matter.

/s/ WithumSmith+Brown, PC

March 22, 2021

 

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Table of Contents

Title Carve Out

(a Carve-Out of Certain Operations of Mr. Cooper Group Inc.)

Balance Sheets

December 31, 2020 and 2019

 

     2020      2019  

Assets

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 1,622,325      $ 2,432,049  

Accounts receivable—net

     28,841,731        13,684,515  

Prepaid expenses

     356,673        322,635  

Property and equipment—net

     6,594,968        4,984,778  

Restricted cash

     329,672        329,672  

Intangible assets - net

     1,343,333        —    

Deposits and other assets

     37,788        97,263  

Deferred income taxes

     1,211,390        53,301  

Due from affiliates

     3,541,790        8,131,205  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 43,879,670      $ 30,035,418  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities

     

Accounts payable

   $ 881,681      $ 355,307  

Accrued salaries and commissions

     5,513,642        2,803,905  

Title fees payable

     861,500        1,012,063  

Allowance for title and escrow losses

     1,104,005        1,303,220  

Operating lease liabilities

     3,010,044        2,588,234  

Other liabilities

     8,062,957        3,872,814  

Due to affiliates

     116,447        —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     19,550,276        11,935,543  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Invested equity

     

Invested equity

     24,329,394        18,099,875  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total invested equity

     24,329,394        18,099,875  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities and invested equity

   $ 43,879,670      $ 30,035,418  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

See accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements.

 

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Table of Contents

Title Carve Out

(a Carve-Out of Certain Operations of Mr. Cooper Group Inc.)

Statements of Operations

Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019

 

     2020     2019  

Revenues

    

Gross title premiums

   $ 98,769,605     $ 48,364,869  

Escrow and sub escrow fees

     75,630,568       32,909,718  

Other service income

     37,697,850       24,074,972  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

     212,098,023       105,349,559  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating expenses

    

Salaries, benefits and other compensation

     47,726,995       35,188,809  

General and administrative

     118,417,343       60,172,900  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     166,144,338       95,361,709  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net operating income

     45,953,685       9,987,850  

Other income

    

(Loss) gain on disposal of property and equipment

     (126,998     1,470  

Interest income

     1,524       3,713  

Other income

     547,481       492,067  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other income

     422,007       497,250  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     46,375,692       10,485,100  

Provision for income taxes

     10,331,741       2,094,274  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 36,043,951     $ 8,390,826  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements.

 

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Table of Contents

Title Carve Out

(a Carve-Out of Certain Operations of Mr. Cooper Group Inc.)

Statements of Changes in Invested Equity

Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019

 

     Invested Equity  

Balance at December 31, 2018

   $ 9,709,049  

Net income

     8,390,826  
  

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2019

     18,099,875  

Cumulative effect adjustments pursuant to the adoption of ASU 2016-13

     1,272,138  

Net transfers to parent

     (31,086,570

Net income

     36,043,951  
  

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2020

   $ 24,329,394  
  

 

 

 

See accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements.

 

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Table of Contents

Title Carve Out

(a Carve-Out of Certain Operations of Mr. Cooper Group Inc.)

Statements of Cash Flows

Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019

 

     2020      2019  

Operating activities

     

Net income

     $36,043,951        $8,390,826  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash attributable to operating activities

     

Depreciation and amortization

     1,560,090        494,246  

Net change in allowance for doubtful accounts

     134,181        (488,789)  

Loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment

     126,998        (1,470)  

Deferred income taxes

     (1,531,935)        (207,768)  

Changes in assets and liabilities:

     

Accounts receivable

     (13,802,846)        (5,854,089)  

Deposits and other assets

     59,475        41,689  

Due from affiliates

     7,583,497        (5,452,748)  

Accounts payable

     526,374        (122,421)  

Accrued salaries and commissions

     2,709,737        1,069,795  

Title fees payable

     (150,563)        814,764  

Allowance for title and escrow losses

     (199,215)        604,698  

Other items, net

     4,267,236        (128,032)  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net cash attributable to operating activities

     37,326,980        (839,299)  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Investing activities

     

Acquisition of property and equipment

     (2,092,753)        (1,453,370)  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net cash attributable to investing activities

     (2,092,753)        (1,453,370)  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Financing activities

     

Net transfers to parent

     (36,043,951)        —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net cash attributable to financing activities

     (36,043,951)        —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (809,724)        (2,292,669)  

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period

     2,761,721        5,054,390  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period(1)

     $1,951,997        $2,761,721  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information

     

 

(1)

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash to the amount reported within the Balance Sheets.

 

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 1,622,325      $ 2,432,049  

Restricted cash

     329,672        329,672  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

   $ 1,951,997      $ 2,761,721  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Continued on following page. See accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements.

 

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Table of Contents

Title Carve Out

(a Carve-Out of Certain Operations of Mr. Cooper Group Inc.)

Statements of Cash Flows (Continued)

Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019

Supplemental disclosure of non- cash investing and financing activities:

During the year ended December 31, 2020, Title365 Holding Co., entered into a purchase agreement with American Title, Inc., where Title365 Holding Co. purchased at carrying value certain assets including intangible assets—net for $1.9 million and property and equipment—net for $0.2 million. Additionally, the Company received a non-cash contribution from its parent of $5.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2020 as part of settling the affiliated transactions.

See accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements.

 

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Table of Contents

Title Carve Out

(a Carve-Out of Certain Operations of Mr. Cooper Group Inc.)

Notes to the Financial Statements

December 31, 2020 and 2019

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Nature of Operations

The accompanying financial statements and footnotes represent the operations of Title Carve Out (the “Company”), which is composed of two legal entities, Title365 Holding Co. and T365 Company LLC.

Title365 Holding Co. (“HoldCo”) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Xome Holdings LLC (“the Parent”). HoldCo is an underwritten title company engaged in the business of selling title insurance policies and escrow services throughout the United States. HoldCo was licensed in thirty-eight states as of December 31, 2020.

T365 Company LLC (“T365”) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationstar Mortgage Holdings Inc. (“Nationstar”). T365 is an underwritten title company engaged in the business of selling title insurance policies and escrow services in the state of Ohio. T365 was formed on December 10, 2019, and will continue until terminated in accordance with the operating agreement.

During the year ended December 31, 2015, HoldCo was involved in a stock purchase agreement in which 100% of HoldCo’s stock was sold to Nationstar. On July 31, 2018, Nationstar merged with WMIH Corp. (“WMIH”). On October 10, 2018, WMIH changed its name to Mr. Cooper Group Inc.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying carve-out financial statements represent Title Carve Out as though the Company was operating as a separate, stand-alone business since December 31, 2018. Title Carve Out is a carve-out of certain operations of Xome Holdings LLC (“Seller”) and T365 Company LLC, both of which are subsidiaries of Mr. Cooper Group Inc. (“Seller Parent”). As of December 31, 2020, the Company was not a separate legal entity and accordingly, the financial statements have been prepared on a “carve-out” basis for purposes of complying with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-X.

The accompanying carve-out balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the related carve-out statements of operations, changes in invested equity and cash flows for the two years then ended have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) using historical results of operations and historical bases of assets and liabilities of the Company, as well as using allocations and estimates where data was not maintained on a specific basis within the books and records. For purposes of presenting the carve-out financial statements, allocations were required to determine the cost of general and administrative activities performed by the Company. Affiliates are defined herein as subsidiaries owned directly or indirectly by Mr. Cooper Group Inc., including the Seller (“Affiliates”).

Management believes the assumptions underlying the carve-out financial statements are reasonable, including the allocations described below under the caption Allocations from the Seller Parent and Affiliates. However, the carve-out financial statements included herein may not necessarily represent what Title Carve Out’s results of operations, financial position and cash flows would have been had it been a stand-alone entity during the years presented, or what Title Carve Out’s results of operations, financial position and cash flows may be in the future.

 

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Table of Contents

Title Carve Out

(a Carve-Out of Certain Operations of Mr. Cooper Group Inc.)

Notes to the Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2020 and 2019

 

As these carve-out financial statements represent a business of the Seller Parent that is not a separate legal entity, the net assets of Title Carve Out have been presented herein as invested equity. Invested equity is composed primarily of: (i) the initial investment to acquire and establish the net assets of Title Carve Out (and any subsequent adjustments thereto); (ii) the accumulated net income; (iii) net transfers to or from Affiliates related to cash management functions performed by Affiliates, such as the collection of trade receivables and the payment of trade payables and wages and salaries, in the form of capital contributions or dividend payments; (iv) certain corporate cost allocations; and (v) changes in certain income tax liabilities and assets. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Cash Management and Funding

The Seller Parent performs substantially all cash management and treasury functions for the Company. None of the Seller Parent’s cash and cash equivalents has been allocated to the Company in the carve-out financial statements. Substantially all of the Company’s operations are funded directly by the Seller Parent, including, but not limited to, operating expenses and capital expenditures.

Allocations from the Seller Parent and Affiliates

In addition to the carve-out of the operations and the net assets of Title Carve Out, certain general corporate expenses and shared services have been allocated to the Company, which consist of costs incurred related to: (i) facilities and acquisitions; (ii) information systems and technology; (iii) accounting and finance; (iv) and legal, risk and compliance. The allocated expenses are mainly composed of salaries, including variable compensation and other direct costs of the various functions. Allocations to the Company were based primarily on the Company headcount using shared expenses incurred by the Seller, Seller Parent and Affiliates on behalf of the Company, adjusted where a more specific allocation was deemed more appropriate.

The total operating expense allocations by major category for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, from the Seller Parent and Affiliates are as follows:

 

     2020      2019  

Facilities and acquisitions

   $ 3,737,840      $ 483,292  

Information systems and technology

     3,235,231        1,541,578  

Accounting and finance

     2,458,687        2,196,642  

Legal, risk and compliance

     762,614        620,978  

Other

     157,314        1,937,469  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 10,351,686      $ 6,779,959  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The expenses allocated are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that would have been incurred had Title Carve Out performed these functions as a stand-alone entity, nor are they indicative of expenses that will be charged or incurred in the future. It is not practical to estimate the amount of expenses and gains and losses that Title Carve Out would have incurred for the years presented had it not been an affiliated entity of the Seller Parent in each of those years.

Invested Equity

The Company is an operating division of the Seller Parent and not a legal entity and, as such, there is no separately reportable additional paid-in capital or retained earnings. During 2020, net transfers to

 

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Notes to the Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2020 and 2019

 

the Seller Parent and Affiliates amounted to $31,086,570. This transfer represents the net effect of swept cash flows, allocated costs from the Affiliates and income taxes.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates include the collectability of accounts receivable, the carrying value of long-lived assets, reserves for title and escrow losses, and the recognition of certain accruals. Actual results may differ from those estimates, and they may be adjusted as more information becomes available.

Concentrations of Credit Risks and Uncertainties

The Company provides services to clients throughout the United States. The Company’s revenues are not materially dependent on a single client or small group of clients.

The Company currently maintains substantially all of its day-to-day operating cash with major financial institutions. At times, cash balances may be in excess of the amounts insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Cash balances were in excess of such insured amounts as of December 31, 2020 and 2019. The Company has not experienced any losses in these accounts, as appropriate, and does not believe it is exposed to any significant credit risk on cash.

The Company sells underwritten title policies to buyers of and owners refinancing real estate (the “Customers”), in addition to providing escrow and other related services. Generally, lenders require title policies to be purchased and paid for by the Customers. During the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company’s title policy fees were earned on title insurance policies that were underwritten primarily by Westcor Land Title Insurance Company. Approximately 64% and 85% of title policy fees earned were underwritten by Westcor Land Title Insurance Company during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

The Company extends unsecured credit to some of its customers for the title policy premiums, sub-escrow charges and fees for other related services for a limited period of time after the recording of the deed. As of December 31, 2020, there were no significant concentrations of the Company’s outstanding accounts receivable.

Substantially all of the Company’s revenues are derived from fees related to real estate activity. Real estate activity is cyclical and is affected greatly by the cost and availability of long-term mortgage funds. Real estate activity and the Company’s revenue can be adversely affected during periods of high interest rates and/or limited money supply. The reduction of real estate activity and fees generated from such activity could have a material adverse effect on the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include unrestricted cash on hand and other interest-bearing investments with original maturity dates of 90 days or less.

 

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Notes to the Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2020 and 2019

 

Restricted Cash

Certain funds are required by the California Insurance Code to be deposited by the Company. These funds are held as certificates of deposits in various financial institutions but are restricted from the Company’s general operational funds, as required by the Code.

Revenue Recognition

The Company derives its revenues primarily from title policy, escrow and other trustee services. Revenue is recognized when the performance obligation is completed. The Company’s contracts are initiated through purchase orders by its customers. Each contract contains one performance obligation to transfer a distinct good to the customer. Title policy revenue is recognized in the period the deed is recorded. The Company provides for estimated future losses on policies issued as a current charge against income. Escrow revenue and other trustee revenue are recognized when an escrow or other trust is closed.

In determining the appropriate amount of revenue to be recognized as the Company fulfills its obligations under its agreements, the following steps are performed: (i) identify contracts with customers; (ii) identify performance obligations; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the Company satisfies each performance obligation.

Title and Escrow Loss Reserve and Underwriting Fees Payable

The Company has agreements with insurance companies authorizing the Company to issue title insurance policies on behalf of the insurance companies. Generally, the agreements provide that the Company is to be charged underwriting fees based on a percentage of premiums earned on each policy and to bear up to $5,000 of any losses incurred in connection with each title policy issued. Accordingly, underwriting fees payable to the title insurance companies are accrued when title premium revenue is recognized by the Company and estimated future losses on title policies issued are recorded as a current charge against income based on historical experience. For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, title premium revenue and title premium expense was $98,769,605 and $48,364,869, respectively, and $14,226,248 and $7,253,921, respectively. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, title and escrow loss reserves were $1,104,005 and $1,303,220, respectively, and underwriting fees payable were $861,500 and $1,012,063, respectively.

Accounts Receivable

Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326), (“ASU 2016-13”) requires expected credit losses for financial instruments, including trade receivables, held at the reporting date to be measured based on historical experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts, which is referred to as the current expected credit loss (“CECL”) methodology. The update eliminates the initial recognition of credit losses on an incurred basis in current GAAP and instead reflects an entity’s current estimate of all expected credit losses over the life of the asset. Previously, when credit losses were measured under GAAP, an entity generally only considered past events and current conditions in measuring the incurred loss. The new standard will reflect management’s best estimate of all expected credit losses for the Company’s financial assets

 

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Notes to the Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2020 and 2019

 

that are recognized at amortized cost. The guidance was effective for the Company as of January 1, 2020.

For the Company’s receivables that are within the scope of ASU 2016-13, the reserve methodology was revised to consider CECL losses. The revised CECL methodology considers expected lifetime loss rates calculated from historical data using a weighted average life to determine the current expected credit loss required. Factors that influenced management’s current estimate of expected credit losses for certain trade receivables included the following: historical collection and loss rates, passage of time, weighted average life of receivables, and various qualitative factors including current economic conditions. The Company’s accounts receivable - net balance as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, was $28,841,731 and $13,684,515, respectively, which included allowance for doubtful accounts of $398,612 and $1,536,569 as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Company recorded transition adjustments aggregating to an increase of $1,272,138 to retained earnings and a reduction of $1,272,138 to the accounts receivable reserve as of January 1, 2020 for the cumulative effect of adopting ASU 2016-13.

Corporate Expense Allocations

Certain corporate costs, such as those related to data, accounting, and facilities and acquisitions, are allocated to subsidiaries using a pro-rata method based on headcount.

Advertising Expenses

Advertising and sales promotion costs are expensed as incurred. During the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, advertising expenses amounted to $25,363 and $88,962, respectively, and are reflected as a component of general and administrative expenses in the accompanying Statements of Operations.

Income Taxes

The Company is subject to the income tax laws of the U.S. and its states and municipalities. These tax laws are complex and subject to different interpretations by the taxpayer and the relevant governmental taxing authorities.

Deferred income taxes are determined using the balance sheet method. Deferred taxes are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the consolidated financial statements carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates that will apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized as income or expense in the period that includes the enactment date.

The Company is a member of a group that files a consolidated tax return. Income tax expense is allocated to the Company using the pro rata method. At December 31, 2020, the Company had income tax-related balances due to affiliates of $116,447. At December 31, 2019, the Company had income tax-related balances due to affiliates of $15,252,183 which were offset against due from affiliates.

 

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Notes to the Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2020 and 2019

 

The Company initially recognizes tax positions in the consolidated financial statements when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination by the tax authorities. Such tax positions are initially and subsequently measured as the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the tax authority, assuming the tax authority has full knowledge of the position and all relevant facts. In establishing a provision for income tax expense, the Company makes judgments and interpretations about the application of these inherently complex tax laws. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as a component of provisions for income taxes in accordance with ASC 740.

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets consist of customer relationships and technology. Those intangible assets are deemed to have finite useful lives and are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. Intangible assets are recorded at their estimated fair value at the date of acquisition.

Intangible assets with finite useful lives are tested for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that their carrying amount may not be recoverable by comparing the carrying value of the assets to the estimated future undiscounted cash flows to be generated by the asset. If an impairment is determined to exist for intangible assets, the carrying value of the asset is reduced to the estimated fair value.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation and amortization expenses are calculated using the straight-line method. The depreciation and amortization method is designed to amortize the cost of the assets over the estimated useful lives, in years, of the respective assets as follows:

 

Description

   Estimated Life
(Years)
 

Furniture and equipment

     3 to 5  

Computers and software

     3 to 5  

Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of 10 years or the term of the lease.

Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. Renewals and improvements of a major nature are capitalized. At the time of retirement or other disposition of property and equipment, the cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any resulting gains or losses are reflected in income.

The Company periodically reviews its property and equipment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of its property and equipment might not be recoverable under the recoverability test, whereby the expected future undiscounted cash flows from the assets are estimated and compared with the carrying amount of the assets. If the sum of the estimated undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the assets, an impairment loss is recorded to operating expenses, as needed. The impairment loss is measured by comparing the fair value of the assets with their carrying amounts. Fair value is determined based on discounted cash flow.

 

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Notes to the Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2020 and 2019

 

401(k) Plan

The employees of the Company are eligible to contribute to the Nationstar Mortgage 401(k) Retirement Plan. The participants may elect to contribute up to the maximum amount allowed determined by the IRS. Under the terms of the Plan agreement, the Company makes employer matching contributions to the Plan equal to 100% of each participant’s contribution up to 2% of the participant’s eligible compensation and 50% of each participant’s contribution greater than 2% and up to 4% of the participant’s eligible compensation. There were employer matching contributions of $1,143,058 and $795,183 made for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Escrow/Trust Funds

In connection with its escrow activities, the Company holds funds in trust for others totaling approximately $330,092,000 and $92,159,000 as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. These funds are not available for general corporate purposes and, accordingly, are not included in the accompanying Balance Sheets.

Leases

If the Company determines an arrangement contains a lease or lease components, the lease will be accounted for under Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 842 and classified as either a finance or operating lease. At the lease commencement date, the Company recognizes a leased right of use (“ROU”) asset and corresponding lease liability based on the present value of the lease payments over the lease term. Leased ROU assets are tested for impairment in accordance with ASC 360, Property, Plant, and Equipment.

ASC 842 provides for two policy elections. The first refers to leases with a term of 12 months or less and the second relates to separating lease components from nonlease components. The Company elected not to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities for leases with a term of 12 months or less and not to separate lease components from nonlease components.

Leases primarily consist of various office facilities. Operating leases in which the Company is the lessee are recorded as operating lease ROU assets and operating lease liabilities. Operating lease ROU assets are included in property and equipment on the Balance Sheets. Operating lease ROU assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset during the lease term, and operating lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. ROU assets and operating lease liabilities are recognized at lease commencement based on the present value of the remaining lease payments using a discount rate that represents the Company’s incremental borrowing rate at the lease commencement date, as most of the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate. ROU assets are further adjusted for lease incentives. Operating lease expense, which is comprised of amortization of the ROU asset and the implicit interest accreted on the operating lease liability, is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term and is recorded in general and administrative expenses in the Statements of Operations. See Note 7—Leases for additional information.

Subsequent Events

Mr. Cooper Group Inc. announced the signing of a definitive agreement to sell the Company, which operates under the brand name Title365, to Blend Labs, Inc. for $500 million, consisting of $450 million

 

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Notes to the Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2020 and 2019

 

in cash and a retained interest of 9.9%, subject to certain adjustments. The sale is expected to close in the second quarter of 2021, subject to customary conditions including regulatory approval.

There were no other material subsequent events that required recognition or additional disclosure in these financial statements through March 22, 2021, the date these financial statements were issued.

2. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment consists of the following at December 31, 2020 and 2019:

 

     2020      2019  

Furniture and equipment

   $ 747,718      $ 692,013  

Computers and software

     4,439,389        1,377,403  

Leasehold improvements

     341,036        394,371  

Work in progress

     —          958,597  

Operating lease right-of-use assets

     2,812,782        2,362,110  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     8,340,925        5,784,494  

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

     (1,745,957      (799,716
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Property and equipment—net

   $ 6,594,968      $ 4,984,778  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization expense related to property and equipment was $1,040,090 and $494,246 for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Intangible Assets

The following table presents the composition of intangible assets:

 

     Gross
Carrying
Amount
     Accumulated
Amortization
    Net
Carrying
Amount
     Average
Remaining
Life in
Years
 

Customer relationships

   $ 1,800,000      $ (870,000   $ 930,000        2.5  

Technology

     800,000        (386,667     413,333        2.5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

Total intangible assets

   $ 2,600,000      $ (1,256,667   $ 1,343,333        2.5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

The Company recognized $520,000 of amortization expense and had no impairment charges related to its intangible assets during the year ended December 31, 2020. The estimated future intangible asset amortization expense is $520,000 for both 2021 and 2022 and $303,333 for 2023.

 

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December 31, 2020 and 2019

 

3. OTHER LIABILITIES

Other liabilities consist of the following at December 31, 2020 and 2019:

 

     2020      2019  

Accounting and legal expenses

   $ 119,226      $ 98,912  

Deferred rent

     79,508        197,940  

Service fees

     3,883,169        3,024,844  

Outstanding checks and other accruals

     3,981,054        551,118  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other liabilities

   $ 8,062,957      $ 3,872,814  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

4. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Companies affiliated with the Company by virtue of common ownership have paid for certain operational expenses on behalf of the Company. The Company has also paid for certain operational expenses on behalf of affiliates. Amounts due from affiliates totaled $3,541,790 and $8,131,205 at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and amounts due to affiliates totaled $116,447 at December 31, 2020. HoldCo transferred to its parent $36,043,951 and received a non-cash contribution of $4,957,381 for the year ended December 31, 2020, as part of settling the affiliated transactions. The remaining amounts are expected to be collected in the ordinary course of business.

5. INCOME TAXES

The income tax provision consists of the following for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019:

 

     2020      2019  

Current

   $ 10,179,521      $ 1,860,672  

Federal

     1,684,155        441,370  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

State

     11,863,676        2,302,042  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred

     (1,550,752      232,807  

Federal

     18,817        (440,575
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

State

     (1,531,935      (207,768
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Provision for income taxes

   $ 10,331,741      $ 2,094,274  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

At December 31, 2020, the Company’s effective tax rate differed from the statutory tax rate primarily due to state tax adjustments and prior period adjustments resulting from the remeasurement of deferred income taxes. At December 31, 2019 the Company’s effective tax rate differed from the statutory rate primarily due to the remeasurement of deferred income taxes resulting from tax return to provision true up adjustments.

Deferred income taxes arise as a result of differences in the methods used to determine net income for financial reporting versus income tax reporting purposes. The Company regularly reviews the carrying amount of its deferred tax assets to determine if the establishment of a valuation allowance is necessary. If based on the available evidence, it is more likely than not all or a portion of the Company’s deferred tax assets will not be realized in future periods, a deferred tax valuation allowance

 

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Notes to the Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2020 and 2019

 

is established. During the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the valuation allowance on deferred tax assets was $1,979,997 and $1,614,684, respectively.

The following are the components of the deferred tax assets (liabilities) as of December 31, 2020 and 2019:

 

     2020      2019  

Deferred tax assets

     

Loss carryforwards

   $ 3,063,240      $ 2,930,894  

Loss reserves

     358,652        692,953  

Accruals

     1,428,236        902,962  

Other

     1,597,545        1,347,426  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     6,447,673        5,874,235  

Deferred tax liabilities

     

Intangible assets

     (1,716,408      (2,544,697

Advances and other receivables

     (1,014,863      (1,047,975

Other

     (525,015      (613,578
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     (3,256,286      (4,206,250

Less: valuation allowance

     (1,979,997      (1,614,684
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net deferred tax assets

   $ 1,211,390      $ 53,301  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

6. CONTINGENCIES

The Company is subject to pending and threatened legal actions related to its title and escrow activities. Any losses or expenses related to such cases are generally paid by the Company’s underwriter to the extent covered by the Company’s underwriting agreements.

The Company may, from time to time, be involved in various other claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of the Company’s management and its counsel, the outcome of such matters will not have a material effect on the accompanying financial statements.

7. LEASES

The following table presents the operating lease right-of-use assets and operating lease liabilities recorded on the Balance Sheets at December 31, 2020 and 2019:

 

     2020      2019  

Operating lease right-of-use assets

   $ 2,812,782      $ 2,362,110  

Lease liabilities

   $ 3,010,044      $ 2,588,234  

 

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Notes to the Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2020 and 2019

 

The following table summarizes the Company’s net lease cost for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019:

 

     2020      2019  

Operating lease cost

   $ 2,568,538      $ 1,733,531  

Short-term lease cost

     357,220        471,988  

Sublease income

     (835,805      (492,067
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net lease cost

   $ 2,089,953      $ 1,713,452  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following table summarizes other information related to the Company’s operating leases for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019:

 

     2020     2019  

Weighted-average remaining lease term (in years)

    

Operating leases

     1.9       2.05  

Weighted-average discount rate

    

Operating leases

     5.01     5.02

Cash paid for the amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities

    

Operating cash flows for operating leases

   $ 2,874,345     $ 1,630,881  

Maturities of operating lease liabilities as of December 31, 2020 are as follows:

 

Years ending December 31,    Operating Leases  

2021

   $ 1,865,291  

2022

     818,903  

2023

     483,793  
  

 

 

 

Total future minimum lease payments

     3,167,987  

Less: imputed interest

     (157,943
  

 

 

 

Total operating lease liabilities

   $ 3,010,044  
  

 

 

 

 

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Condensed Balance Sheets

Unaudited

 

     March 31, 2021      December 31, 2020  

Assets

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 3,565,466    $ 1,622,325

Accounts receivable - net

     33,488,873      28,841,731

Prepaid expenses

     313,719      356,673

Property and equipment - net

     8,836,543      6,594,968

Restricted cash

     329,672      329,672

Intangible assets - net

     1,213,333      1,343,333

Deposits and other assets

     23,395      37,788

Deferred income taxes

     1,454,096      1,211,390

Due from affiliates

     —          3,541,790
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 49,225,097    $ 43,879,670
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities

     

Accounts payable

   $ 2,522,385    $ 881,681

Accrued salaries and commissions

     4,696,490      5,513,642

Title fees payable

     536,010      861,500

Allowance for title and escrow losses

     1,098,079      1,104,005

Operating lease liabilities

     4,802,061      3,010,044

Other liabilities

     5,731,411      8,062,957

Due to affiliates

     206,748      116,447
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     19,593,184      19,550,276
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Invested equity

     

Invested equity

     29,631,913      24,329,394
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total invested equity

     29,631,913      24,329,394
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities and invested equity

   $ 49,225,097    $ 43,879,670
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

See accompanying Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements.

 

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Condensed Statements of Operations

Unaudited

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2021      2020  

Revenues

     

Service revenue

   $ 73,117,808    $ 43,339,493

Operating expenses

     

Salaries, benefits and other compensation

     13,432,688      12,022,164

General and administrative

     37,410,497      23,150,648
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     50,843,185      35,172,812
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net operating income

     22,274,623      8,166,681

Other income

     

Interest income

     84      559

Other income

     52,986      179,137
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total other income

     53,070      179,696
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     22,327,693      8,346,377

Provision for income taxes

     5,361,183      2,044,862
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 16,966,510    $ 6,301,515
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

See accompanying Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements.

 

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Condensed Statements of Changes in Invested Equity

Unaudited

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31, 2021
 

Balance at December 31, 2020

   $ 24,329,394

Net transfers to parent

     (11,663,991

Net income

     16,966,510
  

 

 

 

Balance at March 31, 2021

   $ 29,631,913
  

 

 

 
     Three Months Ended
March 31, 2020
 

Balance at December 31, 2019

   $ 18,099,875

Cumulative effect adjustments pursuant to the adoption of ASU 2016-13

     1,272,138

Net income

     6,301,515
  

 

 

 

Balance at March 31, 2020

   $ 25,673,528
  

 

 

 

See accompanying Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements.

 

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Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

Unaudited

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2021     2020  

Operating activities

    

Net income

   $ 16,966,510   $ 6,301,515

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash attributable to operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     518,080     287,804

Net change in allowance for doubtful accounts

     565,741     (72,435

Deferred income taxes

     (242,706     300,934

Changes in assets and liabilities:

    

Accounts receivable

     (5,212,048     (1,395,815

Deposits and other assets

     14,393     (16,928

Due from affiliates

     4,534,458     (12,231,938

Accounts payable

     1,640,704     395,780

Accrued salaries and commissions

     (817,152     856,613

Title fees payable

     (325,489     (215,829

Allowance for title and escrow losses

     (5,926     292,558

Other items, net

     (2,390,906     7,363,653
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash attributable to operating activities

     15,245,659     1,865,912
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investing activities

    

Acquisition of property and equipment

     (1,638,527     (1,127,924
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash attributable to investing activities

     (1,638,527     (1,127,924
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Financing activities

    

Net transfers to parent

     (11,663,991     —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash attributable to financing activities

     (11,663,991     —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     1,943,141     737,988

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period

     1,951,997     2,761,721
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period (1)

   $ 3,895,138   $ 3,499,709
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information

    

(1) The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash to the amount reported within the Balance Sheets.

 

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 3,565,466   $ 3,170,037

Restricted cash

     329,672     329,672
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

   $ 3,895,138   $ 3,499,709
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:

During the three months ended March 31, 2020, Title365 Holding Co., entered into a purchase agreement with American Title, Inc., where Title365 Holding Co. purchased at carrying value certain assets including intangible assets - net for $1.9 million and property and equipment - net for $0.2 million.

See accompanying Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements.

 

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Title Carve Out

(a Carve-Out of Certain Operations of Mr. Cooper Group Inc.)

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements

 

1.

NATURE OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Nature of Operations

The accompanying condensed financial statements and footnotes represent the operations of Title Carve Out (the “Company”), which is composed of two legal entities, Title365 Holding Co. and T365 Company LLC.

Title365 Holding Co. (“HoldCo”) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Xome Holdings LLC. HoldCo is an underwritten title company engaged in the business of selling title insurance policies and escrow services throughout the United States. HoldCo was licensed in thirty-eight states as of December 31, 2020.

T365 Company LLC (“T365”) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationstar Mortgage Holdings Inc. (“Nationstar”). T365 is an underwritten title company engaged in the business of selling title insurance policies and escrow services in the state of Ohio. T365 was formed on December 10, 2019, and will continue until terminated in accordance with the operating agreement.

During the year ended December 31, 2015, HoldCo was involved in a stock purchase agreement in which 100% of HoldCo’s stock was sold to Nationstar. On July 31, 2018, Nationstar merged with WMIH Corp. (“WMIH”). On October 10, 2018, WMIH changed its name to Mr. Cooper Group Inc.

Basis of Presentation

The condensed interim financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and in accordance with Article 10 of Regulation S-X as promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, the financial statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the carve-out audited financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2020.

The accompanying condensed carve-out financial statements represent Title Carve Out as though the Company was operating as a separate, stand-alone business since December 31, 2018. Title Carve Out is a carve-out of certain operations of Xome Holdings LLC (“Seller”) and T365 Company LLC, both of which are subsidiaries of Mr. Cooper Group Inc. (“Seller Parent”). As of March 31, 2021, the Company was not a separate legal entity and accordingly, the condensed financial statements have been prepared on a “carve-out” basis for purposes of complying with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-X.

The accompanying carve-out balance sheets of the Company as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, and the related carve-out statements of operations, changes in invested equity and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, have been prepared in accordance with GAAP using historical results of operations and historical bases of assets and liabilities of the Company, as well as using allocations and estimates where data was not maintained on a specific basis within the books and records. For purposes of presenting the condensed carve-out financial statements, allocations were required to determine the cost of general and administrative activities performed by the Company. Affiliates are defined herein as subsidiaries owned directly or indirectly by Mr. Cooper Group Inc., including the Seller (“Affiliates”).

Management believes the assumptions underlying the condensed carve-out financial statements are reasonable, including the allocations described below under the caption Allocations from the Seller Parent and Affiliates. However, the condensed carve-out financial statements included herein may not necessarily represent what Title Carve Out’s results of operations, financial position and cash flows would have been had it been a stand-alone entity during the periods presented, or what Title Carve Out’s results of operations, financial position and cash flows may be in the future.

 

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Title Carve Out

(a Carve-Out of Certain Operations of Mr. Cooper Group Inc.)

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements

As these condensed carve-out financial statements represent a business of the Seller Parent that is not a separate legal entity, the net assets of Title Carve Out have been presented herein as invested equity. Invested equity is composed primarily of: (i) the initial investment to acquire and establish the net assets of Title Carve Out (and any subsequent adjustments thereto); (ii) the accumulated net income; (iii) net transfers to or from Affiliates related to cash management functions performed by Affiliates, such as the collection of trade receivables and the payment of trade payables and wages and salaries, in the form of capital contributions or dividend payments; (iv) certain corporate cost allocations; and (v) changes in certain income tax liabilities and assets. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Allocations from the Seller Parent and Affiliates

In addition to the carve-out of the operations and the net assets of Title Carve Out, certain general corporate expenses and shared services have been allocated to the Company, which consist of costs incurred related to: (i) facilities and acquisitions; (ii) information systems and technology; (iii) accounting and finance; (iv) and legal, risk and compliance. The allocated expenses are mainly composed of salaries, including variable compensation and other direct costs of the various functions. Allocations to the Company were based primarily on the Company headcount using shared expenses incurred by the Seller, Seller Parent and Affiliates on behalf of the Company, adjusted where a more specific allocation was deemed more appropriate.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates include the collectability of accounts receivable, the carrying value of long-lived assets, reserves for title and escrow losses, and the recognition of certain accruals. Actual results may differ from those estimates, and they may be adjusted as more information becomes available.

 

2.

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment consists of the following:

 

     March 31, 2021      December 31, 2020  

Furniture and equipment

   $ 828,584    $ 747,718

Computers and software

     4,862,568      4,439,389

Leasehold improvements

     312,786      341,036

Work in progress

     53,938      —    

Operating lease right-of-use assets

     4,709,293      2,812,782
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     10,767,169      8,340,925

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

     (1,930,626      (1,745,957
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Property and equipment - net

   $ 8,836,543    $ 6,594,968
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization expense related to property and equipment was $388,080 and $157,804 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

 

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Intangible Assets

The following tables present the composition of intangible assets:

 

     March 31, 2021  
     Gross Carrying
Amount
     Accumulated
Amortization
     Net Carrying
Amount
     Average
Remaining Life
in Years
 

Customer relationships

   $ 1,800,000    $ (960,000    $ 840,000      2.3  

Technology

     800,000      (426,667      373,333      2.3  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total intangible assets

   $ 2,600,000    $ (1,386,667    $ 1,213,333      2.3  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Title Carve Out

(a Carve-Out of Certain Operations of Mr. Cooper Group Inc.)

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements

 

     December 31, 2020  
     Gross Carrying
Amount
     Accumulated
Amortization
     Net Carrying
Amount
     Average
Remaining Life
in Years
 

Customer relationships

   $ 1,800,000    $ (870,000    $ 930,000      2.5  

Technology

     800,000      (386,667      413,333      2.5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total intangible assets

   $ 2,600,000    $ (1,256,667    $ 1,343,333      2.5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

The Company recognized $130,000 of amortization expense related to its intangible assets during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020. The Company had no impairment charges related to its intangible assets in either period.

 

3.

OTHER LIABILITIES

Other liabilities consist of the following:

 

     March 31, 2021      December 31, 2020  

Accounting and legal expenses

   $ 106,551    $ 119,226

Deferred rent

     20,473      79,508

Service fees

     3,868,477      3,883,169

Outstanding checks and other accruals

     1,735,910      3,981,054
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other liabilities

   $ 5,731,411    $ 8,062,957
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

4.

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Companies affiliated with the Company by virtue of common ownership have paid for certain operational expenses on behalf of the Company. The Company has also paid for certain operational expenses on behalf of affiliates. Amounts due from affiliates totaled $3,541,790 at December 31, 2020, and amounts due to affiliates totaled $206,748 and $116,447 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. HoldCo transferred to its parent $11,663,991 for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as part of settling the affiliated transactions.

 

5.

CONTINGENCIES

The Company is subject to pending and threatened legal actions related to its title and escrow activities. Any losses or expenses related to such cases are generally paid by the Company’s underwriter to the extent covered by the Company’s underwriting agreements.

 

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The Company may, from time to time, be involved in various other claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of the Company’s management and its counsel, the outcome of such matters will not have a material effect on the accompanying condensed financial statements.

 

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LOGO

Creating long-term customer value drives everything we do. Important in our selection process was choosing a technology partner who understood our vision for taking the hassle out of the mortgage process, allowing our team of mortgage professionals to focus on understanding and meeting our customers needs. Tom Wind Executive Vice President, Consumer Lending Blend has been an important part of the protable growth across our mortgage and home equity lending products. Mark Shulman Head of Consumer Lending We want a consumer solution for all products because we don't want our members to have different experiences on different platforms. Ron Senci Executive Vice President of Sales and Lending Organizations like ours are looking for solutions that allow us to transact business more effectively, remove potential defects and stumbling blocks out of the process, and help us to create a better customer experience at a lower cost. Chris Jones President of Retail The thing that we like about Blend is that theyre forward-thinking. Tom Moreno CIO Blend helped us meet our goals of delivering a superior experience to our customers, while accelerating our time to market. Eric Wu Co-Founder and CEO


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LOGO


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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 13.

Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following table sets forth all expenses to be paid by us, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, upon completion of this offering. All amounts shown are estimates except for the SEC registration fee, the FINRA filing fee and the exchange listing fee.

 

     Amount
to be
Paid
 

SEC registration fee

   $ 45,168  

FINRA filing fee

     62,600  

Exchange listing fee

     430,000  

Printing and engraving expenses

     550,000  

Legal fees and expenses

     1,600,000  

Accounting fees and expenses

     4,066,000  

Transfer agent and registrar fees

     5,500  

Miscellaneous expenses

     830,732  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 7,590,000  
  

 

 

 

 

Item 14.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law authorizes a corporation’s board of directors to grant, and authorizes a court to award, indemnity to officers, directors and other corporate agents.

We expect to adopt an amended and restated certificate of incorporation, which will become effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering, and which will contain provisions that limit the liability of our directors for monetary damages to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Consequently, our directors will not be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duties as directors, except liability for the following:

 

   

any breach of their duty of loyalty to our company or our stockholders;

 

   

any act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

   

unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions as provided in Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law; or

 

   

any transaction from which they derived an improper personal benefit.

Any amendment to, or repeal of, these provisions will not eliminate or reduce the effect of these provisions in respect of any act, omission or claim that occurred or arose prior to that amendment or repeal. If the Delaware General Corporation Law is amended to provide for further limitations on the personal liability of directors of corporations, then the personal liability of our directors will be further limited to the greatest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law.

In addition, we expect to adopt amended and restated bylaws, which will become effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering, and which will provide that we will indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any person who is or was a party or is threatened to be made a party to any action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that they are or were one of our directors or officers or is or

 

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was serving at our request as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise. Our amended and restated bylaws are expected to provide that we may indemnify to the fullest extent permitted by law any person who is or was a party or is threatened to be made a party to any action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that they are or were one of our employees or agents or is or was serving at our request as an employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise. Our amended and restated bylaws will also provide that we must advance expenses incurred by or on behalf of a director or officer in advance of the final disposition of any action or proceeding, subject to limited exceptions.

Further, we have entered into or will enter into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers that may be broader than the specific indemnification provisions contained in the Delaware General Corporation Law. These indemnification agreements require us, among other things, to indemnify our directors and executive officers against liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service. These indemnification agreements also require us to advance all expenses incurred by the directors and executive officers in investigating or defending any such action, suit or proceeding. We believe that these agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified individuals to serve as directors and executive officers.

The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions that are expected to be included in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, amended and restated bylaws and the indemnification agreements that we have entered into or will enter into with our directors and executive officers may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors and executive officers for breach of their fiduciary duties. They may also reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation against our directors and executive officers, even though an action, if successful, might benefit us and other stockholders. Further, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent that we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and executive officers as required by these indemnification provisions. At present, we are not aware of any pending litigation or proceeding involving any person who is or was one of our directors, officers, employees or other agents or is or was serving at our request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, for which indemnification is sought, and we are not aware of any threatened litigation that may result in claims for indemnification.

We have obtained insurance policies under which, subject to the limitations of the policies, coverage is provided to our directors and executive officers against loss arising from claims made by reason of breach of fiduciary duty or other wrongful acts as a director or executive officer, including claims relating to public securities matters, and to us with respect to payments that may be made by us to these directors and executive officers pursuant to our indemnification obligations or otherwise as a matter of law.

Certain of our non-employee directors may, through their relationships with their employers, be insured or indemnified against certain liabilities incurred in their capacity as members of our board of directors.

The underwriting agreement to be filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this registration statement will provide for indemnification by the underwriters of us and our officers and directors for certain liabilities arising under the Securities Act or otherwise.

 

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Item 15.

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.

Since July 6, 2018, we have issued the following unregistered securities:

Preferred Stock Issuances

In May 2019, we issued an aggregate of 3,984,906 shares (1,328,302 shares after giving effect to our three-for-one reverse stock split in July 2021) of our Series E convertible preferred stock upon conversion of a convertible note at a purchase price equal to 80% of $1.584494 per share for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $5,051,248. From May 2019 to September 2019, we issued and sold an aggregate of 78,887,870 shares (26,295,947 shares after giving effect to our three-for-one reverse stock split in July 2021) of our Series E convertible preferred stock to 29 accredited investors at a purchase price of $1.584494 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $124,997,315.

From August 2020 to September 2020, we issued and sold an aggregate of 29,720,954 shares (9,906,980 shares after giving effect to our three-for-one reverse stock split in July 2021) of our Series F convertible preferred stock to 12 accredited investors at a purchase price of $2.575906 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $76,558,348.

From January 2021 to March 2021, we issued and sold an aggregate of 67,255,705 shares (22,752,903 shares after giving effect to our three-for-one reverse stock split in July 2021) of our Series G convertible preferred stock to 10 accredited investors at a purchase price of $4.609274 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $309,999,972.

Option Issuances

From July 6, 2018 through the filing date of this registration statement, we granted to our directors, employees, and consultants options to purchase an aggregate of 207,237,385 (69,078,675 shares after giving effect to our three-for-one reverse stock split in July 2021) shares of our Class A common stock under our 2012 Stock Plan, at exercise prices ranging from approximately $0.29 to $4.67 per share.

On March 31, 2021, we granted to an employee a stand-alone option to purchase 78,171,543 shares (26,057,181 shares after giving effect to our three-for-one reverse stock split in July 2021) of our Class A common stock, at an exercise price of $2.86 per share.

Warrants

In March 2019, warrants to purchase an aggregate of 1,263,120 shares (421,039 shares after giving effect to our three-for-one reverse stock split in July 2021) of our Series D convertible preferred stock were exercised at an exercise price of $1.187535 per share, for an aggregate exercise price of $1,499,999.

In November 2020, a warrant to purchase 8,420,804 shares (2,806,933 shares after giving effect to our three-for-one reverse stock split in July 2021) of our Class A common stock was exercised at an exercise price of $1.187535 per share, for an aggregate exercise price of $9,999,999.

In December 2020, a warrant to purchase 1,644,097 shares (548,032 shares after giving effect to our three-for-one reverse stock split in July 2021) of our Series D-1 convertible preferred stock was exercised at an exercise price of $1.312419 per share, for an aggregate exercise price of $2,157,744.

In March 2021, warrants to purchase an aggregate of 1,263,120 shares (421,039 shares after giving effect to our three-for-one reverse stock split in July 2021) of our Series D convertible preferred stock were exercised at an exercise price of $1.187535 per share, for an aggregate exercise price of $1,499,999.

 

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In March 2021, a warrant to purchase 4,962,835 shares (1,654,278 shares after giving effect to our three-for-one reverse stock split in July 2021) of our Series D-1 convertible preferred stock was exercised at an exercise price of $1.312419 per share, for an aggregate exercise price of $6,513,319.

In July 2021, we granted a warrant to purchase 1,795,294 shares (598,431 shares after giving effect to our three-for-one reverse stock split in July 2021) of our Series G convertible preferred stock, with an exercise price of $4.609274 per share, for an aggregate exercise price of $8,275,002 to one accredited investor.

None of the foregoing transactions involved any underwriters, underwriting discounts or commissions, or any public offering. We believe the offers, sales and issuances of the above securities were exempt from registration under the Securities Act (or Regulation D or Regulation S promulgated thereunder) by virtue of Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act because the issuance of securities to the recipients did not involve a public offering, or in reliance on Rule 701 because the transactions were pursuant to compensatory benefit plans or contracts relating to compensation as provided under such rule. The recipients of the securities in each of these transactions represented their intentions to acquire the securities for investment only and not with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution thereof, and appropriate legends were placed upon the stock certificates issued in these transactions. All recipients had adequate access, through their relationships with us, to information about us. The sales of these securities were made without any general solicitation or advertising.

 

Item 16.

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

Exhibits

See the Exhibit Index immediately preceding the signature page hereto for a list of exhibits filed as part of this registration statement on Form S-1, which Exhibit Index is incorporated herein by reference.

Financial Statement Schedules

All financial statement schedules are omitted because the information called for is not required or is shown either in the consolidated financial statements or in the notes thereto.

 

Item 17.

Undertakings.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriters at the closing specified in the underwriting agreement certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriters to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

(2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

  1.1   

Form of Underwriting Agreement.

  2.1#   

Stock Purchase Agreement among the registrant, Title365 Holding Co., Xome Holdings LLC and, for the purposes of certain sections of the agreement, Mr. Cooper Group Inc., dated as of March 12, 2021.

  3.1   

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the registrant, as amended and currently in effect.

  3.2   

Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the registrant, to be in effect upon completion of this offering.

  3.3#   

Amended and Restated Bylaws of the registrant, as amended, as currently in effect.

  3.4   

Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of the registrant, to be in effect upon completion of this offering.

  4.1   

Form of Class A common stock certificate of the registrant.

  4.2#   

Amended and Restated Investors’ Rights Agreement, among the registrant and certain holders of its capital stock, dated as of January 11, 2021.

  4.3   

Warrant to Purchase Class A Common Stock between the registrant, Fifth Wall Ventures,  L.P., and Fifth Wall Ventures SPV VII, L.P., dated as of March 6, 2018, as amended March 18, 2021.

  4.4   

Warrant to Purchase Class  A Common Stock between the registrant, OR Lending LLC, OR Tech Lending LLC, and OR BL LLC., dated as of July 2, 2021.

  5.1   

Opinion of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C.

10.1+   

Form of Indemnification Agreement between the registrant and each of its directors and executive officers.

10.2+   

Blend Labs, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan and related form agreements.

10.3+#   

Blend Labs, Inc. 2012 Stock Plan and related form agreements.

10.4+#   

Executive 2020 Bonus Plan.

10.5+#   

Executive Incentive Compensation Plan.

10.6+    Form of Change in Control Severance Agreement.
10.7+#    Outside Director Compensation Policy.
10.8+   

Confirmatory Employment Letter between the registrant and Nima Ghamsari, dated as of July 1, 2021.

10.9+   

Confirmatory Employment Letter between the registrant and Timothy  J. Mayopoulos, dated as of July 1, 2021.

10.10+   

Confirmatory Employment Letter between the registrant and Crystal Sumner, dated as of June  29, 2021.

10.11+   

Confirmatory Employment Letter between the registrant and Marc Greenberg, dated as of June  29, 2021.

 

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Exhibit
Number

  

Description

10.12+#   

Offer Letter between the registrant and Erin Collard, dated as of March 29, 2021.

10.13+#   

Offer Letter between the registrant and Roger W. Ferguson, dated as of March 29, 2021.

10.14+    Blend Labs, Inc. Stand-Alone Stock Option Agreement between the registrant and Nima Ghamsari, dated as of March 31, 2021, as amended.
10.15    Form of Exchange Agreement between the registrant and Nima Ghamsari.
10.16    Form of Equity Exchange Agreement between the registrant and Nima Ghamsari.
10.17#   

Office Lease between the registrant and 500 Pine Street Company LLC, dated as of December 1, 2016.

10.18
  

Credit Agreement between the registrant, the guarantors and lenders from time to time party thereto, and Owl Rock Technology Finance Corp., as administrative agent and collateral agent, dated as of June 30, 2021.

21.1   

List of subsidiaries of the registrant.

23.1   

Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

23.2   

Consent of WithumSmith+Brown, PC, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

23.3   

Consent of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C. (included in Exhibit 5.1).

24.1#   

Power of Attorney (included on page II-7 of the original filing of this registration statement on Form S-1).

 

#

Previously filed.

+

Indicates management contract or compensatory plan.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement on Form S-1 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in San Francisco, California, on the 6th day of July, 2021.

 

BLEND LABS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Nima Ghamsari

  Nima Ghamsari
  Head of Blend and Co-Founder

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ Nima Ghamsari

Nima Ghamsari

  

Head of Blend, Co-Founder, and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

  July 6, 2021

/s/ Marc Greenberg

Marc Greenberg

  

Head of Finance and Head of People

(Principal Financial Officer)

  July 6, 2021

/s/ Jonathan Chan

Jonathan Chan

  

Controller

(Principal Accounting Officer)

  July 6, 2021

*

Timothy J. Mayopoulos

  

President and Director

  July 6, 2021

*

Gerald C. Chen

  

Director

  July 6, 2021

*

Erin James Collard

  

Director

  July 6, 2021

*

Roger W. Ferguson, Jr.

  

Director

  July 6, 2021

*

Ann Mather

  

Director

  July 6, 2021

 

*  

By: /s/ Nima Ghamsari

  Nima Ghamsari
  Attorney-in-Fact

 

II-8

Exhibit 1.1

Blend Labs, Inc.

Common Stock

 

                    

Underwriting Agreement

_______________, 2021

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC,

Allen & Company LLC

As representatives (the “Representatives”) of the several Underwriters

named in Schedule I hereto,

c/o Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC,

200 West Street,

New York, New York 10282-2198

c/o Allen & Company LLC,

711 Fifth Avenue,

New York, New York 10022

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Blend Labs, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated in this agreement (this “Agreement”), to issue and sell to the Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the “Underwriters”) an aggregate of [●] shares (the “Firm Shares”) and, at the election of the Underwriters, up to [●] additional shares (the “Optional Shares”) of common stock, par value $0.00001 per share (“Stock”) of the Company (the Firm Shares and the Optional Shares that the Underwriters elect to purchase pursuant to Section 2 hereof being collectively called the “Shares”).

1. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the Underwriters that:

(a) A registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-257223) (the “Initial Registration Statement”) in respect of the Shares has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”); the Initial Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, each in the form heretofore delivered to you, have been declared effective by the Commission in such form; other than a registration statement, if any, increasing the size of the offering (a “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement”), filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), which became effective upon filing, no other document with respect to the Initial Registration Statement has been filed with the Commission; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Initial Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment thereto or the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act has been initiated or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened by the Commission (any preliminary prospectus included in the Initial Registration Statement or filed with the


Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Act is hereinafter called a “Preliminary Prospectus”; the various parts of the Initial Registration Statement and the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, including all exhibits thereto and including the information contained in the form of final prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof and deemed by virtue of Rule 430A under the Act to be part of the Initial Registration Statement at the time it was declared effective, each as amended at the time such part of the Initial Registration Statement became effective or such part of the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, became or hereafter becomes effective, are hereinafter collectively called the “Registration Statement”; the Preliminary Prospectus relating to the Shares that was included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to the Applicable Time (as defined in Section 1(c) hereof) is hereinafter called the “Pricing Prospectus”; such final prospectus, in the form first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act, is hereinafter called the “Prospectus”; any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Act or Rule 163B under the Act is hereinafter called a “Testing-the-Waters Communication”; any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Act is hereinafter called a “Written Testing-the-Waters Communication”; and any “issuer free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 433 under the Act relating to the Shares is hereinafter called an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”);

(b) (A) No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and (B) each Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information (as defined in Section 9(b) of this Agreement);

(c) For the purposes of this Agreement, the “Applicable Time” is [___:___ __m] (New York City time) on the date of this Agreement. The Pricing Prospectus, as supplemented by the information listed on Schedule II(c) hereto, taken together (collectively, the “Pricing Disclosure Package”), as of the Applicable Time, did not, and as of each Time of Delivery (as defined in Section 4(a) of this Agreement) will not, include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and each Written Testing-the-Waters Communication does not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and each Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, as supplemented by and taken together with the Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, did not, and as of each Time of Delivery will not, include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information;

 

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(d) The Registration Statement conforms, and the Prospectus and any further amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus will conform, in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and do not and will not, as of the applicable effective date as to each part of the Registration Statement, as of the applicable filing date as to the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, and as of each Time of Delivery, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information;

(e) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the Pricing Prospectus, (i) sustained any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree or (ii) entered into any transaction or agreement (whether or not in the ordinary course of business) that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, in each case otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus; and, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Pricing Prospectus, there has not been (x) any change in the capital stock of the Company (other than as a result of (i) the exercise or settlement (including any “net” or “cashless” exercises or settlements) of stock options or restricted stock units or the award, if any, of stock options or restricted stock units in the ordinary course of business, in each case pursuant to the Company’s equity incentive plans that are described in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, (ii) the repurchase of shares of capital stock pursuant to agreements providing for an option to repurchase or a right of first refusal on behalf of the Company pursuant to the Company’s repurchase rights or (iii) the issuance, if any, of stock upon conversion or exchange of Company securities as described in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus) or the issuance or incurrence of long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (y) any Material Adverse Effect (as defined below); as used in this Agreement, “Material Adverse Effect” shall mean any material adverse change or effect, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change or effect, in or affecting (i) the business, management, consolidated financial position, consolidated stockholders’ equity or consolidated results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, or (ii) the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement, including the issuance and sale of the Shares, or to consummate the transactions contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus;

(f) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries own any real property. Except as would not be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all personal property (other than with respect to Intellectual Property (as defined below) which is addressed exclusively in subsection (y) owned by them, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except such as are described in the Pricing Prospectus or such as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries; and any real property and buildings held under lease by the Company or any of its subsidiaries are held by them under, to the Company’s knowledge, valid, subsisting and enforceable leases subject to the effects of (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights or remedies of creditors generally; (ii) the application of general principles of equity (including without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, regardless of whether enforcement is considered in proceedings at law or in equity); and (iii) applicable law and public policy with respect to rights to indemnity and contribution);

 

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(g) The Company has been (i) duly incorporated and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of Delaware, with corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Pricing Prospectus, and (ii) duly qualified as a foreign corporation for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties or conducts any business so as to require such qualification, except, in the case of this clause (ii), where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, and each subsidiary of the Company has been listed in the Registration Statement and is duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation or other entity, as applicable, and in good standing (or the foreign equivalent) under the laws of its jurisdiction or organization, with corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Pricing Prospectus, except where the failure to be in good standing (or the foreign equivalent) would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect;

(h) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Pricing Prospectus and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and conform in all material respects to the description of the Stock contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and all of the issued shares of capital stock of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and (except, in the case of any foreign subsidiary, for directors’ qualifying shares) are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims, except for such liens or encumbrances described in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus;

(i) The Shares have been duly and validly authorized and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor as provided herein, will be duly and validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable and will conform in all material respects to the description of the Stock contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and the issuance of the Shares is not subject to any preemptive or similar rights, in each case, other than rights which have been validly waived or complied with;

(j) The issue and sale of the Shares to be sold by the Company and the compliance by the Company with this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement and the Pricing Prospectus will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, (A) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, (B) the certificate of incorporation or bylaws (or other applicable organizational document) of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or (C) any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties, except, in the case of clauses (A) and (C) for such defaults, breaches, or violations that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is required for the issue of the Shares to be sold by the Company and sale of the Shares or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except such as have been obtained under the Act, the approval by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) of the underwriting terms and arrangements, the approval for listing on the New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”), and such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters;

 

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(k) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its certificate of incorporation or bylaws (or other applicable organizational document as applicable), (ii) in violation of any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties, or (iii) in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound, except, in the case of the foregoing clauses (ii) and (iii), for such defaults as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(l) The statements set forth in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus under the caption “Description of Capital Stock” insofar as it purports to constitute a summary of the terms of the Stock, and under the captions “Underwriting” and “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations for Non-U.S. Holders of our Common Stock,” insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, are accurate, complete and fair in all material respects;

(m) Other than as set forth in the Pricing Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries or, to the Company’s knowledge, any officer or director of the Company, is a party or of which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or, to the Company’s knowledge, any officer or director of the Company, is the subject which, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries (or such officer or director), would individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect; and, to the Company’s knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities; there are no current or pending legal or governmental proceedings that are required under the Act to be described in the Registration Statement or the Pricing Prospectus that are not so described therein; and there are no statutes, regulations or contracts or other documents that are required under the Act to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus that are not so filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement and the Pricing Prospectus;

(n) The Company is not and, immediately after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof, will not be required to register as an “investment company”, as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;

(o) At the time of filing the Initial Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or any offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) under the Act) of the Shares, and at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined under Rule 405 under the Act;

(p) Ernst & Young LLP, who has certified certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, and WithumSmith+Brown PC, who has certified certain financial statements of Title Carve-Out, are each independent public accountants as required by the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder;

 

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(q) The Company maintains a system of internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), that (i) complies with the requirements of the Exchange Act applicable to the Company, (ii) has been designed by the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or under their supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and (iii) is sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets, (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences; and the Company is not aware of any material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting (it being understood that this subsection shall not require the Company to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) as of an earlier date than it would otherwise be required to so comply under applicable law and that the Company makes no representation that its internal control over financial reporting has been or will be attested to by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm);

(r) Since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the Pricing Prospectus, there has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially and adversely affected, or is reasonably likely to materially and adversely affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting;

(s) The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) that are designed to comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act applicable to the Company; such disclosure controls and procedures have been designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company and its subsidiaries is made known to the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer by others within those entities; and such disclosure controls and procedures are effective;

(t) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company;

(u) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor any director, or officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any agent, employee, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has (i) made, offered, promised or authorized any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense (or taken any act in furtherance thereof); (ii) made, offered, promised or authorized any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government officials or employees or to foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns; or (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or the rules and regulations thereunder, the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom or any other applicable anti-corruption, anti-bribery or related law, statute or regulation (collectively, “Anti-Corruption Laws”); the Company and its subsidiaries have conducted their businesses in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and have instituted and maintained and will continue to maintain policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws and with the representations and warranties contained herein; neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries will use, directly or indirectly, the proceeds of the offering in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any person in violation of Anti-Corruption Laws;

 

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(v) The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with the requirements of applicable anti-money laundering laws, including, but not limited to, the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970, as amended by the USA PATRIOT ACT of 2001, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the anti-money laundering laws of the various jurisdictions in which the Company and its subsidiaries conduct business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulation or guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened;

(w) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor any director or officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any agent, employee, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is (i) currently the subject or the target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Government, including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”), or the U.S. Department of State and including, without limitation, the designation as a “specially designated national” or “blocked person,” the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, the United Nations Security Council, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), (ii) located, organized, or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or target of Sanctions (a “Sanctioned Jurisdiction”), and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Shares hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity (i) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business with any person, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such funding, is the subject or the target of Sanctions or (ii) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions; neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is engaged in, or has, at any time in the past five years, engaged in, any dealings or transactions with or involving any individual or entity that was or is, as applicable, at the time of such dealing or transaction, the subject or target of Sanctions or with any Sanctioned Jurisdiction; the Company and its subsidiaries have instituted, and maintain, policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve continued compliance with Sanctions;

(x) The financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, together with the related schedules and notes, present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries at the dates indicated and the statement of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its subsidiaries for the periods specified; said financial statements have been prepared in conformity with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved. The supporting schedules, if any, included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the information required to be stated therein in accordance with GAAP. The selected financial data and the summary financial information included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus present fairly the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements included therein. Except as included therein, no historical or pro forma financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus under the Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

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(y) The Company and each of its subsidiaries (i) own or otherwise possess adequate rights to use all material patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, domain names, copyrights and registrations and applications thereof, know-how, software, systems and technology (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures and other intellectual property) (collectively, “Intellectual Property”) used in or reasonably necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses as currently conducted or as described in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus to be operated by them (the “Company Intellectual Property”), except where the failure to own or otherwise possess such rights would not have a Material Adverse Effect, and (ii) do not, through the conduct of their respective businesses, infringe, misappropriate or violate, or conflict with, any Intellectual Property right of others in a manner which, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have a Material Adverse Effect. Other than as set forth in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any written notice of any claim of infringement, misappropriation or violation of, or conflict with, any Intellectual Property rights of others, or any notice challenging the validity, scope of enforceability of the Company Intellectual Property, except as would not individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect on the current or future consolidated financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries. Except as described in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, (A) to the Company’s knowledge, there are no third parties who have or will be able to establish ownership rights or rights to use any Company Intellectual Property, except for (i) the retained rights of the owners of Company Intellectual Property which is licensed to the Company or its subsidiaries and (ii) the rights of customers and strategic partners to use Company Intellectual Property owned by the Company or its subsidiaries in the ordinary course, consistent with past practice, (B) there is no pending (or to the Company’s knowledge, threatened) action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the Company’s rights or any of the subsidiaries’ rights in or to any Company Intellectual Property, (C) there is no pending (or to the Company’s knowledge, threatened) action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the validity, enforceability or scope of any Company Intellectual Property owned by the Company or its subsidiaries, and (D) to the Company’s knowledge, no Company Intellectual Property licensed to the Company or its subsidiaries has been obtained or is being used by the Company or any of the subsidiaries in violation of any contractual obligation binding on the Company or any of the subsidiaries, or otherwise in violation of the rights of any persons, except, in the case of each of (A) through (D) above, where the outcome of which would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the current or future consolidated financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries. The Company and its subsidiaries have taken reasonable steps to secure interests in the Company Intellectual Property owned by the Company or its subsidiaries from their employees, consultants, agents and contractors. There are no outstanding options, licenses or agreements of any kind relating to the Company Intellectual Property owned by the Company or any of its subsidiaries that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus and are not described in all material respects. The Company and its subsidiaries are not a party to or bound by any options, licenses or agreements with respect to the Intellectual Property of any other person or entity that are required to be set forth in the Prospectus and are not described in all material respects. No government funding, facilities or resources of a university, college, other educational institution or research center or funding from third parties was used in the development of any Company Intellectual Property that is owned or purported to be owned by

 

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the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and no governmental agency or body, university, college, other educational institution or research center has any claim or right in or to any Company Intellectual Property that is owned or purported to be owned by the Company or any of its subsidiaries. The Company and its subsidiaries have used reasonable efforts to ensure that all software and other materials distributed under a “free,” “open source,” or similar licensing model (including but not limited to the GNU General Public License, GNU Lesser General Public License and GNU Affero General Public License) (“Open Source Materials”) is in material compliance with all license terms applicable to such Open Source Materials. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has used or distributed any Open Source Materials in a manner that requires or has required (i) the Company or any of its subsidiaries to permit reverse-engineering of any Company-authored software code for which the Company and its subsidiaries intended to maintain the source code as confidential and proprietary; or (ii) any such software code to be (A) disclosed or distributed in source code form, (B) licensed for the purpose of making derivative works or (C) redistributable at no charge;

(z) Except as would not be material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, the Company and its subsidiaries own or have a valid right to access and use all of their information technology assets and equipment, websites, computers, systems, networks, and hardware, including incorporated software, applications, and databases (collectively, “IT Systems”). Except as would not be material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, the Company and its subsidiaries’ IT Systems (i) are adequate in capacity and operation for, and operate and perform in all material respects as required in connection with the operation of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as currently conducted, (ii) have not in the past five (5) years materially malfunctioned or failed, and (iii) to the knowledge of the Company, are free and clear of all material Trojan horses, time bombs, back doors, drop dead devices, malware and other malicious code, including software or hardware components that are designed to interrupt use of, permit unauthorized access to or disable, damage or erase the IT Systems and any personal, confidential, or sensitive data stored or processed thereon. Except as would not be material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and except as, disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, in the past five (5) years, the Company and its subsidiaries have implemented and maintained reasonable controls, policies, procedures, and safeguards consistent with applicable binding regulatory standards (including, without limitation, implementing and monitoring compliance with measures with respect to technical and physical security) designed to maintain and protect their material confidential information and the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of all IT Systems and the integrity and security of all personal, personally identifiable, sensitive, confidential or regulated data used, gathered or accessed by or on behalf of the Company or its subsidiaries in connection with their businesses (“Personal Data”), and there have been no breaches, violations, unauthorized uses of or access to, or outages of such IT Systems or breaches, unauthorized uses of or accesses to such Personal Data, except for those that have been remedied without material cost or liability or the duty to notify any other person. Except as would not be material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, the Company and its subsidiaries have in the past six (6) years complied and are presently in compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all applicable judgments, orders and binding rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, and the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Personal Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Personal Data from loss and against unauthorized use, access, misappropriation, modification, disclosure or other misuse; the Company and its subsidiaries have in the past six (6) years implemented reasonable backup and disaster recovery technology consistent with applicable binding regulatory standards and customary

 

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industry practices; the Company complies and has at all times in the past six (6) years complied with all applicable privacy, data security and data protection laws and regulations, all contractual obligations relating to privacy and data security, all applicable industry guidelines and codes of conduct binding upon the Company or with which the Company has represented compliance (including, without limitation, as applicable, the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) and all Company policies applicable to privacy and data security with respect to the Company’s collection, handling, usage, disclosure and storage of all Personal Data (collectively, “Privacy Requirements”); and the Company has implemented and has at all times in the past six (6) years maintained policies and procedures in compliance with the Privacy Requirements designed to ensure the integrity, security and confidentiality of all Personal Data;

(aa) Nothing has come to the attention of the Company that has caused it to believe that the forward-looking statements (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) included in any of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus have been made other than on a reasonable basis and in good faith;

(bb) Nothing has come to the attention of the Company that has caused the Company to believe that the statistical and market-related data included in each of the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus are not based on or derived from sources that the Company believes, after reasonable inquiry, to be reliable and accurate in all material respects;

(cc) Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates has taken or will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Shares;

(dd) The Company and each of its subsidiaries have such permits, licenses, approvals, consents, franchises, certificates of need and other approvals or authorizations of governmental or regulatory authorities (“Permits”) as are necessary under applicable law to own their respective properties and conduct their respective businesses in the manner described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, except for any of the foregoing that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received written notice of any proceedings related to the revocation or adverse modification of any such Permits that, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have a Material Adverse Effect;

(ee) From the time of initial confidential submission of a registration statement relating to the Shares with the Commission through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company” as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Act (an “Emerging Growth Company”);

(ff) (i) Each Plan (as defined below) sponsored by the Company or any of its subsidiaries has been maintained and contributed to in compliance with its terms and the requirements of any applicable laws, statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”) and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”); (ii) no non-exempt prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred with respect to any Plan sponsored by the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (iii) for each Plan that is subject to the funding rules of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, the minimum funding standards (within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA) applicable to such Plan have been satisfied; (iv) no “reportable event” (within the meaning of Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than those events as to which notice is waived) has occurred or to the Company’s knowledge is reasonably expected to occur; (v)

 

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neither the Company nor any member of its “Controlled Group” (defined as any organization which is a member of a controlled group of corporations within the meaning of Section 414 of the Code) has incurred, nor is reasonably expected to incur, any material liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than contributions to any Plan or any Multiemployer Plan (as defined below) or premiums to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (“PBGC”), in the ordinary course and without default) in respect of a Plan or a Multiemployer Plan; and (vi) there is no pending audit or investigation by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of Labor, the PBGC or any other governmental agency or any foreign regulatory agency with respect to any Plan sponsored by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, except in each case with respect to the events or conditions set forth in (i) through (vi) hereof, as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. None of the following events has occurred or is reasonably likely to occur, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (x) a material increase in the aggregate amount of contributions required to be made to all Plans by the Company or its subsidiaries in the current fiscal year of the Company and its subsidiaries compared to the amount of such contributions made in the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ most recently completed fiscal year; or (y) a material increase in the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ “accumulated post-retirement benefit obligations” (within the meaning of FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 715) compared to the amount of such obligations in the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ most recently completed fiscal year. For purposes of this paragraph, (1) the term “Plan” means an employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, subject to Title IV of ERISA, but excluding any Multiemployer Plan, sponsored, maintained or contributed to (or required to be contributed to) by the Company or any member of its “Controlled Group” (defined as any organization which is a member of a controlled group of corporations within the meaning of Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code) has any liability and (2) the term “Multiemployer Plan” means a multiemployer plan within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA that is contributed to or required to be contributed to by the Company or any member of its Controlled Group;

(gg) The Company is insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the business in which it is engaged as required by law; the Company has not been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for; and the Company has no reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect;

(hh) The Company and each of its subsidiaries have filed all material federal, state, local and foreign income and franchise tax returns required to be filed through the date hereof, subject to permitted extensions, and have paid all taxes due thereon (in each case, except where the failure to pay or to file would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect). No tax deficiency has been determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries and the Company does not have any knowledge of any such tax deficiencies (except where such determination would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect);

(ii) Except as described in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person (other than this Agreement) that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or other like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares; and

 

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(jj) With respect to the stock options (the “Stock Options”) granted pursuant to the stock-based compensation plans of the Company and its subsidiaries (the “Company Stock Plans”), (i) each Stock Option intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code so qualifies, except where the failure to so qualify would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) each grant of a Stock Option was duly authorized no later than the date on which the grant of such Stock Option was by its terms to be effective (the “Grant Date”) by all necessary corporate action, including, as applicable, approval by the board of directors of the Company (or a duly constituted and authorized committee thereof) and any required stockholder approval by the necessary number of votes or written consents, and to the Company’s knowledge the award agreement governing such grant (if any) was duly executed and delivered by each party thereto, (iii) each such grant was made in all material respects in accordance with the terms of the Company Stock Plans, the Exchange Act and all other applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements, and (iv) each such grant was properly accounted for in accordance with GAAP in the financial statements (including the related notes) of the Company.

2. Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, (a) the Company agrees to sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price per share of $[●], the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto and (b) in the event and to the extent that the Underwriters shall exercise the election to purchase Optional Shares as provided below, the Company agrees to sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at the purchase price per share set forth in clause (a) of this Section 2 (provided that the purchase price per Optional Share shall be reduced by an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Firm Shares but not payable on the Optional Shares), that portion of the number of Optional Shares as to which such election shall have been exercised (to be adjusted by you so as to eliminate fractional shares) determined by multiplying such number of Optional Shares by a fraction, the numerator of which is the maximum number of Optional Shares which such Underwriter is entitled to purchase as set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto and the denominator of which is the maximum number of Optional Shares that all of the Underwriters are entitled to purchase hereunder.

The Company hereby grants to the Underwriters the right to purchase at their election up to [●] Optional Shares, at the purchase price per share set forth in the paragraph above, provided that the purchase price per Optional Share shall be reduced by an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Firm Shares but not payable on the Optional Shares. Any such election to purchase Optional Shares may be exercised only by written notice from you to the Company, given within a period of 30 calendar days after the date of this Agreement, setting forth the aggregate number of Optional Shares to be purchased and the date on which such Optional Shares are to be delivered, as determined by you but in no event earlier than the First Time of Delivery (as defined in Section 4 hereof) or, unless you and the Company otherwise agree in writing, earlier than two or later than ten business days after the date of such notice.

3. Upon the authorization by you of the release of the Shares, the several Underwriters propose to offer the Shares for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus.

4. (a) The Shares to be purchased by each Underwriter hereunder, in definitive or book-entry form, and in such authorized denominations and registered in such names as the Representatives may request upon at least forty-eight hours’ prior notice to the Company shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Company to the Representatives, through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), for the account of such Underwriter, against payment by or

 

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on behalf of such Underwriter of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of Federal (same-day) funds to the account specified by the Company to the Representatives at least forty-eight hours in advance. The time and date of such delivery and payment shall be, with respect to the Firm Shares, 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on [●], 2021 or such other time and date as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing, and, with respect to the Optional Shares, 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on the date specified by the Representatives in the written notice given by the Representatives of the Underwriters’ election to purchase such Optional Shares, or such other time and date as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing. Such time and date for delivery of the Firm Shares is herein called the “First Time of Delivery”, such time and date for delivery of the Optional Shares, if not the First Time of Delivery, is herein called the “Second Time of Delivery”, and each such time and date for delivery is herein called a “Time of Delivery”.

(b) The documents to be delivered at each Time of Delivery by or on behalf of the parties hereto pursuant to Section 8 hereof, including the cross receipt for the Shares and any additional documents requested by the Underwriters, will be delivered at the offices of Goodwin Procter LLP, 601 Marshall Street, Redwood City, CA 94063 (the “Closing Location”), and the Shares will be delivered at the office of the DTC or its designated custodian, all at such Time of Delivery. A meeting will be held at the Closing Location at [●] p.m., New York City time, on the New York Business Day next preceding such Time of Delivery, at which meeting the final drafts of the documents to be delivered pursuant to the preceding sentence will be available for review by the parties hereto. For the purposes of this Section 4, “New York Business Day” shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in New York City are generally authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

5. The Company agrees with each of the Underwriters:

(a) To prepare the Prospectus in a form approved by you and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act not later than the Commission’s close of business on the second business day following the execution and delivery of this Agreement, or, if applicable, such earlier time as may be required by Rule 430A(a)(3) under the Act; to make no further amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus prior to the last Time of Delivery which shall be disapproved by you promptly after reasonable notice thereof; to advise you, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus has been filed and to furnish you with copies thereof; to file promptly all materials required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act; to advise you, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or other prospectus in respect of the Shares, of the suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or for additional information; and, in the event of the issuance of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or other prospectus or suspending any such qualification, to promptly use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order;

 

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(b) Promptly from time to time to take such action as you may reasonably request to qualify the Shares for offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as you may reasonably request and to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of the Shares, provided that in connection therewith the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation (where not otherwise required) or to file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction (where not otherwise required) or subject itself to taxation for doing business in any jurisdiction in which it was not otherwise subject to taxation;

(c) Prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the New York Business Day next succeeding the date of this Agreement (or such later time as may be agreed by the Company and the Representatives) and from time to time, to furnish the Underwriters with written and electronic copies of the Prospectus in New York City in such quantities as you may reasonably request, and, if the delivery of a prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) is required at any time prior to the expiration of nine months after the time of issue of the Prospectus in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares and if at such time any event shall have occurred as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary during such same period to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to comply with the Act, to notify you and upon your request to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter and to any dealer (whose name and address the Underwriters shall furnish to the Company) in securities as many written and electronic copies as you may from time to time reasonably request of an amended Prospectus or a supplement to the Prospectus which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance; and in case any Underwriter is required to deliver a prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) in connection with sales of any of the Shares at any time nine months or more after the time of issue of the Prospectus, upon your request but at the expense of such Underwriter, to prepare and deliver to such Underwriter as many written and electronic copies as you may request of an amended or supplemented Prospectus complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act;

(d) To make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable (which may be satisfied by filing with the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”), but in any event not later than sixteen months after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c) under the Act), an earnings statement of the Company and its subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158);

(e) (1) During the period beginning from the date hereof and continuing to and including the date 180 days after the date of the Prospectus (the “Lock-Up Period”), not to (i) offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option to purchase, make any short sale or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with or confidentially submit to the Commission a registration statement under the Act relating to, any securities of the Company that are substantially similar to the Shares, including but not limited to any options or warrants to purchase shares of Stock or any securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, Stock or any such substantially similar securities, or publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge, disposition or filing, (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Stock or any such other securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise (other than the Shares to be sold hereunder or pursuant to employee stock option plans existing on, or upon the conversion or exchange of convertible or exchangeable securities outstanding as of, the date of this Agreement), without your prior written consent or (iii) publicly

 

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disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing described in either (i) or (ii) above, in each case without the prior written consent of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Allen & Company LLC (the “Release Agents”); provided, however, that the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to (i) Shares to be sold hereunder, (ii) the issuance by the Company of shares of Class A common stock or Class B common stock upon the exercise of options, the settlement of restricted stock units or the conversion or exchange of convertible or exchangeable securities outstanding as of the date of this Agreement and described in the Pricing Prospectus, (iii) the issuance by the Company of shares of Class A common stock or Class B common stock or securities convertible into, exchangeable for or that represent that right to receive shares of Class A common stock or Class B common stock, in each case pursuant to the Company’s equity incentive plans that are described in the Pricing Prospectus, (iv) the exchange or conversion (or other means by which shares of one class or series can become another class or series) of any class or series of capital stock of the Company for any other class or series of shares of capital stock of the Company pursuant to any agreement entered into on or before the date of this Agreement, (v) the issuance by the Company of shares of Class A common stock or securities convertible into, exchangeable for or that represent the right to receive shares of Class A common stock in connection with (x) the acquisition by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of the securities, business, technology, property or other assets of another person or entity or pursuant to an employee benefit plan assumed by the Company in connection with such acquisition, and the issuance of any such securities pursuant to any such agreement, or (y) the Company’s joint ventures, commercial relationships and other strategic transactions, or (vi) the filing of any registration statement on Form S-8 (including any resale registration statement on Form S-8) relating to securities granted or to be granted pursuant to the Company’s equity incentive plans that are described in the Pricing Prospectus or any assumed employee benefit contemplated by clause (v); provided, that the aggregate number of shares of common stock that the Company may sell or issue or agree to sell or issue pursuant to clause (v) shall not exceed 10% of the total number of shares of common stock outstanding immediately following the offering of the Shares contemplated by this Agreement; and provided, further, that in the case of clauses (ii) through (v), the Company shall (a) cause each recipient of such securities that is a member of the Company’s board of directors, an executive officer or a beneficial holder of 1% of the fully-diluted capital stock of the Company to execute and deliver to you, on or prior to the issuance of such securities, a lock-up agreement substantially to the effect set forth in Annex I hereto to the extent not already executed and delivered by such recipients as of the date hereof and (b) enter stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar on such securities with respect to all recipients of such securities, which the Company agrees it will not waive or amendment without your prior written consent;

(2) If the Release Agents, in their sole discretion, agree to release or waive the restrictions set forth in a lock-up letter described in Section 8(h) hereof for an officer or director of the Company and provides the Company with notice of the impending release or waiver at least three business days before the effective date of the release or waiver, the Company agrees to announce the impending release or waiver by a press release substantially in the form of Annex I hereto through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver, if required by FINRA Rule 5131.

(f) During a period of three (3) years from the effective date of the Registration Statement, so long as the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of either Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, to furnish to its stockholders as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year an annual report (including a balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries certified by independent public accountants) and, as soon as practicable after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year (beginning with the fiscal quarter

 

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ending after the effective date of the Registration Statement), to make available to its stockholders consolidated summary financial information of the Company and its subsidiaries for such quarter in reasonable detail; provided that no reports, documents or other information need to be furnished pursuant to this Section 5(f) to the extent they are available on EDGAR or the provision of which would require disclosure by the Company under Regulation FD;

(g) During a period of three (3) years from the effective date of the Registration Statement, so long as the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of either Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, to furnish to you copies of all reports or other communications (financial or other) furnished to stockholders, and to deliver to you as soon as they are available, copies of any reports and financial statements furnished to or filed with the Commission or any national securities exchange on which any class of securities of the Company is listed; and (ii) such additional information concerning the business and financial condition of the Company as you may from time to time reasonably request (such financial statements to be on a consolidated basis to the extent the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries are consolidated in reports furnished to its stockholders generally or to the Commission); provided that no reports, documents or other information need to be furnished pursuant to this Section 5(g) to the extent they are available on EDGAR or the provision of which would require disclosure by the Company under Regulation FD;

(h) To use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement in the manner specified in the Pricing Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”;

(i) To use its best efforts to list for trading, subject to official notice of issuance, the Shares on the Exchange;

(j) To file with the Commission such information on Form 10-Q or Form 10-K as may be required by Rule 463 under the Act;

(k) If the Company elects to rely upon Rule 462(b), the Company shall file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in compliance with Rule 462(b) by 10:00 p.m., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement, and the Company shall at the time of filing either pay to the Commission the filing fee for the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or give irrevocable instructions for the payment of such fee pursuant to Rule 3a(c) of the Commission’s Informal and Other Procedures (16 CFR 202.3a);

(l) Upon request of any Underwriter, to furnish, or cause to be furnished, to such Underwriter an electronic version of the Company’s trademarks, service marks and corporate logo for use on the website, if any, operated by such Underwriter for the purpose of facilitating the on-line offering of the Shares (the “License”); provided, however, that the License shall be used solely for the purpose described above, is granted without any fee and may not be assigned or transferred; and

(m) To promptly notify you if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the later of (i) completion of the distribution of the Shares within the meaning of the Act and (ii) the last Time of Delivery.

6. (a) The Company represents and agrees that, without the prior consent of the Representatives, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act; each Underwriter represents and agrees that, without the prior consent of the Company and the Representatives, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute a free writing prospectus required to be filed with the Commission; any such free writing prospectus the use of which has been consented to by the Company and the Representatives is listed on Schedule II(a) hereto;

 

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(b) The Company has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 under the Act applicable to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, including timely filing with the Commission or retention where required and legending; and the Company represents that it has satisfied and agrees that it will satisfy the conditions under Rule 433 under the Act to avoid a requirement to file with the Commission any electronic road show;

(c) The Company agrees that if at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Written Testing-the-Waters Communication any event occurred or occurs as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Written Testing-the-Waters Communication would conflict with the information in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then prevailing, not misleading, the Company will give prompt notice thereof to the Representatives and, if requested by the Representatives, will prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, Written Testing-the-Waters Communication or other document which will correct such conflict, statement or omission provided, however, that this covenant shall not apply to any statements or omissions in an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information;

(d) The Company represents and agrees that (i) it has not engaged in, or authorized any other person to engage in, any Testing-the-Waters Communications, other than Testing-the-Waters Communications with the prior consent of the Representatives with entities that the Company reasonably believes are qualified institutional buyers as defined in Rule 144A under the Act or institutions that are accredited investors as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(7) or (a)(8) under the Act; and (ii) it has not distributed, or authorized any other person to distribute, any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications, other than those distributed with the prior consent of the Representatives that are listed on Schedule II(d) hereto; and the Company reconfirms that the Underwriters have been authorized to act on its behalf in engaging in Testing-the-Waters Communications;

(e) Each Underwriter represents and agrees that any Testing-the-Waters Communications undertaken by it were with entities that such Underwriter reasonably believes are qualified institutional buyers as defined in Rule 144A under the Act or institutions that are accredited investors as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(7) or (a)(8) under the Act.

7. The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that the Company will pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel and accountants in connection with the registration of the Shares under the Act and all other expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, printing, reproduction and filing of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers; (ii) the cost of printing or producing any Agreement among Underwriters, this Agreement, the Blue Sky Memorandum, closing documents and any other documents in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Shares; (iii) all expenses incurred in connection with the qualification of the Shares for offering and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 5(b) hereof, including the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky survey; (iv) all fees and expenses in

 

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connection with listing the Shares on the Exchange; (v) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with, any required review by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Shares; (vi) the cost of preparing stock certificates, if applicable; (vii) the cost and charges of any transfer agent or registrar; and (viii) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section; provided, however, that the amounts payable by the Company and the fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters pursuant to subsections (iii) and (v) shall not exceed $30,000 in the aggregate. It is understood, however, that, except as provided in this Section, and Sections 9 and 12 hereof, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including their own lodging, travel and meal expenses in connection with any road show, the fees of their counsel, stock transfer taxes on resale of any of the Shares by them, and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.

8. The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder, as to the Shares to be delivered at each Time of Delivery, shall be subject, in their discretion, to the condition that all representations and warranties and other statements of the Company herein are, at and as of the Applicable Time and such Time of Delivery, true and correct, the condition that the Company shall have performed all of its obligations hereunder theretofore to be performed, and the following additional conditions:

(a) The Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by the rules and regulations under the Act and in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof; all materials required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act shall have been filed with the Commission within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by Rule 433; if the Company has elected to rely upon Rule 462(b) under the Act, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall have become effective by 10:00 p.m., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act against the Company or related to the offering of the Shares shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; no stop order suspending or preventing the use of the Pricing Prospectus, Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and all requests for additional information on the part of the Commission shall have been complied with to your reasonable satisfaction;

(b) Goodwin Procter LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, shall have furnished to you such written opinion or opinions, dated such Time of Delivery, in form and substance satisfactory to you, and such counsel shall have received such papers and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters;

(c) Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C., counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to you their written opinion, dated such Time of Delivery, in form and substance satisfactory to you;

(d) On the date of the Prospectus and concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, on the effective date of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement filed subsequent to the date of this Agreement and also at each Time of Delivery, Ernst & Young LLP and WithumSmith+Brown, PC shall have furnished to you a letter or letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof, in form and substance satisfactory to you;

 

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(e) (i) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall have sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the Pricing Prospectus any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus, and (ii) since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Pricing Prospectus there shall not have been (A) any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company (other than as a result of (x) the exercise, if any, of stock options or the award, if any, of stock options or restricted stock, in each case, pursuant to the Company’s equity incentive plans that are described in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus and the form of award agreement thereunder, (y) the repurchase of shares of capital stock pursuant to agreements providing for an option to repurchase or a right of first refusal on behalf of the Company pursuant to the Company’s repurchase rights, or (z) the issuance, if any, of stock upon conversion or exchange of Company securities as described in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus) or the issuance or incurrence of any long term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (B) any change or effect, or any development involving a prospective change or effect, in or affecting (x) the business, properties, general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, or (y) the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement, including the issuance and sale of the Shares, or to consummate the transactions contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, the effect of which, in any such case described in clause (i) or (ii), is in your reasonable judgment so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Shares being delivered at such Time of Delivery on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus;

(f) On or after the Applicable Time (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded the Company’s debt securities by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization”, as that term is defined under Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act, and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating of any of the Company’s debt securities (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading);

(g) On or after the Applicable Time there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) a suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally on the Exchange; (ii) a suspension or material limitation in trading in the Company’s securities on the Exchange; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities declared by either Federal or New York or California State authorities or a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States; (iv) the outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving the United States or the declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war or (v) the occurrence of any other calamity or crisis or any change in financial, political or economic conditions in the United States or elsewhere, if the effect of any such event specified in clause (iv) or (v) in your judgment makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Shares being delivered at such Time of Delivery on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus;

(h) The Company shall have obtained and delivered to the Underwriters executed copies of an agreement from each officer, director and stockholder of the Company, substantially in the form set forth in Annex II hereto in form and substance satisfactory to you;

(i) The Shares to be sold at such Time of Delivery shall have been duly listed, subject to official notice of issuance, on the Exchange;

 

19


(j) The Company shall have complied with the provisions of Section 5(c) hereof with respect to the furnishing of prospectuses on the New York Business Day next succeeding the date of this Agreement;

(k) The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to you at such Time of Delivery certificates of officers of the Company satisfactory to you as to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company herein at and as of such Time of Delivery, as to the performance by the Company of all of its obligations hereunder to be performed at or prior to such Time of Delivery, as to the matters set forth in subsections (a) and (e) of this Section and as to such other matters as you may reasonably request; and

(l) The principal financial officer of the Company shall have furnished to you a certificate as to the accuracy of certain financial information included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, dated such Time of Delivery, in form and substance satisfactory to you as the Representatives and the Company may agree prior to the date hereof.

9. (a) The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Underwriter may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “roadshow” as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Act (a “roadshow”), any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse each Underwriter for any reasonable and documented out-of-pocket legal or other expenses incurred by such Underwriter in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.

(b) Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, will indemnify and hold harmless the Company against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or any roadshow or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or any roadshow or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information; and will reimburse the Company for any reasonable and

 

20


documented out-of-pocket legal or other expenses incurred by the Company in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred. As used in this Agreement with respect to an Underwriter and an applicable document, “Underwriter Information” shall mean the written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein; it being understood and agreed upon that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the following information in the Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: the concession and reallowance figures appearing in the [●] paragraph under the caption “Underwriting”, and the information contained in the [●] paragraph under the caption “Underwriting”.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; provided that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under the preceding paragraphs of this Section 9 except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided further that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under the preceding paragraphs of this Section 9. In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the written consent of the indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 9 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Shares. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering

 

21


(before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection (d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this subsection (d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any reasonable and documented out-of-pocket legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations in this subsection (d) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.

(e) The obligations of the Company under this Section 9 shall be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each employee, officer and director of each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act and each other affiliate of any Underwriter; and the obligations of the Underwriters under this Section 9 shall be in addition to any liability which the respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer and director of the Company (including any person who, with his or her consent, is named in the Registration Statement as about to become a director of the Company) and to each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act.

10. (a) If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase the Shares which it has agreed to purchase hereunder at a Time of Delivery, you may in your discretion arrange for you or another party or other parties to purchase such Shares on the terms contained herein. If within thirty-six hours after such default by any Underwriter you do not arrange for the purchase of such Shares, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of thirty-six hours within which to procure another party or other parties satisfactory to you to purchase such Shares on such terms. In the event that, within the respective prescribed periods, you notify the Company that you have so arranged for the purchase of such Shares, or the Company notifies you that it has so arranged for the purchase of such Shares, you or the Company shall have the right to postpone such Time of Delivery for a period of not more than seven days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any other documents or arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which in your opinion may thereby be made necessary. The term “Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall include any person substituted under this Section with like effect as if such person had originally been a party to this Agreement with respect to such Shares.

 

22


(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by you and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate number of such Shares which remains unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate number of all the Shares to be purchased at such Time of Delivery, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the number of Shares which such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder at such Time of Delivery and, in addition, to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase its pro rata share (based on the number of Shares which such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder) of the Shares of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by you and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate number of such Shares which remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate number of all the Shares to be purchased at such Time of Delivery, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in subsection (b) above to require non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then this Agreement (or, with respect to the Second Time of Delivery, the obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and of the Company to sell the Optional Shares) shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company, except for the expenses to be borne by the Company and the Underwriters as provided in Section 7 hereof and the indemnity and contribution agreements in Section 9 hereof; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

11. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company and the several Underwriters, as set forth in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or controlling person of any Underwriter, or the Company, or any officer or director or controlling person of the Company, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Shares.

12. If this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 10 hereof, the Company shall not then be under any liability to any Underwriter except as provided in Sections 7 and 9 hereof; but, if for any other reason (other than those set forth in clauses (i), (iii), (iv) and (v) of Section 8(g), any Shares are not delivered by or on behalf of the Company as provided herein or the Underwriters decline to purchase the Shares for any reason permitted under this Agreement, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters through you for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses approved in writing by you, including fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in making preparations for the purchase, sale and delivery of the Shares not so delivered, but the Company shall then be under no further liability to any Underwriter except as provided in Sections 7 and 9 hereof.

13. In all dealings hereunder, the Representatives shall act jointly on behalf of each of the Underwriters, and the parties hereto shall be entitled to act and rely upon any statement, request, notice or agreement on behalf of any Underwriter made or given by you jointly as the Representatives.

 

23


All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to you as the representatives in care of (i) Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282-2198, Attention: Registration Department and (ii) Allen & Company LLC, 711 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10022-3111, Attention: General Counsel; and if to the Company shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to the address of the Company set forth in the Registration Statement, Attention: Secretary; provided, however, that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 9(c) hereof shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to such Underwriter at its address set forth in its Underwriters’ Questionnaire, or telex constituting such Questionnaire, which address will be supplied to the Company by you upon request; provided, however, that notices under subsection 5(e) shall be in writing, and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to you as the representatives at Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282-2198, Attention: Control Room and (ii) Allen & Company LLC, 711 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10022-3111, Attention General Counsel. Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect upon receipt thereof.

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

14. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure solely to the benefit of, the Underwriters, the Company and, to the extent provided in Sections 9 and 11 hereof, the officers and directors of the Company and each person who controls the Company or any Underwriter, and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement. No purchaser of any of the Shares from any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of such purchase.

15. Time shall be of the essence of this Agreement. As used herein, the term “business day” shall mean any day when the Commission’s office in Washington, D.C. is open for business.

16. The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) the purchase and sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other, (ii) in connection therewith and with the process leading to such transaction each Underwriter is acting solely as a principal and not the agent or fiduciary of the Company, (iii) no Underwriter has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) or any other obligation to the Company except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, (iv) the Company has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate, and (v) none of the activities of the Underwriters in connection with the transactions contemplated herein constitutes a recommendation, investment advice, or solicitation of any action by the Underwriters with respect to any entity or natural person. The Company agrees that it will not claim that the Underwriters, or any of them, has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owes a fiduciary or similar duty to the Company, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.

 

24


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

18. This Agreement and any transaction contemplated by this Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related thereto shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to principles of conflict of laws that would result in the application of any other law than the laws of the State of New York. The Company agrees that any suit or proceeding arising in respect of this Agreement or any transaction contemplated by this Agreement will be tried exclusively in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York or, if that court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, in any state court located in The City and County of New York and the Company agrees to submit to the jurisdiction of, and to venue in, such courts.

19. The Company and each of the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

20. This Agreement may be executed by any one or more of the parties hereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including any electronic signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

21. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company is authorized to disclose to any persons the U.S. federal and state income tax treatment and tax structure of the potential transaction and all materials of any kind (including tax opinions and other tax analyses) provided to the Company relating to that treatment and structure, without the Underwriters imposing any limitation of any kind. However, any information relating to the tax treatment and tax structure shall remain confidential (and the foregoing sentence shall not apply) to the extent necessary to enable any person to comply with securities laws. For this purpose, “tax structure” is limited to any facts that may be relevant to that treatment.

22. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.

(a) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

(b) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

(c) As used in this section:

“BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).

 

25


“Covered Entity” means any of the following:

(i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);

(ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

(iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

26


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us counterparts hereof, and upon the acceptance hereof by you, on behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance hereof shall constitute a binding agreement among each of the Underwriters and the Company. It is understood that your acceptance of this letter on behalf of each of the Underwriters is pursuant to the authority set forth in a form of Agreement among Underwriters, the form of which shall be submitted to the Company for examination upon request, but without warranty on your part as to the authority of the signers thereof.

 

Very truly yours,
Blend Labs, Inc.
By:  

                             

  Name:
  Title:

 

Accepted as of the date hereof:
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
By:  

                                 

  Name:
  Title:
Allen & Company LLC
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
On behalf of each of the Underwriters

[Signature page to Underwriting Agreement]


SCHEDULE I

 

Underwriter

   Total
Number of
Firm Shares
to be
Purchased
     Number of
Optional
Shares to be
Purchased if
Maximum
Option
Exercised
 

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

     

Allen & Company LLC

     

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

     

KeyBanc Capital Markets, Inc.

     

Truist Securities, Inc.

     

UBS Securities LLC

     

Piper Sandler & Co.

     

William Blair & Company, L.L.C.

     

Canaccord Genuity LLC

     

Drexel Hamilton LLC

     

Loop Capital Markets LLC

     

Samuel A. Ramirez & Company, Inc.

     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

SCH-I


SCHEDULE II

(a) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses not included in the Pricing Disclosure Package:

Electronic roadshow dated [●], 2021

(b) Additional Documents Incorporated by Reference:

(c) Information other than the Pricing Prospectus that comprise the Pricing Disclosure Package:

The initial public offering price per share for the Shares is $ [●].

The number of Shares purchased by the Underwriters is [●].

The number of Shares the Underwriters have the option to purchase is [●].

(d) Written Testing-the-Waters Communications:

 

SCH-II


Annex I

[Form of Press Release]

Blend Labs, Inc.

[Date]

Blend Labs, Inc. (the “Company”) announced today that Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Allen & Company LLC, the lead book-running managers in the Company’s recent public sale of                shares of common stock, are [waiving] [releasing] a lock-up restriction with respect to    shares of the Company’s common stock held by [certain officers or directors] [an officer or director] of the Company.    The [waiver] [release] will take effect on                ,                20    , and the shares may be sold on or after such date.    

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

 

AN-I


Annex II

[FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT]

Blend Labs, Inc.

Lock-Up Agreement

 

 

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

Allen & Company LLC

c/o Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

200 West Street

New York, NY 10282-2198

c/o Allen & Company LLC

711 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10022-311

 

  Re:

Blend Labs, Inc. - Lock-Up Agreement

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned understands that you, as representatives (the “Representatives”), propose to enter into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) on behalf of the several Underwriters named in Schedule I to such agreement (collectively, the “Underwriters”), with Blend Labs, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), providing for a public offering (the “Public Offering”) of the common stock, par value $0.00001 per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Company (the “Shares”) pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. As used herein, the term “Common Stock” means all shares of the Company, including all series or classes of common stock, if more than one.

In consideration of the agreement by the Underwriters to offer and sell the Shares, and of other good and valuable consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned agrees that, during the period beginning from the date of this letter agreement (the “Lock-Up Agreement”) and continuing to and including the date 180 days after the date set forth on the cover of the final prospectus (such period, the “Lock-Up Period,” and the date of such final prospectus, the “Public Offering Date”) relating to the Public Offering (the “Prospectus”), the undersigned shall not, and shall not cause or direct any of its affiliates to, (i) offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option to purchase, lend or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common Stock of the Company, or any options or warrants to purchase any shares of Common Stock of the Company, or any securities convertible into, exchangeable for or that represent the right to receive shares of Common Stock of the Company (such options, warrants or other securities, collectively, “Derivative Instruments”), including without limitation any such shares or Derivative Instruments now owned or hereafter acquired by the undersigned, (ii) engage in any

 

AN-II


hedging or other transaction or arrangement (including, without limitation, any short sale or the purchase or sale of, or entry into, any put or call option, or combination thereof, forward, swap or any other derivative transaction or instrument, however described or defined) which is designed to or which reasonably could be expected to lead to or result in a sale, loan, pledge or other disposition (whether by the undersigned or someone other than the undersigned), or transfer of any of the economic consequences of ownership, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, of any shares of Common Stock of the Company or Derivative Instruments, whether any such transaction or arrangement (or instrument provided for thereunder) would be settled by delivery of Common Stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise (any such sale, loan, pledge or other disposition, or transfer of economic consequences, a “Transfer”) or (iii) otherwise publicly announce any intention to engage in or cause any action or activity described in clause (i) above or transaction or arrangement described in clause (ii) above. The undersigned represents and warrants that the undersigned is not, and has not caused or directed any of its affiliates to be or become, currently a party to any agreement or arrangement that provides for, is designed to or which reasonably could be expected to lead to or result in any Transfer during the Lock-Up Period. For the avoidance of doubt, the undersigned agrees that the foregoing provisions shall be equally applicable to any issuer-directed or other Shares the undersigned may purchase in the Public Offering.

Notwithstanding the foregoing,

(a) If the undersigned is a current or former employee, consultant, or advisor of the Company (in each case excluding any officer within the meaning of Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) or any employee designated as an “Executive Officer” in the Management section of the Prospectus and any director of the Company), the undersigned may sell in the public market a number of shares of Common Stock not in excess of 25% of the aggregate number of vested shares of Common Stock owned by the undersigned, and issuable upon exercise of vested options to purchase shares of Common Stock held by the undersigned, rounded down to the nearest whole share, as of the date that is ten (10) days prior to Public Offering Date (the “Measurement Date”), beginning at the commencement of trading on the Trading Day (as defined below) following the first Trading Day (the “First Early Release Triggering Day”) that does not fall in a Blackout Period (as defined below) where the last reported closing price of the Common Stock on the exchange on which the Common Stock is listed is at least 25% greater than the Public Offering price per share set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus for any five Trading Days out of the 10-consecutive full Trading Day period (such period, the “First Early Release Trading Period”) ending on the First Early Release Triggering Day; provided that if the Public Offering Date is more than five but less than 10 Trading Days prior to the First Early Release Triggering Day, the First Early Release Trading Period shall be reduced to the amount of Trading Days between the Public Offering Date and the First Early Release Triggering Day; and

(b) The undersigned may sell in the public market (in addition to any shares of Common Stock that the undersigned is permitted to continue to sell pursuant to paragraph (a)), a number of shares of Common Stock not in excess of 25% of the aggregate number of vested shares of Common Stock owned by the undersigned, and issuable upon exercise of vested options to purchase shares of Common Stock held by the undersigned, rounded down to the nearest whole share, as of the Measurement Date beginning at the commencement of trading on the Trading Day following the first Trading Day (the “Second Early Release Triggering Day”) that is at least 90 days following the date of the Prospectus and does not fall in a Blackout Period, where the last reported closing price of the Common Stock on the exchange on which the Common Stock is listed is at least 25% greater than the Public Offering price per share set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus for any five Trading Days out of the 10-consecutive full Trading Day period ending on such Second Early Release Triggering Day.


The release of the undersigned’s shares from the restrictions contained in this Lock-Up Agreement pursuant to paragraph (a) shall not include shares owned by any limited liability company, partnership, corporation, trust or other entity (including, without limitation, any investment fund), unless all of the equity interests and other economic interests in such entity are owned exclusively by the undersigned and immediate family members of the undersigned. The undersigned acknowledges that the Company will instruct the transfer agent and registrar to remove stop transfer instructions using a “first in, first out” methodology if less than all of the undersigned’s Common Stock is to be released.

If the undersigned is not a natural person, the undersigned represents and warrants that no single natural person, entity or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), other than a natural person, entity or “group” (as described above) that has executed a Lock-Up Agreement in substantially the same form as this Lock-Up Agreement, beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the common equity interests, or 50% or more of the voting power, in the undersigned.

If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, (i) the Representatives agree that, at least three business days before the effective date of any release or waiver of the foregoing restrictions in connection with a transfer of shares of Common Stock, the Representatives will notify the Company of the impending release or waiver, and (ii) the Company has agreed in the Underwriting Agreement to announce the impending release or waiver by press release through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver. Any release or waiver granted by the Representatives hereunder to any such officer or director shall only be effective two business days after the publication date of such press release. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if (a) the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer not for consideration and (b) the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this Lock-Up Agreement to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of the transfer.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the undersigned may:

(x) transfer the undersigned’s shares of Common Stock:

(i) as a bona fide gift or gifts, charitable contribution or bona fide estate planning purposes,

(ii) to any member of the undersigned’s immediate family or to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned, or if the undersigned is a trust, to a trustor or beneficiary of the trust or to the estate of a beneficiary of such trust,

(iii) upon death or by will, testamentary document or the laws of intestate succession,

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

(v) to the Company from the undersigned upon death, disability or termination of employment,


(vi) in connection with a sale of the undersigned’s shares of Common Stock acquired (A) from the Underwriters in the Public Offering or (B) in open market transactions after the Public Offering Date,

(vii) if the undersigned is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other business entity, (A) to another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other business entity that is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) of the undersigned, or to any investment fund or other entity controlling, controlled by, managing or managed by or under common control with the undersigned or affiliates of the undersigned (including, for the avoidance of doubt, where the undersigned is a partnership, to its general partner or a successor partnership or fund, or any other funds managed by such partnership), or (B) as part of a distribution, transfer or disposition without consideration by the undersigned to its stockholders, partners, members or other equity holders,

(viii) to the Company for the purposes of exercising (including for the payment of tax withholdings or remittance payments due as a result of such exercise) on a “net exercise” basis options to purchase shares of Common Stock; provided that any such shares of Common Stock received upon such exercise shall be subject to the terms of this Lock-Up Agreement, and provided further that any such options are held by the undersigned as of the Public Offering Date and were issued pursuant to equity awards granted under a stock incentive plan or other equity award plan, which plan is described in the Prospectus,

(ix) to the Company in connection with the repurchase of shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to equity awards granted under a stock incentive plan or other equity award plan, which plan is described in the Prospectus, or pursuant to the agreements pursuant to which such shares were issued, as described in the Prospectus, provided that such repurchase of shares of Common Stock is in connection with the termination of the undersigned’s service provider relationship with the Company,

(x) pursuant to a bona fide third-party tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction that is approved by the board of directors of the Company and made to all holders of the Company’s capital stock the result of which is that any “person” (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), or group of persons, becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 of the Exchange Act) of more than 50% of total voting power of the voting stock of the Company or the surviving entity (a “Change of Control Transaction”), provided that in the event that such Change of Control Transaction is not completed, the undersigned’s shares of Common Stock shall remain subject to the provisions of this Lock-Up Agreement,

(xi) in connection with the conversion or reclassification of the outstanding preferred stock into shares of Common Stock, or any reclassification or conversion of the Common Stock, provided that any such shares of Common Stock received upon such conversion or reclassification shall be subject to the terms of this Lock-Up Agreement,

(xii) by operation of law, pursuant to a final qualified domestic order, divorce settlement, divorce decree or separation agreement,

(xiii) to the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement,

(xiv) with the prior written consent of the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters; or


(xv) if the undersigned is a non-executive and non-director employee, in connection with the creation of any charge, lien, mortgage, pledge or other security interest or posting as collateral any of the shares of Common Stock in connection with a bona fide loan transaction; provided that (A) prior to entering into the collateral agreement or similar agreement in connection with the loan transaction, each pledgee shall execute and deliver to the Representatives a lock-up agreement in substantially the form of this Lock-Up Agreement to take effect in the event that the pledgee takes possession of the undersigned’s Common Stock as a result of a foreclosure, margin call or similar disposition, (B) no filing by any party under the Exchange Act shall be made voluntarily in connection with such transaction or any future transfer as a result of a foreclosure, margin call or similar disposition (other than a filing on a Form 5 made after the expiration of the Lock-Up Period) and (C) any required filing under the Exchange Act shall clearly indicate in the footnotes therein that the shares of Common Stock transferred in connection with such transfer will remain subject to this Lock-Up Agreement; provided further, that if the undersigned is entitled to sell shares on the open market pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) above, the undersigned may also transfer such securities pursuant to this clause (xv) during the early release window provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above, as applicable, without regard to clauses (A) to (C) above;

provided, however, that (A) in the case of clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (vii) and (xii) above, it shall be a condition to the transfer or distribution that the donee, devisee, transferee or distributee, as the case may be, agrees in writing to be bound by the restrictions set forth herein, and there shall be no further transfer of such Common Stock except in accordance with this Lock-Up Agreement, (B) in the case of clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (vii), and (xi) above, such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value, (C) in the case of clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) above, no filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act or other public filing, report or announcement reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock shall be required or shall be voluntarily made during the Lock-Up Period (other than any required Form 5 filing), (D) in the case of clauses (vi) and (vii) above, no filing under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, or other public filing, report or announcement shall be required or shall be voluntarily made during the Lock-Up Period in connection with such transfer or distribution, and (E) in the case of clauses (v), (viii), (ix) and (xii) above, it shall be a condition to such transfer that if any filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, or other public filing, report or announcement reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock in connection with such transfer or distribution shall be legally required during the Lock-Up Period, such filing, report or announcement shall clearly indicate in the footnotes thereto the nature and conditions of such transfer; or

(y) enter into a written plan meeting the requirements of Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act after the date of this Lock-Up Agreement relating to the transfer, sale or other disposition of securities of the undersigned, if then permitted by the Company, provided that (1) the securities subject to such plan may not be transferred until after the expiration of the Lock-Up Period and (2) no public announcement or filing under the Exchange Act shall be required or shall be voluntarily made by any person regarding the establishment of such plan during the Lock-Up Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the undersigned is entitled to sell shares on the open market pursuant to paragraph (b) above, the undersigned may also transfer such securities pursuant to this paragraph (y) during the early release window provided in paragraph (b) above without regard to clause (2) above.

For purposes of this Lock-Up Agreement, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin. The undersigned now has, and, except as contemplated by clause (x) above, for the duration of this Lock-Up Agreement will have, good and marketable title to the undersigned’s shares of Common Stock of the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, and claims whatsoever. The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of the undersigned’s shares of Common Stock of the Company except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.


In addition, and notwithstanding the provisions of the second paragraph of this Lock-Up Agreement, if the Lock-Up Period is scheduled to end during a Blackout Period or within five Trading Days prior to a Blackout Period (such period, the “Specified Period”), the Lock-Up Period shall end 10 Trading Days prior to the commencement of the Blackout Period (the “Blackout-Related Release”); provided that in the event that the Lock-Up Period will end during the Specified Period, the Company shall notify the Representatives of the date of the impending Blackout-Related Release promptly upon the Company’s determination of the date of the Blackout-Related Release and in any event at least seven Trading Days in advance of the date of the Blackout-Related Release, and shall announce the date of the expected Blackout-Related Release through a major news service, or on a Form 8-K, at least two Trading Days in advance of the Blackout-Related Release. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event that this paragraph conflicts with any other paragraph of this Lock-Up Agreement, the undersigned will be entitled to the earliest release date for the maximum number of shares available under this Lock-Up Agreement.

For purposes of this Lock-Up Agreement, a “Trading Day” is a day on which the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Market are open for the buying and selling of securities (including days where trading closes early). For purposes of this Lock-Up Agreement, “Blackout Period” shall mean a broadly applicable and regularly scheduled period during which trading in the Company’s securities would not be permitted under the Company’s insider trading policy.

The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that none of the Underwriters has made any recommendation or provided any investment or other advice to the undersigned with respect to this Lock-Up Agreement or the subject matter hereof, and the undersigned has consulted its own legal, accounting, financial, regulatory, tax and other advisors with respect to this Lock-Up Agreement and the subject matter hereof to the extent the undersigned has deemed appropriate.

The undersigned understands that the Company and the Underwriters are relying upon this Lock-Up Agreement in proceeding toward consummation of the Public Offering. The undersigned further understands that this Lock-Up Agreement is irrevocable and shall be binding upon the undersigned’s heirs, legal representatives, successors, and assigns.

In the event that either of the Representatives withdraws from or declines to participate in the Public Offering, all references to the Representatives contained in this Lock-Up Agreement shall be deemed to refer to the sole Representative that continues to participate in the Public Offering (the “Remaining Representative”), and, in such event, any written consent, waiver or notice given or delivered in connection with this Lock-Up Agreement by the Remaining Representative shall be deemed to be sufficient and effective for all purposes under this Lock-Up Agreement.

Whether or not the Public Offering actually occurs depends on a number of factors, including market conditions. Any Public Offering will only be made pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, the terms of which are subject to negotiation between the Company and the Underwriters. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, this Letter Agreement will automatically terminate and the undersigned will be released from all obligations hereunder upon the earliest to occur, if any, of (i) the date that the Company advises the Representatives in writing prior to the execution of the Underwriting Agreement that it has determined not to proceed


with the Public Offering, (ii) the date that the Representatives advise the Company in writing prior to the execution of the Underwriting Agreement that they have determined not to proceed with the Public Offering, (iii) the date that the Company files an application to withdraw the Registration Statement on Form S-1 related to the Public Offering prior to the execution of the Underwriting Agreement, (iv) the date that the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated prior to payment for and delivery of the Shares to be sold thereunder, or (v) December 31, 2021, if the Underwriting Agreement has not been executed by such date, provided that the Company may by written notice to the undersigned prior to December 31, 2021 extend such date for a period of up to an additional three months.

This Letter Agreement may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including pdf or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, e.g., www.docusign.com or www.echosign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

[Signature page follows]


Very truly yours,

 

IF AN ENTITY:

 

  (please print complete name of entity)
By:  

 

  (duly authorized signature)
Name:  

 

  (please print full name)
Title:  

 

  (please print full title)
IF AN INDIVIDUAL:
By:  

 

  (duly authorized signature)
Name:  

 

  (please print full name)

Exhibit 3.1

AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

BLEND LABS, INC.

Blend Labs, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, does hereby certify that:

1.    The name of this corporation is Blend Labs, Inc.

2.    The Certificate of Incorporation of this corporation was originally filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on April 17, 2012.

3.    The Board of Directors duly adopted resolutions proposing to amend and restate the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of this corporation, declaring said amendment and restatement to be advisable and in the best interests of this corporation and its stockholders, and authorizing the appropriate officers of this corporation to solicit the consent of the stockholders therefor, which resolution setting forth the proposed amendment and restatement is as follows:

RESOLVED, that the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of this corporation be amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

ARTICLE I

The name of this corporation is Blend Labs, Inc. (the “Corporation”).

ARTICLE II

The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 3500 S. DuPont Hwy, in the City of Dover, County of Kent, Zip Code 19901. The name of its registered agent at such address is Incorporating Services, Ltd.

ARTICLE III

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the Delaware General Corporation Law.

ARTICLE IV

(A)    Classes of Stock. This Corporation is authorized to issue four classes of stock to be designated, respectively, “Class A Common Stock”, “Class B Common Stock”, “Founders Preferred Stock” and “Preferred Stock.” The total number of shares that this Corporation is authorized to issue is 637,221,699, each with a par value of $0.00001, 199,364,292 shares shall be Class A Common Stock, 286,666,667 shares shall be Class B Common Stock, 1,026,008 shares shall be Founders Preferred Stock and 150,164,732 shares shall be Preferred Stock, of which 15,483,330 shall be designated “Series A Preferred Stock,” of which 12,180,448 shall be designated “Series B Preferred Stock,” of which 8,382,809 shall be designated “Series B-1 Preferred Stock,” of which 15,583,719 shall be designated “Series C Preferred Stock,” of which 33,334,113 shall be designated “Series D Preferred Stock,” of which 4,317,726 shall be designated “Series D-1 Preferred Stock,” of which 27,624,259 shall be designated “Series E


Preferred Stock,” of which 9,906,985 shall be designated “Series F Preferred Stock,” and of which 23,351,343 shall be designated “Series G Preferred Stock.” The Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shall be collectively referred to herein as, the “Common Stock.”

Immediately upon the effectiveness of this Amended Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Filing Date”), automatically and without further action on the part of the corporation or any stockholder, the following recapitalization (the “Reverse Stock Split”) shall occur: (i) each three (3) shares of Class A Common Stock that are issued and outstanding or held in treasury immediately prior to the Filing Date shall be combined and reconstituted into one (1) share of Class A Common Stock, (ii) each three (3) shares of Class B Common Stock that are issued and outstanding or held in treasury immediately prior to the Filing Date shall be combined and reconstituted into one (1) share of Class B Common Stock, (iii) each three (3) shares of Founders Preferred Stock that are issued and outstanding or held in treasury immediately prior to the Filing Date shall be combined and reconstituted into one (1) share of Founders Preferred Stock, (iv) each three (3) shares of Series A Preferred Stock that are issued and outstanding or held in treasury immediately prior to the Filing Date shall be combined and reconstituted into one (1) share of Series A Preferred Stock, (v) each three (3) shares of Series B Preferred Stock that are issued and outstanding or held in treasury immediately prior to the Filing Date shall be combined and reconstituted into one (1) share of Series B Preferred Stock, (vi) each three (3) shares of Series B-1 Preferred Stock that are issued and outstanding or held in treasury immediately prior to the Filing Date shall be combined and reconstituted into one (1) share of Series B-1 Preferred Stock, (vii) each three (3) shares of Series C Preferred Stock that are issued and outstanding or held in treasury immediately prior to the Filing Date shall be combined and reconstituted into one (1) share of Series C Preferred Stock, (viii) each three (3) shares of Series D Preferred Stock that are issued and outstanding or held in treasury immediately prior to the Filing Date shall be combined and reconstituted into one (1) share of Series D Preferred Stock, (ix) each three (3) shares of Series D-1 Preferred Stock that are issued and outstanding or held in treasury immediately prior to the Filing Date shall be combined and reconstituted into one (1) share of Series D-1 Preferred Stock, (x) each three (3) shares of Series E Preferred Stock that are issued and outstanding or held in treasury immediately prior to the Filing Date shall be combined and reconstituted into one (1) share of Series E Preferred Stock, (xi) each three (3) shares of Series F Preferred Stock that are issued and outstanding or held in treasury immediately prior to the Filing Date shall be combined and reconstituted into one (1) share of Series F Preferred Stock, and (xii) each three (3) shares of Series G Preferred Stock that are issued and outstanding or held in treasury immediately prior to the Filing Date shall be combined and reconstituted into one (1) share of Series G Preferred Stock. Any stock certificate that, immediately prior to the Filing Date, represents shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock, Founders Preferred Stock, Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock, Series B-1 Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock, Series D Preferred Stock, Series D-1 Preferred Stock, Series E Preferred Stock, Series F Preferred Stock, or Series G Preferred Stock shall, from and after the Filing Date, automatically and without the necessity of presenting the same for exchange, represent that number of shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock, Founders Preferred Stock, Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock, Series B-1 Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock, Series D Preferred Stock, Series D-1 Preferred Stock, Series E Preferred Stock, Series F Preferred Stock, and Series G Preferred Stock, as the case may be, as equals the number obtained by dividing the number of shares of such Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock, Founders Preferred Stock, Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock, Series B-1 Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock, Series D Preferred Stock, Series D-1 Preferred Stock, Series E Preferred Stock, Series F Preferred Stock, or Series G Preferred Stock represented by such certificate immediately prior to the Filing Date by three (3). All share and per share amounts and rights, preferences and privileges of the Class A Common Stock, the Class B Common stock, the Founders Preferred Stock, and the Preferred Stock contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Restated Certificate”) reflect the Reverse Stock Split (that is, all numeric references and other provisions included in this Restated Certificate have already given effect to, and no further adjustment shall be made on account of, the Reverse Stock Split).


(B)    Rights, Preferences and Restrictions of Preferred Stock. The rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions granted to and imposed on the Preferred Stock are as set forth below in this Article IV(B). Unless otherwise described herein, section references in this Article IV(B) refer to sections of Article IV(B).

1.    Dividend Provisions. The holders of shares of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive dividends, out of any assets legally available therefor, prior and in preference to any declaration or payment of any dividend (payable other than in Common Stock or other securities and rights convertible into or entitling the holder thereof to receive, directly or indirectly, additional shares of Common Stock) on the Common Stock or Founders Preferred Stock of the Corporation, at the rate of $0.023664 per share per annum on each outstanding share of Series A Preferred Stock, at the rate of $0.054063 per share per annum on each outstanding share of Series B Preferred Stock, at the rate of $0.071574 per share per annum on each outstanding share of Series B-1 Preferred Stock, at the rate of $0.146307 per share per annum on each outstanding share of Series C Preferred Stock, at the rate of $0.213756 per share per annum on each outstanding share of Series D Preferred Stock, at the rate of $0.236235 per share per annum on each outstanding share of Series D-1 Preferred Stock, at the rate of $0.285210 per share per annum on each outstanding share of Series E Preferred Stock, at the rate of $0.463662 per share per annum on each outstanding share of Series F Preferred Stock, and at the rate of $0.829668 per share per annum on each outstanding share of Series G Preferred Stock (each as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reclassification and the like; provided that such number already reflects the Reverse Stock Split) then held by them, payable when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”). Such dividends shall be non-cumulative. After payment of such dividends, any additional dividends shall be distributed among the holders of Common Stock, Preferred Stock and Founders Preferred Stock pro rata based on the number of shares of Common Stock then held by each holder (assuming conversion of all Preferred Stock and Founders Preferred Stock into Common Stock.

2.    Liquidation.

(a)    Preference. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution, winding up or Liquidation Transaction (defined below) of the Corporation, either voluntary or involuntary, the holders of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, prior and in preference to any distribution of any of the assets of the Corporation and proceeds of the Liquidation Transaction (defined below) to the holders of Common Stock and Founders Preferred Stock, by reason of their ownership thereof, an amount per share equal to the sum of the applicable Original Issue Price (as defined below) for such series of Preferred Stock, plus declared but unpaid dividends on such share. For purposes of this Restated Certificate, “Original Issue Price” shall mean $0.394392 per share for each outstanding share of Series A Preferred Stock, $0.901041 per share for each outstanding share of Series B Preferred Stock, $1.192917 per share for each outstanding share of Series B–1 Preferred Stock, $2.438442 per share for each outstanding share of Series C Preferred Stock, $3.562605 per share for each outstanding share of Series D Preferred Stock, $3.937257 per share for each outstanding share of Series D-1 Preferred Stock, $4.753482 per share for each outstanding share of Series E Preferred Stock, $7.727718 per share for each outstanding share of Series F Preferred Stock, and $13.827822 per share for each outstanding share of Series G Preferred Stock then held by them (in each case, as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reclassification and the like; provided that each such number already reflects the Reverse Stock Split), plus any declared or accrued but unpaid dividends. If, upon the occurrence of such event, the assets thus distributed among the holders of Preferred Stock shall be insufficient to permit the payment to such holders of the full aforesaid preferential amounts, then the entire assets of the Corporation and proceeds from the Liquidation Transaction legally available for distribution shall be distributed ratably among the holders of Preferred Stock in proportion to the full preferential amount each such holder is otherwise entitled to receive under this Section 2(a).


(b)    Remaining Assets. Upon the completion of the distribution required by Section 2(a) above the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to stockholders shall be distributed among the holders of Common Stock and Founders Preferred Stock pro rata based on the number of shares of Common Stock held by each such holder (assuming conversion of all Founders Preferred Stock into Common Stock).

(c)    Deemed Conversion. Notwithstanding the above, for purposes of determining the amount each holder of shares of Preferred Stock is entitled to receive with respect to a Liquidation Transaction, as defined below, each such holder of shares of a series of Preferred Stock shall be deemed to have converted (regardless of whether such holder actually converted) such holder’s shares of such series into shares of Common Stock immediately prior to the Liquidation Transaction if, as a result of an actual conversion, such holder would receive, in the aggregate as a result of all such shares, an amount greater than the amount that would be distributed to such holder if such holder did not convert such series of Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock. If any such holder shall be deemed to have converted shares of Preferred Stock into Common Stock pursuant to this paragraph, then such holder shall not be entitled to receive any distribution that would otherwise be made to holders of Preferred Stock that have not converted (or have not been deemed to have converted) into shares of Common Stock.

(d)    Allocation of Escrow and Contingent Consideration. In the event of a Liquidation Transaction, if any portion of the consideration payable to the stockholders of the Corporation is payable only upon satisfaction of contingencies (the “Additional Consideration”), the definitive agreement with respect to such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation shall provide that (a) the portion of such consideration that is not Additional Consideration (such portion, the “Initial Consideration”) shall be allocated among the holders of capital stock of the Corporation in accordance with Sections 2(a), 2(b) and 2(c) as if the Initial Consideration were the only consideration payable in connection with such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation and (b) any Additional Consideration which becomes payable to the stockholders of the Corporation upon satisfaction of such contingencies shall be allocated among the holders of capital stock of the Corporation in accordance with Sections 2(a), 2(b) and 2(c) after taking into account the previous payment of the Initial Consideration as part of the same transaction. For the purposes of this Section 2(d), consideration placed into escrow or retained as holdback to be available for satisfaction of indemnification or similar obligations in connection with such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation shall be deemed to be Additional Consideration.

(e)    Certain Acquisitions.

(i)    Deemed Liquidation. For purposes of this Section 2, a Liquidation Transaction shall include (A) the sale, conveyance, or other disposition of all or substantially all of its property, assets or business (including an exclusive license of all or substantially all of the intellectual property of the Corporation) in a single transaction or series of related transactions, (B) the consummation of the merger or consolidation of this Corporation with any other corporation, limited liability company or other entity (other than a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation), (C) the closing of a transfer (whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, to a person or group of affiliated persons (other than an underwriter of the Corporation’s securities), of the Corporation’s securities if, after such closing, such person or group of affiliated persons would hold 50% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation (or the surviving or acquiring entity), (D) a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of this corporation (any such transaction, a “Liquidation Transaction”), provided that none of the following shall be considered a Liquidation Transaction: (1) a merger effected exclusively for the purpose of changing the domicile of the Corporation, (2) a consolidation or merger with or into a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation, (3) a bona fide equity financing primarily for capital raising purposes in which the Corporation is the surviving corporation, or (4) a transaction in which the existing stockholders of the Corporation immediately prior to the transaction own


immediately following such transaction, as a result of securities of the Corporation held immediately prior to such transaction 50% or more of the voting capital stock (on an as converted to Common Stock basis) of the surviving corporation following the transaction. In the event of a merger or consolidation of the Corporation that is deemed pursuant to this section to be a Liquidation Transaction, all references in this Section 2 to “assets of the Corporation” shall be deemed instead to refer to the aggregate consideration to be paid to the holders of the Corporation’s capital stock in such Liquidation Transaction as well as any other assets of the Corporation that may legally be distributed to such. The holders of a majority of the Corporation’s outstanding Preferred Stock (but excluding Excess Shares (as defined below)), voting together as a single class on an as converted to Common Stock basis, shall be entitled to waive the treatment of a transaction as a Liquidation Transaction under this section; provided, however, that if such waiver is in connection with a Liquidation Transaction in which the proceeds from such Liquidation Transaction to which the holders of Series D Preferred Stock would be entitled to receive is less than $3.562605 per share (as adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, combinations, subdivisions and the like with respect to such series of Preferred Stock; provided that such number already reflects the Reverse Stock Split), then the waiver shall not be effective unless approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series D Preferred Stock, voting separately as a separate series (and each BHCA Stockholder (as defined below) as a holder of shares of Preferred Stock shall be permitted to vote, or consent with respect to, any shares of Preferred Stock it may hold that are Excess Shares in respect of any such vote or consent); provided, further, that if such waiver is in connection with a Liquidation Transaction in which the proceeds from such Liquidation Transaction to which the holders of Series E Preferred Stock would be entitled to receive is less than $4.753482 per share (as adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, combinations, subdivisions and the like with respect to such series of Preferred Stock; provided that such number already reflects the Reverse Stock Split) following such waiver, then the waiver shall not be effective unless approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series E Preferred Stock, voting separately as a separate series; provided, further, that if such waiver is in connection with a Liquidation Transaction in which the proceeds from such Liquidation Transaction to which the holders of Series F Preferred Stock would be entitled to receive is less than $7.727718 per share (as adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, combinations, subdivisions and the like with respect to such series of Preferred Stock; provided that such number already reflects the Reverse Stock Split) following such waiver, then the waiver shall not be effective unless approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series F Preferred Stock, voting separately as a separate series; provided, further, that if such waiver is in connection with a Liquidation Transaction in which the proceeds from such Liquidation Transaction to which the holders of Series G Preferred Stock would be entitled to receive is less than $13.827822 per share (as adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, combinations, subdivisions and the like with respect to such series of Preferred Stock; provided that such number already reflects the Reverse Stock Split) following such waiver, then the waiver shall not be effective unless approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series G Preferred Stock, voting separately as a separate series.

(ii)    Valuation of Consideration. In the event of any deemed liquidation as described in Section 2(e)(i) above, if the consideration received by the Corporation is other than cash, its value will be deemed its fair market value as reasonably determined in good faith by the Board of Directors. Any securities shall be valued as follows:

(A)    Securities not subject to investment letter or other similar restrictions on free marketability:

(1)    If traded on a securities exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”), the value shall be based on a formula approved by the Board of Directors and derived from the closing prices of the securities on such exchange or Nasdaq over a specified time period;


(2)    If actively traded over-the-counter, the value shall be based on a formula approved by the Board of Directors and derived from the closing bid or sales prices (whichever is applicable) of such securities over a specified time period; and

(3)    If there is no active public market, the value shall be the fair market value thereof, as reasonably determined in good faith by the Board of Directors.

(B)    The method of valuation of securities subject to investment letter or other restrictions on free marketability (other than restrictions arising solely by virtue of a stockholder’s status as an affiliate or former affiliate) shall be to make an appropriate discount from the market value determined as specified above in Section 2(e)(ii)(A) to reflect the approximate fair market value thereof, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors.

(C)    The foregoing methods for valuing non-cash consideration to be distributed in connection with a Liquidation Transaction shall, with the appropriate approval of the definitive agreements governing such Liquidation Transaction by the stockholders under the General Corporation Law and Section 6 of this Article IV(B), be superseded by the determination of such value set forth in the definitive agreements governing such Liquidation Transaction.

(f)    Notice of Liquidation Transaction. The Corporation shall give each holder of record of Preferred Stock written notice of any impending Liquidation Transaction not later than 20 days prior to the stockholders’ meeting called to approve such Liquidation Transaction, or 20 days prior to the closing of such Liquidation Transaction, whichever is earlier, and shall also notify such holders in writing of the final approval of such Liquidation Transaction and the provisions of this Section 2, and the Corporation shall thereafter give such holders prompt notice of any material changes. The first of such notices shall describe the material terms and conditions of the impending Liquidation Transaction. Unless such notice requirements are waived, the Liquidation Transaction shall not take place sooner than 20 days after the Corporation has given the first notice provided for herein or sooner than 10 days after the Corporation has given notice of any material changes provided for herein. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Restated Certificate, all notice periods or requirements in this Restated Certificate may be shortened or waived on behalf of the holders of Preferred Stock, either before or after the action for which notice is required, upon the vote or written consent of the holders of a majority of the Corporation’s outstanding Preferred Stock (but excluding any Excess Shares (as defined below)) (voting together as a single class on an as converted to Common Stock basis) that are entitled to such notice rights.

(g)    Effect of Noncompliance. In the event the requirements of Section 2(f) are not complied with, the Corporation shall forthwith either cause the closing of the Liquidation Transaction to be postponed until the requirements of this Section 2 have been complied with, or cancel such Liquidation Transaction, in which event the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of the holders of Preferred Stock shall revert to and be the same as such rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions existing immediately prior to the date of the first notice referred to in Section 2(f).

(h)    Consideration to BHCA Stockholders. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event of any Liquidation Transaction, no BHCA Stockholder (as defined below) shall be required to accept any consideration that is not (i) cash or (ii) Marketable Securities in exchange for or in respect of such BHCA Stockholder’s shares of the Corporation’s capital stock. “Marketable Securities” shall mean securities meeting all of the following requirements: (1) the issuer thereof is then subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and is then current in its filing of all required reports and other information under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and the Exchange Act; (2) the class and series of shares or other security of the issuer that would be received by a


BHCA Stockholder in connection with a Liquidation Transaction is then traded or quoted on a nationally recognized securities exchange, inter-dealer quotation system or over-the-counter market; (3) the ownership or possession of such securities by a BHCA Stockholder is not impermissible or unduly burdensome under the BHCA or any rule, regulation or guidance promulgated thereunder and (4) following the closing of such Liquidation Transaction, a BHCA Stockholder would not be restricted from publicly reselling all of the issuer’s shares and/or other securities that would be received by such BHCA Stockholder in such Liquidation Transaction except to the extent that any such restriction (x) arises solely under federal or state securities laws, rules or regulations and (y) does not extend beyond six (6) months from the closing of such Liquidation Transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, securities held in escrow or subject to holdback to cover indemnification related claims shall be deemed to be Marketable Securities if they would otherwise be Marketable Securities but for the fact that they are held in escrow or subject to holdback to cover indemnification related claims.

3.    Redemption. Except in connection with a BHCA Put Right (as defined below), the Preferred Stock is not mandatorily redeemable.

4.    Conversion. The holders of shares of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to conversion rights as follows:

(a)    Right to Convert. Subject to Section 4(c), each share of Preferred Stock shall be convertible, at the option of the holder thereof, at any time after the date of issuance of such share, at the office of the Corporation or any transfer agent for such stock, into such number of fully paid and nonassessable shares of Class A Common Stock as is determined by dividing the Original Issue Price for such series (as such price may be adjusted to any stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, combinations, subdivisions and the like with respect to such series of Preferred Stock), by the Conversion Price applicable to such series, determined as hereafter provided, in effect on the date the certificate is surrendered for conversion (the “Conversion Rate”). The initial “Conversion Price” shall be $0.394392 per share for the Series A Preferred Stock, $0.901041 per share for the Series B Preferred Stock, $1.192917 per share for the Series B-1 Preferred Stock, $2.438442 per share for the Series C Preferred Stock, $3.562605 per share for the Series D Preferred Stock, $3.937257 per share for the Series D-1 Preferred Stock, $4.753482 per share for the Series E Preferred Stock, $7.727718 per share for the Series F Preferred Stock, and $13.827822 per share for the Series G Preferred Stock. Such initial Conversion Price for the Preferred Stock shall be subject to adjustment as set forth in Section 4(d) below (provided that such number already reflects the Reverse Stock Split). In addition, subject to Section 4(c), each share of Series D-1 Preferred Stock shall be convertible, at the option of the holder thereof, at any time after the date of issuance of such share, at the office of the Corporation or any transfer agent for such stock, into one (1) fully paid and nonassessable share of Series D Preferred Stock.

(b)    Automatic Conversion.

(i)    Each share of Preferred Stock shall automatically be converted into shares of Class A Common Stock at the Conversion Rate then in effect for such series of Preferred Stock immediately upon the earlier of (A) except as provided below in Section 4(c), immediately prior to the Corporation’s sale of its Common Stock in a public offering pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act which results in a price per share of not less than $13.827822 (subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or other similar recapitalization with respect to the Common Stock; provided that such number already reflects the Reverse Stock Split) and which results in aggregate cash proceeds to the Corporation of not less than $50,000,000 (net of underwriting discounts and commissions) (a “Qualified IPO”), (B) immediately prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, in connection with the initial listing of the Common Stock (or other equity securities of the Corporation into


which the Common Stock converts) on the Nasdaq Stock Market, the New York Stock Exchange or another exchange or marketplace approved by the Board of Directors by means of an effective registration statement under the Securities Act filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission, without a related underwritten offering of such Common Stock (or other equity securities) (a “Direct Listing”), (C) the Corporation’s consummation of a merger, consolidation, share exchange or similar transaction or series of transactions with a publicly-traded “special purpose acquisition company” or its subsidiary (collectively, a “SPAC”) in which the common stock (or similar securities) of the SPAC or its successor entity is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market, the New York Stock Exchange or another exchange or marketplace approved by the Board of Directors, immediately following the consummation of such transaction or series of transactions (such transaction or series of related transactions, the “SPAC Transaction”), or (D) the date specified by vote or written consent of the holders of a majority of the then-outstanding shares of Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class and not as separate series on an as converted to Common Stock basis; provided, that such majority must include the majority of then-outstanding shares of each of the Series E Preferred Stock , Series F Preferred Stock and Series G Preferred Stock, each voting as separate series, except in connection with a conversion pursuant to a Qualified IPO; and provided further, that each BHCA Stockholder as a holder of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to vote, or consent with respect to, any shares of Preferred Stock it may hold that are Excess Shares in respect of any vote required by this clause (D), and all such Excess Shares shall be counted for purposes of determining whether the requisite vote or consent has been obtained (an automatic conversion referred to in this clause (D) is referred to herein as a “Mandatory Conversion”); provided, further, with respect to the Series G Preferred Stock, (1) in the case of an automatic conversion pursuant to Subsection 4(b)(i)(B) the Board of Directors shall have unanimously determined in good faith after consultation with a Qualified Investment Bank (as defined below), that the Common Stock (or other equity securities of the Corporation into which the Common Stock converts) in such Direct Listing is expected to trade at a price per share of at least $13.827822 (subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or other similar recapitalization with respect to the Common Stock; provided that such number already reflects the Reverse Stock Split) at any time on the first day of trading (a “Qualified Direct Listing”) and (2) in the case of an automatic conversion pursuant to Subsection 4(b)(i)(C), the implied valuation of each share of Series G Preferred Stock upon consummation of any merger or consolidation effected in connection with a SPAC Transaction, measured in accordance with Section 2(e)(ii) must be at least $13.827822 per share (subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or other similar recapitalization with respect to the Common Stock; provided that such number already reflects the Reverse Stock Split) (a “Qualified SPAC Transaction”). Upon automatic conversion of all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock immediately prior to a SPAC Transaction pursuant to clause (B) of the immediately preceding sentence, all rights of the Preferred Stock under Section 2 with respect to preferential payments in connection with the SPAC Transaction as a Liquidation Transaction or otherwise will terminate, and no such rights shall apply with respect to the SPAC Transaction, provided that this sentence shall not reduce the consideration otherwise payable to holders of Series G Preferred Stock in respect of preferential payments under Section 2 in connection with any SPAC Transaction that is not a Qualified SPAC Transaction. A “Qualified Investment Bank” means (x) any of Allen & Company LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC or Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (or any of their respective successors), or (y) any other investment bank of national standing that is reasonably approved in writing by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series G Preferred Stock (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).

(ii)    Without limiting Section 4(b)(i)(D) above, upon the conversion of shares of Series D Preferred Stock pursuant to a Mandatory Conversion in connection with a Liquidation Transaction in which the proceeds of such Liquidation Transaction to the holders of Series D Preferred Stock as holders of Common Stock (i.e. after giving effect to the Mandatory Conversion) would be less, in the aggregate, than the proceeds of such Liquidation Transaction to be received by the holders of Series D Preferred Stock as holders of Series D Preferred Stock (i.e. assuming no such Mandatory Conversion), then,


in the event that such Mandatory Conversion was not consented to by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series D Preferred Stock (voting as a separate class), the Conversion Price of the Series D Preferred Stock that would otherwise be applied to such Mandatory Conversion shall be automatically adjusted (without further action) to the Conversion Price that results in the holders of Series D Preferred Stock being converted into Common Stock, pursuant to such Mandatory Conversion, receiving in such Mandatory Conversion that number of shares of Common Stock in respect of their shares of Series D Preferred Stock that will result in such holders receiving in the Liquidation Transaction an aggregate amount of proceeds that is equal to the amount of proceeds that would have been distributed to the holders of Series D Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 2 above (including, without limitation, Section 2(a)) with respect to such Liquidation Transaction had such Mandatory Conversion not occurred.

(iii)    Without limiting Section 4(b)(i)(D) above, the consent of the holders of a majority of the then-outstanding shares of Series E Preferred Stock (voting as a separate class) shall be required for the conversion of shares of Series E Preferred Stock pursuant to a Mandatory Conversion in connection with a Liquidation Transaction in which the proceeds of such Liquidation Transaction to the holders of Series E Preferred Stock as holders of Common Stock (i.e. after giving effect to the Mandatory Conversion) would be less, in the aggregate, than the proceeds of such Liquidation Transaction to be received by the holders of Series E Preferred Stock as holders of Series E Preferred Stock (i.e. assuming no such Mandatory Conversion).

(iv)    Without limiting Section 4(b)(i)(D) above, the consent of the holders of a majority of the then-outstanding shares of Series F Preferred Stock (voting as a separate class) shall be required for the conversion of shares of Series F Preferred Stock pursuant to a Mandatory Conversion in connection with a Liquidation Transaction in which the proceeds of such Liquidation Transaction to the holders of Series F Preferred Stock as holders of Common Stock (i.e. after giving effect to the Mandatory Conversion) would be less, in the aggregate, than the proceeds of such Liquidation Transaction to be received by the holders of Series F Preferred Stock as holders of Series F Preferred Stock (i.e. assuming no such Mandatory Conversion).

(v)    Without limiting Section 4(b)(i)(D) above, the consent of the holders of a majority of the then-outstanding shares of Series G Preferred Stock (voting as a separate class) shall be required for the conversion of shares of Series G Preferred Stock pursuant to a Mandatory Conversion in connection with a Liquidation Transaction in which the proceeds of such Liquidation Transaction to the holders of Series G Preferred Stock as holders of Common Stock (i.e. after giving effect to the Mandatory Conversion) would be less, in the aggregate, than the proceeds of such Liquidation Transaction to be received by the holders of Series G Preferred Stock as holders of Series G Preferred Stock (i.e. assuming no such Mandatory Conversion).

(c)    Mechanics of Conversion. Subject to Section 2(c) above, before any holder of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to convert such Preferred Stock into shares of Class A Common Stock, the holder shall (A) surrender the certificate or certificates therefor, duly endorsed, at the office of the Corporation or of any transfer agent for such series of Preferred Stock or (B) notify the Corporation or its transfer agent that such certificates have been lost, stolen or destroyed and execute an agreement satisfactory to the Corporation to indemnify the Corporation from any loss incurred by it in connection with such certificates, and, in each case, shall give written notice to the Corporation at its principal corporate office, of the election to convert the same and shall state therein the name or names in which the certificate or certificates for shares of Class A Common Stock are to be issued. The Corporation shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, (i) issue and deliver at such office to such holder of Preferred Stock, or to the nominee or nominees of such holder, a certificate or certificates for the number of shares of Class A Common Stock to which such holder shall be entitled as aforesaid and (ii) pay in cash or, to the extent sufficient funds are not then legally available therefor, in Class A Common Stock (at the Class A Common Stock’s fair market


value determined by the Board of Directors as of the date of such conversion), any declared and unpaid dividends on the shares of Preferred Stock being converted. Such conversion shall be deemed to have been made immediately prior to the close of business on the date of such surrender of the shares of such series of Preferred Stock to be converted, and the person or persons entitled to receive the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon such conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such shares of Class A Common Stock as of such date. If the conversion is in connection with a firm commitment underwritten public offering of securities, registered pursuant to the Securities Act, the conversion may, at the option of any holder tendering such Preferred Stock for conversion, be conditioned upon the closing of the sale of securities pursuant to such offering, in which event any persons entitled to receive Class A Common Stock upon conversion of such Preferred Stock shall not be deemed to have converted such Preferred Stock until immediately prior to the closing of such sale of securities. If the conversion is in connection with the automatic conversion provisions of Section 4(b)(i)(D) above, such conversion shall be deemed to have been made on the conversion date described in the stockholder consent approving such conversion, and the person entitled to receive shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon such conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holders of such shares of Class A Common Stock as of such date. Before any holder of Series D-1 Preferred Stock shall be entitled to convert such Series D-1 Preferred Stock into shares of Series D Preferred Stock, the holder shall (A) surrender the certificate or certificates therefor, duly endorsed, at the office of the Corporation or of any transfer agent for such Series D-1 Preferred Stock or (B) notify the Corporation or its transfer agent that such certificates have been lost, stolen or destroyed and execute an agreement satisfactory to the Corporation to indemnify the Corporation from any loss incurred by it in connection with such certificates, and, in each case, shall give written notice to the Corporation at its principal corporate office, of the election to convert the same and shall state therein the name or names in which the certificate or certificates for shares of Series D Preferred Stock are to be issued. The Corporation shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, issue and deliver at such office to such holder of Series D-1 Preferred Stock, or to the nominee or nominees of such holder, a certificate or certificates for the number of shares of Series D Preferred Stock to which such holder shall be entitled as aforesaid. Such conversion shall be deemed to have been made immediately prior to the close of business on the date of such surrender of the shares of such series of Series D-1 Preferred Stock to be converted, and the person or persons entitled to receive the shares of Series D Preferred Stock issuable upon such conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such shares of Series D Preferred Stock as of such date..

(d)    Conversion Price Adjustments of Preferred Stock for Certain Dilutive Issuances, Splits and Combinations. The Conversion Price of the Preferred Stock shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as follows:

(i)    Issuance of Additional Stock Below Purchase Price. If the Corporation should issue, at any time after the date upon which any shares of Series G Preferred Stock were first issued (the “Purchase Date”), any Additional Stock (as defined below) without consideration or for a consideration per share less than the Conversion Price applicable to such series of Preferred Stock in effect immediately prior to the issuance of such Additional Stock (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reclassifications, stock combinations and the like), the Conversion Price for each such series of Preferred Stock in effect immediately prior to each such issuance shall automatically be adjusted as set forth in this Section 4(d)(i), unless otherwise provided in this Section 4(d)(i).

(A)    Adjustment Formula. Whenever the Conversion Price is adjusted pursuant to this Section 4(d)(i), the new Conversion Price for such series shall be determined by multiplying the Conversion Price for such series then in effect by a fraction, (x) the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such issuance (the “Outstanding Common”) plus the number of shares of Common Stock that the aggregate consideration received by the Corporation for such issuance would purchase at such Conversion Price; and (y) the


denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Outstanding Common plus the number of shares of such Additional Stock. For purposes of the foregoing calculation, the term “Outstanding Common” shall mean and include the following: (1) shares of outstanding Common Stock, (2) shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of outstanding Preferred Stock, (3) shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options and (4) shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise (and, in the case of warrants to purchase Preferred Stock, conversion) of outstanding warrants, in each case as calculated pursuant to Section 4(d)(1)(E) below. In the event that the Corporation issues or sells, or is deemed to have issued or sold, shares of Additional Stock that results in an adjustment to a Conversion Price pursuant to the provisions of this Section 4(d) (the “First Dilutive Issuance”), and this corporation then issues or sells, or is deemed to have issued or sold, shares of Additional Stock in a subsequent issuance other than the First Dilutive Issuance that would result in further adjustment to a Conversion Price (a “Subsequent Dilutive Issuance”) pursuant to the same instruments as the First Dilutive Issuance, then and in each such case upon a Subsequent Dilutive Issuance the applicable Conversion Price for each series of Preferred Stock shall be reduced to the applicable Conversion Price that would have been in effect had the First Dilutive Issuance and each Subsequent Dilutive Issuance all occurred on the closing date of the First Dilutive Issuance.

(B)    Definition of Additional Stock. For purposes of this Section 4(d)(i), “Additional Stock” shall mean any shares of Common Stock issued (or deemed to have been issued pursuant to Section 4(d)(i)(E)) by the Corporation after the Purchase Date, (other than (1) through (10) below, the “Carve Out Stock”):

(1)    Shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions, as described in Section 4(d)(ii) hereof;

(2)    Shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise of convertible, exchangeable or exercisable securities outstanding as of the Purchase Date including, without limitation, warrants, notes or options;

(3)    Shares of Common Stock (or options therefor) issued or issuable to employees, consultants, officers or directors of the Corporation pursuant to stock option plans or restricted stock plans or agreements approved by the Board of Directors;

(4)    Shares of Common Stock issued or issuable in a Qualified IPO;

(5)    Shares of Common Stock issued or issuable pursuant to the Series G Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement, dated on or about the Filing Date, between the Corporation and the other parties thereto, as it may be amended;

(6)    Shares of Common Stock issued or issuable in connection with a bona fide acquisition by the Corporation of another company or business, which acquisition is approved by the Board of Directors, including the approval of at least one Preferred Director (as defined below);

(7)    Shares of Common Stock issued or issuable to financial institutions, equipment lessors, or similar persons in connection with commercial credit arrangements, equipment financings, commercial property lease transactions or similar transactions, in each case entered into for primarily non-equity financing purposes, which issuances are approved by the Board of Directors, including the approval of at least one Preferred Director;


(8)    Shares of Common Stock issued or issuable to an entity as a component of any business relationship with such entity primarily for the purpose of (A) joint venture, technology licensing or development activities, (B) distribution, supply or manufacture of the Corporation’s products or services or (C) any other arrangements involving corporate partners that are primarily for purposes other than raising capital, the terms of which are approved by the Board of Directors, including the approval of at least one Preferred Director;

(9)    Shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock; or

(10)    Shares of Common Stock issued or issuable pursuant to the exercise of warrants that are unanimously approved by the Board of Directors.

(C)    No Fractional Adjustments. No adjustment of the Conversion Price for a particular series of the Preferred Stock shall be made in an amount less than one hundredth of one cent per share, provided that any adjustments which are not required to be made by reason of this sentence shall be carried forward and shall be either taken into account in any subsequent adjustment made prior to three years from the date of the event giving rise to the adjustment being carried forward, or shall be made at the end of three years from the date of the event giving rise to the adjustment being carried forward. In lieu of any fractional shares to which the holder would otherwise be entitled, the Corporation shall pay cash equal to such fraction multiplied by the then fair market value of a share of Class A Common Stock as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors.

(D)    Determination of Consideration. In the case of the issuance of Additional Stock for cash, the consideration shall be deemed to be the amount of cash paid therefor before deducting any reasonable discounts, commissions or other expenses allowed, paid or incurred by the Corporation for any underwriting or otherwise in connection with the issuance and sale thereof. In the case of the issuance of the Additional Stock for a consideration in whole or in part other than cash, the consideration other than cash shall be deemed to be the fair value thereof as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors irrespective of any accounting treatment.

(E)    Deemed Issuances of Common Stock. In the case of the issuance (whether on or after the filing date of this Restated Certificate (the “Filing Date”)) of securities or rights convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable into, or entitling the holder thereof to receive, directly or indirectly, additional shares of Common Stock (the “Common Stock Equivalents”), the following provisions shall apply for all purposes of this Section 4(d)(i):

(1)    The aggregate maximum number of shares of Common Stock deliverable upon conversion, exchange or exercise (assuming the satisfaction of any conditions to convertibility, exchangeability or exercisability, including, without limitation, the passage of time, but without taking into account potential antidilution adjustments) of any Common Stock Equivalents and subsequent conversion, exchange or exercise thereof shall be deemed to have been issued at the time such securities were issued or such Common Stock Equivalents were issued and for a consideration equal to the consideration, if any, received by the Corporation for any such securities and related Common Stock Equivalents (excluding any cash received on account of accrued interest or accrued dividends), plus the minimum additional consideration, if any, to be received by the Corporation (without taking into account potential antidilution adjustments) upon the conversion, exchange or exercise of any Common Stock Equivalents (the consideration in each case to be determined in the manner provided in Section 4(d)(i)(D)).


(2)    In the event of any change in the number of shares of Common Stock deliverable or in the consideration payable to the Corporation upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any Common Stock Equivalents, other than a change resulting from the antidilution provisions thereof, the Conversion Price of any series of Preferred Stock, to the extent in any way affected by or computed using such Common Stock Equivalents, shall be recomputed to reflect such change, but no further adjustment shall be made for the actual issuance of Common Stock or any payment of such consideration upon the conversion, exchange or exercise of such Common Stock Equivalents.

(3)    Upon the termination or expiration of the convertibility, exchangeability or exercisability of any Common Stock Equivalents, the Conversion Price of any series of Preferred Stock, to the extent in any way affected by or computed using such Common Stock Equivalents, shall be recomputed to reflect the issuance of only the number of shares of Common Stock (and Common Stock Equivalents that remain convertible, exchangeable or exercisable) actually issued upon the conversion, exchange or exercise of such Common Stock Equivalents.

(4)    The number of shares of Common Stock deemed issued and the consideration deemed paid therefor pursuant to Section 4(d)(i)(E) shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect any change, termination or expiration of the type described in either Section 4(d)(i)(E)(2) or (3).

(F)    No Increased Conversion Price. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 4(d)(i), except to the limited extent provided for in Sections 4(d)(i)(E)(2) and (E)(3), no adjustment of the Conversion Price pursuant to this Section 4(d)(i) shall have the effect of increasing the Conversion Price above the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment.

(ii)    Stock Splits and Dividends. In the event the Corporation should at any time after the Filing Date fix a record date for the effectuation of a split or subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or the determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive a dividend or other distribution payable in additional shares of Common Stock without payment of any consideration by such holder for the additional shares of Common Stock or the Common Stock Equivalents (including the additional shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion or exercise thereof), then, as of such record date (or the date of such dividend distribution, split or subdivision if no record date is fixed), the Conversion Price of each series of Preferred Stock that is convertible into Common Stock shall be appropriately decreased so that the number of shares of Common Stock issuable on conversion of each share of such series shall be increased in proportion to such increase of the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock outstanding and those issuable with respect to such Common Stock Equivalents with the number of shares issuable with respect to Common Stock Equivalents determined from time to time in the manner provided for deemed issuances in Section 4(d)(i)(E).

(iii)    Reverse Stock Splits. If the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any time after the Filing Date is decreased by a combination of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, then, following the record date of such combination, the Conversion Price for each series of Preferred Stock shall be appropriately increased so that the number of shares of Common Stock issuable on conversion of each share of such series shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares.

(e)    Other Distributions. In the event the Corporation shall declare a distribution payable in securities of other persons, evidences of indebtedness issued by the Corporation or other persons, assets (excluding cash dividends) or options or rights not referred to in Section 4(d)(i) or in Section 4(d)(ii), then, in each such case for the purpose of this Section 4(e), the holders of each series of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to a proportionate share of any such distribution as though they were the holders of the number of shares of Common Stock into which their shares of Preferred Stock are convertible as of the record date fixed for the determination of the holders of Common Stock entitled to receive such distribution.


(f)    Recapitalizations. If at any time or from time to time there shall be a recapitalization of the Common Stock (other than a subdivision, combination or merger or sale of assets transaction provided for elsewhere in Section 2 or this Section 4) provision shall be made so that the holders of each series of Preferred Stock shall thereafter be entitled to receive upon conversion of such Preferred Stock the number of shares of stock or other securities or property of the Corporation or otherwise, to which a holder of Common Stock deliverable upon conversion would have been entitled on such recapitalization. In any such case, appropriate adjustment shall be made in the application of the provisions of this Section 4 with respect to the rights of the holders of such Preferred Stock after the recapitalization to the end that the provisions of this Section 4 (including adjustment of the Conversion Price then in effect and the number of shares issuable upon conversion of such Preferred Stock) shall be applicable after that event and be as nearly equivalent as practicable.

(g)    No Fractional Shares and Certificate as to Adjustments.

(i)    No fractional shares shall be issued upon the conversion of any share or shares of Preferred Stock, and the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued shall be rounded down to the nearest whole share. The number of shares issuable upon such conversion shall be determined on the basis of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock the holder is at the time converting into Common Stock and the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon such aggregate conversion. If the conversion would result in any fractional share, the Corporation shall, in lieu of issuing any such fractional share, pay the holder thereof an amount in cash equal to the fair market value of such fractional share on the date of conversion, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors.

(ii)    Upon the occurrence of each adjustment or readjustment of the Conversion Price of a series of Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 4, the Corporation, at its expense, shall promptly compute such adjustment or readjustment in accordance with the terms hereof. The Corporation shall, upon the written request at any time of any holder of such Preferred Stock, furnish or cause to be furnished to such holder a certificate setting forth such adjustment or readjustment and showing in detail the facts upon which such adjustment or readjustment is based. The Corporation shall, upon the written request at any time of any holder of Preferred Stock, furnish or cause to be furnished to such holder a like certificate setting forth (A) such adjustment and readjustment, (B) the Conversion Price for such series of Preferred Stock at the time in effect, and (C) the number of shares of Common Stock and the amount, if any, of other property that at the time would be received upon the conversion of a share of Preferred Stock.

(h)    Notices of Record Date. In the event of any taking by the Corporation of a record of the holders of any class of securities for the purpose of determining the holders thereof who are entitled to receive any dividend (other than a cash dividend) or other distribution, any right to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise acquire any shares of stock of any class or any other securities or property, or to receive any other right, the Corporation shall mail to each holder of Preferred Stock, at least 10 days prior to the date specified therein, a notice specifying the date on which any such record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution or right, and the amount and character of such dividend, distribution or right. All notice periods or requirements in this Restated Certificate may be shortened or waived, either before or after the action for which notice is required, upon the vote or written consent of the holders of a majority of the Corporation’s outstanding Preferred Stock (but excluding Excess Shares) (voting together as a single class on an as converted to Common Stock basis) that are entitled to such notice rights.


(i)    Reservation of Stock Issuable Upon Conversion. The Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock, solely for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the shares of each series of Preferred Stock, such number of its shares of Class A Common Stock as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the conversion of all outstanding shares of such series of Preferred Stock; and if at any time the number of authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock shall not be sufficient to effect the conversion of all then outstanding shares of such series of Preferred Stock, in addition to such other remedies as shall be available to the holder of such Preferred Stock, the Corporation will take such corporate action as may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary to increase its authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock to such number of shares as shall be sufficient for such purposes, including, without limitation, engaging in best efforts to obtain the requisite stockholder approval of any necessary amendment to this Restated Certificate.

(j)    Notices. Any notice required by the provisions of this Section 4 to be given to the holders of shares of Preferred Stock shall be deemed given if deposited in the U.S. mail, postage prepaid, and addressed to each holder of record at his address appearing on the books of the Corporation.

(k)    Waiver of Adjustment to Conversion Price. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any downward adjustment of the Conversion Price of each series of Preferred Stock may be waived, either prospectively or retroactively and either generally or in a particular instance, by the consent or vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock (but excluding any Excess Shares) (voting together as a single class on an as converted to Common Stock basis). Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, no downward adjustment of the Series D Preferred Stock Conversion Price may be waived either prospectively or retroactively, either generally or in a particular instance, pursuant to this paragraph unless holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding shares of Series D Preferred Stock approve such waiver (and each BHCA Stockholder as a holder of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to vote, or consent with respect to, any shares of Preferred Stock it may hold that are Excess Shares in respect of any such vote or consent, and all such Excess Shares shall be counted for purposes of determining whether the requisite vote has been obtained), no downward adjustment of the Series E Preferred Stock Conversion Price may be waived either prospectively or retroactively, either generally or in a particular instance, pursuant to this paragraph unless holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding shares of Series E Preferred Stock approve such waiver, no downward adjustment of the Series F Preferred Stock Conversion Price may be waived either prospectively or retroactively, either generally or in a particular instance, pursuant to this paragraph unless holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding shares of Series F Preferred Stock approve such waiver and no downward adjustment of the Series G Preferred Stock Conversion Price may be waived either prospectively or retroactively, either generally or in a particular instance, pursuant to this paragraph unless holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding shares of Series G Preferred Stock approve such waiver. Any such waiver shall bind all future holders of shares of Preferred Stock.

(l)    No Impairment. The Corporation will not, by amendment of its Certificate of Incorporation or through any reorganization, recapitalization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms to be observed or performed hereunder by the Corporation, but will at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all the provisions of this Section 4 and in the taking of all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order to protect the conversion rights of the holders of Preferred Stock against impairment.


5.    Voting Rights.

(a)    General Voting Rights. Except as expressly provided by this Restated Certificate or as provided by law, the holders of Preferred Stock shall have the same voting rights as the holders of Class A Common Stock and shall be entitled to notice of any stockholders’ meeting in accordance with the Bylaws of the Corporation, and the holders of Common Stock, the holders of Founders Preferred Stock and the holders of Preferred Stock shall vote together as a single class and on an as-converted basis on all matters. Except as expressly provided by this Restated Certificate, each holder of each share of Preferred Stock shall have the right to the number of votes to which a share of Class A Common Stock is entitled for each share of Class A Common Stock into which such Preferred Stock could then be converted as of the record date for determining stockholders entitled to vote on such matter (e.g., as of the Filing Date, a holder of two (2) shares of Preferred Stock as of the Filing Date would have the right to an aggregate of twenty (20) votes for the two (2) shares of Preferred Stock held by such holder). Fractional votes shall not, however, be permitted and any fractional voting rights available on an as-converted basis (after aggregating all shares into which shares of Preferred Stock held by each holder could be converted) shall be rounded to the nearest whole number (with one-half being rounded upward).

(b)    So long as at least 7,000,000 shares of Series D Preferred Stock remain outstanding (as adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends, combinations, subdivisions, recapitalizations or the like; provided that such number already reflects the Reverse Stock Split), the holders of such shares of Series D Preferred Stock shall be entitled to elect one (1) director of the Corporation at any election of directors (the “Series D Director”). So long as at least 4,000,000 shares of Series C Preferred Stock remain outstanding (as adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends, combinations, subdivisions, recapitalizations or the like; provided that such number already reflects the Reverse Stock Split), the holders of such shares of Series C Preferred Stock shall be entitled to elect one (1) director of the Corporation at any election of directors (the “Series C Director” and together with the Series D Director, the “Preferred Directors”). The holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding Class A Common Stock not issued upon conversion of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to elect four (4) directors of the Corporation at any election of directors (each, a “Common Director”). The holders of a majority of the voting power of the Preferred Stock and Common Stock (voting together as a single class and not as separate series, and on an as-converted basis) shall be entitled to elect any remaining directors of this corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in accordance with Section 5(c) below, no BHCA Stockholder (as defined herein) shall be entitled to vote, or consent with respect to, more than 4.99% of any “class of voting securities” (as defined below) of the Corporation with respect to any election of any director, and any Excess Shares shall not be counted for purposes of determining whether the requisite vote or written consent has been obtained or to be counted towards any quorum required pursuant to this Restated Certificate. One (1) of the Common Directors may be designated by the holders of a majority of the Corporation’s Class A Common Stock as the “Special Common Director” (the “Special Common Director”). The Special Common Director, if designated, shall have the number of votes as a director at each meeting and for each action by written consent of the Board of Directors equal to one (1) plus the number of then-vacant Common Director seats (i.e., if there are two (2) vacant Common Director seats, the Special Common Director shall have three (3) votes as a director at each meeting and for each action by written consent of the Board of Directors). The remaining directors shall each have one (1) vote as a director at each meeting and for each action by written consent of the Board of Directors. Every reference in this Restated Certificate or the Corporation’s bylaws to a majority or other proportion of the directors shall refer to a majority or other proportion of the votes of the directors.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 223(a)(1) and 223(a)(2) of the General Corporation Law, any vacancy, including newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or amendment of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation, and vacancies created by removal or resignation of a director, may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, though less than a


quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and the directors so chosen shall hold office until the next annual election and until their successors are duly elected and shall qualify, unless sooner displaced; provided, however, that where such vacancy occurs among the directors elected by the holders of a class or series of stock, the holders of shares of such class or series may override the Board of Directors’ action to fill such vacancy by (i) voting for their own designee to fill such vacancy at a meeting of the corporation’s stockholders or (ii) written consent, if the consenting stockholders hold a sufficient number of shares to elect their designee at a meeting of the stockholders. Any director may be removed during his or her term of office, either with or without cause, by, and only by, the affirmative vote of the holders of the shares of the class or series of stock entitled to elect such director or directors, given either at a special meeting of such stockholders duly called for that purpose or pursuant to a written consent of stockholders, and any vacancy thereby created may be filled by the holders of that class or series of stock represented at the meeting or pursuant to written consent.

(c)    BHCA Stockholders.

(i)    If a BHCA Stockholder, together with any of its Affiliates (as defined below), at any time holds any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock that, on either an unconverted or an individually converted basis (including if or as if optionally converted into Class A Common Stock in accordance with Section 4) and in the aggregate would constitute more than 4.99% of a class of voting securities of the Corporation (such shares in excess of such 4.99% threshold held by the BHCA Stockholder, “Excess Shares”), then, except as otherwise set forth in this Section 5(c)(i), elsewhere in this Restated Certificate or any other agreements between the Corporation and its stockholders where the consent or vote of the stockholders is required on a particular matter, any Excess Shares shall not be entitled to vote or consent to any matter (and regardless of the class or classes of securities that are voting on such matter) pursuant to the Restated Certificate, the Bylaws of the Corporation, or any other agreements between the Corporation and its stockholders where the consent or vote of the stockholders is required on a particular matter, and such Excess Shares shall not be entitled to vote or to be counted for purposes of determining whether any vote required under the Restated Certificate has been approved by the requisite percentage of voting securities or to be counted towards any quorum required pursuant to the Restated Certificate. Without limiting the foregoing, a BHCA Stockholder may voluntarily elect to classify all or a portion of the shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock held by it as “Excess Shares,” even if such shares are not in excess of the 4.99% threshold, by delivering written notice thereof to the Corporation. Such shares shall be deemed to be “Excess Shares” automatically and immediately upon delivery of such written notice to the Corporation. Once shares have been classified as “Excess Shares” (due to being in excess of such 4.99% threshold or by voluntary election by a BHCA Stockholder), such shares shall remain nonvoting and classified as Excess Shares hereunder, including in the event such BHCA Stockholder’s holdings of such class of voting securities of the Corporation decrease, whether below 4.99% or otherwise, except upon a transfer as set forth in Section 5(c)(iii) below. No other rights attaching to the Excess Shares shall be amended, reduced, waived, or otherwise varied pursuant to this Section 5(c). For the avoidance of doubt, Excess Shares are a designation of a class and series of the Corporation’s capital stock and in no event shall Excess Shares be (i) deemed a separate class or series of the Corporation’s capital stock or (ii) entitled, pursuant to this Restated Certificate or under law, to vote exclusively as a separate class except pursuant to Section 6(c) of this Restated Certificate.

(ii)    If a BHCA Stockholder and one or more of its Affiliates each hold shares of capital stock of the Corporation that, in the aggregate, would constitute more than 4.99% of a class of voting securities of the Corporation, such BHCA Stockholder and such Affiliates of such BHCA Stockholder that have elected to be treated as BHCA Stockholders may direct the Corporation as to how to allocate such Excess Shares among the BHCA Stockholder and such Affiliates. In addition, nothing herein or elsewhere shall prohibit a BHCA Stockholder from transferring any portion of its shares to an Affiliate of such BHCA Stockholder.


(iii)    Excess Shares shall remain nonvoting upon transfer (including upon transfer to other BHCA Stockholders), except that Excess Shares shall be entitled to the full voting rights set forth for such shares pursuant to the Restated Certificate and shall no longer be deemed to be Excess Shares following the transfer of such Excess Shares to:

(A)    the Corporation;

(B)    a transferee in a widespread public distribution of the voting securities of the Corporation;

(C)    an underwriter for the purpose of conducting a widespread public distribution of the voting securities of the Corporation;

(D)    a transferee in a transfer or series of related transfers in which no transferee (or group of associated transferees) would receive 2% or more of any class of voting securities of the Corporation; or

(E)    a transferee if such transferee would control more than 50% of the voting securities of the Corporation notwithstanding any transfer of Excess Shares.

(iv)    With respect to the drag-along right (the “Drag-Along Right”) set forth in the Amended and Restated First Refusal and Co-Sale Agreement of the Corporation, dated on or about the Filing Date, as may be amended and/or restated from time to time (“ROFR Agreement”), a BHCA Stockholder will not be entitled to vote as to whether such Drag-Along Right is invoked unless (i) such a vote would be permitted under the BHCA and (ii) the BHCA Stockholder expressly agrees in writing with the Corporation that the BHCA Stockholder is permitted to vote as to such matter.

(v)    In the event that the Drag-Along Right is exercised in connection with any Sale of the Company (as defined in the ROFR Agreement) and any BHCA Stockholder does not participate in such Sale of the Company (as permitted by the ROFR Agreement), such BHCA Stockholder shall (pursuant to Section 262(c) of the Delaware General Corporation Law) have full appraisal rights in connection with such Sale of the Company under Section 262 of the General Corporation Law; provided, that such appraisal rights shall only be available in any instance of such rights are perfected by such BHCA Stockholder in accordance with the terms of Section 262(d) of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

(vi)    For the purposes of this Section 5(c):

(A)    an “Affiliate” of any person or entity shall have the meaning set forth in the BHCA and the BHCA’s implementing regulation, Regulation Y, as issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve Board”);

(B)    the “BHCA” means the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended;

(C)    a “BHCA Stockholder” means any holder of capital stock of the Corporation that is a bank, bank holding company or financial holding company (as defined in the BHCA) or any Affiliate thereof and that has delivered written notice to the Corporation of its election to be treated as a BHCA Stockholder for purposes of this Section 5(c), which notice shall be irrevocable; and


(D)    a “class of voting securities” shall have the same meaning as “class of voting shares” in the Federal Reserve Board’s Regulation Y.

6.    Protective Provisions.

(a)    So long as at least 6,666,667 shares (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reclassification and the like; provided that such number already reflects the Reverse Stock Split) of Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Corporation shall not do any of the following (by amendment, merger, consolidation or otherwise) without first obtaining the approval (by vote or written consent, as provided by law) of the holders of a majority of the then outstanding shares of Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class on an as converted to Common Stock basis, and any such act or transaction entered into without such consent or vote shall be null and void ab initio, and of no force and effect; provided, however, that in accordance with Section 5(c), no BHCA Stockholder shall be entitled to vote, or consent with respect to, any Excess Shares with respect to the matters set forth below (except to the extent that an alteration or change under Section 6(a)(ii) would significantly and adversely affect the rights or preference of any security held by the BHCA Stockholder, as determined under the Federal Reserve Board’s Regulation Y, in which case all shares held thereby shall be entitled to vote or consent with respect thereto and all such shares shall be counted for purposes of determining whether the requisite vote has been obtained), and any Excess Shares held by a BHCA Stockholder shall not be counted (in the numerator or denominator) for purposes of determining whether the requisite vote or written consent has been obtained or to be counted towards any quorum required pursuant to the Restated Certificate:

(i)    effect, whether by a single transaction or series of related transactions, a Liquidation Transaction or other liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, or the acquisition of another company or business by the Corporation, unless such acquisition is approved by the Board of Directors, including the affirmative approval of at least one of the Preferred Directors;

(ii)    alter or change the rights, preferences or privileges of the Preferred Stock, whether by amendment, alteration or repeal (by reclassification, merger or otherwise) of this Certificate of Incorporation or otherwise;

(iii)    declare or pay a dividend or other distribution with respect to, or make any purchase or redemption of, any shares of the Corporation’s capital stock, except for (A) repurchases of Common Stock issued to or held by employees, officers, directors or consultants of the Corporation or its subsidiaries upon termination of their employment or services pursuant to agreements providing for the right of said repurchase, (B) repurchases of Common Stock pursuant to contractual rights of first refusal approved by the Board of Directors, including the affirmative approval of at least one of the Preferred Directors, and (C) the repurchase of shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock or any other contribution of such shares from a BHCA Stockholder pursuant to any side letter agreement or other agreement between the Corporation and such BHCA Stockholder (a “BHCA Put Right”);

(iv)    change the number of authorized directors;

(v)    increase (other than by conversion) the number of authorized shares of the Preferred Stock, Founders Preferred Stock or Common Stock, or any class or series thereof;

(vi)    authorize or issue (by reclassification, merger or otherwise), or obligate itself to issue, any other equity security, including any security (other than the Series G Preferred Stock authorized by this Restated Certificate) convertible into or exercisable for any equity security, having a preference over, or being on a parity with, the Preferred Stock authorized by this Restated Certificate with respect to voting (other than the pari passu voting rights of Common Stock), dividends, redemption, conversion or upon liquidation; or


(vii)    amend, alter or repeal this Section 6 or any provision hereof.

(b)    So long as at least 3,333,334 shares (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reclassification and the like; provided that such number already reflects the Reverse Stock Split) of Series D Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Corporation shall not do any of the following (by amendment, merger, consolidation or otherwise) without first obtaining the approval (by vote or written consent, as provided by law) of the holders of a majority of the then outstanding shares of Series D Preferred Stock, voting together as a separate class, and any such act or transaction entered into without such consent or vote shall be null and void ab initio, and of no force and effect:

(i)    amend any provision of the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation which adversely changes the powers, preferences or rights of the Series D Preferred Stock in a manner disproportionate to the other series of Preferred Stock; provided, however, that each BHCA Stockholder shall only be entitled to vote (or consent with respect to) any shares of Preferred Stock held by such BHCA Stockholder in respect of any vote required by this Section 6(b)(i) if the proposed amendment or waiver would significantly and adversely affect the rights or preference of any security held by the BHCA Stockholder, as determined under the Federal Reserve Board’s Regulation Y; or

(ii)    any increase or decrease of the total number of authorized shares of Series D Preferred Stock; provided, that no BHCA Stockholder shall be entitled to vote (or consent with respect to) any shares of Preferred Stock held by such BHCA Stockholder in respect of any vote required by this Section 6(b)(ii); provided further that this Section 6(b)(ii) shall not apply to an amendment or restatement of the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation in connection with a Qualified IPO, Direct Listing, SPAC Transaction or Mandatory Conversion.

(c)    So long as at least 2,833,334 shares (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reclassification and the like; provided that such number already reflects the Reverse Stock Split) of Series E Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Corporation shall not do any of the following (by amendment, merger, consolidation or otherwise) without first obtaining the approval (by vote or written consent, as provided by law) of the holders of a majority of the then outstanding shares of Series E Preferred Stock, voting together as a separate class, and any such act or transaction entered into without such consent or vote shall be null and void ab initio, and of no force and effect:

(i)    amend any provision of the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation which adversely changes the powers, preferences or rights of the Series E Preferred Stock in a manner disproportionate to the other series of Preferred Stock; provided, however, that each BHCA Stockholder shall only be entitled to vote (or consent with respect to) any shares of Preferred Stock held by such BHCA Stockholder in respect of any vote required by this Section 6(c)(i) if the proposed amendment or waiver would significantly and adversely affect the rights or preference of any security held by the BHCA Stockholder, as determined under the Federal Reserve Board’s Regulation Y;

(ii)    any increase or decrease of the total number of authorized shares of Series E Preferred Stock; provided, that no BHCA Stockholder shall be entitled to vote (or consent with respect to) any shares of Preferred Stock held by such BHCA Stockholder in respect of any vote required by this Section 6(c)(ii); provided further that this Section 6(c)(ii) shall not apply to an amendment or restatement of the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation in connection with a Qualified IPO, Direct Listing, SPAC Transaction or Mandatory Conversion;


(iii)    effect, whether by a single transaction or a series of related transactions, a Liquidation Transaction or other liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, unless the proceeds from such transaction to the holder of shares of Series E Preferred Stock exceed $4.753482 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reclassification and the like; provided that such number already reflects the Reverse Stock Split); or

(iv)    amend or alter any provision of this Restated Certificate which explicitly grants the holders of shares of Series E Preferred Stock a separate voting right.

(d)    So long as at least 966,667 shares (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reclassification and the like; provided that such number already reflects the Reverse Stock Split) of Series F Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Corporation shall not do any of the following (by amendment, merger, consolidation or otherwise) without first obtaining the approval (by vote or written consent, as provided by law) of the holders of a majority of the then outstanding shares of Series F Preferred Stock, voting together as a separate class, and any such act or transaction entered into without such consent or vote shall be null and void ab initio, and of no force and effect:

(i)    amend any provision of the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation which adversely changes the powers, preferences or rights of the Series F Preferred Stock in a manner disproportionate to the other series of Preferred Stock; provided, however, that each BHCA Stockholder shall only be entitled to vote (or consent with respect to) any shares of Preferred Stock held by such BHCA Stockholder in respect of any vote required by this Section 6(d)(i) if the proposed amendment or waiver would significantly and adversely affect the rights or preference of any security held by the BHCA Stockholder, as determined under the Federal Reserve Board’s Regulation Y;

(ii)    any increase or decrease of the total number of authorized shares of Series F Preferred Stock; provided, that no BHCA Stockholder shall be entitled to vote (or consent with respect to) any shares of Preferred Stock held by such BHCA Stockholder in respect of any vote required by this Section 6(d)(ii); provided further that this Section 6(d)(ii) shall not apply to an amendment or restatement of the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation in connection with a Qualified IPO, Direct Listing, SPAC Transaction or Mandatory Conversion;

(iii)    effect, whether by a single transaction or a series of related transactions, a Liquidation Transaction or other liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, unless the proceeds from such transaction to the holder of shares of Series F Preferred Stock exceed $7.727718 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reclassification and the like; provided that such number already reflects the Reverse Stock Split); or

(iv)    amend or alter any provision of this Restated Certificate which explicitly grants the holders of shares of Series F Preferred Stock a separate voting right.

(e)    So long as at least 2,233,334 shares (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reclassification and the like; provided that such number already reflects the Reverse Stock Split) of Series G Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Corporation shall not do any of the following (by amendment, merger, consolidation or otherwise) without first obtaining the approval (by vote or written consent, as provided by law) of the holders of a majority of the then outstanding shares of Series G Preferred Stock, voting together as a separate class, and any such act or transaction entered into without such consent or vote shall be null and void ab initio, and of no force and effect:

(i)    amend any provision of the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws which adversely changes the powers, preferences or rights of the Series G Preferred Stock in a manner disproportionate to the other series of Preferred Stock;


(ii)    any increase or decrease of the total number of authorized shares of Series G Preferred Stock; provided further that this Section 6(e)(ii) shall not apply to an amendment or restatement of the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation in connection with a Qualified IPO, Qualified Direct Listing, Qualified SPAC Transaction or Mandatory Conversion;

(iii)    effect, whether by a single transaction or a series of related transactions, a Liquidation Transaction or other liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, unless the proceeds from such transaction to the holder of shares of Series G Preferred Stock exceed $13.827822 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reclassification and the like; provided that such number already reflects the Reverse Stock Split); or

(iv)    amend or alter any provision of this Restated Certificate which explicitly grants the holders of shares of Series G Preferred Stock a separate voting right.

(f)    Any amendment to or waiver of Section 2(h), Section 5(c), the proviso in the first paragraph of Section 6(a), subclause (C) of Section 6(a)(iii), the proviso of Section 6(b)(i), the proviso of Section 6(b)(ii), the proviso of Section 6(c)(i), the proviso of Section 6(c)(ii), the proviso of Section 6(d)(i), the proviso of Section 6(d)(ii), this Section 6(f), clause (v) of Article IX and any provision relating expressly to the treatment of Excess Shares (which, for the avoidance of doubt, does not include any provision that also relates to the treatment of Series D Preferred Stock, Preferred Stock or any other class or classes of shares except for Excess Shares specifically), in each case, shall require the prior approval (by vote or written consent, as provided by law) of each BHCA Stockholder.

7.    Status of Converted Stock. In the event any shares of Preferred Stock shall be converted pursuant to Section 4 hereof, the shares so converted shall be cancelled and shall not be issuable by the Corporation. This Restated Certificate shall be appropriately amended to effect the corresponding reduction in the Corporation’s authorized capital stock.

(C)    Founders Preferred Stock. The rights, preferences, privileges, and restrictions granted to and imposed on the Founders Preferred Stock are as set forth below in this Article IV(C). Unless otherwise described herein, section references in this Article IV(C) refer to sections of Article IV(C).

1.    Dividend Rights. Subject to the preference accorded in Article IV(B) to holders of Preferred Stock, the holders of shares of Founders Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when and as declared by the Board of Directors, out of any assets of the Corporation legally available therefor, such dividends (other than payable solely in Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents as defined below) as may be declared from time to time by the Board of Directors on a pro rata basis with the holders of Preferred Stock and Common Stock, based on the number of shares of Common Stock held by each (assuming conversion of all the Founders Preferred Stock into Class B Common Stock).

2.    Liquidation. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution, winding up of the Corporation, or any Liquidation Transaction either voluntary or involuntary, the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to stockholders, subject to the preference accorded to holders of Preferred Stock in Section 2 of Article IV(B), shall be distributed among the holders of the Founders Preferred Stock and the Common Stock pro rata based upon the number of shares of Common Stock held by each (assuming conversion of all the Founders Preferred Stock into Class A Common Stock).


3.    Redemption. The Founders Preferred Stock is not mandatorily redeemable.

4.    Conversion. The holders of the Founders Preferred Stock shall have conversion rights as follows:

(a)    Conversion to Class A Common Stock. Subject to Section 4(a)(ii) below, each share of Founders Preferred Stock shall be convertible, at the option of the holder thereof, at any time after the date of issuance of such share, at the office of the Corporation or any transfer agent for such stock, into such number of fully paid and nonassessable shares of Class A Common Stock as is determined by dividing $0.10 by the Conversion Price applicable to such shares, determined as hereafter provided, in effect on the date the certificate is surrendered for conversion. Any transfer of shares of Founders Preferred Stock that is neither (i) made in connection with an Equity Financing (as such term is defined in Section 4(b) below), nor (ii) authorized by a majority of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, shall be deemed an election of an option to convert such shares into Class A Common Stock and each such transferred share of Founders Preferred Stock shall automatically convert into such number of fully paid and nonassessable shares of Class A Common Stock as is determined by dividing $0.10 by the Conversion Price applicable to such share, determined as hereafter provided, effective immediately prior to such transfer. The initial Conversion Price per share of Founders Preferred Stock shall be $0.10. Such initial Conversion Price shall be subject to adjustment as set forth in Section 4(a)(iii) below.

(i)    Automatic Conversion. Each share of Founders Preferred Stock shall automatically be converted into shares of Class A Common Stock at the Conversion Price at the time in effect for such share immediately upon the earlier of (A) except as provided below in Section 4(a)(ii), the Corporation’s sale of its Common Stock in a Qualified IPO or (B) the date specified by vote or written consent or agreement of the holders of a majority of the then outstanding shares of Founders Preferred Stock voting together as a single class.

(ii)    Mechanics of Conversion. Before any holder of Founders Preferred Stock shall be entitled to convert the same into shares of Class A Common Stock, the holder shall (A) surrender the certificate or certificates therefor, duly endorsed, at the office of the Corporation or of any transfer agent for such Founders Preferred Stock or (B) notify the Corporation or its transfer agent that such certificates have been lost, stolen or destroyed and execute an agreement satisfactory to the Corporation to indemnify the Corporation from any loss incurred by it in connection with such certificates, and shall give written notice to the Corporation at its principal corporate office, of the election to convert the same and shall state therein the name or names in which the certificate or certificates for shares of Class A Common Stock are to be issued. The Corporation shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, issue and deliver at such office to such holder of Founders Preferred Stock, or to the nominee or nominees of such holder, a certificate or certificates for the number of shares of Class A Common Stock to which such holder shall be entitled as aforesaid. Such conversion shall be deemed to have been made immediately prior to the close of business on the date of such surrender of the shares of such Founders Preferred Stock to be converted, and the person or persons entitled to receive the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon such conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such shares of Class A Common Stock as of such date. If the conversion is in connection with an underwritten offering of securities registered pursuant to the Securities Act the conversion may, at the option of any holder tendering such Founders Preferred Stock for conversion, be conditioned upon the closing with the underwriters of the sale of securities pursuant to such offering, in which event the person(s) entitled to receive Class A Common Stock upon conversion of such Founders Preferred Stock shall not be deemed to have converted such Founders Preferred Stock until immediately prior to the closing of such sale of securities. If the conversion is in connection with the automatic conversion provisions of Section 4(a)(i)(B) above, such conversion shall be deemed to have been made on the conversion date described in the stockholder consent approving such conversion, and the person entitled to receive shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon such conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holders of such shares of Class A Common Stock as of such date.


(iii)    Conversion Price Adjustments of Founders Preferred Stock for Certain Splits and Combinations. The Conversion Price of the Founders Preferred Stock shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as follows:

(A)    Stock Splits and Dividends. In the event the Corporation should at any time or from time to time after the date upon which any shares of Founders Preferred Stock were first issued (the “Founders Preferred Issue Date”) fix a record date for the effectuation of a split or subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or the determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive a dividend or other distribution payable in additional shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents without payment of any consideration by such holder for the additional shares of Common Stock or the Common Stock Equivalents (including the additional shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion or exercise thereof), then, as of such record date (or the date of such dividend distribution, split or subdivision if no record date is fixed), the Conversion Price of the Founders Preferred Stock shall be appropriately decreased so that the number of shares of Common Stock issuable on conversion of each share of such stock shall be increased in proportion to such increase of the aggregate of shares of Common Stock outstanding and those issuable with respect to such Common Stock Equivalents with the number of shares issuable with respect to Common Stock Equivalents determined from time to time as provided in Section 4(a)(iii)(C) below.

(B)    Reverse Stock Splits. If the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any time after the Founders Preferred Issue Date is decreased by a combination of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, then, following the record date of such combination, the Conversion Price for the Founders Preferred Stock shall be appropriately increased so that the number of shares of Common Stock issuable on conversion of each share of such Founders Preferred Stock shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares.

(C)    The following provisions shall apply for purposes of this Section 4(a)(iii):

(1)    The aggregate maximum number of shares of Common Stock deliverable upon conversion or exercise of any Common Stock Equivalents (assuming the satisfaction of any conditions to convertibility or exercisability, including, without limitation, the passage of time, but without taking into account potential antidilution adjustments) shall be deemed to have been issued at the time such Common Stock Equivalents were issued.

(2)    In the event of any change in the number of shares of Common Stock deliverable or in the consideration payable to the Corporation upon conversion or exercise of any Common Stock Equivalents including, but not limited to, a change resulting from the antidilution provisions thereof, the Conversion Price of the Founders Preferred Stock, to the extent in any way affected by or computed using such Common Stock Equivalents, shall be recomputed to reflect such change, but no further adjustment shall be made for the actual issuance of Common Stock or any payment of such consideration upon the exercise of any such options or rights or the conversion or exchange of such Common Stock Equivalents.

(3)    Upon the termination or expiration of the convertibility or exercisability of any such Common Stock Equivalents, the Conversion Price of the Founders Preferred Stock, to the extent in any way affected by or computed using such Common Stock Equivalents, shall be recomputed to reflect the issuance of only the number of shares of Common Stock (and Common Stock Equivalents which remain convertible or exercisable) actually issued upon the conversion or exercise of such Common Stock Equivalents.


(iv)    No Fractional Shares and Certificate as to Adjustments. No fractional shares shall be issued upon the conversion of any share or shares of the Founders Preferred Stock, and the number of shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued shall be rounded down to the nearest whole share. The number of shares issuable upon such conversion shall be determined on the basis of the total number of shares of Founders Preferred Stock the holder is at the time converting into Class A Common Stock and the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon such aggregate conversion. If the conversion would result in any fractional share, the Corporation shall, in lieu of issuing any such fractional share, pay the holder thereof an amount in cash equal to the fair market value of such fractional share on the date of conversion, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors.

(v)    Reservation of Stock Issuable Upon Conversion. The Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock, solely for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the shares of the Founders Preferred Stock, such number of its shares of Class A Common Stock as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the conversion of all outstanding shares of such Founders Preferred Stock; and if at any time the number of authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock shall not be sufficient to effect the conversion of all then outstanding shares of such Founders Preferred Stock, in addition to such other remedies as shall be available to the holder of such Founders Preferred Stock, the Corporation will take such corporate action as may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary to increase its authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock to such number of shares as shall be sufficient for such purposes, including, without limitation, engaging in best efforts to obtain the requisite stockholder approval of any necessary amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation.

(b)    Right to Convert to Subsequent Preferred Stock. If one or more shares of Founders Preferred Stock are transferred by the holder(s) thereof in connection with, or at any time following, an Equity Financing (as defined below), then immediately upon the closing of such transfer (the “Transfer Date”), each such share of Founders Preferred Stock shall automatically convert into shares of preferred stock (“Subsequent Preferred Stock”), issued and sold in the then most recently completed Equity Financing at the Conversion Ratio (as defined below). “Conversion Ratio” shall mean, for each Equity Financing, one divided by the number of shares of Common Stock into which a share of Subsequent Preferred Stock issued in such Equity Financing is convertible as of the Transfer Date, and “Equity Financing” shall mean an equity financing of the Corporation in which the Corporation signs a purchase agreement and sells and issues Subsequent Preferred Stock of the Corporation. By way of example only, in the event that one share of Subsequent Preferred Stock issued in the Equity Financing is convertible into two shares of Common Stock, the Conversion Ratio shall be one-half (1/2).

No fractional shares shall be issued upon a conversion and the aggregate number of shares of Subsequent Preferred Stock to be issued to an investor in a conversion shall be rounded down to the nearest whole share and the Corporation shall pay in cash the fair market value of any fractional shares as of the time when entitlement to receive such fractions is determined. Whether or not fractional shares would be issuable upon such conversion shall be determined on the basis of the total number of shares of Founders Preferred Stock the holder is at the time converting and the number of shares of Subsequent Preferred Stock issuable upon such conversion.

(c)    No Impairment. The Corporation will not, by amendment of its Certificate of Incorporation or through any reorganization, recapitalization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms to be observed or performed hereunder by the Corporation,


but will at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all the provisions of this Section 4 and in the taking of all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order to protect the conversion rights of the holders of Founders Preferred Stock against impairment.

(d)    Notices. Any notice required by the provisions of this Section 4 to be given to the holders of shares of Founders Preferred Stock shall be deemed given if deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, and addressed to each holder of record at his address appearing on the books of the Corporation. Any notice required by the provisions of this Section 4 to be given to the Corporation shall be deemed given if deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, and addressed to the Corporation’s Board of Directors at the principal business address of the Corporation.

5.    Voting Rights. Except as expressly provided by this Certificate of Incorporation or as provided by law, the holders of Founders Preferred Stock shall have the same voting rights as the holders of the Class A Common Stock and shall be entitled to notice of any stockholders’ meeting in accordance with the Bylaws of the Corporation, and the holders of Common Stock, Preferred Stock and Founders Preferred Stock shall vote together as a single class on all matters. For the avoidance of doubt, the holders of Founders Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to vote as Preferred Stock on any matters for which only the Preferred Stock (but not the Common Stock) vote. The holder of each share of Founders Preferred Stock shall have the right to the number of votes to which a share of Class A Common Stock is entitled for each share of Class A Common Stock into which such Founders Preferred Stock could then be converted (e.g., as of the Filing Date, a holder of two (2) shares of Founders Preferred Stock as of the Filing Date would have the right to an aggregate of twenty (20) votes for the two (2) shares of Founders Preferred Stock held by such holder). Fractional votes shall not, however, be permitted and any fractional voting rights available on an as-converted basis (after aggregating all shares into which shares of Founders Preferred Stock held by each holder could be converted) shall be rounded to the nearest whole number (with one-half being rounded upward). The number of authorized shares of Founders Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of shares of stock of the Corporation representing a majority of the votes represented by all outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

6.    Status of Converted Stock. In the event any shares of Founders Preferred Stock shall be converted pursuant to Section 4 hereof, the shares so converted shall be cancelled and shall not be issuable by the Corporation. This Restated Certificate shall be appropriately amended to effect the corresponding reduction in the Corporation’s authorized capital stock.

(D)    Common Stock. The rights, preferences, privileges, and restrictions granted to and imposed on the Common Stock are as set forth below in this Article IV(D). Unless otherwise described herein, section references in this Article IV(D) refer to sections of Article IV(D).

1.    Dividend Rights. Subject to the preference accorded in Article IV(B) to holders of Preferred Stock, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive, when and as declared by the Board of Directors, out of any assets of the Corporation legally available therefor, such dividends as may be declared from time to time by the Board of Directors on a pro rata basis with the holders of the Preferred Stock and Founders Preferred Stock based on the number of shares of Common Stock held by each (assuming conversion of all the Founders Preferred Stock into Class A Common Stock).

2.    Liquidation Rights. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution, winding up of the Corporation, or any Liquidation Transaction (as defined below) either voluntary or involuntary, the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to stockholders, subject to the preference accorded to holders of Preferred Stock in Section 2 of Article IV(B), shall be distributed among the holders of the Founders Preferred Stock and the Common Stock pro rata based upon the number of shares of Common Stock held by each (assuming conversion of all the Founders Preferred Stock into Class A Common Stock).


3.    Redemption. Except in connection with the BHCA Put Right, the Common Stock is not mandatorily redeemable.

4.    Conversion. The holders of the Class A Common Stock shall have conversion rights as follows:

(a)    Right to Convert to Class B Common Stock. Subject to Section 4(a)(ii) below, each share of Class A Common Stock shall be convertible, at the option of the holder thereof, at any time after the date of issuance of such share, at the office of the Corporation or any transfer agent for such stock, into such number of fully paid and nonassessable shares of Class B Common Stock as is determined by dividing $0.10 by the Conversion Price applicable to such shares, determined as hereafter provided, in effect on the date the certificate is surrendered for conversion. The initial Conversion Price per share shall be $0.10 in the case of the Class A Common Stock. Such initial Conversion Prices shall be subject to adjustment as set forth in Section 4(a)(iii) below.

(i)    Automatic Conversion. Each share of Class A Common Stock shall automatically be converted into shares of Class B Common Stock at the Conversion Price then in effect for such share immediately upon the date specified by vote or written consent of the holders of a majority of the then outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, voting together as a single class.

(ii)    Mechanics of Conversion. Before any holder of Class A Common Stock shall be entitled to convert the same into shares of Class B Common Stock, the holder shall (A) surrender the certificate or certificates therefor, duly endorsed, at the office of the Corporation or of any transfer agent for such Class A Common Stock or (B) notify the Corporation or its transfer agent that such certificates have been lost, stolen or destroyed and execute an agreement satisfactory to the Corporation to indemnify the Corporation from any loss incurred by it in connection with such certificates, and shall give written notice to the Corporation at its principal corporate office, of the election to convert the same and shall state therein the name or names in which the certificate or certificates for shares of Class B Common Stock are to be issued. The Corporation shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, issue and deliver at such office to such holder of Class A Common Stock, or to the nominee or nominees of such holder, a certificate or certificates for the number of shares of Class B Common Stock to which such holder shall be entitled as aforesaid. Such conversion shall be deemed to have been made immediately prior to the close of business on the date of such surrender of the shares of such Class A Common Stock to be converted, and the person or persons entitled to receive the shares of Class B Common Stock issuable upon such conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such shares of Class B Common Stock as of such date. If the conversion is in connection with an underwritten offering of securities registered pursuant to the Securities Act the conversion may, at the option of any holder tendering such Class A Common Stock for conversion, be conditioned upon the closing with the underwriters of the sale of securities pursuant to such offering, in which event the person(s) entitled to receive Class B Common Stock upon conversion of such Class A Common Stock shall not be deemed to have converted such Class A Common Stock until immediately prior to the closing of such sale of securities. If the conversion is in connection with the automatic conversion provisions of Section 4(a)(i) above, such conversion shall be deemed to have been made on the conversion date described in the stockholder consent approving such conversion, and the person entitled to receive shares of Class B Common Stock issuable upon such conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holders of such shares of Class B Common Stock as of such date.


(iii)    Conversion Price Adjustments of Class A Common Stock for Certain Splits and Combinations. The Conversion Price of the Class A Common Stock shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as follows:

(A)    Stock Splits and Dividends. In the event the Corporation should at any time or from time to time after the date upon which any shares of Class A Common Stock were first issued (the “Class A Issue Date”) fix a record date for the effectuation of a split or subdivision of the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock or the determination of holders of Class B Common Stock entitled to receive a dividend or other distribution payable in additional shares of Class B Common Stock or other securities or rights convertible into, or entitling the holder thereof to receive directly or indirectly, additional shares of Class B Common Stock (hereinafter referred to as “Class B Common Stock Equivalents”) without payment of any consideration by such holder for the additional shares of Class B Common Stock or the Class B Common Stock Equivalents (including the additional shares of Class B Common Stock issuable upon conversion or exercise thereof), then, as of such record date (or the date of such dividend distribution, split or subdivision if no record date is fixed), the Conversion Price of the Class A Common Stock shall be appropriately decreased so that the number of shares of Class B Common Stock issuable on conversion of each share of such stock shall be increased in proportion to such increase of the aggregate of shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding and those issuable with respect to such Class B Common Stock Equivalents with the number of shares issuable with respect to Class B Common Stock Equivalents determined from time to time as provided in Section 4(a)(iii)(C) below.

(B)    Reverse Stock Splits. If the number of shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding at any time after the Class A Issue Date is decreased by a combination of the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock, then, following the record date of such combination, the Conversion Price for the Class A Common Stock shall be appropriately increased so that the number of shares of Class B Common Stock issuable on conversion of each share of such Class A Common Stock shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares.

(C)    The following provisions shall apply for purposes of this Section 4(a)(iii):

(1)    The aggregate maximum number of shares of Class B Common Stock deliverable upon conversion or exercise of any Class B Common Stock Equivalents (assuming the satisfaction of any conditions to convertibility or exercisability, including, without limitation, the passage of time, but without taking into account potential antidilution adjustments) shall be deemed to have been issued at the time such Class B Common Stock Equivalents were issued.

(2)    In the event of any change in the number of shares of Class B Common Stock deliverable or in the consideration payable to the Corporation upon conversion or exercise of any Class B Common Stock Equivalents including, but not limited to, a change resulting from the antidilution provisions thereof, the Conversion Price of the Class A Common Stock, to the extent in any way affected by or computed using such Class B Common Stock Equivalents, shall be recomputed to reflect such change, but no further adjustment shall be made for the actual issuance of Class B Common Stock or any payment of such consideration upon the exercise of any such options or rights or the conversion or exchange of such Class B Common Stock Equivalents.

(3)    Upon the termination or expiration of the convertibility or exercisability of any such Class B Common Stock Equivalents, the Conversion Price of the Class A Common Stock, to the extent in any way affected by or computed using such Class B Common Stock Equivalents, shall be recomputed to reflect the issuance of only the number of shares of Class B Common Stock (and Class B Common Stock Equivalents which remain convertible or exercisable) actually issued upon the conversion or exercise of such Class B Common Stock Equivalents.


(iv)    No Fractional Shares and Certificate as to Adjustments. No fractional shares shall be issued upon the conversion of any share or shares of the Class A Common Stock, and the number of shares of Class B Common Stock to be issued shall be rounded down to the nearest whole share. The number of shares issuable upon such conversion shall be determined on the basis of the total number of shares of Class A Common Stock the holder is at the time converting into Class B Common Stock and the number of shares of Class B Common Stock issuable upon such aggregate conversion. If the conversion would result in any fractional share, the Corporation shall, in lieu of issuing any such fractional share, pay the holder thereof an amount in cash equal to the fair market value of such fractional share on the date of conversion, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors.

(v)    Reservation of Stock Issuable Upon Conversion. The Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock, solely for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the shares of the Class A Common Stock, such number of its shares of Class B Common Stock as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the conversion of all outstanding shares of such Class A Common Stock and all shares of Class A Common Stock that may be or become issuable upon the conversion of Preferred Stock pursuant to this Restated Certificate; and if at any time the number of authorized but unissued shares of Class B Common Stock shall not be sufficient to effect the conversion of such shares of such Class A Common Stock, in addition to such other remedies as shall be available to the holder of such Class A Common Stock or Preferred Stock, the Corporation will take such corporate action as may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary to increase its authorized but unissued shares of Class B Common Stock to such number of shares as shall be sufficient for such purposes, including, without limitation, engaging in best efforts to obtain the requisite stockholder approval of any necessary amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation.

(b)    No Impairment. The Corporation will not, by amendment of its Certificate of Incorporation or through any reorganization, recapitalization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms to be observed or performed hereunder by the Corporation, but will at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all the provisions of this Section 4 and in the taking of all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order to protect the conversion rights of the holders of Class A Common Stock against impairment.

(c)    Notices. Any notice required by the provisions of this Section 4 to be given to the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock shall be deemed given if deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, and addressed to each holder of record at his address appearing on the books of the Corporation. Any notice required by the provisions of this Section 4 to be given to the Corporation shall be deemed given if deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, and addressed to the Corporation’s Board of Directors at the principal business address of the Corporation.

5.    Voting Rights. Each holder of Class A Common Stock shall have the right to ten (10) votes per share of Class A Common Stock, and each holder of Class B Common Stock shall have the right to one (1) vote per share of Class B Common Stock. Each holder of Common Stock shall be entitled to notice of any stockholders’ meeting in accordance with the Bylaws of the Corporation, and shall be entitled to vote upon such matters and in such manner as may be provided by law.    Subject to compliance with Article IV(B)(6) above, the number of authorized shares of Class A Common Stock and/or Class B Common Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of shares of stock of the Corporation representing a majority of the votes represented by all outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the Delaware General Corporation Law.


ARTICLE V

Except as otherwise set forth herein, the Board of Directors of the Corporation is expressly authorized to make, alter or repeal Bylaws of the Corporation.

ARTICLE VI

Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless otherwise provided in the Bylaws of the Corporation.

ARTICLE VII

(A)    To the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as the same exists or as may hereafter be amended, a director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director. If the Delaware General Corporation 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 Delaware General Corporation Law, as so amended.

(B)    The Corporation shall indemnify to the fullest extent permitted by law any person made or threatened to be made a party to an action or proceeding, whether criminal, civil, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he, his testator or intestate is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or any predecessor of the Corporation, or serves or served at any other enterprise as a director or officer at the request of the Corporation or any predecessor to the Corporation.

(C)    Neither any amendment nor repeal of this Article VII, nor the adoption of any provision of the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with this Article VII, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article VII in respect of any matter occurring, or any action or proceeding accruing or arising or that, but for this Article VII, would accrue or arise, prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption of an inconsistent provision.

ARTICLE VIII

The Corporation renounces any interest or expectancy of the Corporation in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, or in being informed about, an Excluded Opportunity. An “Excluded Opportunity” is any matter, transaction or interest that is presented to, or acquired, created or developed by, or which otherwise comes into the possession of, (i) any director of the Corporation who is not an employee of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, or (ii) any holder of Preferred Stock or any affiliate, partner, member, director, stockholder, employee, agent or other related person of any such holder, other than someone who is an employee of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries (collectively, “Covered Persons”), unless such matter, transaction or interest is presented to, or acquired, created or developed by, or otherwise comes into the possession of, a Covered Person expressly and solely in such Covered Person’s capacity as a director of the Corporation.

ARTICLE IX

In accordance with Section 500 of the California Corporations Code, a distribution can be made without regard to any preferential dividends arrears amount (as defined in Section 500 of the California


Corporations Code) or any preferential rights amount (as defined in Section 500 of the California Corporations Code) in connection with (i) repurchases of Common Stock issued to or held by employees, officers, directors or consultants of the Corporation or its subsidiaries upon termination of their employment or services pursuant to agreements providing for the right of said repurchase, (ii) repurchases of Common Stock issued to or held by employees, officers, directors or consultants of the Corporation or its subsidiaries pursuant to rights of first refusal contained in agreements providing for such right, (iii) repurchases of Common Stock or Preferred Stock in connection with the settlement of disputes with any stockholder, (iv) any other repurchase or redemption of Common Stock, Founders Preferred Stock or Preferred Stock approved by the Board of Directors of the Corporation and the holders of a majority of the then outstanding shares of Preferred Stock (excluding any Excess Shares), voting together as a single class on an as converted to Common Stock basis and (v) any repurchase made pursuant to the exercise of any BHCA Put Right.

ARTICLE X

Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial owner) to bring (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law or the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine, except for, as to each of (i) through (iv) above, any claim as to which the Court of Chancery determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, or for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction. If any provision or provisions of this Article X shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article X (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Article X containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

*    *    *

4.    The foregoing amendment and restatement was approved by the holders of the requisite number of shares of said corporation in accordance with Section 228 of the General Corporation Law.

5.    That said Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, which restates and integrates and further amends the provisions of this corporation’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, has been duly adopted in accordance with Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been executed by a duly authorized officer of this corporation on this 2nd day of July, 2021.

 

/s/ Nima Ghamsari

Nima Ghamsari, Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit 3.2

AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

BLEND LABS, INC.

Blend Labs, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware General Corporation Law”),

DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:

FIRST: That the name of this corporation is Blend Labs, Inc. (the “Corporation”) and that the Corporation was originally incorporated pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law on April 17, 2012.

SECOND: That the Board of Directors duly adopted resolutions proposing to amend and restate the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, declaring said amendment and restatement to be advisable and in the best interests of the Corporation and its stockholders, and authorizing the officers of the Corporation to solicit the consent of the stockholders therefor, which resolution setting forth the proposed amendment and restatement is as follows:

RESOLVED, that the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation be amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

ARTICLE I

The name of this corporation is Blend Labs, Inc.

ARTICLE II

The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 3500 S. DuPont Hwy, in the City of Dover, County of Kent, 19901. The name of its registered agent at such address is Incorporating Services, Ltd.

ARTICLE III

The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the Delaware General Corporation Law.

ARTICLE IV

The Corporation is authorized to issue four classes of stock to be designated, respectively, Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock, Class C Common Stock and Preferred Stock. The total number of shares of Class A Common Stock authorized to be issued is 1,800,000,000 shares, par value $0.00001 per share. The total number of shares of Class B Common Stock authorized to be issued is 600,000,000 shares, par value $0.00001 per share. The total number of shares of Class C Common Stock authorized to be issued is 600,000,000 shares, par value $0.00001 per share. The Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock are referred to together as “Common Stock”. The total number of shares of Preferred Stock authorized to be issued is 200,000,000 shares, par value $0.00001 per share.

 


Immediately upon the effectiveness of this Amended and Restated Certificate for filing by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “Effective Time”), (i) each share of the Corporation’s Class B Common Stock issued and outstanding or held as treasury stock immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall, automatically and without further action by any stockholder, be reclassified as, and shall become, one share of Class A Common Stock; and (ii) each share of the Corporation’s Class A Common Stock issued and outstanding or held as treasury stock immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall, automatically and without further action by any stockholder, be reclassified as, and shall become, one share of Class B Common Stock (the reclassifications described in (i) and (ii) above shall be referred to as the “Reclassification”), and any stock certificate that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock or the Company’s Class A Common Stock shall from and after the Effective Time be deemed to represent shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, respectively, without the need for surrender or exchange thereof.

ARTICLE V

The rights, powers, preferences, privileges, restrictions and other matters relating to the Common Stock are as follows:

1.    Definitions. For purposes of this Amended and Restated Certificate, the following definitions apply;

1.1    “Acquisition” means (A) any consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or into any other corporation or other entity or person, or any other corporate reorganization, other than any such consolidation, merger or reorganization in which the shares of capital stock of the Corporation immediately prior to such consolidation, merger or reorganization continue to represent a majority of the voting power of the surviving entity (or, if the surviving entity is a wholly owned subsidiary, its Parent) immediately after such consolidation, merger or reorganization (provided that, for the purpose of this Section V.1.1, all stock, options, warrants, purchase rights or other securities exercisable for or convertible into Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation shall be deemed to be outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation and, if applicable, converted or exchanged in such merger or consolidation on the same terms as the actual outstanding shares of capital stock are converted or exchanged); or (B) any transaction or series of related transactions to which the Corporation is a party in which shares of the Corporation are transferred such that in excess of fifty percent (50%) of the Corporation’s voting power is transferred; provided that an Acquisition shall not include any transaction or series of transactions principally for bona fide equity financing purposes in which cash is received by the Corporation or any successor or indebtedness of the Corporation is cancelled or converted or a combination thereof.

1.2    “Amended and Restated Certificate” means this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as may be further amended and restated from time to time.

1.3    “Asset Transfer” means a sale, lease, exclusive license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation.

1.4    “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

1.5    “Cause for Termination means (i) fraud or embezzlement by Founder in connection with his employment with the Corporation, (ii) a willful act of material dishonesty by Founder in connection with his employment with the Corporation that results in or would reasonably be expected to result in material loss to the Corporation, or (iii) Founder’s conviction of, or plea of guilty to, a felony that results in or would reasonably be expected to result in material loss to the Corporation.

 

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1.6    “Class C Conversion Date” has the meaning set forth in Section V.6

1.7    “Disability” or “Disabled” means, with respect to Founder, the permanent and total disability of Founder such that Founder is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death within 12 months or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months as determined by a licensed medical practitioner jointly selected by a majority of the Independent Directors and Founder. If Founder is incapable of selecting a licensed physician, then Founder’s spouse shall make the selection on behalf of Founder, or in the absence or incapacity of Founder’s spouse, Founder’s adult children by majority vote shall make the selection on behalf of Founder, or in the absence of adult children of Founder or their inability to act by majority vote, a natural person then acting as the successor trustee of a revocable living trust which was created by Founder and which holds more shares of all classes of capital stock of the Corporation than any other revocable living trust created by Founder shall make the selection on behalf of Founder, or in absence of any such successor trustee, the legal guardian or conservator of the estate of Founder shall make the selection on behalf of Founder.

1.8     “Effective Date” means the date that this Amended and Restated Certificate is accepted for filing by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

1.9    “Family Member” means the spouse, domestic partner, parents, grandparents, lineal descendants, siblings and lineal descendants of siblings of Founder (including adopted persons of Founder).

1.10    “Final Conversion Date” means:

(a)    the date fixed by the Board that is no less than 61 days and no more than 180 days following the first time after 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the Effective Date that the number of Threshold Shares held by Founder and his Permitted Entities and Permitted Transferees is less than 35% of the number of shares of Class B Common Stock held by Founder and his Permitted Entities and Permitted Transferees at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the Effective Date;

(b)    the date fixed by the Board that is no less than 61 days and no more than 180 days following the first time after 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the Effective Date that both (i) Founder is no longer providing services to the Corporation as an officer (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) or employee of the Corporation, and (ii) Founder is no longer a director of the Corporation as a result of a voluntary resignation by Founder from the Board or as a result of a request or agreement by Founder not to be renominated as a director of the Corporation at a meeting of stockholders;

(c)    the date fixed by the Board that is no less than 61 days and no more than 180 days following the date that Founder’s employment with the Corporation is terminated for Cause for Termination;

(d)    the close of business on the date that is twelve (12) months after the death or Disability of Founder; or

(e)    the close of business on the date that is the fifty (50) year anniversary of the Effective Date.

1.11    “Founder” means Nima Ghamsari.

 

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1.12    “Independent Directors” means the members of the Board designated as independent directors in accordance with the Listing Standards.

1.13    “Liquidation Event” means any liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, or any Acquisition or Asset Transfer.

1.14    “Listing Standards” means (i) the requirements of any national stock exchange under which the Corporation’s equity securities are listed for trading that are generally applicable to companies with common equity securities listed thereon or (ii) if the Corporation’s equity securities are not listed for trading on a national stock exchange, the requirements of the New York Stock Exchange generally applicable to companies with equity securities listed thereon.

1.15    “Parent” of an entity means any entity that directly or indirectly owns or controls a majority of the voting power of the voting securities of such entity.

1.16    “Permitted Entity” means, (a) any trust for the exclusive benefit of (or any combination of) Founder, one or more Family Members or any other Permitted Entity, (b) any general partnership, limited liability company, corporation or other entity exclusively owned by (or any combination of) Founder, one or more Family Members or any other Permitted Entity, (c) any charitable organization, foundation or similar entity established by (or any combination of) Founder, one or more Family Members or any other Permitted Entity, and (d) any Individual Retirement Account, as defined in Section 408(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, or a pension, profit sharing, stock bonus or other type of plan or trust of which Founder is a participant or beneficiary and which satisfies the requirements for qualification under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code.

1.17    “Permitted Transfer” means (a) any Transfer of a share of Class B Common Stock from Founder, from a Permitted Entity, from a Family Member, from the estate of Founder or a Family Member, from a Permitted Transferee, or from any registered holder of a share of Class B Common Stock as of 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the Effective Date, to Founder, to any Family Member, to the estate of Founder or any Family Member, or to any Permitted Entity; provided that if the transferee of such share of Class B Common Stock is not Founder, then such Transfer shall qualify as a Permitted Transfer only if Founder shall have exclusive Voting Control with respect to such share of Class B Common Stock following such Transfer or such share shall be subject to a voting proxy in a form approved by the Board following such Transfer (it being understood that such voting proxy may be executed promptly following (and in no event later than 10 days after) such Transfer); and (b) any Transfer of a share of Class B Common Stock from a holder to such holder’s affiliate with the prior written approval of the Board; provided that if the transferee of such share of Class B Common Stock is not Founder, then such Transfer shall qualify as a Permitted Transfer only if Founder shall have exclusive Voting Control with respect to such share of Class B Common Stock following such Transfer or such share shall be subject to a voting proxy in a form approved by the Board following such Transfer (it being understood that such voting proxy may be executed promptly following (and in no event later than 10 days after) such Transfer). In the event that Founder does not have exclusive Voting Control with respect to a share of Class B Common Stock following any Transfer described in this Section V.1.17, or such share is not subject to a voting proxy in a form approved by the Board following such transfer (within the time periods permitted in this Section V.1.17), each such share of Class B Common Stock purported to be Transferred shall automatically, and with no further action by the holder or the Corporation, convert into one fully-paid and non-assessable share of Class A Common Stock.

1.18    “Permitted Transferee” means a transferee of shares of Class B Common Stock, or rights or interests therein, received in a Transfer that constitutes a Permitted Transfer.

 

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1.19    “Threshold Shares” means, with respect to any person as of any time, the sum of (without duplication): (a) any shares of capital stock of the Corporation, including Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock, held by such person as of such time and (b) any shares of capital stock of the Corporation, including Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock, underlying any securities (including restricted stock units, options, or other convertible instruments) held by such person as of such time, whether such securities are vested or unvested, earned or unearned, convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable as of such time or in the future.

1.20    “Transfer” of a share of Class B Common Stock means, directly or indirectly, any sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, hypothecation or other transfer or disposition of such share or any legal or beneficial interest in such share, whether or not for value and whether voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law (including by merger, consolidation or otherwise) after 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the Effective Date, or the transfer of, or entering into a binding agreement with respect to the transfer of, Voting Control (as defined below) over such share by proxy or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following will not be considered a “Transfer”:

(a)    any grant of a proxy to, or entry into a voting arrangement with, Founder for Founder to exercise Voting Control of shares of Class B Common Stock;

(b)    any grant by Founder (or, if requested by Founder, any grant by any holder of shares of Class B Common Stock) of a proxy to officers or directors of the Corporation in connection with (i) actions to be taken at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, or (ii) any other action of the stockholders permitted by this Amended and Restated Certificate;

(c)    any pledge of shares of Class B Common Stock by a stockholder that creates a mere security interest in such shares pursuant to a bona fide loan or indebtedness transaction for so long as Founder continues to exercise Voting Control over such pledged shares; provided, however, that a foreclosure on such shares or other similar action by the pledgee will constitute a “Transfer” unless such foreclosure or similar action qualifies as a “Permitted Transfer” at such time;

(d)    any grant of a proxy to, or the exercise of Voting Control by, the Secretary of the Corporation or such other person pursuant to Section V.5.3;

(e)    any entry into a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, with a broker or other nominee; provided, however, that a sale of such shares of Class B Common Stock pursuant to such plan shall constitute a “Transfer” at the time of such sale;

(f)    any entry by Founder (or, if requested by Founder, entry by any holder of shares of Class B Common Stock) into a support, voting, tender or similar agreement, arrangement or understanding (with or without granting a proxy) in connection with a Liquidation Event or other proposal, or consummating the actions or transactions contemplated therein (including, without limitation, tendering shares of Class B Common Stock or voting such shares in connection with a Liquidation Event or other proposal, the consummation of a Liquidation Event or the sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, hypothecation or other transfer or disposition of shares of Class B Common Stock or any legal or beneficial interest in shares of Class B Common Stock in connection with a Liquidation Event); provided that such Liquidation Event or other proposal was approved by the Board; or

(g)    any issuance or reissuance by the Corporation of a share of Class B Common Stock or any redemption, purchase or acquisition by the Corporation of a share of Class B Common Stock.

 

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1.21    “Voting Control” means, with respect to a share of capital stock or other security, the power (whether exclusive or shared) to vote or direct the voting of such security, including by proxy, voting agreement or otherwise.

1.22    “Voting Threshold Date” means the first date after 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the Effective Date on which the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock represent less than a majority of the total voting power of the then outstanding shares of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

1.23    “Whole Board” means the total number of authorized directors whether or not there exist any vacancies or unfilled seats in previously authorized directorships.

2.    Identical Rights. Except as otherwise provided in this Amended and Restated Certificate or required by applicable law, shares of Common Stock shall have the same rights and powers, rank equally (including as to dividends and distributions, and any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation but excluding voting and other matters as described in Section V.3 below), share ratably and be identical in all respects as to all matters, including:

2.1    Subject to the prior rights of holders of all classes and series of stock at the time outstanding having prior rights as to dividends, the holders of the Common Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board, out of any assets of the Corporation legally available therefor, such dividends as may be declared from time to time by the Board. Any dividends paid to the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be paid pro rata, on an equal priority, pari passu basis, unless different treatment of the shares of any such class or series is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of such applicable class or series of Common Stock treated adversely, voting separately as a class.

2.2    The Corporation shall not declare or pay any dividend or make any other distribution to the holders of Common Stock payable in securities of the Corporation unless the same dividend or distribution with the same record date and payment date shall be declared and paid on all shares of Common Stock; provided, however, that (i) dividends or other distributions payable in shares of Class A Common Stock or rights to acquire shares of Class A Common Stock may be declared and paid to the holders of Class A Common Stock without the same dividend or distribution being declared and paid to the holders of the Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock if, and only if, a dividend payable in shares of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock, as applicable, or rights to acquire shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock, as applicable, are declared and paid to the holders of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock at the same rate and with the same record date and payment date; (ii) dividends or other distributions payable in shares of Class B Common Stock or rights to acquire shares Class B Common Stock may be declared and paid to the holders of Class B Common Stock without the same dividend or distribution being declared and paid to the holders of the Class A Common Stock or Class C Common Stock if, and only if, a dividend payable in shares of Class A Common Stock and Class C Common Stock, as applicable, or rights to acquire shares of Class A Common Stock or Class C Common Stock, as applicable, are declared and paid to the holders of Class A Common Stock and Class C Common Stock at the same rate and with the same record date and payment date; and (iii) dividends or other distributions payable in shares of Class C Common Stock or rights to acquire shares of Class C Common Stock may be declared and paid to the holders of Class C Common Stock without the same dividend or distribution being declared and paid to the holders of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock if, and only if, a dividend payable in shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, as applicable, or rights to acquire shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, as applicable, are declared and paid to the holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock at the same rate and with the same record date and payment date; and provided, further, that

 

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nothing in the foregoing shall prevent the Corporation from declaring and paying dividends or other distributions payable in shares of one class of Common Stock or rights to acquire one class of Common Stock to holders of all classes of Common Stock, or, with the approval of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of each of the Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock, each voting separately as a class, from providing for different treatment of the shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock.

2.3    If the Corporation in any manner subdivides or combines the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock, then the outstanding shares of all Common Stock will be subdivided or combined in the same proportion and manner, unless different treatment of the shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of each of the Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock, each voting separately as a class.

3.    Voting Rights.

3.1    Common Stock.

(a)    Class A Common Stock. Each holder of shares of Class A Common Stock will be entitled to one vote for each share thereof held at the record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to vote on such matters.

(b)    Class B Common Stock. Each holder of shares of Class B Common Stock will be entitled to forty votes for each share thereof held at the record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to vote on such matters.

(c)    Class C Common Stock. Except as required by law, the Class C Common Stock will have no voting rights and no holder thereof shall be entitled to vote such shares on any matter.

3.2    General. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or as required by law, the holders of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock will vote together and not as separate series or classes.

3.3    Authorized Shares. The number of authorized shares of the Class A Common Stock or the Class C Common Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below (i) the number of shares of the applicable class of Common Stock then outstanding plus (ii) with respect to Class A Common Stock, the number of shares reserved for issuance pursuant to Section V.9) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, voting together as a single class, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the Delaware General Corporation Law; provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, the number of authorized shares of Class B Common Stock shall not be increased or decreased without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock, voting as a separate class.

3.4    Election of Directors. Subject to any rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors under specified circumstances, (i) prior to the Final Conversion Date, the holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, voting together as a single class, shall be entitled to elect and remove all directors of the Corporation, (ii) from and after the Final Conversion Date, until the Class C Conversion Date, if any, the holders of the Class A Common Stock, voting together as a single class, shall be entitled to elect and remove all directors of the Corporation and (iii) from and after the Class C Conversion Date, if any, the holders of Common Stock, voting together as a single class, shall be entitled to elect and remove all directors of the Corporation.

 

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4.    Liquidation Rights. In the event of a Liquidation Event in connection with which the Board has determined to effect a distribution of assets of the Corporation to any holder or holders of Common Stock, then, subject to the rights of any Preferred Stock that may then be outstanding, the assets of the Corporation legally available for distribution to stockholders shall be distributed on an equal priority, pro rata basis to the holders of Common Stock, unless different treatment of the shares of each such class is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock, each voting separately as a class; provided, however, that for the avoidance of doubt, consideration to be paid or received by a holder of Common Stock in connection with any Liquidation Event pursuant to any employment, consulting, severance or similar services arrangement shall not be deemed to be a “distribution to stockholders” for the purpose of this Section V.4; provided, further, however, that holders of shares of such classes may receive, or have the right to elect to receive, different or disproportionate consideration in connection with such consolidation, merger or other transaction if the only difference in the per share consideration to the holders of the Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock is that any securities distributed to the holder of a share of Class B Common Stock have ten (10) times the voting power of any securities distributed to the holder of a share of Class A Common Stock and that any securities distributed to the holder of a share of Class C Common Stock have no voting rights or power, to the fullest extent permitted by law.

5.    Conversion of the Class B Common Stock. The Class B Common Stock will be convertible into Class A Common Stock as follows:

5.1    Each share of Class B Common Stock will automatically convert into one fully paid and nonassessable share of Class A Common Stock on the Final Conversion Date.

5.2    With respect to any holder of Class B Common Stock, each share of Class B Common Stock held by such holder will automatically be converted into one fully paid and nonassessable share of Class A Common Stock, as follows:

(a)    on the affirmative written election of such holder to convert such share of Class B Common Stock or, if later, at the time or the happening of a future event specified in such written election (which election may be revoked by such holder prior to the date on which the automatic conversion would otherwise occur unless otherwise specified by such holder); and

(b)    on the occurrence of a Transfer of such share of Class B Common Stock to any person or entity that is not a Permitted Transferee.

5.3    During the period commencing on the death or Disability of Founder and ending on the Final Conversion Date, a person designated by Founder and approved by the Board (or, if there is no such person, then the Secretary of the Corporation in office from time to time) shall exercise Voting Control over all outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock.

6.    Conversion of the Class C Common Stock. Following the conversion or other exchange of all outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock into or for shares of Class A Common Stock, on the date or time (including a time determined by the happening of a future event) specified by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, voting as a separate class (the “Class C Conversion Date”), each outstanding share of Class C Common Stock shall automatically, without further action by the Corporation or the holders thereof, convert into one (1) fully paid and nonassessable share of Class A Common Stock.

 

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7.    Procedures. The Corporation may, from time to time, establish such policies and procedures relating to the conversion of the Class B Common Stock to Class A Common Stock, the conversion of Class C Common Stock into Class A Common Stock and the general administration of this multi-class stock structure, including the issuance of stock certificates with respect thereto, as it may deem necessary or advisable, and may from time to time request that holders of shares of Class B Common Stock furnish certifications, affidavits or other proof to the Corporation as it deems necessary to verify the ownership of Class B Common Stock and to confirm that a conversion to Class A Common Stock has not occurred. A determination by the Corporation as to whether or not a Transfer has occurred and results in a conversion to Class A Common Stock shall be conclusive and binding.

8.    Immediate Effect. In the event of and upon a conversion of shares of Class B Common Stock to shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to Section V.5 or Class C Common Stock to Class A Common Stock pursuant to Section V.6, as applicable, such conversion(s) shall be deemed to have been made at the time that the Transfer of shares occurred (in the case of a conversion of Class B Common Stock to Class A Common Stock) or immediately upon the Final Conversion Date (in the case of the conversion of Class B Common Stock into Class A Common Stock) or immediately upon the Class C Conversion Date (in the case of the conversion of Class C Common Stock into Class A Common Stock), if any, subject in all cases to any transition periods specifically provided for in this Amended and Restated Certificate. Upon any conversion of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock to Class A Common Stock in accordance with this Amended and Restated Certificate, all rights of the holder of shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock shall cease and the person or persons in whose names or names the certificate or certificates representing the shares of Class A Common Stock are to be issued shall be treated for all purposes as having become the record holder or holders of such shares of Class A Common Stock.

9.    Reservation of Stock Issuable Upon Conversion. The Corporation will at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock, solely for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the shares of the Class B Common Stock and the Class C Common Stock, as applicable, such number of its shares of Class A Common Stock as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the conversion of all outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock, as applicable; and if at any time the number of authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock will not be sufficient to effect the conversion of all then-outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock, as applicable, the Corporation will take such corporate action as may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary to increase its authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock to such number of shares as will be sufficient for such purpose.

10.    Preemptive Rights. No stockholder of the Corporation shall have a right to purchase shares of capital stock of the Corporation sold or issued by the Corporation except to the extent that such a right may from time to time be set forth in a written agreement between the Corporation and a stockholder.

11.    Class B Protective Provisions. After 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the Effective Date, and prior to the Final Conversion Date, the Corporation shall not, without the prior affirmative vote (either at a meeting or by written election) of the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock, voting as a separate class, in addition to any other vote required by applicable law or this Amended and Restated Certificate:

11.1    directly or indirectly, whether by amendment, or through merger, recapitalization, consolidation or otherwise, amend or repeal, or adopt any provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate inconsistent with, or otherwise alter, any provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate relating to the voting, conversion or other rights, powers, preferences, privileges or restrictions of the Class B Common Stock;

 

9


11.2    reclassify any outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock or Class C Common Stock into shares having rights as to dividends or liquidation that are senior to the Class B Common Stock or, in the case of Class A Common Stock, the right to have more than one (1) vote for each share thereof and, in the case of Class C Common Stock, the right to have any vote for any share thereof, except as required by law;

11.3    authorize, or issue any shares of, any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation having the right to more than (1) vote for each share thereof.

ARTICLE VI

1.    Rights of Preferred Stock. The Board is authorized, subject to any limitations prescribed by law, to provide for the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock in series, and by filing a certificate pursuant to the applicable law of the State of Delaware (such certificate being hereinafter referred to as a “Preferred Stock Designation”), to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series, and to fix the designation, powers, preferences, and rights of the shares of each such series and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof.

2.    Vote to Amend Terms of Preferred Stock. Except as otherwise required by law or provided in this Amended and Restated Certificate, holders of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any certificate of designation filed with respect to any series of Preferred Stock) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together as a class with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon by law or pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any certificate of designation filed with respect to any series of Preferred Stock).

3.     Vote to Increase or Decrease Authorized Shares. The number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, without a vote of the holders of the Preferred Stock, or of any series thereof, unless a vote of any such holders is required pursuant to the terms of any Preferred Stock Designation, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

ARTICLE VII

1.    Board Size. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, the number of directors that constitutes the Whole Board shall be fixed solely by resolution of the Board acting pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board. At each annual meeting of stockholders, directors of the Corporation whose terms are expiring at such meeting shall be elected to hold office until the expiration of the term for which they are elected and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal; except that if any such election shall not be so held, such election shall take place at a stockholders’ meeting called and held in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law.

2.    Board Structure. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, at each annual meeting of stockholders, each director of the Corporation shall be elected annually by stockholders and shall hold office until the next annual meeting and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her death, resignation, or removal. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

 

10


3.    Removal; Vacancies. Any director may be removed from office by the stockholders of the Corporation as provided in Section 141(k) of the Delaware General Corporation Law. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors and fill vacancies under specified circumstances, vacancies occurring on the Board for any reason and newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the authorized number of directors may be filled only by vote of a majority of the remaining members of the Board, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and not by stockholders, except as provided in Section VIII.5 below. A person elected to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship shall hold office until the next annual meeting or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified.

ARTICLE VIII

The following provisions are inserted for the management of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation, and for further definition, limitation and regulation of the powers of the Corporation and of its directors and stockholders:

1.    Board Power. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board. In addition to the powers and authority expressly conferred by statute or by this Amended and Restated Certificate or the Bylaws of the Corporation, the Board is hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation.

2.    Written Ballot. Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless otherwise provided in the Bylaws of the Corporation.

3.    Amendment of Bylaws. In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Board is expressly authorized to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation. The Bylaws may also be adopted, amended, altered or repealed by the stockholders of the Corporation; provided that the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the total voting power of outstanding voting securities of the Corporation, voting together as a single class, shall be required for the stockholders of the Corporation to alter, amend or repeal, or adopt any provision of the Bylaws.

4.    Special Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders may be called only by (i) the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board; (ii) the chairperson of the Board; or (iii) the chief executive officer of the Corporation, but a special meeting may not be called by any other person or persons and any power of stockholders to call a special meeting of stockholders is specifically denied.

5.    Availability of Stockholder Action by Written Consent. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, from and after the Voting Threshold Date, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such stockholders. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, before the Voting Threshold Date, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting only if the action is first recommended or approved by the Board.

6.    No Cumulative Voting. No stockholder will be permitted to cumulate votes at any election of directors.

7.    Advance Notice. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of business to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner provided in the Bylaws of the Corporation.

 

11


ARTICLE IX

To the fullest extent permitted by law, no director of the Corporation shall be personally liable for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director. Without limiting the effect of the preceding sentence, if the Delaware General Corporation Law is hereafter amended to authorize the further elimination or limitation of the liability of a director, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as so amended.

No amendment, repeal, or elimination of this Article IX, or adoption of any provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate inconsistent with this Article IX, shall eliminate, reduce or otherwise adversely affect any limitation on the personal liability of a director of the Corporation existing at the time of such amendment, repeal, or elimination or adoption of such an inconsistent provision.

ARTICLE X

If any provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate becomes or is declared on any ground by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, unenforceable or void, portions of such provision, or such provision in its entirety, to the extent necessary, shall be severed from this Amended and Restated Certificate, and the court will replace such illegal, void or unenforceable provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate with a valid and enforceable provision that most accurately reflects the Corporation’s intent, in order to achieve, to the maximum extent possible, the same economic, business and other purposes of the illegal, void or unenforceable provision. The balance of this Amended and Restated Certificate shall be enforceable in accordance with its terms.

Except as provided in Article IX above, the Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute, and all rights conferred upon stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation. Any amendment to this Amended and Restated Certificate that requires stockholder approval pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

***

THIRD: The foregoing amendment and restatement was approved by the holders of the requisite number of shares of the Corporation in accordance with Section 228 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

FOURTH: That said Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, which restates and integrates and further amends the provisions of the Corporation’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, has been duly adopted in accordance with Sections 242 and 245 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been duly executed by a duly authorized officer of this corporation on this          day of                 , 2021.

 

 

Nima Ghamsari
Chief Executive Officer

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF

INCORPORATION OF BLEND LABS, INC.

Exhibit 3.4

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS OF

BLEND LABS INC.

(adopted on July     , 2021)

(Effective upon the closing of the Company’s initial public offering)


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I - CORPORATE OFFICES

     1  

1.1

 

REGISTERED OFFICE

     1  

1.2

 

OTHER OFFICES

     1  

ARTICLE II - MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

     1  

2.1

 

PLACE OF MEETINGS

     1  

2.2

 

ANNUAL MEETING

     1  

2.3

 

SPECIAL MEETING

     1  

2.4

 

ADVANCE NOTICE PROCEDURES

     2  

2.5

 

NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETINGS

     8  

2.6

 

QUORUM

     8  

2.7

 

ADJOURNED MEETING; NOTICE

     8  

2.8

 

CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

     9  

2.9

 

VOTING

     9  

2.10

 

STOCKHOLDER ACTION BY CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING

     9  

2.11

 

RECORD DATES

     10  

2.12

 

PROXIES

     11  

2.13

 

LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS ENTITLED TO VOTE

     11  

2.14

 

INSPECTORS OF ELECTION

     11  

ARTICLE III - DIRECTORS

     12  

3.1

 

POWERS

     12  

3.2

 

NUMBER OF DIRECTORS

     12  

3.3

 

ELECTION, QUALIFICATION AND TERM OF OFFICE OF DIRECTORS

     12  

3.4

 

RESIGNATION AND VACANCIES

     12  

3.5

 

PLACE OF MEETINGS; MEETINGS BY TELEPHONE

     13  

3.6

 

REGULAR MEETINGS

     13  

3.7

 

SPECIAL MEETINGS; NOTICE

     13  

3.8

 

QUORUM; VOTING

     14  

3.9

 

BOARD ACTION BY CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING

     14  

3.10

 

FEES AND COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS

     14  

3.11

 

REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS

     14  

ARTICLE IV - COMMITTEES

     14  

4.1

 

COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS

     14  

4.2

 

COMMITTEE MINUTES

     15  

4.3

 

MEETINGS AND ACTION OF COMMITTEES

     15  

4.4

 

SUBCOMMITTEES

     15  

ARTICLE V - OFFICERS

     16  

5.1

 

OFFICERS

     16  

5.2

 

APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS

     16  

5.3

 

SUBORDINATE OFFICERS

     16  

5.4

 

REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS

     16  

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

         Page  

5.5

 

VACANCIES IN OFFICES

     16  

5.6

 

REPRESENTATION OF SECURITIES OF OTHER ENTITIES

     16  

5.7

 

AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS

     17  

ARTICLE VI - STOCK

     17  

6.1

 

STOCK CERTIFICATES; PARTLY PAID SHARES

     17  

6.2

 

SPECIAL DESIGNATION ON CERTIFICATES

     17  

6.3

 

LOST CERTIFICATES

     18  

6.4

 

DIVIDENDS

     18  

6.5

 

TRANSFER OF STOCK

     18  

6.6

 

STOCK TRANSFER AGREEMENTS

     18  

6.7

 

REGISTERED STOCKHOLDERS

     19  

ARTICLE VII - MANNER OF GIVING NOTICE AND WAIVER

     19  

7.1

 

NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETINGS

     19  

7.2

 

NOTICE TO STOCKHOLDERS SHARING AN ADDRESS

     19  

7.3

 

NOTICE TO PERSON WITH WHOM COMMUNICATION IS UNLAWFUL

     19  

7.4

 

WAIVER OF NOTICE

     19  

ARTICLE VIII - INDEMNIFICATION

     20  

8.1

 

INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS IN THIRD PARTY PROCEEDINGS

     20  

8.2

 

INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS IN ACTIONS BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE COMPANY

     20  

8.3

 

SUCCESSFUL DEFENSE

     21  

8.4

 

INDEMNIFICATION OF OTHERS

     21  

8.5

 

ADVANCED PAYMENT OF EXPENSES

     21  

8.6

 

LIMITATION ON INDEMNIFICATION

     22  

8.7

 

DETERMINATION; CLAIM

     22  

8.8

 

NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS

     22  

8.9

 

INSURANCE

     23  

8.10

 

SURVIVAL

     23  

8.11

 

EFFECT OF REPEAL OR MODIFICATION

     23  

8.12

 

CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

     23  

ARTICLE IX - GENERAL MATTERS

     24  

9.1

 

EXECUTION OF CORPORATE CONTRACTS AND INSTRUMENTS

     24  

9.2

 

FISCAL YEAR

     24  

9.3

 

SEAL

     24  

9.4

 

CONSTRUCTION; DEFINITIONS

     24  

9.5

 

FORUM SELECTION

     24  

ARTICLE X - AMENDMENTS

     25  

 

-ii-


BYLAWS OF BLEND LABS, INC.

 

 

ARTICLE I - CORPORATE OFFICES

1.1    REGISTERED OFFICE

The registered office of Blend Labs Inc. (the “Company”) shall be fixed in the Company’s certificate of incorporation, as the same may be amended from time to time.

1.2    OTHER OFFICES

The Company may at any time establish other offices at any place or places.

ARTICLE II - MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

2.1    PLACE OF MEETINGS

Meetings of stockholders shall be held at a place, if any, within or outside the State of Delaware, determined by the board of directors of the Company (the “Board of Directors”). The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that a meeting of stockholders shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as authorized by Section 211(a)(2) of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) or any successor legislation. In the absence of any such designation or determination, stockholders’ meetings shall be held at the Company’s principal executive office.

2.2    ANNUAL MEETING

The annual meeting of stockholders shall be held each year. The Board of Directors shall designate the date and time of the annual meeting. At the annual meeting, directors shall be elected and any other proper business, brought in accordance with Section 2.4 of these bylaws, may be transacted. The Board of Directors, acting pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board, or the chairperson of the meeting may cancel, postpone or reschedule any previously scheduled annual meeting at any time, before or after the notice for such meeting has been sent to the stockholders. For the purposes of these bylaws, the term “Whole Board” shall mean the total number of authorized directorships whether or not there exist any vacancies or other unfilled seats in previously authorized directorships.

2.3    SPECIAL MEETING

(a)    A special meeting of the stockholders, other than as required by statute, may be called at any time by (i) the Board of Directors acting pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board, (ii) the chairperson of the Board of Directors, or (iii) the chief executive officer, but a special meeting may not be called by any other person or persons and any power of stockholders to call a special meeting of stockholders is specifically denied. The Board of Directors, acting pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board, or the chairperson of the meeting may cancel, postpone or reschedule any previously scheduled special meeting at any time, before or after the notice for such meeting has been sent to the stockholders.

 

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(b)    The notice of a special meeting shall include the purpose for which the meeting is called. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting by or at the direction of a majority of the Whole Board, the chairperson of the Board of Directors, or the chief executive officer. Nothing contained in this Section 2.3(b) shall be construed as limiting, fixing or affecting the time when a meeting of stockholders called by action of the Board of Directors may be held.

2.4    ADVANCE NOTICE PROCEDURES

(a)    Annual Meetings of Stockholders.

(i)    Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors or the proposal of other business to be transacted by the stockholders at an annual meeting of stockholders may be made only (1) pursuant to the Company’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto); (2) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors; (3) as may be provided in the certificate of designations for any class or series of preferred stock; or (4) by any stockholder of the Company who (A) is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of the notice contemplated by Section 2.4(a)(ii); (B) is a stockholder of record on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of the annual meeting; (C) is a stockholder of record on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting; (D) is a stockholder of record at the time of the annual meeting; and (E) complies with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.4(a).

(ii)    For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting of stockholders by a stockholder pursuant to clause (4) of Section 2.4(a)(i), the stockholder must have given timely notice in writing to the secretary and any such nomination or proposed business must constitute a proper matter for stockholder action. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be received by the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company no earlier than 8:00 a.m., local time, on the 120th day and no later than 5:00 p.m., local time, on the 90th day prior to the day of the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders. However, if no annual meeting of stockholders was held in the preceding year, or if the date of the applicable annual meeting has been changed by more than 25 days from the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, then to be timely such notice must be received by the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company no earlier than 8:00 a.m., local time, on the 120th day prior to the day of the annual meeting and no later than 5:00 p.m., local time, on the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the annual meeting was first made by the Company. In no event will the adjournment, rescheduling or postponement of any annual meeting, or any announcement thereof, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. If the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors is increased and there is no public announcement naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors at least 10 days before the last day that a stockholder may deliver a notice of nomination pursuant to the foregoing provisions, then a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 2.4(a)(ii) will also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it is received by the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company no later than 5:00 p.m., local time, on the 10th day following the day on which such public announcement is first made. “Public announcement” means disclosure in a press release reported by a national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (as amended and inclusive of rules and regulations thereunder, the “1934 Act”).

 

- 2 -


(iii)    A stockholder’s notice to the secretary must set forth:

(1)    as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election as a director:

(A)    such person’s name, age, business address, residence address and principal occupation or employment; the class and number of shares of the Company that are held of record or are beneficially owned by such person and a description of any Derivative Instruments (defined below) held or beneficially owned thereby or of any other agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short position or any borrowing or lending of shares), the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, or to manage the risk or benefit of share price changes for, or to increase or decrease the voting power of such person; and all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for the contested election of directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to the Section 14 of the 1934 Act;

(B)    such person’s written consent to being named in such stockholder’s proxy statement as a nominee of such stockholder and to serving as a director of the Company if elected;

(C)    a reasonably detailed description of any direct or indirect compensatory, payment, indemnification or other financial agreement, arrangement or understanding that such person has, or has had within the past three years, with any person or entity other than the Company (including the amount of any payment or payments received or receivable thereunder), in each case in connection with candidacy or service as a director of the Company (a “Third-Party Compensation Arrangement”); and

(D)    a description of any other material relationships between such person and such person’s respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert with them, on the one hand, and such stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made, and their respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert with them, on the other hand;

(2)    as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting:

(A)    a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting;

(B)    the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and, if applicable, the text of any proposed amendment to these bylaws or the Company’s certificate of incorporation);

(C)    the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting;

 

- 3 -


(D)    any material interest in such business of such stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, and their respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert with them; and

(E)    a description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, and their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert with them, and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder; and

(3)    as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made:

(A)    the name and address of such stockholder (as they appear on the Company’s books), of such beneficial owner and of their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert with them;

(B)    for each class or series, the number of shares of stock of the Company that are, directly or indirectly, held of record or are beneficially owned by such stockholder, such beneficial owner or their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert with them;

(C)    a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding between such stockholder, such beneficial owner or their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert with them, and any other person or persons (including, in each case, their names) in connection with the proposal of such nomination or other business;

(D)    a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including, regardless of the form of settlement, any derivative, long or short positions, profit interests, forwards, futures, swaps, options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation or similar rights, hedging transactions and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into by or on behalf of such stockholder, such beneficial owner or their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert with them, with respect to the Company’s securities (any of the foregoing, a “Derivative Instrument”), or any other agreement, arrangement or understanding that has been made the effect or intent of which is to create or mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for or increase or decrease the voting power of such stockholder, such beneficial owner or their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert with them, with respect to the Company’s securities;

(E)    any rights to dividends on the Company’s securities owned beneficially by such stockholder, such beneficial owner or their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert with them, that are separated or separable from the underlying security;

(F)    any proportionate interest in the Company’s securities or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder, such beneficial owner or their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert with them, is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner of such general or limited partnership;

 

- 4 -


(G)    any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such stockholder, such beneficial owner or their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert with, them is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of the Company’s securities or Derivative Instruments, including, without limitation, any such interests held by members of the immediate family of such persons sharing the same household;

(H)    any significant equity interests or any Derivative Instruments in any principal competitor of the Company that are held by such stockholder, such beneficial owner or their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert with them;

(I)    any direct or indirect interest of such stockholder, such beneficial owner or their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert with them, in any contract with the Company, any affiliate of the Company or any principal competitor of the Company (in each case, including any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement);

(J)    a representation and undertaking that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Company as of the date of submission of the stockholder’s notice and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to bring such nomination or other business before the meeting;

(K)    a representation and undertaking that such stockholder or any such beneficial owner intends, or is part of a group that intends, to (x) deliver a proxy statement or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the voting power of the Company’s then-outstanding stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or to elect each such nominee; or (y) otherwise solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination;

(L)    any other information relating to such stockholder, such beneficial owner, or their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert with them, or director nominee or proposed business that, in each case, would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies in support of such nominee (in a contested election of directors) or proposal pursuant to Section 14 of the 1934 Act; and

(M)    such other information relating to any proposed item of business as the Company may reasonably require to determine whether such proposed item of business is a proper matter for stockholder action.

(iv)    In addition to the requirements of this Section 2.4, to be timely, a stockholder’s notice (and any additional information submitted to the Company in connection therewith) must further be updated and supplemented (1) if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice is true and correct as of the record date(s) for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the meeting and as of the date that is 10 business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment, rescheduling or postponement thereof and (2) to provide any additional information that the Company may reasonably request. Such update and supplement or additional information, if applicable, must be received by the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company, in the case of a request for additional information, promptly following a request therefor, which response must be delivered not later than such reasonable time as is specified in any such request from the Company or, in the case of any other update or supplement of any information, not later than five business

 

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days after the record date(s) for the meeting (in the case of any update and supplement required to be made as of the record date(s)), and not later than eight business days prior to the date for the meeting or any adjournment, rescheduling or postponement thereof (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of 10 business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment, rescheduling or postponement thereof). The failure to timely provide such update, supplement or additional information shall result in the nomination or proposal no longer being eligible for consideration at the meeting.

(b)    Special Meetings of Stockholders. Except to the extent required by the DGCL, and subject to Section 2.3(a), special meetings of stockholders may be called only in accordance with the Company’s certificate of incorporation and these bylaws. Only such business will be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as has been brought before the special meeting pursuant to the Company’s notice of meeting. If the election of directors is included as business to be brought before a special meeting in the Company’s notice of meeting, then nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors at such special meeting may be made by any stockholder who (i) is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of the notice contemplated by this Section 2.4(b); (ii) is a stockholder of record on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of the special meeting; (iii) is a stockholder of record on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the special meeting; (iv) is a stockholder of record at the time of the special meeting; and (v) complies with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.4(b). For nominations to be properly brought by a stockholder before a special meeting pursuant to this Section 2.4(b), the stockholder’s notice must be received by the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company no earlier than 8:00 a.m., local time, on the 120th day prior to the day of the special meeting and no later than 5:00 p.m., local time, on the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the special meeting was first made. In no event will any adjournment, rescheduling or postponement of a special meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice. A stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must comply with the applicable notice requirements of Section 2.4(a)(iii).

(c)    Other Requirements.

(i)    To be eligible to be a nominee by any stockholder for election as a director of the Company, the proposed nominee must provide to the secretary, in accordance with the applicable time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under Section 2.4(a)(ii) or Section 2.4(b):

(1)    a signed and completed written questionnaire (in the form provided by the secretary at the written request of the nominating stockholder, which form will be provided by the secretary within 10 days of receiving such request) containing information regarding such nominee’s background and qualifications and such other information as may reasonably be required by the Company to determine the eligibility of such nominee to serve as a director of the Company or to serve as an independent director of the Company;

(2)    a written representation and undertaking that, unless previously disclosed to the Company, such nominee is not, and will not become, a party to any voting agreement, arrangement, commitment, assurance or understanding with any person or entity as to how such nominee, if elected as a director, will vote on any issue;

(3)    a written representation and undertaking that, unless previously disclosed to the Company, such nominee is not, and will not become, a party to any Third-Party Compensation Arrangement;

 

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(4)    a written representation and undertaking that, if elected as a director, such nominee would be in compliance, and will continue to comply, with the Company’s corporate governance guidelines as disclosed on the Company’s website, as amended from time to time; and

(5)    a written representation and undertaking that such nominee, if elected, intends to serve a full term on the Board of Directors.

(ii)    At the request of the Board of Directors, any person nominated by the Board of Directors for election as a director must furnish to the secretary the information that is required to be set forth in a stockholder’s notice of nomination that pertains to such nominee.

(iii)    No person will be eligible to be nominated by a stockholder for election as a director of the Company unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.4. No business proposed by a stockholder will be conducted at a stockholder meeting except in accordance with this Section 2.4.

(iv)    The chairperson of the applicable meeting of stockholders will, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance with the procedures prescribed by these bylaws or that business was not properly brought before the meeting. If the chairperson of the meeting should so determine, then the chairperson of the meeting will so declare to the meeting and the defective nomination will be disregarded or such business will not be transacted, as the case may be.

(v)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.4, unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear in person at the meeting to present a nomination or other proposed business, such nomination will be disregarded or such proposed business will not be transacted, as the case may be, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such nomination or business may have been received by the Company and counted for purposes of determining a quorum. For purposes of this Section 2.4, 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, and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting.

(vi)    Without limiting this Section 2.4, a stockholder must also comply with all applicable requirements of the 1934 Act with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 2.4, it being understood that (1) any references in these bylaws to the 1934 Act are not intended to, and will not, limit any requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to this Section 2.4; and (2) compliance with clause (4) of Section 2.4(a)(i) and with Section 2.4(b) are the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or submit other business (other than as provided in Section 2.4(c)(vii)).

(vii)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.4, the notice requirements set forth in these bylaws with respect to the proposal of any business pursuant to this Section 2.4 will be deemed to be satisfied by a stockholder if (1) such stockholder has submitted a proposal to the Company in compliance with Rule 14a-8 under the 1934 Act; and (2) such stockholder’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Company to solicit proxies for the

 

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meeting of stockholders. Subject to Rule 14a-8 and other applicable rules and regulations under the 1934 Act, nothing in these bylaws will be construed to permit any stockholder, or give any stockholder the right, to include or have disseminated or described in the Company’s proxy statement any nomination of a director or any other business proposal.

2.5    NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETINGS

Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a notice of the meeting shall be given which shall state the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, if such date is different from the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Except as otherwise provided in the DGCL, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, the notice of any meeting of stockholders shall be given not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting.

2.6    QUORUM

The holders of a majority of the voting power of the capital stock of the Company issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of the stockholders. Where a separate vote by a class or series or classes or series is required, a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of such class or series or classes or series, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to that vote on that matter, except as otherwise provided by law, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws.

If, however, such quorum is not present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, then either (a) the chairperson of the meeting, or (b) the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present or represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present or represented, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the original meeting.

2.7    ADJOURNED MEETING; NOTICE

When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, unless these bylaws otherwise require, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time, place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting, the Company may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. 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. 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 accordance with Section 213(a) of the DGCL and Section 2.11 of these bylaws, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting as of the record date fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.

 

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2.8    CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

The chairperson of any meeting of stockholders shall determine the order of business and the procedure at the meeting, including such regulation of the manner of voting and the conduct of business and discussion as seem to the chairperson in order. The chairperson of any meeting of stockholders shall be designated by the Board of Directors; in the absence of such designation, the chairperson of the Board of Directors, if any, or the chief executive officer (in the absence of the chairperson of the Board of Directors) or the president (in the absence of the chairperson of the Board of Directors and the chief executive officer), or in their absence any other executive officer of the Company, shall serve as chairperson of the stockholder meeting. The chairperson of any meeting of stockholders shall have the power to adjourn the meeting to another place, if any, date or time, whether or not a quorum is present.

2.9    VOTING

The stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.11 of these bylaws, subject to Section 217 (relating to voting rights of fiduciaries, pledgors and joint owners of stock) and Section 218 (relating to voting trusts and other voting agreements) of the DGCL.

Except as otherwise provided by law, the certificate of incorporation, these bylaws or the rules of the stock exchange on which the Company’s securities are listed, in all matters other than the election of directors, the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be the act of the stockholders. Except as otherwise required by law, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the voting power of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors. Where a separate vote by a class or series or classes or series is required, in all matters other than the election of directors, the affirmative vote of the majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of such class or series or classes or series present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be the act of such class or series or classes or series, except as otherwise provided by law, the certificate of incorporation, these bylaws or the rules of the stock exchange on which the securities of the Company are listed.

2.10    STOCKHOLDER ACTION BY CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING

Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation, any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents setting forth the action so taken shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. A consent must be set forth in writing or in an electronic transmission. No consent shall be effective to take the corporate action referred to therein unless valid consents signed by a sufficient number of stockholders to take such action are delivered to the Company in the manner prescribed in this Section 2.10 and applicable law within 60 days of the first date on which a consent is so delivered to the Company. All references to a consent in this Section 2.10 mean a consent permitted by this Section 2.10 and contemplated by Section 228 of the DGCL.

A consent permitted by this Section 2.10 shall be delivered (i) to the principal place of business of the Company; (ii) to an officer or agent of the Company having custody of the book in which proceedings

 

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of meetings of stockholders are recorded; (iii) to the registered office of the Company in the State of Delaware by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested; or (iv) subject to the next sentence, in accordance with Section 116 of the DGCL, to an information processing system, if any, designated by the Company for receiving such consents. In the case of delivery pursuant to the foregoing clause (iv), such consent must set forth or be delivered with information that enables the Company to determine the date of delivery of such consent and the identity of the person giving such consent, and, if such consent is given by a person authorized to act for a stockholder as proxy, such consent must comply with the applicable provisions of Sections 212(c)(2) and (3) of the DGCL. A consent may be documented and signed in accordance with Section 116 of the DGCL, and when so documented or signed shall be deemed to be in writing for purposes of the DGCL; provided that if such consent is delivered pursuant to clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of the first sentence of this paragraph, such consent must be reproduced and delivered in paper form.

In the event that the Board of Directors shall have instructed the officers of the Company to solicit the vote or consent of the stockholders of the Company, an electronic transmission of a stockholder consent given pursuant to such solicitation, to be effective, must be delivered by electronic mail (as defined in Section 232 of the DGCL) to the secretary of the Company or to a person designated by the Company for receiving such consent, or delivered to an information processing system designated by the Company for receiving such consent.

2.11    RECORD DATES

In order that the Company 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 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 and to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held.

A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance with the provisions of Section 213 of the DGCL and this Section 2.11 at the adjourned meeting.

In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to such action. If no 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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2.12    PROXIES

Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders, or to take corporate action by written consent without a meeting, or such stockholder’s authorized officer, director, employee or agent, may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy authorized by a document or by a transmission permitted by law filed in accordance with the procedure established for the meeting, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. The authorization of a person to act as a proxy may be documented, signed and delivered in accordance with Section 116 of the DGCL; provided that such authorization shall set forth, or be delivered with information enabling the Company to determine, the identity of the stockholder granting such authorization. The revocability of a proxy that states on its face that it is irrevocable shall be governed by the provisions of Section 212 of the DGCL.

2.13    LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS ENTITLED TO VOTE

The Company shall prepare, at least 10 days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting; provided, however, if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than 10 days before the meeting date, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth day before the meeting date, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. The Company shall not be required to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of at least 10 days prior to the meeting: (a) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (b) during ordinary business hours, at the Company’s principal place of business. In the event that the Company determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Company may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Company. 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 such 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.

2.14    INSPECTORS OF ELECTION

Before any meeting of stockholders, the Company shall appoint an inspector or inspectors of election to act at the meeting or its adjournment. The Company may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. Such inspectors shall take all actions as contemplated under Section 231 of the DGCL or any successor provision thereto.

The inspectors of election shall perform their duties impartially, in good faith, to the best of their ability and as expeditiously as is practical. If there are multiple inspectors of election, the decision, act or certificate of a majority is effective in all respects as the decision, act or certificate of all. Any report or certificate made by the inspectors of election is prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.

 

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ARTICLE III - DIRECTORS

3.1    POWERS

The business and affairs of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors, except as may be otherwise provided in the DGCL or the certificate of incorporation.

3.2    NUMBER OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors shall consist of one or more members, each of whom shall be a natural person. Unless the certificate of incorporation fixes the number of directors, the number of directors shall be determined from time to time by resolution of a majority of the Whole Board. No reduction of the authorized number of directors shall have the effect of removing any director before that director’s term of office expires.

3.3    ELECTION, QUALIFICATION AND TERM OF OFFICE OF DIRECTORS

Except as provided in Section 3.4 of these bylaws, each director, including a director elected to fill a vacancy, shall hold office until the expiration of the term for which elected and until such director’s successor is elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal. Directors need not be stockholders unless so required by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws. The certificate of incorporation or these bylaws may prescribe other qualifications for directors.

3.4    RESIGNATION AND VACANCIES

Any director may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the chairperson of the Board of Directors, chief executive officer, or secretary of the Company. A resignation is effective when the resignation is delivered unless the resignation specifies a later effective date or an effective date determined upon the happening of an event or events. A resignation which is conditioned upon the director failing to receive a specified vote for reelection as a director may provide that it is irrevocable. Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, when one or more directors resign from the Board of Directors, effective at a future date, a majority of the directors then in office, including those who have so resigned, shall have power to fill such vacancy or vacancies, the vote thereon to take effect when such resignation or resignations shall become effective.

Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws or permitted in the specific case by resolution of the Board of Directors, and subject to the rights of holders of Preferred Stock, vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors elected by all of the stockholders having the right to vote as a single class may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and not by stockholders. If the directors are divided into classes, a person so chosen to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such director shall have been chosen and until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.

 

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3.5    PLACE OF MEETINGS; MEETINGS BY TELEPHONE

The Board of Directors may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or outside the State of Delaware.

Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, members of the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

3.6    REGULAR MEETINGS

Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors.

3.7    SPECIAL MEETINGS; NOTICE

Special meetings of the Board of Directors for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the chairperson of the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, the secretary or a majority of the Whole Board; provided that the person(s) authorized to call special meetings of the Board of Directors may authorize another person or persons to send notice of such meeting.

Notice of the time and place of special meetings shall be:

(a)    delivered personally by hand, by courier or by telephone;

(b)    sent by United States first-class mail, postage prepaid;

(c)    sent by facsimile;

(d)    sent by electronic mail; or

(e)    otherwise given by electronic transmission (as defined in Section 232 of the DGCL),

directed to each director at that director’s address, telephone number, facsimile number, electronic mail address or other contact for notice by electronic transmission, as the case may be, as shown on the Company’s records.

If the notice is (i) delivered personally by hand, by courier or by telephone, (ii) sent by facsimile, (iii) sent by electronic mail or (iv) otherwise given by electronic transmission, it shall be delivered, sent or otherwise directed to each director, as applicable, at least 24 hours before the time of the holding of the meeting. If the notice is sent by United States mail, it shall be deposited in the United States mail at least four days before the time of the holding of the meeting. Any oral notice may be communicated to the director. The notice need not specify the place of the meeting (if the meeting is to be held at the Company’s principal executive office) nor the purpose of the meeting, unless required by statute.

 

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3.8    QUORUM; VOTING

At all meetings of the Board of Directors, a majority of the Whole Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If a quorum is not present at any meeting of the Board of Directors, then the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present.

The affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by statute, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws.

3.9    BOARD ACTION BY CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING

Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission. Any person (whether or not then a director) may provide, whether through instruction to an agent or otherwise, that a consent to action will be effective at a future time (including a time determined upon the happening of an event), no later than 60 days after such instruction is given or such provision is made and such consent shall be deemed to have been given for purposes of this Section 3.9 at such effective time so long as such person is then a director and did not revoke the consent prior to such time. Any such consent shall be revocable prior to its becoming effective. After an action is taken, the consent or consents relating thereto shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board of Directors, or the committee thereof, in the same paper or electronic form as the minutes are maintained.

3.10    FEES AND COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS

Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, the Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation of directors.

3.11    REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS

Any director or the entire Board of Directors may be removed from office by stockholders of the Company in the manner specified in the certificate of incorporation. No reduction of the authorized number of directors shall have the effect of removing any director prior to the expiration of such director’s term of office.

ARTICLE IV - COMMITTEES

4.1    COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the Whole Board, designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Company. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another

 

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member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors or in these bylaws, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Company, and may authorize the seal of the Company to be affixed to all papers that may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority to (a) approve or adopt, or recommend to the stockholders, any action or matter (other than the election or removal of directors) expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval, or (b) adopt, amend or repeal any bylaw of the Company.

4.2    COMMITTEE MINUTES

Each committee and subcommittee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings.

4.3    MEETINGS AND ACTION OF COMMITTEES

Meetings and actions of committees and subcommittees shall be governed by, and held and taken in accordance with, the provisions of:

(a)    Section 3.5 (place of meetings and meetings by telephone);

(b)    Section 3.6 (regular meetings);

(c)    Section 3.7 (special meetings and notice);

(d)    Section 3.8 (quorum; voting);

(e)    Section 3.9 (action without a meeting); and

(f)    Section 7.4 (waiver of notice)

with such changes in the context of those bylaws as are necessary to substitute the committee or subcommittee and its members for the Board of Directors and its members. However, (i) the time and place of regular meetings of committees or subcommittees may be determined either by resolution of the Board of Directors or by resolution of the committee or subcommittee; (ii) special meetings of committees or subcommittees may also be called by resolution of the Board of Directors or the committee or the subcommittee; and (iii) notice of special meetings of committees and subcommittees shall also be given to all alternate members who shall have the right to attend all meetings of the committee or subcommittee. The Board of Directors may adopt rules for the government of any committee not inconsistent with the provisions of these bylaws.

4.4    SUBCOMMITTEES

Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, these bylaws or the resolutions of the Board of Directors designating the committee, a committee may create one or more subcommittees, each subcommittee to consist of one or more members of the committee, and delegate to a subcommittee any or all of the powers and authority of the committee.

 

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ARTICLE V - OFFICERS

5.1    OFFICERS

The officers of the Company shall be a chief executive officer, president and a secretary. The Company may also have, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, a chairperson of the Board of Directors, a vice chairperson of the Board of Directors, a chief financial officer or treasurer, one or more vice presidents, one or more assistant vice presidents, one or more assistant treasurers, one or more assistant secretaries and any such other officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of these bylaws. Any number of offices may be held by the same person.

5.2    APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS

The Board of Directors shall appoint the officers of the Company, except such officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.3 of these bylaws, subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of employment.

5.3    SUBORDINATE OFFICERS

The Board of Directors may appoint, or empower the chief executive officer or, in the absence of a chief executive officer, the president, to appoint, such other officers as the business of the Company may require. Each of such officers shall hold office for such period, have such authority, and perform such duties as are provided in these bylaws or as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.

5.4    REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS

Subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of employment, any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by the Board of Directors or, for the avoidance of doubt, any duly authorized committee or subcommittee thereof or by any officer who has been conferred such power of removal. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the chief executive officer of the Company may only be removed by a vote of the majority of the Whole Board.

Any officer may resign at any time by giving notice, in writing or by electronic transmission, to the Company. Any resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of that notice or at any later time specified in that notice. Unless otherwise specified in the notice of resignation, the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation is without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the Company under any contract to which the officer is a party.

5.5    VACANCIES IN OFFICES

Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Company shall be filled by the Board of Directors or as provided in Section 5.3.

5.6    REPRESENTATION OF SECURITIES OF OTHER ENTITIES

The chairperson of the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, the president, any vice president, the treasurer, the secretary or assistant secretary of this Company or any other person authorized by the Board of Directors or the chief executive officer, the president or a vice president, is authorized to vote, represent and exercise on behalf of this Company all rights incident to any and all shares or other

 

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securities of any other entity or entities, and all rights incident to any management authority conferred on the Company in accordance with the governing documents of any entity or entities, standing in the name of this Company, including the right to act by written consent. The authority granted herein may be exercised either by such person directly or by any other person authorized to do so by proxy or power of attorney duly executed by such person having the authority.

5.7    AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS

All officers of the Company shall respectively have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the business of the Company as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors and, to the extent not so provided, as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the control of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VI - STOCK

6.1    STOCK CERTIFICATES; PARTLY PAID SHARES

The shares of the Company shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Company. Unless otherwise provided by resolution of the Board of Directors, every holder of stock represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of, the Company by any two officers of the Company representing the number of shares registered in certificate form. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate has ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Company with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue. The Company shall not have power to issue a certificate in bearer form.

The Company may issue the whole or any part of its shares as partly paid and subject to call for the remainder of the consideration to be paid therefor. Upon the face or back of each stock certificate issued to represent any such partly-paid shares, or upon the books and records of the Company in the case of uncertificated partly-paid shares, the total amount of the consideration to be paid therefor and the amount paid thereon shall be stated. Upon the declaration of any dividend on fully-paid shares, the Company shall declare a dividend upon partly-paid shares of the same class, but only upon the basis of the percentage of the consideration actually paid thereon.

6.2    SPECIAL DESIGNATION ON CERTIFICATES

If the Company is authorized to issue more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, then the powers, the designations, the preferences and the relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights shall be set forth in full or summarized on the face or back of the certificate that the Company shall issue to represent such class or series of stock; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided in Section 202 of the DGCL, in lieu of the foregoing requirements, there may be set forth on the face or back of the certificate that the Company shall issue to represent such class or series of stock, a statement that the Company will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the

 

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powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights. Within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of uncertificated stock, the registered owner thereof shall be given a notice, in writing or by electronic transmission, containing the information required to be set forth or stated on certificates pursuant to this Section 6.2 or Sections 156, 202(a), 218(a) or 364 of the DGCL or with respect to this Section 6.2 a statement that the Company will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights. Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, the rights and obligations of the holders of uncertificated stock and the rights and obligations of the holders of certificates representing stock of the same class and series shall be identical.

6.3    LOST CERTIFICATES

Except as provided in this Section 6.3, no new certificates for shares shall be issued to replace a previously issued certificate unless the latter is surrendered to the Company and cancelled at the same time. The Company may issue a new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares in the place of any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Company may require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner’s legal representative, to give the Company a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares.

6.4    DIVIDENDS

The Board of Directors, subject to any restrictions contained in the certificate of incorporation or applicable law, may declare and pay dividends upon the shares of the Company’s capital stock. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the Company’s capital stock, subject to the provisions of the certificate of incorporation. The Board of Directors may set apart out of any of the funds of the Company available for dividends a reserve or reserves for any proper purpose and may abolish any such reserve.

6.5    TRANSFER OF STOCK

Transfers of record of shares of stock of the Company shall be made only upon its books by the holders thereof, in person or by an attorney duly authorized, and, if such stock is certificated, upon the surrender of a certificate or certificates for a like number of shares, properly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignation or authority to transfer.

6.6    STOCK TRANSFER AGREEMENTS

The Company shall have power to enter into and perform any agreement with any number of stockholders of any one or more classes of stock of the Company to restrict the transfer of shares of stock of the Company of any one or more classes owned by such stockholders in any manner not prohibited by the DGCL.

 

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6.7    REGISTERED STOCKHOLDERS

The Company:

(a)    shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends and notices and to vote as such owner; and

(b)    shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of another person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of Delaware.

ARTICLE VII - MANNER OF GIVING NOTICE AND WAIVER

7.1    NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETINGS

Notice of any meeting of stockholders shall be given in the manner set forth in the DGCL.

7.2    NOTICE TO STOCKHOLDERS SHARING AN ADDRESS

Except as otherwise prohibited under the DGCL, without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Company under the provisions of the DGCL, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws shall be effective if given by a single written notice to stockholders who share an address if consented to by the stockholders at that address to whom such notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the Company. Any stockholder who fails to object in writing to the Company, within 60 days of having been given written notice by the Company of its intention to send the single notice, shall be deemed to have consented to receiving such single written notice. This Section 7.2 shall not apply to Sections 164, 296, 311, 312 or 324 of the DGCL.

7.3    NOTICE TO PERSON WITH WHOM COMMUNICATION IS UNLAWFUL

Whenever notice is required to be given, under the DGCL, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, to any person with whom communication is unlawful, the giving of such notice to such person shall not be required and there shall be no duty to apply to any governmental authority or agency for a license or permit to give such notice to such person. Any action or meeting which shall be taken or held without notice to any such person with whom communication is unlawful shall have the same force and effect as if such notice had been duly given. In the event that the action taken by the Company is such as to require the filing of a certificate under the DGCL, the certificate shall state, if such is the fact and if notice is required, that notice was given to all persons entitled to receive notice except such persons with whom communication is unlawful.

7.4    WAIVER OF NOTICE

Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of the DGCL, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, a written waiver, signed by the person entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express

 

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purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders need be specified in any written waiver of notice or any waiver by electronic transmission unless so required by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws.

ARTICLE VIII - INDEMNIFICATION

8.1    INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS IN THIRD PARTY PROCEEDINGS

Subject to the other provisions of this Article VIII, the Company shall indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as now or hereinafter in effect, any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “Proceeding”) (other than an action by or in the right of the Company) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Company, or is or was a director or officer of the Company serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such Proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any Proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that such person’s conduct was unlawful.

8.2    INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS IN ACTIONS BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE COMPANY

Subject to the other provisions of this Article VIII, the Company shall indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as now or hereinafter in effect, any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Company, or is or was a director or officer of the Company serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such Proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company; except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Company unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

 

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8.3    SUCCESSFUL DEFENSE

To the extent that a present or former director or officer (for purposes of this Section 8.3 only, as such term is defined in Section 145(c)(1) of the DGCL) of the Company has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding described in Section 8.1 or Section 8.2, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith. The Company may indemnify any other person who is not a present or former director or officer of the Company against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person to the extent he or she has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any suit or proceeding described in Section 8.1 or Section 8.2, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein.

8.4    INDEMNIFICATION OF OTHERS

Subject to the other provisions of this Article VIII, the Company shall have power to indemnify its employees and agents, or any other persons, to the extent not prohibited by the DGCL or other applicable law. The Board of Directors shall have the power to delegate to any person or persons identified in subsections (1) through (4) of Section 145(d) of the DGCL the determination of whether employees or agents shall be indemnified.

8.5    ADVANCED PAYMENT OF EXPENSES

Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by an officer or director of the Company in defending any Proceeding shall be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such Proceeding upon receipt of a written request therefor (together with documentation reasonably evidencing such expenses) and an undertaking by or on behalf of the person to repay such amounts if it shall ultimately be determined that the person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article VIII or the DGCL. Such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by former directors and officers or other current or former employees and agents of the Company or by persons currently or formerly serving at the request of the Company as directors, officers, employees or agents of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the Company deems appropriate. The right to advancement of expenses shall not apply to any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to these bylaws, but shall apply to any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) referenced in Section 8.6(b) or 8.6(c) prior to a determination that the person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise determined pursuant to Section 8.8, no advance shall be made by the Company to an officer of the Company (except by reason of the fact that such officer is or was a director of the Company, in which event this paragraph shall not apply) in any Proceeding if a determination is reasonably and promptly made (a) by a vote of the directors who are not parties to such Proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (b) by a committee of such directors designated by the vote of the majority of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (c) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, that facts known to the decision-making party at the time such determination is made demonstrate clearly and convincingly that such person acted in bad faith or in a manner that such person did not believe to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company.

 

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8.6    LIMITATION ON INDEMNIFICATION

Subject to the requirements in Section 8.3 and the DGCL, the Company shall not be obligated to indemnify any person pursuant to this Article VIII in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding):

(a)    for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of such person under any statute, insurance policy, indemnity provision, vote or otherwise, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid;

(b)    for an accounting or disgorgement of profits pursuant to Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act, or similar provisions of federal, state or local statutory law or common law, if such person is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements);

(c)    for any reimbursement of the Company by such person of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by such person from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under the 1934 Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase and sale by such person of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), if such person is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements);

(d)    initiated by such person, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by such person against the Company or its directors, officers, employees, agents or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board of Directors authorized the Proceeding (or the relevant part of the Proceeding) prior to its initiation, (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law, (iii) otherwise required to be made under Section 8.7 or (iv) otherwise required by applicable law; or

(e)    if prohibited by applicable law.

8.7    DETERMINATION; CLAIM

If a claim for indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Article VIII is not paid in full within 90 days after receipt by the Company of the written request therefor, the claimant shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of competent jurisdiction of his or her entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of expenses. The Company shall indemnify such person against any and all expenses that are actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with any action for indemnification or advancement of expenses from the Company under this Article VIII, to the extent such person is successful in such action, and to the extent not prohibited by law. In any such suit, the Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, have the burden of proving that the claimant is not entitled to the requested indemnification or advancement of expenses.

8.8    NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS

The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article VIII shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under the certificate of incorporation or any statute, bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s

 

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official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. The Company is specifically authorized to enter into individual contracts with any or all of its directors, officers, employees or agents respecting indemnification and advancement of expenses, to the fullest extent not prohibited by the DGCL or other applicable law.

8.9    INSURANCE

The Company may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of the DGCL.

8.10    SURVIVAL

The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred by this Article VIII shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

8.11    EFFECT OF REPEAL OR MODIFICATION

A right to indemnification or to advancement of expenses arising under a provision of the certificate of incorporation or a bylaw shall not be eliminated or impaired by an amendment to or repeal or elimination of the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws after the occurrence of the act or omission that is the subject of the civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought, unless the provision in effect at the time of such act or omission explicitly authorizes such elimination or impairment after such action or omission has occurred.

8.12    CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

For purposes of this Article VIII, references to the “Company” shall include, in addition to the resulting company, any constituent company (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, employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent company, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Article VIII with respect to the resulting or surviving company as such person would have with respect to such constituent company if its separate existence had continued. For purposes of this Article VIII, references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Company” as referred to in this Article VIII.

 

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ARTICLE IX - GENERAL MATTERS

9.1    EXECUTION OF CORPORATE CONTRACTS AND INSTRUMENTS

Except as otherwise provided by law, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, the Board of Directors may authorize any officer or officers, or agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute any document or instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Company; such authority may be general or confined to specific instances. Unless so authorized or ratified by the Board of Directors or within the agency power of an officer, no officer, agent or employee shall have any power or authority to bind the Company by any contract or engagement or to pledge its credit or to render it liable for any purpose or for any amount.

9.2    FISCAL YEAR

The fiscal year of the Company shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors and may be changed by the Board of Directors.

9.3    SEAL

The Company may adopt a corporate seal, which shall be adopted and which may be altered by the Board of Directors. The Company may use the corporate seal by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or in any other manner reproduced.

9.4    CONSTRUCTION; DEFINITIONS

Unless the context requires otherwise, the general provisions, rules of construction, and definitions in the DGCL shall govern the construction of these bylaws. Without limiting the generality of this provision, the singular number includes the plural, the plural number includes the singular, and the term “person” includes a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, and a natural person. Any reference in these bylaws to a section of the DGCL shall be deemed to refer to such section as amended from time to time and any successor provisions thereto.

9.5    FORUM SELECTION

Unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if such court does not have jurisdiction, another State court in Delaware or the federal district court for the District of Delaware) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, stockholder, officer or other employee of the Company to the Company or the Company’s stockholders, (c) any action arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws (as either may be amended from time to time), and (d) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine, except for, as to each of (a) through (d) above, any claim as to which such court determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of such court (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of such court within 10 days following such determination), which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than such court, or for which such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction.

 

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Unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint against any person in connection with any offering of the Company’s securities (including, but not limited to, any underwriters or auditors retained by the Company) asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any security of the Company shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Section 9.5. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing contained in this Section 9.5 shall apply to any action brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the 1934 Act or any successor thereto.

ARTICLE X - AMENDMENTS

These bylaws may be adopted, amended or repealed by the stockholders entitled to vote; provided, however, that the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the total voting power of outstanding voting securities, voting together as a single class, shall be required for the stockholders of the Company to alter, amend or repeal, or adopt any provision of these bylaws. The Board of Directors shall also have the power to adopt, amend or repeal bylaws; provided, however, that a bylaw amendment adopted by stockholders which specifies the votes that shall be necessary for the election of directors shall not be further amended or repealed by the Board of Directors.

 

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Exhibit 4.1

 

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ZQ|CERT#|COY|CLS|RGSTRY|ACCT#|TRANSTYPE|RUN#|TRANS# Class A Common Stock Class A Common Stock PO PAR VALUE $.01 MR ADD ADD ADD ADD 43 2 1 A BOX DESIGNATION SAMPLE Certificate Shares 505006, Number * * 000000 ****************** (IF    * * * 000000 ***************** ANY) ZQ00000000 **** 000000 **************** Louisville, BLEND LABS, INC. ***** 000000 *************** KY ****** 000000 ************** INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE ** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS 40233 **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David—THIS CERTIFIES THAT Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr MR . Alexander.David SAMPLE Sample **** Mr. Alexander David &Sample MRS **** Mr. Alexander . SAMPLE David Sample **** Mr. Alexander & David    Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** CUSIP 09352U 10 8 5006 Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander MR David Sample . SAMPLE **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** &Mr . Alexander MRS David Sample . SAMPLE **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Sample **** Mr. Sample is the owner of **000000**Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares*** *000000**Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares**** 000000**Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares****0 THIS CERTIFICATE IS TRANSFERABLE IN 00000**Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares****00 ***ZEROâ€^HUNDRED THOUSAND 0000**Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares****000 CITIES DESIGNATED BY THE TRANSFER 000**Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares****0000 AGENT, AVAILABLE ONLINE AT 00**Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares****00000 0**Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares****000000 ZERO HUNDRED AND ZERO*** www.computershare.com **Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares****000000* *Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** Shares ****000000** S FULLY-PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE SHARES OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK OF Blend Labs, Inc. (hereinafter called the “Company”), transferable on the books of the Company in person or Total DTC by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. This Certificate and the shares Holder represented hereby, are issued and shall be held subject to all of the provisions of the Certificate of Number Certificateof Insurance ID Incorporation, as amended, and the By-Laws, as amended, of the Company (copies of which are on file with the Value Company and with the Transfer Agent), to all of which each holder, by acceptance hereof, assents. This Transaction Shares CUSIP/IDENTIFIER Certificate is not valid unless countersigned and registered by the Transfer Agent and Registrar. Numbers 1234567890/1234567890 1234567890/1234567890 1234567890/1234567890 1234567890/1234567890 1234567890/1234567890 1234567890/1234567890 Witness the facsimile seal of the Company and the facsimile signatures of its duly authorized officers. DATED DD-MMM-YYYY LAB 6 5 4 3 2 1 D S, COUNTERSIGNED AND REGISTERED: FACSIMILE SIGNATURE TO COME N I 12345678 E POR N L R A COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.    CO TE C Num/No . B . President TRANSFERâ€^AGENT ANDâ€^REGISTRAR, 6 5 4 3 2 1 Denom 4/17/2012 . XXXXXX DEL RE 1,000,000 FACSIMILE SIGNATURE TO COME AWA 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 . XX Total 123456789012345 123456 00 XXXXXXXXXX X By Secretary AUTHORIZEDâ€^SIGNATURE


LOGO

. BLEND LABS, INC. THE COMPANY WILL FURNISH WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH SHAREHOLDER WHO SO REQUESTS, A SUMMARY OF THE POWERS, DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES AND RELATIVE, PARTICIPATING, OPTIONAL OR OTHER SPECIAL RIGHTS OF EACH CLASS OF STOCK OF THE COMPANY AND THE QUALIFICATIONS, LIMITATIONS OR RESTRICTIONS OF SUCH PREFERENCES AND RIGHTS, AND THE VARIATIONS IN RIGHTS, PREFERENCES AND LIMITATIONS DETERMINED FOR EACH SERIES, WHICH ARE FIXED BY THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF THE COMPANY, AS AMENDED, AND THE RESOLUTIONS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY, AND THE AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO DETERMINE VARIATIONS FOR FUTURE SERIES. SUCH REQUEST MAY BE MADE TO THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY OR TO THE TRANSFER AGENT. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MAY REQUIRE THE OWNER OF A LOST OR DESTROYED STOCK CERTIFICATE, OR HIS LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES, TO GIVE THE COMPANY A BOND TO INDEMNIFY IT AND ITS TRANSFER AGENTS AND REGISTRARS AGAINST ANY CLAIM THAT MAY BE MADE AGAINST THEM ON ACCOUNT OF THE ALLEGED LOSS OR DESTRUCTION OF ANY SUCH CERTIFICATE. The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations: TEN COM—as tenants in common                UNIF GIFT MIN ACT — Custodian    .... (Cust)    (Minor) TEN ENT —as tenants by the entireties    under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act ... ..                (State) JT TEN    —as joint tenants with right of survivorship UNIFâ^TRF MIN ACT — Custodian (until age . ...) and not as tenants in common    (Cust)                .under Uniform Transfers to Minors Act    .....    (Minor)    (State) Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list. PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE For value received,    _hereby sell, assign and transfer unto    (PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE)                Shares of the Class A Common Stock represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint                Attorney to transfer the said stock on the books of the within-named Corporation with full power of substitution in the premises. Dated:    20 Signature(s) Guaranteed: Medallion Guarantee Stamp THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (Banks, Stockbrokers, Savings and Loan Associations and Credit Unions) WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15. Signature: Signature:    Notice: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the certificate, in every particular, without alteration or enlargement, or any change whatever. The IRS requires that the named transfer agent (“we”) report the cost basis of certain shares or units acquired after January 1, 2011. If your shares or units are covered by the legislation, and you requested to sell or transfer the shares or units using a specific cost basis calculation method, then we have processed as you requested. If you did not specify a cost basis calculation method, then we have defaulted to the first in, first out (FIFO) method. Please consult your tax advisor if you need additional information about cost basis. If you do not keep in contact with the issuer or do not have any activity in your account for the time period specified by state law, your property may become subject to state unclaimed property laws and transferred to the appropriate state.    

Exhibit 4.3

THIS WARRANT AND THE SHARES OF STOCK THAT MAY BE PURCHASED UPON THE EXERCISE OF THIS WARRANT HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION, AND HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”). SUCH SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED, OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED UNLESS AND UNTIL REGISTRATION UNDER THE ACT OR AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE ACT IS AVAILABLE FOR SUCH OFFER, SALE, PLEDGE, HYPOTHECATION, OR TRANSFER IN THE OPINION OF LEGAL COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY.

BLEND LABS, INC.

SERIES D-1 PREFERRED STOCK WARRANT

Warrant No. PD1-2

Date of Issuance: March 6, 2018

THIS CERTIFIES THAT, for value received, Fifth Wall Ventures, L.P. and Fifth Wall Ventures SPV VII, L.P. (each, a “Holder” or “Fifth Wall”, and collectively, the “Holders”), are entitled to subscribe for and purchase at the Exercise Price (defined below) from Blend Labs, Inc., a Delaware corporation, at the address set forth on the signature page hereto (the “Company”) up to a number of shares of the Series D-1 Preferred Stock of the Company (the “Preferred Stock”) set forth below. Unless adjusted by the terms of this Warrant, the maximum number of shares of Preferred Stock that Holders may purchase, in the aggregate, by exercising this Warrant is equal to 3,809,758 (the “Maximum Number of Shares”). This Warrant is one of five warrants originally issued by the Company on the Date of Issuance, Warrant No. PD-1, Warrant No. PD-2, Warrant No. PD1-1, Warrant No. PD1-2 and Warrant No. PD-3 each originally issued to, Fifth Wall Ventures, L.P. and Fifth Wall Ventures SPV VII, L.P. (collectively, the “Warrant Series”), and any reference in this Warrant to any other warrant in the Warrant Series shall be construed appropriately to take into account such warrant and any replacement warrants or warrants issued to a transferee of such warrant.

1. DEFINITIONS. As used herein, the following terms shall have the following respective meanings:

(a)Adjusted Referred Revenue” shall be determined in good faith by the Company based on the following formula:

 

  1)

2.5 times Referred Revenue actually delivered during the twelve-month period commencing on the Date of Issuance (“Year 1”);

 

  2)

2.0 times Referred Revenue actually delivered during the twelve-month period commencing on the first anniversary of the Date of Issuance (“Year 2”); and


  3)

1.5 times Referred Revenue actually delivered during the twelve-month period commencing on the second anniversary of the Date of Issuance (“Year 3”).

provided that, a particular year’s Referred Revenue will adjust (i.e. be reduced) for purposes of the Adjusted Referred Revenue calculation for credit given to any prior year’s Referred Revenue such that only the incremental Referred Revenue actually delivered in a particular year above the Referred Revenue actually delivered in any prior year counts toward the Adjusted Referred Revenue for such year. By way of examples: (A) if Referred Revenue actually delivered in Year 1 is $1,000,000, Referred Revenue actually delivered in Year 2 is $1,500,000 and Referred Revenue actually delivered in Year 3 is $1,750,000, then the Adjusted Referred Revenue at the end of Year 3 shall, according to the formula above, equal the sum of (1) 2.5 * 1,000,000 and (2) 2.0 * 500,000 and (3) 1.5 * 250,000, totaling $3,875,000—and this Warrant shall be exercisable for up to 2,952,563 Exercise Shares; and (B) if Referred Revenue actually delivered in Year 1 is $1,500,000, Referred Revenue actually delivered in Year 2 is $1,000,000 and Referred Revenue actually delivered in Year 3 is $1,600,000, then the Adjusted Referred Revenue at the end of Year 3 shall, according to the formula above, equal the sum of (1) 2.5 * 1,500,000 and (2) 2.0 * 0 and (3) 1.5 * 100,000, totaling $3,900,000—and this Warrant shall be exercisable for up to 2,971,611 Exercise Shares.

(b)Affiliate” shall mean Fifth Wall Ventures, L.P., Fifth Wall Ventures SPV VII, L.P., Fifth Wall Ventures Management, LLC and any person or entity who or which, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such entity, including, without limitation, any general partner, limited partner, officer, director or manager of such entity and any entity now or hereafter existing that is controlled by one or more general partners or managing members of, or is under common investment management with, such entity; provided that membership on an entity’s board of directors shall not alone constitute “control”.

(c)Eligible Firms” shall mean (i) Holder, its Affiliates and any Qualified Referral and (ii) any Eligible Partners or their respective partners and affiliates.

(d)Eligible Partners” shall mean Holder, its Affiliates, or any of the strategic partners listed on Exhibit A.

(e)Exercise Event” means a Liquidation Transaction as defined in the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation as in effect at the time of the Liquidation Transaction.

(f)Exercise Period” shall mean the period commencing with the date of this Warrant (the “Issue Date”) and ending thirty-six months from the Issue Date, unless terminated earlier as provided below.

(g)Exercise Price” shall mean $1.312419 per share, subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 5 below.

 

2.


(h)Exercise Shares” shall be a number of shares of the Company’s Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant, which number shall initially be zero and shall be increased from time to time by a number of shares of Preferred Stock calculated by dividing (a) Adjusted Referred Revenue for the applicable period by (b) the Exercise Price; provided that the maximum number of Exercise Shares shall be 3,809,758 subject to an adjustment pursuant to Section 5. Any Exercise Shares that have been earned under this Section 1(h) may be referred to as “vested” Exercise Shares herein. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, Fifth Wall Ventures, L.P. shall only have the right to 33.3% of the Exercise Shares that have vested and Fifth Wall Ventures SPV VII, L.P. shall only have the right to 66.7% of the Exercise Shares that have vested, and in no event shall this Warrant be issued or issuable for more than the Maximum Number of Shares.

(i)New Business Initiative” shall mean a new business initiative among the Company, Fifth Wall and any Eligible Partner related to any new line of business, product or service of the Company in the financial services industry other than mortgage or home equity loan/line of credit.

(j)Qualified Referral shall mean a party first introduced to the Company by Holder, its Affiliates or its agents (such referrer, the “Referrer”). In order for a party to be deemed to be first introduced to the Company under the prior sentence, the Referrer shall provide the Company with the name and contact information for such party by email at leads@blend.com or such other email address as provided in writing by the Company to Holder. The Company shall notify Referrer within thirty (30) days of receiving such notice if such party qualifies as a Qualified Referral and whether the Company accepts such Qualified Referral. If the Company does not contact Referrer within (30) days of receiving the notice, the Company is presumed to have rejected the potential Qualified Referral. The referral may be disqualified as a Qualified Referral for the following reasons: (i) the Company has already received the referral from another referral source; (ii) the referral is a current or former customer of the Company at the time of the referral; or (iii) the Company either has made a sales call or submitted a proposal within one-hundred twenty (120) days prior to the referral. Approval and acceptance of any Qualified Referral shall be at the Company’s sole discretion. If the Company does not approve a party as a Qualified Referral, thereafter Fifth Wall or its Affiliates or its agents may resubmit such party’s name and contact information as a potential Qualified Referral to the Company for new consideration, subject to the terms of this paragraph.

(k)Referred Revenue” shall mean the revenue attributable to a New Business Initiative (excluding professional services and other ancillary services) actually delivered to the Company from any of the Eligible Firms.

2. EXERCISE OF WARRANT. The vested Exercise Shares subject to this Warrant may be exercised in whole or in part at any time during the Exercise Period and for a period of ten days following the end of the Exercise Period but in all events subject to Section 7, by delivery of the following to the Company at its address set forth on the signature page hereto (or at such other address as it may designate by notice in writing to the Holder):

(a) An executed Notice of Exercise in the form attached hereto; and

 

3.


(b) Payment of the Exercise Price either (i) in cash or by check or by wire transfer or (ii) by written notice of the desire to net exercise pursuant to Section 2.1.

Upon the exercise of the rights represented by this Warrant, a certificate or certificates for the Exercise Shares so purchased, registered in the name of the Holder or persons affiliated with the Holder, if the Holder so designates, shall be issued and delivered to the Holder within a reasonable time after the rights represented by this Warrant shall have been so exercised. In the event that this Warrant is being exercised for less than all of the then-current number of Exercise Shares purchasable hereunder, the Company shall, promptly following the issuance by the Company of the number of Exercise Shares for which this Warrant is then being exercised, issue a new Warrant exercisable for the remaining number of Exercise Shares purchasable hereunder. Prior to the receipt of the Exercise Shares, Holder or any transferee of this Warrant, as applicable, shall agree in writing to be bound by the terms and conditions of the then-applicable agreements between the Company and the holders of the then-outstanding Preferred Stock, subject to the provisions thereof, in the same capacity as current holders of Preferred Stock, which agreements may include an Investors’ Rights Agreement, First Refusal and Co-Sale Agreement and/or Voting Agreement, if such Holder or such transferee is not already bound thereby.

The person in whose name any certificate or certificates for Exercise Shares are to be issued upon exercise of this Warrant shall be deemed to have become the holder of record of such shares on the date on which this Warrant was surrendered and payment of the Exercise Price was made, irrespective of the date of delivery of such certificate or certificates, except that, if the date of such surrender and payment is a date when the stock transfer books of the Company are closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the holder of such shares at the close of business on the next succeeding date on which the stock transfer books are open.

2.2 Net Exercise. Notwithstanding any provisions herein to the contrary, if the fair market value of one share of the Company’s Preferred Stock is greater than the Exercise Price (at the date of calculation as set forth below), in lieu of exercising this Warrant by payment of cash, the Holder may elect to receive shares equal to the value (as determined below) of this Warrant (or the portion thereof being canceled) by surrender of this Warrant at the principal office of the Company together with the properly endorsed Notice of Exercise in which event the Company shall issue to the Holder a number of shares of Preferred Stock computed using the following formula:

 

X =   Y (A-B)
  A

 

Where X =    the number of shares of Preferred Stock to be issued to the Holder
Y =    the number of shares of Preferred Stock purchasable under the Warrant or, if only a portion of the Warrant is being exercised, the portion of the Warrant being canceled (at the date of such calculation)
A =    the fair market value of one share of the Company’s Preferred Stock (at the date of such calculation)

 

4.


B =    Exercise Price (as adjusted to the date of such calculation)

For purposes of the above calculation, the fair market value of one share of Preferred Stock shall be determined by the Company’s Board of Directors in good faith; provided, however, that in the event that this Warrant is exercised pursuant to this Section 2.1 in connection with the Company’s initial public offering of its Common Stock, the fair market value per share shall be the product of (i) the per share offering price to the public of the Company’s initial public offering, and (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock into which each share of Preferred Stock is convertible at the time of such exercise.

In the event the Company consummates an initial public offering during the Exercise Period, immediately prior to the closing of the Company’s initial public offering, this Warrant shall become exercisable for that number of shares of Common Stock of the Company into which the vested Exercise Shares issuable under this Warrant would then be convertible, so long as such shares, if such vested Exercise Shares had been exercised prior to such offering, would have been converted into shares of the Company’s Common Stock pursuant to the automatic conversion provisions (or otherwise) of the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended.

3. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.

3.1 Covenants as to Exercise Shares. The Company will promptly provide Holder with the current number of Exercise Shares and the supporting calculations at the end of each of Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3, and otherwise upon reasonable request of Holder. The Company covenants and agrees that all Exercise Shares that may be issued upon the exercise of the rights represented by this Warrant will, upon issuance, be validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable, and free from all taxes, liens and charges with respect to the issuance thereof The Company further covenants and agrees that the Company will at all times during the Exercise Period, have authorized and reserved, free from preemptive rights, a sufficient number of shares of its Preferred Stock to provide for the exercise of the rights represented by this Warrant. If at any time during the Exercise Period the number of authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock shall not be sufficient to permit exercise of this Warrant, the Company will take such corporate action as may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary to increase its authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock to such number of shares as shall be sufficient for such purposes.

3.2 Notices of Record Date. In the event of any taking by the Company of a record of the holders of any class of securities for the purpose of determining the holders thereof who are entitled to receive any dividend (other than a cash dividend which is the same as cash dividends paid in previous quarters) or other distribution, the Company shall mail to the Holder, at least ten (10) days prior to the date specified herein, a notice specifying the date on which any such record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend or distribution.

4. REPRESENTATIONS OF HOLDER.

4.1 Acquisition of Warrant for Personal Account. The Holder represents and warrants that it is acquiring the Warrant and the Exercise Shares solely for its account for

 

5.


investment and not with a view to or for sale or distribution of said Warrant or Exercise Shares or any part thereof. The Holder also represents that the entire legal and beneficial interests of the Warrant and Exercise Shares the Holder is acquiring is being acquired for, and will be held for, its account only. On the Issue Date and any date of exercise, the Holder represents it is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”).

4.2 Securities Are Not Registered.

(a) The Holder understands that the Warrant and the Exercise Shares have not been registered under the Act on the basis that no distribution or public offering of the stock of the Company is to be effected. The Holder realizes that the basis for the exemption may not be present if, notwithstanding its representations, the Holder has a present intention of acquiring the securities for a fixed or determinable period in the future, selling (in connection with a distribution or otherwise), granting any participation in, or otherwise distributing the securities. The Holder has no such present intention.

(b) The Holder recognizes that the Warrant and the Exercise Shares must be held indefinitely unless they are subsequently registered under the Act or an exemption from such registration is available. The Holder recognizes that the Company has no obligation to register the Warrant or the Exercise Shares of the Company, or to comply with any exemption from such registration.

(c) The Holder is aware that neither the Warrant nor the Exercise Shares may be sold pursuant to Rule 144 adopted under the Act unless certain conditions are met, including, among other things, the existence of a public market for the shares, the availability of certain current public information about the Company, the resale following the required holding period under Rule 144 and the number of shares being sold during any three-month period not exceeding specified limitations. Holder is aware that the conditions for resale set forth in Rule 144 have not been satisfied and that the Company presently has no plans to satisfy these conditions in the foreseeable future.

4.3 Disposition of Warrant and Exercise Shares.

(a) The Holder further agrees not to make any disposition of all or any part of the Warrant or Exercise Shares in any event unless and until:

(i) The Company shall have received a letter secured by the Holder from the Securities and Exchange Commission stating that no action will be recommended to the Commission with respect to the proposed disposition;

(ii) There is then in effect a registration statement under the Act covering such proposed disposition and such disposition is made in accordance with said registration statement; or

(iii) The Holder shall have notified the Company of the proposed disposition and shall have furnished the Company with a detailed statement of the circumstances surrounding the proposed disposition, and if reasonably requested by the Company, the Holder

 

6.


shall have furnished the Company with an opinion of counsel, reasonably satisfactory to the Company, for the Holder to the effect that such disposition will not require registration of such Warrant or Exercise Shares under the Act or any applicable state securities laws.

(b) The Holder understands and agrees that all certificates evidencing the shares to be issued to the Holder may bear the following legend:

THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”). THEY MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AS TO THE SECURITIES UNDER THE ACT OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.

(c) The transfer restrictions of this Section 4.3 will not apply in any transaction in which such Holder distributes the Warrant or Exercise Shares to an Affiliate of such Holder for no consideration; provided that each transferee agrees in writing to be subject to the terms of this Section 4.3.

5. ADJUSTMENTS. In the event of changes in the outstanding Preferred Stock of the Company by reason of stock dividends, split-ups, recapitalizations, reclassifications, combinations or exchanges of shares, separations, reorganizations, liquidations, or the like, the number and class of shares available under the Warrant in the aggregate and the Exercise Price shall be correspondingly adjusted to give the Holder of the Warrant, on exercise for the same aggregate Exercise Price, the total number, class, and kind of shares as the Holder would have owned had the Warrant been exercised prior to the event and had the Holder continued to hold such shares until after the event requiring adjustment; provided, however, that such adjustment shall not be made with respect to, and this Warrant shall terminate if not exercised prior to, the events set forth in Section 7 below. The form of this Warrant need not be changed because of any adjustment in the number of Exercise Shares subject to this Warrant.

6. FRACTIONAL SHARES. No fractional shares shall be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant as a consequence of any adjustment pursuant hereto. All Exercise Shares (including fractions) issuable upon exercise of this Warrant may be aggregated for purposes of determining whether the exercise would result in the issuance of any fractional share. If, after aggregation, the exercise would result in the issuance of a fractional share, the Company shall, in lieu of issuance of any fractional share, pay the Holder otherwise entitled to such fraction a sum in cash equal to the product resulting from multiplying the then current fair market value of an Exercise Share by such fraction.

7. EARLY TERMINATION. In the event of an Exercise Event at any time during the Exercise Period, the Company shall provide to the Holder ten (10) days advance written notice of such Exercise Event and this Warrant and the Exercise Shares (whether or not such Exercise Shares are vested) will automatically terminate unless exercised prior to the closing of such Exercise Event, provided, however, that if the fair market value of one share of the Company’s Preferred Stock is greater than the Exercise Price (calculated as set forth above through the occurrence of

 

7.


such Exercise Event), this Warrant shall be deemed to be exercised automatically to the extent then exercisable for vested Exercise Shares pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.1, without any further action on behalf of Holder, immediately prior to the time this Warrant would otherwise terminate pursuant to this Section 7, and otherwise this Warrant shall be cancelled and extinguished without being exercised. For the avoidance of doubt, any Exercise Shares that have not vested prior to the Exercise Event shall be forfeited and Holder shall have no rights to acquire such shares.

8. MARKET STAND-OFF AGREEMENT. Holder shall not sell, dispose of, transfer, make any short sale of, grant any option for the purchase of, or enter into any hedging or similar transaction with the same economic effect as a sale, any securities of the Company held by Holder, for a period of time specified by the managing underwriter(s) (not to exceed 180 days) following the effective date of a registration statement of the Company filed under the Act for its initial public offering. Holder agrees to execute and deliver such other agreements as may be reasonably requested by the Company and/or the managing underwriter(s) that are consistent with the foregoing or which are necessary to give further effect thereto. In order to enforce the foregoing covenant, the Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to such securities until the end of such period. The underwriters of the Company’s stock are intended third party beneficiaries of this Section 8 and shall have the right, power and authority to enforce the provisions hereof as though they were a party hereto.

9. NO STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS. This Warrant in and of itself shall not entitle the Holder to any voting rights or other rights as a stockholder of the Company.

10. TRANSFER OF WARRANT. Subject to applicable laws, the restriction on transfer set forth on the first page of this Warrant, and any restrictions applicable to the transfer of shares set forth in the Company’s bylaws, as they may be amended from time to time, this Warrant and all rights hereunder are transferable in whole or in part, by the Holder in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon delivery of this Warrant and the form of assignment attached hereto to any Affiliate of such Holder, provided that the transferee (i) agrees to be bound by all of the provisions of this Warrant as if such transferee were the Holder and (ii) is not a competitor of the Company as determined in the reasonable discretion of the Company’s board of directors.

11. LOST, STOLEN, MUTILATED OR DESTROYED WARRANT. If this Warrant is lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed, the Company may, on such terms as to indemnity or otherwise as it may reasonably impose (which shall, in the case of a mutilated Warrant, include the surrender thereof), issue a new Warrant of like denomination and tenor as the Warrant so lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed. Any such new Warrant shall constitute an original contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the allegedly lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed Warrant shall be at any time enforceable by anyone.

12. NOTICES, ETC. All notices required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given: (a) upon personal delivery to the party to be notified, (b) when sent by confirmed telex or facsimile if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, 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 day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, specifying next day delivery, with written verification of receipt. All

 

8.


communications shall be sent to the Company and the Holder at the addresses listed above or at such other address as the Company or Holder may designate by ten days advance written notice to the other parties hereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all notices required or permitted under Section 7 above (Early Termination) (i) shall be in writing and (ii) shall be deemed effectively given one (1) day after deposit with a nationally-recognized overnight courier, specifying next day delivery, with written verification of receipt.

13. ACCEPTANCE. Receipt of this Warrant by the Holder shall constitute acceptance of and agreement to all of the terms and conditions contained herein.

14. GOVERNING LAW. This Warrant and all rights, obligations and liabilities hereunder shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

9.


The Company has caused this Warrant to be executed by its duly authorized officer as of the date first set forth above.

 

BLEND LABS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Nima Ghamsari

  Nima Ghamsari, CEO

 

Address:  

415 Kearny St.

San Francisco, CA 94108

 

Acknowledged:
FIFTH WALL VENTURES, L.P.
By: Fifth Wall Ventures GP, LLC
Its: General Partner
By:  

/s/ Brendan Wallace

Name:  

Brendan Wallace

Title:  

 

FIFTH WALL SPV VII, L.P.
By: Fifth Wall Ventures GP, LLC
Its: General Partner
By:  

/s/ Brendan Wallace

Name:  

Brendan Wallace

Title:   Managing Director
Address:  

1410 Abbott Kinney Blvd #2

Venice, CA 9029


EXHIBIT A

ELIGIBLE PARTNERS


PURCHASE/EXERCISE FORM

 

To:    Blend Labs, Inc.    Dated:

The undersigned, pursuant to the provisions set forth in the attached Warrant No. PD1-2, hereby irrevocably elects to (a) purchase                  shares of                  covered by such Warrant and herewith makes payment of $        , representing (a) the full purchase price for such shares at the price per share provided for in such Warrant, or (b) exercise such Warrant for                  shares purchasable under the Warrant pursuant to the Net Exercise provisions of Section 2.1 of such Warrant.

The undersigned represents that (i) the aforesaid shares of Warrant Stock are being acquired for the account of the undersigned for investment and not with a view to, or for resale in connection with, the distribution thereof and that the undersigned has no present intention of distributing or reselling such shares(ii) the undersigned is aware of the Company’s business affairs and financial condition and has acquired sufficient information about the Company to reach an informed and knowledgeable decision regarding its investment in the Company; (iii) the undersigned is experienced in making investments of this type and has such knowledge and background in financial and business matters that the undersigned is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of this investment and protecting the undersigned’s own interests; (iv) the undersigned understands that the shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), by reason of a specific exemption from the registration provisions of the Securities Act, which exemption depends upon, among other things, the bona fide nature of the investment intent as expressed herein, and, because such securities have not been registered under the Securities Act, they must be held indefinitely unless subsequently registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from such registration is available; (v) the undersigned is aware that the aforesaid shares of Preferred Stock may not be sold pursuant to Rule 144 adopted under the Securities Act unless certain conditions are met and until the undersigned has held the shares for the number of years prescribed by Rule 144, that among the conditions for use of the Rule is the availability of current information to the public about the Company and the Company has not made such information available and has no present plans to do so; and (vi) the undersigned agrees not to make any disposition of all or any part of the aforesaid shares of Preferred Stock unless and until there is then in effect a registration statement under the Securities Act covering such proposed disposition and such disposition is made in accordance with said registration statement, or the undersigned has provided the Company with an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company, stating that such registration is not required.

 

Signature:  

 

Name (print):  

 

Title (if applicable.):  

 


ASSIGNMENT FORM

FOR VALUE RECEIVED,                      hereby sells, assigns and transfers all of the rights of the undersigned under the attached Warrant with respect to the number of shares set forth below, unto:

 

Name of Assignee      Address/Email      Exercise Shares  
     

 

Dated:  

 

    Signature:  

 

      Name:  

 

      Title:  

 

      Witness:  

 


AMENDMENT NO. 1

TO

SERIES D-1 WARRANT

This Amendment No. 1 (this “Amendment”) of the terms of the New Business Series D-1 Warrant (as defined below) is made as of March 18, 2021 by and among Blend Labs, Inc. (the “Company”) with Fifth Wall Ventures, L.P. and Fifth Wall Ventures SPV VII, L.P. (together, “Fifth Wall”).

Reference is made to the following instrument:

That certain Series D-1 Preferred Stock Warrant, Warrant No. PD1-2, dated March 6, 2018, issued by the Company to Fifth Wall (the “New Business Series D-1 Warrant”).

The Company and Fifth Wall desire to amend the New Business Series D-1 Warrant as set forth below in this Amendment. The capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein have the respective meanings given to them in the New Business Series D-1 Warrant.

1. AMENDMENTS.

 

  a.

The parties have agreed to extend the exercise period for an additional six months. As a result, Section 1(f) of the New Business Series D-1 Warrant is hereby amended to replace the word “thirty-six months” with the word “forty-two months”.

 

  b.

Section 1(a)(3) of the New Business Series D-1 Warrant is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read: “ 3) 1.5 times Referred Revenue actually delivered during the eighteen-month period commencing on the second anniversary of the Date of Issuance (“Year 3”).

2. COUNTERPARTS. This Amendment may be executed and delivered in two or more counterparts (including facsimile, PDF or other electronic counterpart), each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

3. GOVERNING LAW. This Amendment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles thereof.

4. NO OTHER AMENDMENT. Except as specifically amended by this Amendment, all other terms and conditions of the New Business Series D-1 Warrant shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with their terms without modification.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned hereby execute this Amendment as of March 5, 2021.

 

Blend Labs, Inc.
Signature:  

/s/ Crystal Sumner

Full printed name: Crystal Sumner
Title: Head of Legal

 

FIFTH WALL VENTURES, L.P.
By: Fifth Wall Ventures GP, LLC
Its: General Partner
By:  

/s/ Brendan Wallace

Name:  

Brendan Wallace

Title:  

 

 

FIFTH WALL SPV VII, L.P.
By: Fifth Wall Ventures GP, LLC
Its: General Partner
By:  

/s/ Brendan Wallace

Name:  

Brendan Wallace

Title:
Address:

Exhibit 4.4

THIS WARRANT AND THE SHARES OF STOCK THAT MAY BE PURCHASED UPON THE EXERCISE OF THIS WARRANT HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION, AND HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”). SUCH SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED, OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED UNLESS AND UNTIL REGISTRATION UNDER THE ACT OR AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE ACT IS AVAILABLE FOR SUCH OFFER, SALE, PLEDGE, HYPOTHECATION, OR TRANSFER IN THE OPINION OF LEGAL COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY.

BLEND LABS, INC.

SERIES G PREFERRED STOCK WARRANT

Warrant No. 1    

Date of Issuance: July 2, 2021    

THIS CERTIFIES THAT, for value received, OR Lending LLC, OR Tech Lending LLC and OR BL LLC (collectively with certain of its affiliated funds or investment vehicles, the “Holder”), is entitled to subscribe for and purchase at the Exercise Price (defined below) from Blend Labs, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), at the address set forth on the signature page hereto, up to a number of shares of the Series G Preferred Stock of the Company (the “Preferred Stock”) set forth below. This Warrant is issued under, and reflective of the 3:1 reverse stock split effected pursuant to, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company effective on and filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware July 2, 2021.

1.    DEFINITIONS. As used herein, the following terms shall have the following respective meanings:

(a)    “Affiliate” shall mean any person or entity who or which, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such entity, including, without limitation, any general partner, limited partner, officer, director or manager of such entity and any entity now or hereafter existing that is controlled by one or more general partners or managing members of, or is under common investment management with, such entity; provided that membership on an entity’s board of directors shall not alone constitute “control”.

(b)    “Exercise Event” shall mean a Liquidation Transaction as defined in the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation as in effect at the time of the Liquidation Transaction.

(c)    “Exercise Period” shall mean the period commencing with the date of this Warrant (the “Issue Date”) and ending ten years from the Issue Date, unless terminated earlier as provided below.

(d)    “Exercise Price” shall mean $13.827822 per share, subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 5 below.

(e)    “Exercise Shares” shall be 598,431.34 shares of the Company’s Preferred Stock total, 179,529.40 issuable upon exercise of this Warrant to OR Lending LLC, 299,215.67 issuable upon exercise of this Warrant to OR Tech Lending LLC and 119,686.27 issuable upon exercise of this Warrant to OR BL LLC, subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 5 below.

 

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2.    EXERCISE OF WARRANT. The Exercise Shares subject to this Warrant may be exercised in whole or in part at any time during the Exercise Period and for a period of ten days following the end of the Exercise Period but in all events subject to Section 7, by delivery of the following to the Company in accordance with Section 12:

(a)    An executed Purchase/Exercise Form in the form attached hereto (the “Notice of Exercise”); and

(b)    Payment of the Exercise Price either (i) in cash or by check or by wire transfer or (ii) by written notice of the desire to net exercise pursuant to Section 2.1.

Upon the exercise of the rights represented by this Warrant, a certificate or certificates for the Exercise Shares so purchased, registered in the name of the Holder or persons Affiliated with the Holder, if the Holder so designates, shall be issued and delivered to the Holder promptly within a reasonable time after the rights represented by this Warrant shall have been so exercised. In the event that this Warrant is being exercised for less than all of the then-current number of Exercise Shares purchasable hereunder, the Company shall, promptly following the issuance by the Company of the number of Exercise Shares for which this Warrant is then being exercised, issue a new Warrant exercisable for the remaining number of Exercise Shares purchasable hereunder. Prior to the receipt of the Exercise Shares, the Holder or any transferee of this Warrant, as applicable, shall agree in writing to be bound by the terms and conditions of the then-applicable agreements between the Company and the holders of the then-outstanding Preferred Stock, subject to the provisions thereof, in the same capacity as current holders of Preferred Stock, which agreements may include an Investors’ Rights Agreement, First Refusal and Co-Sale Agreement and/or Voting Agreement, in each case if such Holder or such transferee is not already bound thereby.

For all purposes hereunder, including under Section 2.1, the person or entity in whose name any certificate or certificates for Exercise Shares are to be issued upon exercise of this Warrant shall be deemed to have become the holder of record of such Exercise Shares on the date on which this Warrant was exercised with respect to such Exercise Shares and payment of the Exercise Price was made, irrespective of the date of delivery of such certificate or certificates.

2.1    Net Exercise. Notwithstanding any provisions herein to the contrary, if the fair market value of one share of the Company’s Preferred Stock is greater than the Exercise Price (at the date of calculation as set forth below), in lieu of exercising this Warrant by payment of cash, the Holder may elect to receive Exercise Shares equal to the value (as determined below) of this Warrant (or the portion thereof being exercised) by delivery of the properly endorsed Notice of Exercise in which event the Company shall issue to the Holder a number of shares of Preferred Stock computed using the following formula:

X = Y (A-B)

        A

Where    X = the number of Exercise Shares to be issued to the Holder

Y = the number of Exercise Shares for which the Holder has elected to exercise this Warrant

A = the fair market value of one Exercise Share (at the date of such exercise)

B = Exercise Price in effect (as adjusted to the date of such exercise)

 

2


For purposes of the above calculation, the fair market value of one Exercise Share shall be determined by the Company’s board of directors in good faith; provided, however, that in the event that this Warrant is exercised pursuant to this Section 2.1 in connection with the Company’s initial public offering of its Common Stock, the fair market value per Exercise Share shall be the product of (i) the per share offering price to the public of the Company’s initial public offering, and (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock into which each share of Preferred Stock is convertible at the time of such exercise.

In the event the Company consummates an initial public offering during the Exercise Period, immediately prior to the closing of the Company’s initial public offering, this Warrant shall become exercisable for that number of shares of Common Stock of the Company into which the Exercise Shares issuable under this Warrant would then be convertible, so long as such shares, if such Exercise Shares had been exercised prior to such offering, would have been converted into shares of the Company’s Common Stock pursuant to the automatic conversion provisions (or otherwise) of the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

In the event this Warrant remains unexercised in whole or in part at the expiration of the Exercise Period and the fair market value of one Exercise Share is greater than the Exercise Price (at such time), this Warrant shall be deemed to be exercised automatically to the extent then exercisable for Exercise Shares pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2.1, without any further action on behalf of the Holder or the Company, immediately prior to the expiration of the Exercise Period.

3.    COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.

3.1    Covenants as to Exercise Shares. The Company will promptly provide the Holder with the current number of Exercise Shares and the supporting calculations upon reasonable request of the Holder from time to time. The Company covenants and agrees that all Exercise Shares that may be issued upon the exercise of the rights represented by this Warrant will, upon issuance, be validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable, and free from all taxes, liens and charges with respect to the issuance thereof. The Company further covenants and agrees that the Company will at all times during the Exercise Period, have authorized and reserved, free from preemptive rights, a sufficient number of shares of its Preferred Stock to provide for the exercise of the rights represented by this Warrant. If at any time during the Exercise Period the number of authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock shall not be sufficient to permit exercise of this Warrant, the Company will take such corporate action as may be necessary to increase its authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock to such number of shares as shall be sufficient for such purposes.

3.2    Notices of Record Date. In the event of any taking by the Company of a record of the holders of any class of securities for the purpose of determining the holders thereof who are entitled to receive any dividend (other than a cash dividend which is the same as cash dividends paid in previous quarters) or other distribution, the Company shall mail to the Holder, at least ten (10) days prior to the date specified herein, a notice specifying the date on which any such record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend or distribution.

4.    REPRESENTATIONS OF HOLDER.

4.1    Acquisition of Warrant for Personal Account. The Holder represents and warrants that it is acquiring this Warrant and the Exercise Shares solely for its account for investment and not with a view to or for sale or distribution of said Warrant or Exercise Shares or any part thereof. On the Issue Date and any date of exercise, the Holder represents it is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”).

 

3


4.2    Securities Are Not Registered.

(a)    The Holder understands that this Warrant and the Exercise Shares have not been registered under the Act on the basis that no distribution or public offering of the stock of the Company is to be effected. The Holder realizes that the basis for the exemption may not be present if, notwithstanding its representations, the Holder has a present intention of acquiring the securities for a fixed or determinable period in the future, selling (in connection with a distribution or otherwise), granting any participation in, or otherwise distributing the securities. The Holder has no such present intention.

(b)    The Holder recognizes that the Warrant and the Exercise Shares must be held indefinitely unless they are subsequently registered under the Act or an exemption from such registration is available. The Holder recognizes that the Company has no obligation to register the Warrant or the Exercise Shares of the Company, or to comply with any exemption from such registration.

(c)    The Holder is aware that neither this Warrant nor the Exercise Shares may be sold pursuant to Rule 144 adopted under the Act unless certain conditions are met, including, among other things, the existence of a public market for the shares, the availability of certain current public information about the Company, the resale following the required holding period under Rule 144 and the number of shares being sold during any three-month period not exceeding specified limitations. The Holder is aware that the conditions for resale set forth in Rule 144 have not been satisfied and that the Company presently has no plans to satisfy these conditions in the foreseeable future.

4.3    Disposition of Warrant and Exercise Shares.

(a)    The Holder agrees not to make any disposition of all or any part of the Warrant or Exercise Shares unless and until either:

(i)    there is then in effect a registration statement under the Act covering such proposed disposition and such disposition is made in accordance with such registration statement; or

(ii)    the Holder shall have notified the Company of the proposed disposition and shall have furnished the Company with a detailed statement of the circumstances surrounding the proposed disposition, and if reasonably requested by the Company, the Holder shall have furnished the Company with an opinion of counsel, reasonably satisfactory to the Company, for the Holder to the effect that such disposition will not require registration of such Warrant or Exercise Shares under the Act or any applicable state securities laws.

(b)    The Holder understands and agrees that all certificates evidencing the Exercise Shares to be issued to the Holder may bear the following legend:

THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”). THEY MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AS TO THE SECURITIES UNDER THE ACT OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.

 

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(c)    The transfer restrictions of this Section 4.3 will not apply in any transaction in which such Holder distributes or otherwise transfers the Warrant or Exercise Shares to an Affiliate of such Holder for no consideration; provided that each transferee agrees in writing to be subject to the terms of this Subsection 4.3.

5.    ADJUSTMENTS. In the event of changes in the outstanding Preferred Stock of the Company by reason of stock dividends, split-ups, recapitalizations, reclassifications, combinations or exchanges of shares, separations, reorganizations, liquidations, or the like, the number, class and kind of shares or securities exercisable under the Warrant in the aggregate and the Exercise Price shall be correspondingly and proportionally adjusted to give the Holder of the Warrant, on exercise for the same aggregate Exercise Price, the total number, class, and kind of shares or securities as the Holder would have owned had the Warrant been exercised prior to the event and had the Holder continued to hold such shares until after the event requiring adjustment; provided, however, that such adjustment shall not be made with respect to, and this Warrant shall terminate if not exercised prior to, the events set forth in Section 7 below. The form of this Warrant need not be changed because of any adjustment in the number, class or kind of Exercise Shares or other securities or Exercise Price subject to this Warrant.

6.    FRACTIONAL SHARES. No fractional shares of Exercise Shares shall be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant. All Exercise Shares (including fractions) issuable to each Holder hereunder upon exercise of this Warrant may be aggregated for purposes of determining whether the exercise would result in the issuance of any fractional share. If, after such aggregation, the exercise would result in the issuance of a fractional share to any such Holder, the resulting fractional share of Exercise Shares will be rounded down to the nearest whole share of Exercise Shares.

7.    EARLY TERMINATION. In the event of an Exercise Event at any time during the Exercise Period, the Company shall provide to the Holder ten (10) days advance written notice of such Exercise Event and this Warrant and the Exercise Shares will automatically terminate unless exercised prior to the closing of such Exercise Event, provided, however, that if the fair market value of one share of the Company’s Preferred Stock is greater than the Exercise Price (calculated as set forth above through the occurrence of such Exercise Event), this Warrant shall be deemed to be exercised automatically to the extent then exercisable for Exercise Shares pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.1, without any further action on behalf of the Holder or the Company, immediately prior to the time this Warrant would otherwise terminate pursuant to this Section 7, and otherwise this Warrant shall be cancelled and extinguished without being exercised.

8.    MARKET STAND-OFF AGREEMENT. The Holder shall not sell, dispose of, transfer, make any short sale of, grant any option for the purchase of, or enter into any hedging or similar transaction with the same economic effect as a sale, any securities of the Company held by the Holder, for a period of time specified by the managing underwriter(s) (not to exceed 180 days) following the effective date of a registration statement of the Company filed under the Act for its initial public offering. The Holder agrees to execute and deliver such other agreements as may be reasonably requested by the Company and/or the managing underwriter(s) that are consistent with the foregoing or which are necessary to give further effect thereto. In order to enforce the foregoing covenant, the Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to such securities until the end of such period. The underwriters of the Company’s stock are intended third party beneficiaries of this Section 8 and shall have the right, power and authority to enforce the provisions hereof as though they were a party hereto.

9.    NO STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS. This Warrant in and of itself shall not entitle the Holder to any voting rights or other rights as a stockholder of the Company.

 

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10.    TRANSFER OF WARRANT. Subject to applicable laws, the restriction on transfer set forth in this Warrant, and any restrictions applicable to the transfer of shares set forth in the Company’s bylaws as of the Issue Date, this Warrant and all rights hereunder are transferable in whole or in part, by the Holder in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon delivery of this Warrant and the form of assignment attached hereto to any Affiliate of such Holder, provided that the transferee (i) agrees to be bound by all of the provisions of this Warrant as if such transferee were the Holder and (ii) is not a competitor of the Company as determined in the reasonable discretion of the Company’s board of directors.

11.    FORM. This Warrant shall be issued in electronic form and not in physical form. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Warrant to the Company. Partial exercises of this Warrant shall have the effect of lowering the outstanding number of Exercise Shares.

12.    NOTICES, ETC. All notices required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given: (a) upon personal delivery to the party to be notified, (b) when sent by confirmed e-mail or facsimile if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, if not, then on the next business day, (c) upon delivery if sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or (d) upon delivery if sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier. All communications shall be sent to the Company and the Holder at the addresses listed on the signature pages hereto or at such other address as the Company or the Holder may designate by written notice to the other party hereto.

13.    ACCEPTANCE. Execution and delivery of this Warrant by the parties hereto shall constitute acceptance of and agreement to all of the terms and conditions contained herein.

14.    GOVERNING LAW. This Warrant and all rights, obligations and liabilities hereunder shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

6


The Company has caused this Warrant to be executed by its duly authorized officer as of the date first set forth above.

 

BLEND LABS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Nima Ghamsari

  Nima Ghamsari, CEO

Address:

 

415 Kearny St.

San Francisco, CA 94108

Acknowledged:

 

OR LENDING LLC
By:  

/s/ Jon ten Oever

Name:   Jon ten Oever
Title:   Authorized Signatory

Address:

399 Park Avenue, 38th Floor

New York, NY 10022

 

OR TECH LENDING LLC
By:  

/s/ Jon ten Oever

Name:   Jon ten Oever
Title:   Authorized Signatory

Address:

399 Park Avenue, 38th Floor

New York, NY 10022

 

OR BL LLC
By:  

/s/ Jon ten Oever

Name:   Jon ten Oever
Title:   Authorized Signatory

Address:

399 Park Avenue, 38th Floor

New York, NY 10022


PURCHASE/EXERCISE FORM

 

To:  Blend Labs, Inc.

  Dated:

The undersigned, pursuant to the provisions set forth in the attached Warrant No. 1, hereby irrevocably elects to (a) purchase                  shares of                          covered by such Warrant and herewith makes payment of $                , representing (a) the full purchase price for such shares at the price per share provided for in such Warrant, or (b) exercise such Warrant for                  shares purchasable under the Warrant pursuant to the Net Exercise provisions of Section 2.1 of such Warrant.

The undersigned represents that (i) the aforesaid shares of Warrant Stock are being acquired for the account of the undersigned for investment and not with a view to, or for resale in connection with, the distribution thereof and that the undersigned has no present intention of distributing or reselling such shares(ii) the undersigned is aware of the Company’s business affairs and financial condition and has acquired sufficient information about the Company to reach an informed and knowledgeable decision regarding its investment in the Company; (iii) the undersigned is experienced in making investments of this type and has such knowledge and background in financial and business matters that the undersigned is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of this investment and protecting the undersigned’s own interests; (iv) the undersigned understands that the shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), by reason of a specific exemption from the registration provisions of the Securities Act, which exemption depends upon, among other things, the bona fide nature of the investment intent as expressed herein, and, because such securities have not been registered under the Securities Act, they must be held indefinitely unless subsequently registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from such registration is available; (v) the undersigned is aware that the aforesaid shares of Preferred Stock may not be sold pursuant to Rule 144 adopted under the Securities Act unless certain conditions are met and until the undersigned has held the shares for the number of years prescribed by Rule 144, that among the conditions for use of the Rule is the availability of current information to the public about the Company and the Company has not made such information available and has no present plans to do so; and (vi) the undersigned agrees not to make any disposition of all or any part of the aforesaid shares of Preferred Stock unless and until there is then in effect a registration statement under the Securities Act covering such proposed disposition and such disposition is made in accordance with said registration statement, or the undersigned has provided the Company with an opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Company, stating that such registration is not required.

 

Signature:                                                    

Name (print):                                              

Title (if applicable.):                                  


ASSIGNMENT FORM

FOR VALUE RECEIVED,                                                                                     hereby sells, assigns and transfers all of the rights of the undersigned under the attached Warrant with respect to the number of shares set forth below, unto:

 

Name of Assignee

 

Address/Email

 

Exercise Shares

 

Dated:                             

    Signature:  

 

    Name:  

 

    Title:  

 

    Witness:  

 

LOGO

   

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Professional Corporation

650 Page Mill Road

Palo Alto, California 94304-1050

o: 650.493.9300

f: 650.493.6811

Exhibit 5.1

July 6, 2021

Blend Labs, Inc.

415 Kearny Street

San Francisco, California 94108

Re:    Registration Statement on Form S-1

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This opinion is furnished to you in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-257223), as amended (the “Registration Statement”), filed by Blend Labs, Inc. (the “Company”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of up to 23,000,000 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, $0.00001 par value per share (the “Shares”), to be issued and sold by the Company, including up to 3,000,000 shares issuable upon exercise of an option granted to the underwriters by the Company. We understand that the Shares are to be sold to the underwriters for resale to the public as described in the Registration Statement and pursuant to an underwriting agreement, substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, to be entered into by and among the Company and the underwriters (the “Underwriting Agreement”).

We are acting as counsel for the Company in connection with the sale of the Shares by the Company. In such capacity, we have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records, certificates of public officials and other instruments as we have deemed necessary for the purposes of rendering this opinion. In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies, the authenticity of the originals of such documents and the legal competence of all signatories to such documents.

We express no opinion herein as to the laws of any state or jurisdiction other than the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (including the statutory provisions and all applicable judicial decisions interpreting those laws) and the federal laws of the United States of America.

On the basis of the foregoing, we are of the opinion that upon the effectiveness of the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, a form of which has been filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement, the Shares to be issued and sold by the Company have been duly authorized and, when such Shares are issued and paid for in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.


Blend Labs, Inc.

July 6, 2021

Page 2

 

We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and we consent to the reference of our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus forming part of the Registration Statement.

 

Very truly yours,
WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
Professional Corporation
/s/ Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C.

Exhibit 10.1

BLEND LABS, INC.

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

This Indemnification Agreement (this “Agreement”) is dated as of [insert date], and is between Blend Labs, Inc., a Delaware corporation (together with its subsidiaries, the “Company”), and [insert name] (“Indemnitee”).

RECITALS

A.    Indemnitee’s service to the Company substantially benefits the Company.

B.    Individuals are reluctant to serve as directors or officers of corporations or in certain other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or indemnification against the risks of claims and actions against them arising out of such service.

C.    Indemnitee does not regard the protection currently provided by applicable law, the Company’s governing documents and any insurance as adequate under the present circumstances, and Indemnitee may not be willing to serve as a director or officer without additional protection.

D.    In order to induce Indemnitee to continue to provide services to the Company, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company to contractually obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf of, Indemnitee as permitted by applicable law.

E.    This Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the indemnification provided in the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws, and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and this Agreement shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor shall this Agreement be deemed to limit, diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

The parties therefore agree as follows:

1.    Definitions.

(a)    A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to occur upon the earliest to occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events:

(i)    Acquisition of Stock by Third Party. Any Person (as defined below) becomes the Beneficial Owner (as defined below), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifteen percent (15%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities;

(ii)    Change in Board Composition. During any period of two consecutive years (not including any period prior to the execution of this Agreement), individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Company’s board of directors, and any new directors (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Sections 1(a)(i), 1(a)(iii) or 1(a)(iv)) whose election by the board of directors or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Company’s board of directors;


(iii)    Corporate Transactions. The effective date of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other entity, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation and with the power to elect at least a majority of the board of directors or other governing body of such surviving entity;

(iv)    Liquidation. The approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; and

(v)    Other Events. Any other event of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or in response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement.

For purposes of this Section 1(a), the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(1)    “Person” shall have the meaning as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; provided, however, that “Person” shall exclude (i) the Company, (ii) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, and (iii) any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.

(2)    “Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning given to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; provided, however, that “Beneficial Owner” shall exclude any Person otherwise becoming a Beneficial Owner by reason of (i) the stockholders of the Company approving a merger of the Company with another entity or (ii) the Company’s board of directors approving a sale of securities by the Company to such Person.

(b)    “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was a director, trustee, general partner, managing member, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company or any other Enterprise.

(c)    “DGCL” means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

(d)    “Disinterested Director” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

(e)    “Enterprise” means the Company and any other corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, trustee, general partner, managing member, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary.

(f)    “Expenses” include all reasonable and actually incurred attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees and costs of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding. Expenses also

 

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include (i) Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including without limitation the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond or other appeal bond or their equivalent, and (ii) for purposes of Section 12(d), Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company. Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.

(g)    “Independent Counsel” means a law firm, or a partner or member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than as Independent Counsel with respect to matters concerning Indemnitee under this Agreement, or other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.

(h)    “Proceeding” means any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative or investigative nature, including any appeal therefrom and including without limitation any such Proceeding pending as of the date of this Agreement, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party, a potential party, a non-party witness or otherwise by reason of (i) the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director or officer of the Company, (ii) any action taken by Indemnitee or any action or inaction on Indemnitee’s part while acting as a director or officer of the Company, or (iii) the fact that he or she is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, trustee, general partner, managing member, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company or any other Enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or Expense is incurred for which indemnification or advancement of expenses can be provided under this Agreement.

(i)    Reference to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to any employee benefit plan; references to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Company” as referred to in this Agreement.

2.    Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 2, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on his or her behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.

3.    Indemnity in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a

 

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party to or a participant in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 3, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company. No indemnification for Expenses shall be made under this Section 3 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or any court in which the Proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification for such expenses as the Delaware Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

4.    Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful. To the extent that Indemnitee is a party to or a participant in and is successful (on the merits or otherwise) in defense of any Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith. For purposes of this section, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

5.    Indemnification for Expenses of a Witness. To the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his or her Corporate Status, a witness in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith.

6.    Additional Indemnification.

(a)    Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 2, 3 or 4, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor) against all Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on his or her behalf in connection with the Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein.

(b)    For purposes of Section 6(a), the meaning of the phrase “to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law” shall include, but not be limited to:

(i)    the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the DGCL that authorizes or contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL; and

(ii)    the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may indemnify its officers and directors.

 

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7.    Exclusions. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnity in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding):

(a)    for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any statute, insurance policy, indemnity provision, vote or otherwise, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid, subject to any subrogation rights set forth in Section 15;

(b)    for an accounting or disgorgement of profits pursuant to Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or similar provisions of federal, state or local statutory law or common law, if Indemnitee is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements);

(c)    for any reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), if Indemnitee is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements);

(d)    initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees, agents or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Company’s board of directors authorized the Proceeding (or the relevant part of the Proceeding) prior to its initiation, (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law, (iii) otherwise authorized in Section 12(d) or (iv) otherwise required by applicable law; or

(e)    if prohibited by applicable law.

8.    Advances of Expenses. The Company shall advance the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding prior to its final disposition, and such advancement shall be made as soon as reasonably practicable, but in any event no later than 90 days, after the receipt by the Company of a written statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time (which shall include invoices received by Indemnitee in connection with such Expenses but, in the case of invoices in connection with legal services, any references to legal work performed or to expenditure made that would cause Indemnitee to waive any privilege accorded by applicable law shall not be included with the invoice). Advances shall be unsecured and interest free and made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay such advances. Indemnitee hereby undertakes to repay any advance to the extent that it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company, and no other form of undertaking shall be required other than the execution of this Agreement. This Section 8 shall not apply to the extent advancement is prohibited by law and shall not apply to any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) for which indemnity is not permitted under this Agreement, but shall apply to any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) referenced in Section 7(b) or 7(c) prior to a determination that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company.

9.    Procedures for Notification and Defense of Claim.

(a)    Indemnitee shall notify the Company in writing of any matter with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement of Expenses as soon as reasonably practicable following the receipt by Indemnitee of notice thereof. The written notification to the Company shall include, in reasonable detail, a description of the nature of the Proceeding and the facts underlying the Proceeding. The failure by Indemnitee to notify the Company will not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to Indemnitee hereunder or otherwise than under this Agreement, except to the extent that such failure or delay materially prejudices the Company.

 

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(b)    If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a Proceeding pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company has directors’ and officers’ liability insurance in effect that may be applicable to the Proceeding, the Company shall give prompt notice of the commencement of the Proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the applicable policies. The Company shall thereafter take all commercially-reasonable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.

(c)    In the event the Company may be obligated to make any indemnity in connection with a Proceeding, the Company shall be entitled to assume the defense of such Proceeding with counsel approved by Indemnitee, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, upon the delivery to Indemnitee of written notice of its election to do so. After delivery of such notice, approval of such counsel by Indemnitee and the retention of such counsel by the Company, the Company will not be liable to Indemnitee for any fees or expenses of counsel subsequently incurred by Indemnitee with respect to the same Proceeding. Notwithstanding the Company’s assumption of the defense of any such Proceeding, the Company shall be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of Indemnitee’s separate counsel to the extent (i) the employment of separate counsel by Indemnitee is authorized by the Company, (ii) counsel for the Company or Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that there is a conflict of interest between the Company and Indemnitee in the conduct of any such defense such that Indemnitee needs to be separately represented, (iii) the Company is not financially or legally able to perform its indemnification obligations or (iv) the Company shall not have retained, or shall not continue to retain, counsel to defend such Proceeding. Regardless of any provision in this Agreement, Indemnitee shall have the right to employ counsel in any Proceeding at Indemnitee’s personal expense. The Company shall not be entitled, without the consent of Indemnitee, to assume the defense of any claim brought by or in the right of the Company.

(d)    Indemnitee shall give the Company such information and cooperation in connection with the Proceeding as may be reasonably appropriate.

(e)    The Company shall not be liable to indemnify Indemnitee for any settlement of any Proceeding (or any part thereof) without the Company’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

(f)    The Company shall not settle any Proceeding (or any part thereof) in a manner that imposes any penalty or liability on Indemnitee without Indemnitee’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

10.    Procedures upon Application for Indemnification.

(a)    To obtain indemnification, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and as is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of the Proceeding. The Company shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt of such request for indemnification, advise the board of directors that Indemnitee has requested indemnification. Any delay in providing the request will not relieve the Company from its obligations under this Agreement, except to the extent such failure is materially prejudicial.

(b)    Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 10(a), a determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall be made in the specific case (i) if a Change

 

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in Control shall have occurred, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Company’s board of directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee or (ii) if a Change in Control shall not have occurred, (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Company’s board of directors, (B) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Company’s board of directors, (C) if there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Company’s board of directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee or (D) if so directed by the Company’s board of directors, by the stockholders of the Company. If it is determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within 30 days after such determination. Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information that is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and that is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any costs or expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company, to the extent permitted by applicable law.

(c)    In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 10(b), the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 10(c). If a Change in Control shall not have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Company’s board of directors, and the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising him or her of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected. If a Change in Control shall have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Company’s board of directors, in which event the preceding sentence shall apply), and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected. In either event, Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within ten days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 1 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If such written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within 20 days after the later of (i) submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 10(a) hereof and (ii) the final disposition of the Proceeding, the parties have not agreed upon an Independent Counsel, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Delaware Court of Chancery for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by the court or by such other person as the court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 10(b) hereof. Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement, the Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

(d)    The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of any Independent Counsel.

 

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11.    Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.

(a)    In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person, persons or entity making such determination shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, and the Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption by clear and convincing evidence.

(b)    The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.

(c)    For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith to the extent Indemnitee relied in good faith on (i) the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements, (ii) information supplied to Indemnitee by the officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, (iii) the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise or its board of directors or counsel selected by any committee of the board of directors or (iv) information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant, an appraiser, investment banker or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Enterprise or its board of directors or any committee of the board of directors. The provisions of this Section 11(c) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which Indemnitee may be deemed to have acted in good faith or met any other applicable standard of conduct.

(d)    Neither the knowledge, actions nor failure to act of any other director, officer, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

12.    Remedies of Indemnitee.

(a)    Subject to Section 12(e), in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 8 or 12(d) of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement within 90 days after the later of the receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification or the final disposition of the Proceeding, (iv) payment of indemnification pursuant to this Agreement is not made (A) within 30 days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification or (B) with respect to indemnification pursuant to Sections 4, 5 and 12(d) of this Agreement, within 30 days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, or (v) the Company or any other person or entity takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by the Delaware Court of Chancery of his or her entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at his or her option, may seek an award in arbitration with respect to his or her entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses, to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. Indemnitee shall commence such proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 12(a); provided, however, that the foregoing clause shall not apply in respect of a proceeding brought by Indemnitee to enforce his or her rights under Section 4 of this Agreement. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration in accordance with this Agreement.

 

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(b)    Neither (i) the failure of the Company, its board of directors, any committee or subgroup of the board of directors, Independent Counsel or stockholders to have made a determination that indemnification of Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor (ii) an actual determination by the Company, its board of directors, any committee or subgroup of the board of directors, Independent Counsel or stockholders that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that Indemnitee has or has not met the applicable standard of conduct. In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits, and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination. In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12, the Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be, by clear and convincing evidence.

(c)    To the fullest extent not prohibited by law, the Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement. If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statements not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

(d)    To the extent not prohibited by law, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses that are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action for indemnification or advancement of Expenses from the Company under this Agreement or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, unless the court (or arbitrator) finds that each material argument or defense advanced by Indemnitee in such action or arbitration was either frivolous or not made in good faith, and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (as soon as reasonably practicable, but in any event no later than 90 days, after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor) advance such Expenses to Indemnitee, subject to the provisions of Section 8.

(e)    Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement to indemnification shall be required to be made prior to the final disposition of the Proceeding.

13.    Contribution. To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amounts incurred by Indemnitee, whether for Expenses, judgments, fines or amounts paid or to be paid in settlement, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the events and transactions giving rise to such Proceeding; and (ii) the relative fault of Indemnitee and the Company (and its other directors, officers, employees and agents) in connection with such events and transactions.

14.    Non-exclusivity. The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement of Expenses as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any

 

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time be entitled under applicable law, the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise. To the extent that a change in Delaware law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change, subject to the restrictions expressly set forth herein or therein. Except as expressly set forth herein, no right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. Except as expressly set forth herein, the assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

15.    Primary Responsibility. The Company acknowledges that, to the extent Indemnitee is serving as a director on the Company’s board of directors at the request or direction of a venture capital fund or entity and/or certain of its affiliates (collectively, the “Secondary Indemnitors”), Indemnitee has certain rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by such Secondary Indemnitors. The Company agrees that, as between the Company and the Secondary Indemnitors, the Company is primarily responsible for amounts required to be indemnified or advanced under the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws or this Agreement and any obligation of the Secondary Indemnitors to provide indemnification or advancement for the same amounts is secondary to those Company obligations. To the extent not in contravention of any insurance policy or policies providing liability or other insurance for the Company or any director, trustee, general partner, managing member, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company or any other Enterprise, the Company waives any right of contribution or subrogation against the Secondary Indemnitors with respect to the liabilities for which the Company is primarily responsible under this Section 15. In the event of any payment by the Secondary Indemnitors of amounts otherwise required to be indemnified or advanced by the Company under the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws or this Agreement, the Secondary Indemnitors shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee for indemnification or advancement of expenses under the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws or this Agreement or, to the extent such subrogation is unavailable and contribution is found to be the applicable remedy, shall have a right of contribution with respect to the amounts paid; provided, however, that the foregoing sentence will be deemed void if and to the extent that it would violate any applicable insurance policy. The Secondary Indemnitors are express third-party beneficiaries of the terms of this Section 15.

16.    No Duplication of Payments. The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder (or for which advancement is provided hereunder) if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received payment for such amounts under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise, subject to any subrogation right set forth in Section 15.

17.    Insurance. To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, trustees, general partners, managing members, officers, employees, agents or fiduciaries of the Company or any other Enterprise, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies to the same extent as the most favorably-insured persons under such policy or policies in a comparable position.

18.    Subrogation. In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.

 

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19.    Services to the Company. Indemnitee agrees to serve as a director or officer of the Company or, at the request of the Company, as a director, trustee, general partner, managing member, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another Enterprise, for so long as Indemnitee is duly elected or appointed or until Indemnitee tenders his or her resignation or is removed from such position. Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law), in which event the Company shall have no obligation under this Agreement to continue Indemnitee in such position. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that any employment with the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise) is at will, and Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any reason, with or without cause, with or without notice, except as may be otherwise expressly provided in any executed, written employment contract between Indemnitee and the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise), any existing formal severance policies adopted by the Company’s board of directors or, with respect to service as a director or officer of the Company, the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws or the DGCL. No such document shall be subject to any oral modification thereof.

20.    Duration. This Agreement shall continue in effect until the later of (a) ten years after the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as a director or an officer of the Company or as a director, trustee, general partner, managing member, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of any other Enterprise, as applicable, or (b) for as long as any Proceeding is pending in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder, even after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a director or officer of the Company or as a director, trustee, general partner, managing member, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of any other Enterprise, as applicable, and for one year after the final termination of such Proceeding, including any appeal, and of any proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 12 relating thereto.

21.    Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns, including any direct or indirect successor, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company, and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators. The Company shall require and cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company, by written agreement, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

22.    Severability. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to require or shall be construed as requiring the Company to do or fail to do any act in violation of applicable law. The Company’s inability, pursuant to court order or other applicable law, to perform its obligations under this Agreement shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including without limitation, each portion of any section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (ii) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (iii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.

 

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23.    Enforcement. The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as a director or officer of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a director or officer of the Company.

24.    Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided, however, that this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws and applicable law.

25.    Modification and Waiver. No supplement, modification or amendment to this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties hereto. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement shall adversely affect any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in his or her Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall constitute or be deemed a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

26.    Notices. All notices and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, sent by electronic mail or otherwise delivered by hand, messenger or courier service addressed:

(a)    if to Indemnitee, to Indemnitee’s address or electronic mail address as shown on the signature page of this Agreement or in the Company’s records, as may be updated in accordance with the provisions hereof; or

(b)    if to the Company, to the attention of the Head of Blend or Head of Finance of the Company at 415 Kearny Street, San Francisco, CA 94108, or at such other current address as the Company shall have furnished to Indemnitee.

Each such notice or other communication shall for all purposes of this Agreement be treated as effective or having been given (i) if delivered by hand, messenger or courier service, when delivered (or if sent via a nationally-recognized overnight courier service, freight prepaid, specifying next-business-day delivery, one business day after deposit with the courier), or (ii) if sent via mail, at the earlier of its receipt or five days after the same has been deposited in a regularly-maintained receptacle for the deposit of the United States mail, addressed and mailed as aforesaid, or (iii) if sent via electronic mail, upon confirmation of delivery when directed to the relevant electronic mail address, if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, or if not sent during normal business hours of the recipient, then on the recipient’s next business day.

27.    Applicable Law and Consent to Jurisdiction. This Agreement and the legal relations described herein among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement, the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Delaware Court of Chancery, and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court of Chancery for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in

 

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connection with this Agreement, (iii) appoint, to the extent such party is not otherwise subject to service of process in the State of Delaware, Incorporating Services, Ltd., Wilmington, Delaware, as its agent in the State of Delaware as such party’s agent for acceptance of legal process in connection with any such action or proceeding against such party with the same legal force and validity as if served upon such party personally within the State of Delaware, (iv) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court of Chancery, and (v) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court of Chancery has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

28.    Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. This Agreement may also be executed and delivered by facsimile signature and in counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

29.    Captions. The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

(signature page follows)

 

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The parties are signing this Indemnification Agreement as of the date stated in the introductory sentence.

 

BLEND LABS, INC.

 

(Signature)

 

(Print name)

 

(Title)
[INSERT INDEMNITEE NAME]

 

(Signature)

 

(Print name)

 

(Street address)

 

(City, State and ZIP)

[Signature page to Indemnification Agreement]

Exhibit 10.2

BLEND LABS, INC.

2021 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

1.    Purposes of the Plan; Award Types.

(a) Purposes of the Plan. The purposes of this Plan are to attract and retain personnel for positions with the Company Group, to provide additional incentive to Employees, Directors, and Consultants (collectively, “Service Providers”), and to promote the success of the Company’s business.

(b) Award Types. The Plan permits the grant of Incentive Stock Options to any ISO Employee and the grant of Nonstatutory Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, and Performance Awards to any Service Provider.

2.    Definitions. The following definitions are used in this Plan:

(a) “Administrator” means Administrator as defined in Section 4(a).

(b) “Applicable Laws” means the legal and regulatory requirements relating to the administration of equity-based awards, including but not limited to the related issuance of Shares under U.S. federal and state corporate laws, U.S. federal and state securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and, only to the extent applicable with respect to an Award or Awards, the tax, securities, exchange control, and other laws of any jurisdictions other than the United States where Awards are, or will be, granted under the Plan. Reference to a section of an Applicable Law or regulation related to that section shall include such section or regulation, any valid regulation issued under such section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.

(c) “Award” means, individually or collectively, a grant under the Plan of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, or Performance Awards.

(d) “Award Agreement” means the written or electronic agreement setting forth the terms applicable to an Award granted under the Plan. The Award Agreement is subject to the terms of the Plan.

(e) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

(f) “Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:

(i) A change in the ownership of the Company which occurs on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group (“Person”), acquires ownership of the


stock of the Company that, with the stock held by such Person, constitutes more than 50% of the total voting power of the stock of the Company; provided, that for this subsection, the acquisition of additional stock by any one Person, who prior to such acquisition is considered to own more than 50% of the total voting power of the stock of the Company will not be considered a Change in Control and provided, further, that any change in the ownership of the stock of the Company as a result of a private financing of the Company that is approved by the Board also will not be considered a Change in Control. Further, if the stockholders of the Company immediately before such change in ownership continue to retain immediately after the change in ownership, in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares of the Company’s voting stock immediately prior to the change in ownership, direct or indirect beneficial ownership of 50% or more of the total voting power of the stock of the Company or of the ultimate parent entity of the Company, such event shall not be considered a Change in Control under this Section 2(f)(i). For this purpose, indirect beneficial ownership shall include, without limitation, an interest resulting from ownership of the voting securities of one or more corporations or other business entities which own the Company, as the case may be, either directly or through one or more subsidiary corporations or other business entities; or

(ii) A change in the effective control of the Company which occurs on the date a majority of members of the Board is replaced during any 12-month period by Directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board prior to the appointment or election. For purposes of this Section 2(f)(ii), if any Person is considered to be in effective control of the Company, the acquisition of additional control of the Company by the same Person will not be considered a Change in Control; or

(iii) A change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets which occurs on the date that any Person acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such Person or Persons) assets from the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than 50% of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the Company immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions; provided, that for this Section 2(f)(iii), the following will not constitute a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets:

(1) a transfer to an entity controlled by the Company’s stockholders immediately after the transfer, or

(2) a transfer of assets by the Company to:

(A) a stockholder of the Company (immediately before the asset transfer) in exchange for or with respect to the Company’s stock,

(B) an entity, 50% or more of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company,

(C) a Person, that owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the total value or voting power of all the outstanding stock of the Company, or

(D) an entity, at least 50% of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by a Person described in Section 2(f)(iii)(2)(A) to Section 2(f)(iii)(2)(C).

 

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For this definition, gross fair market value means the value of the assets of the Company, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets.

For purposes of this Section 2(f), persons will be considered to be acting as a group if they are owners of a corporation that enters into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of stock, or similar business transaction with the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company shall not be considered “Persons” for purposes of this Section 2(f).

(iv) A transaction will not be a Change in Control:

(1) unless the transaction qualifies as a change in control event within the meaning of Code Section 409A; or

(2) if its primary purpose is to (1) change the jurisdiction of the Company’s incorporation, or (2) create a holding company owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the Company’s securities immediately before such transaction.

(g) “Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Reference to a section of the Code or regulation related to that section shall include such section or regulation, any valid regulation issued or other official applicable guidance of general or direct applicability promulgated under such section or regulation, and any comparable provision of any future legislation, regulation or official guidance of general or direct applicability amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.

(h) “Committee” means a committee of Directors or of other individuals satisfying Applicable Laws appointed by the Board.

(i) “Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company.

(j) “Company” means Blend Labs, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any of its successors.

(k) “Company Group” means the Company, any Parent or Subsidiary, and any entity that, from time to time and at the time of any determination, directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by or is under common control with the Company.

(l) “Consultant” means any natural person engaged by a member of the Company Group to render bona fide services to such entity, provided the services (i) are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital raising transaction, and (ii) do not directly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities. A Consultant must be a person to whom the issuance of Shares registered on Form S-8 under the Securities Act is permitted.

(m) “Director” means a member of the Board.

(n) “Disability” means total and permanent disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, provided that in the case of Awards other than Incentive Stock Options, the Administrator in its discretion may determine whether a permanent and total disability exists in accordance with uniform and non-discriminatory standards adopted by the Administrator from time to time.

 

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(o) “Employee” means any person, including Officers and Directors, providing services as an employee to the Company or any member of the Company Group. However, with respect to Incentive Stock Options, an Employee must be employed by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company (such an Employee, an “ISO Employee”). Notwithstanding, Options awarded to individuals not providing services to the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company should be carefully structured to comply with the payment timing rule of Code Section 409A. Neither service as a Director nor payment of a director’s fee by the Company will constitute “employment” by the Company.

(p) “Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

(q) “Exchange Program” means a program under which (i) outstanding Awards are surrendered or cancelled in exchange for awards of the same type (which may have higher or lower Exercise Prices and different terms), awards of a different type, and/or cash, (ii) Participants would have the opportunity to transfer any outstanding Awards to a financial institution or other person or entity selected by the Administrator, and/or (iii) the Exercise Price of an outstanding Award is increased or reduced. The Administrator will determine the terms and conditions of any Exchange Program in its sole discretion.

(r) “Exercise Price” means the price payable per share to exercise an Award.

(s) “Expiration Date” means the last possible day on which an Option or Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised. Any exercise must be completed before midnight U.S. Pacific Time between the Expiration Date and the following date; provided, however, that any broker-assisted cashless exercise of an Option granted hereunder must be completed by the close of market trading on the Expiration Date.

(t) “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of a Share, determined as follows:

(i) If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, including without limitation the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Global Select Market, the NASDAQ Global Market or the NASDAQ Capital Market of The NASDAQ Stock Market, the Fair Market Value will be the closing sales price for a Share (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange or system on the day of determination, as reported by such source as the Administrator determines to be reliable. If the determination date for the Fair Market Value occurs on a non-Trading Day (i.e., a weekend or holiday), the Fair Market Value will be such price on the immediately preceding Trading Day, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator;

(ii) If the Common Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, the Fair Market Value of a Share will be the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for the Common Stock on the day of determination (or, if no bids and asks were reported on that date on the last Trading Day such bids and asks were reported), as reported by such source as the Administrator determines to be reliable;

 

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(iii) For any Awards granted on the Registration Date, the Fair Market Value will be the initial price to the public set forth in the final prospectus included within the registration statement on Form S-1 filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission for the initial public offering of the Common Stock; or

(iv) Absent an established market for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value will be determined in good faith by the Administrator.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the determination date for the Fair Market Value occurs on a weekend, holiday or other day other than a Trading Day, the Fair Market Value will be the price as determined under subsections (t)(i) or (t)(ii) above on the immediately preceding Trading Day, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator. In addition, for purposes of determining the fair market value of shares for any reason other than the determination of the Exercise Price of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, fair market value will be determined by the Administrator in a manner compliant with Applicable Laws and applied consistently for such purpose. Note that the determination of fair market value for purposes of tax withholding may be made in the Administrator’s sole discretion subject to Applicable Laws and is not required to be consistent with the determination of Fair Market Value for other purposes.

(u) “Fiscal Year” means a fiscal year of the Company.

(v) “Grant Date” means Grant Date as defined in Section 4(c).

(w) “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option that is intended to qualify and does qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Code Section 422.

(x) “Nonstatutory Stock Option” means an Option that by its terms does not qualify or is not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.

(y) “Officer” means a person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

(z) “Option” means a stock option to acquire Shares granted under Section 6.

(aa) “Outside Director” means a Director who is not an Employee.

(bb) “Parent” means a “parent corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Code Section 424(e).

(cc) “Participant” means the holder of an outstanding Award.

(dd) “Performance Awards” means an Award which may be earned in whole or in part upon attainment of performance goals or other vesting criteria as the Administrator may determine and which may be cash- or stock-denominated and may be settled for cash, Shares or other securities or a combination of the foregoing under Section 10.

 

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(ee) “Performance Period” means Performance Period as defined in Section 10(a).

(ff) “Period of Restriction” means the period during which the transfer of Shares of Restricted Stock is subject to restrictions and therefore, the Shares are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. Such restrictions may be based on the passage of time, the achievement of target levels of performance, or the occurrence of other events as determined by the Administrator.

(gg) “Plan” means this 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, as may be amended from time to time.

(hh) “Registration Date” means the effective date of the first Registration Statement.

(ii) “Registration Statement” means a registration statement filed by the Company and declared effective under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, with respect to any class of the Company’s securities.

(jj) “Restricted Stock” means Shares issued under an Award granted under Section 8 or issued as a result of the early exercise of an Option.

(kk) “Restricted Stock Unit” means a bookkeeping entry representing an amount equal to the Fair Market Value, granted under Section 9. Each Restricted Stock Unit represents an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company.

(ll) “Securities Act” means U.S. Securities Act of 1933.

(mm) “Service Provider” means an Employee, Director or Consultant.

(nn) “Share” means a share of the Common Stock as adjusted in accordance with Section 13 of the Plan.

(oo) “Stock Appreciation Right” means an Award granted under Section 7.

(pp) “Subsidiary” means a “subsidiary corporation” as defined in Code Section 424(f), in relation to the Company.

(qq) “Tax Withholdings” means tax, social insurance and social security liability or premium obligations in connection with the Awards, including, without limitation, (i) all federal, state, and local income, employment and any other taxes (including the Participant’s U.S. Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) obligation) that are required to be withheld by the Company or a member of the Company Group, (ii) the Participant’s and, to the extent required by the Company, the fringe benefit tax liability of the Company or a member of the Company Group, if any, associated with the grant, vesting, or exercise of an Award or sale of Shares issued under the Award, and (iii) any other taxes or social insurance or social security liabilities or premium the responsibility for which the Participant has, or has agreed to bear, with respect to such Award, the Shares subject to, or other amounts or property payable under, an Award, or otherwise associated with or related to participation in the Plan and with respect to which the Company or the applicable member of the Company Group has either agreed to withhold or has an obligation to withhold.

 

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(rr) “Ten Percent Owner” means Ten Percent Owner as defined in Section 6(b)(i).

(ss) “Trading Day” means a day on which the primary stock exchange or national market system (or other trading platform, as applicable) on which the Common Stock trades is open for trading.

(tt) “Transaction” means Transaction as defined in Section 14(a).

3.    Shares Subject to the Plan.

(a) Allocation of Shares to Plan. The maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan is:

(i) 23,000,000 Shares; plus

(ii) (1) any Shares that, as of the day immediately prior to the Registration Date, have been reserved but not issued pursuant to any awards granted under the Company’s 2012 Stock Plan, and are not subject to any awards thereunder, plus (2) any Shares subject to stock options, restricted stock units, or similar awards granted under the Company’s 2012 Stock Plan that, on or after the Registration Date, expire or otherwise terminate without having been exercised or issued in full, are tendered to or withheld by the Company for payment of an exercise price or for tax withholding obligations, or are forfeited to or repurchased by the Company due to failure to vest, with the maximum number of Shares to be added to the Plan pursuant to the foregoing clauses (1) and (2) equal to 36,101,718 Shares; plus

(iii) any additional Shares that become available for issuance under the Plan under Sections 3(b) and 3(c).

The Shares may be authorized but unissued Common Stock or Common Stock issued and then reacquired by the Company.

(b) Automatic Share Reserve Increase. The number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan will be increased on the first day of each Fiscal Year beginning with the 2022 Fiscal Year, in an amount equal to the least of:

(i) 34,500,00 Shares;

 

 

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(ii) 5% of the total number of shares of all classes of common stock of the Company outstanding on the last day of the immediately preceding Fiscal Year; and

(iii) a lesser number of Shares determined by the Administrator.

(c) Share Reserve Return.

(i) Options and Stock Appreciation Rights. If an Option or Stock Appreciation Right expires or becomes unexercisable without having been exercised in full or is surrendered under an Exchange Program, the unissued Shares subject to the Option or Stock Appreciation Right will become available for future issuance under the Plan.

(ii) Stock Appreciation Rights. Only Shares actually issued pursuant to a Stock Appreciation Right (i.e., the net Shares issued) will cease to be available under the Plan; all remaining Shares originally subject to the Stock Appreciation Right will remain available for future issuance under the Plan.

(iii) Full-Value Awards. Shares issued pursuant to Awards of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, or stock-settled Performance Awards that are reacquired by the Company due to failure to vest or are forfeited to the Company will become available for future issuance under the Plan.

(iv) Withheld Shares. Shares used to pay the Exercise Price of an Award or to satisfy Tax Withholdings related to an Award will become available for future issuance under the Plan.

(v) Cash-Settled Awards. If any portion of an Award under the Plan is paid to a Participant in cash rather than Shares, that cash payment will not reduce the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan.

(d) Incentive Stock Options. The maximum number of Shares that may be issued upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options will equal the aggregate Share number stated in Section 3(a) plus, to the extent allowable under Code Section 422, any Shares that become available for issuance under the Plan under Sections 3(b) and 3(c).

(e) Adjustment. The numbers provided in Sections 3(a), 3(b), and 3(d) will be adjusted as a result of changes in capitalization and any other adjustments under Section 13.

(f) Substitute Awards. If the Committee grants Awards in substitution for equity compensation awards outstanding under a plan maintained by an entity acquired by or becomes a part of any member of the Company group, the grant of those substitute Awards will not decrease the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan.

(g) Share Reserve. The Company, during the term of this Plan, will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as will be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.

 

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4. Administration of the Plan.

(a) Procedure.

(i) The Plan will be administered by the Board or a Committee (the “Administrator”). Different Administrators may administer the Plan with respect to different groups of Service Providers. The Board may retain the authority to concurrently administer the Plan with a Committee and may revoke the delegation of some or all authority previously delegated.

(ii) To the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, the Board or a Committee may delegate to one or more subcommittees of the Board or a Committee or officers the authority to grant Awards to Employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, provided that the delegation must comply with any limitations on the authority required by Applicable Laws, including the total number of Shares that may be subject to the Awards granted by such officer(s). This delegation may be revoked at any time by the Board or Committee.

(b) Powers of the Administrator. Subject to the terms of the Plan, any limitations on delegations specified by the Board, and any requirements imposed by Applicable Laws, the Administrator will have the authority, in its sole discretion, to make any determinations and perform any actions deemed necessary or advisable to administer the Plan including:

(i) to determine the Fair Market Value;

(ii) to approve forms of Award Agreements for use under the Plan;

(iii) to select the Service Providers to whom Awards may be granted and grant Awards to such Service Providers;

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

(v) to determine the terms and conditions, consistent with the Plan, of any Award granted. Such terms and conditions may include, but are not limited to, the Exercise Price, the time(s) when Awards may be exercised (which may be based on performance criteria), any vesting acceleration or waiver of forfeiture restrictions, and any restriction or limitation regarding any Award or the Shares relating to an Award;

(vi) to institute and determine the terms and conditions of an Exchange Program;

(vii) to construe and interpret the Plan and make any decisions necessary to administer the Plan, including but not limited to determining whether and when a Change in Control has occurred;

(viii) to establish, amend and rescind rules and regulations and adopt sub-plans relating to the Plan, including rules, regulations and sub-plans for the purposes of facilitating compliance with applicable non-U.S. laws, easing the administration of the Plan and/or obtaining tax-favorable treatment for Awards granted to Service Providers located outside the U.S., in each case as the Administrator may deem necessary or advisable;

 

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(ix) to interpret, modify or amend each Award (subject to Section 18), including extending the Expiration Date and the post-termination exercisability period of such modified or amended Awards;

(x) to allow Participants to satisfy tax withholding obligations in any manner permitted by Section 15;

(xi) to delegate ministerial duties to any of the Company’s employees;

(xii) to authorize any person to take any steps and execute, on behalf of the Company, any documents required for an Award previously granted by the Administrator to be effective;

(xiii) to temporarily suspend the exercisability of an Award if the Administrator deems such suspension to be necessary or appropriate for administrative purposes, provided that, unless prohibited by Applicable Laws, such suspension shall be lifted in all cases not less than 10 Trading Days before the last date that the Award may be exercised;

(xiv) to allow Participants to defer the receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of Shares otherwise due to any such Participants under an Award; and

(xv) to make any determinations necessary or appropriate under Section 13.

(c) Grant Date. The grant date of an Award (“Grant Date”) will be the date that the Administrator makes the determination granting such Award or may be a later date if such later date is designated by the Administrator on the date of the determination or under an automatic grant policy. Notice of the determination will be provided to each Participant within a reasonable time after the Grant Date.

(d) Waiver. The Administrator may waive any terms, conditions or restrictions.

(e)Fractional Shares. Except as otherwise provided by the Administrator, any fractional Shares that result from the adjustment of Awards will be canceled. Any fractional Shares that result from vesting percentages will be accumulated and vested on the date that an accumulated full Share is vested.

(f) Electronic Delivery. The Company may deliver by e-mail or other electronic means (including posting on a website maintained by the Company or by a third party under contract with the Company or another member of the Company Group) all documents relating to the Plan or any Award and all other documents that the Company is required to deliver to its security holders (including prospectuses, annual reports and proxy statements).

(g) Choice of Law; Choice of Forum. The Plan, all Awards and all determinations made and actions taken under the Plan, to the extent not otherwise governed by the laws of the United States, will be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law. For purposes of litigating any dispute that arises under this Plan, a Participant’s acceptance of an Award is his or her consent to the jurisdiction of the State of Delaware, and agreement that any such litigation will be conducted in Delaware Court of Chancery, or the federal courts for the United States for the District of Delaware, and no other courts, regardless of where a Participant’s services are performed.

 

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(h) Effect of Administrator’s Decision. The Administrator’s decisions, determinations and interpretations will be final and binding on all Participants and any other holders of Awards.

5.    Eligibility.

(a) General. Nonstatutory Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and Performance Awards may be granted to Service Providers. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees.

(b) Director Compensation Limits. No Outside Director may be paid, issued or granted, in any Fiscal Year, cash retainer fees and equity awards (including any Awards issued under this Plan) with an aggregate value greater than $800,000 (with the value of each equity award based on its grant date fair value (determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles)). Any cash compensation paid or Awards granted to an individual for his or her services as an Employee, or for his or her services as a Consultant (other than as an Outside Director), will not count for purposes of the limitation under this Section 5(b).

6.    Stock Options.

(a) Stock Option Award Agreement. Each Option will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the number of Shares subject to the Option, per share Exercise Price, its Expiration Date, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator determines. Each Option will be designated in the Award Agreement as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option. An Option not designated as an Incentive Stock Option is a Nonstatutory Stock Option.

(b) Exercise Price. The Exercise Price for the Shares to be issued upon exercise of an Option will be determined by the Administrator and stated in the Award Agreement, subject to the following:

(i) In the case of an Incentive Stock Option:

(1) granted to an ISO Employee who, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns stock representing more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary (a “Ten Percent Owner”), the Exercise Price for the Shares to be issued will be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant; and

 

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(2) granted to any ISO Employee other than a Ten Percent Owner, the Exercise Price for the Shares to be issued will be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.

(ii) In the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option, the Exercise Price for the Shares to be issued will be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.

(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, Options may be granted with an Exercise Price of less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant (i) pursuant to a transaction described in, and in a manner consistent with, Section 424(a) of the Code or (ii) to a Service Provider that is not a U.S. taxpayer.

(c) Form of Consideration. The Administrator will determine the acceptable form(s) of consideration for exercising an Option. Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, the consideration may consist of any one or more or combination of the following, to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws:

(i) cash;

(ii) check or wire transfer;

(iii) promissory note, if and to the extent approved by the Company;

(iv) other Shares that have a fair market value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate Exercise Price of the Shares as to which such Option will be exercised. To the extent not prohibited by the Administrator, this shall include the ability to tender Shares to exercise the Option and then use the Shares received on exercise to exercise the Option with respect to additional Shares;

(v) consideration received by the Company under a cashless exercise arrangement (whether through a broker or otherwise) implemented by the Company for the exercise of Options that has been approved by the Administrator, if and to the extent permitted by the Company with respect to a particular Award;

(vi) consideration received by the Company under a net exercise program under which Shares are withheld from otherwise deliverable Shares that has been approved by the Administrator, if and to the extent permitted by the Company with respect to a particular Award; and

(vii) any other consideration or method of payment to issue Shares (provided that other forms of considerations may be approved only by the Administrator).

The Administrator has the power to remove or limit any of the above forms of consideration for exercising an Option except for the payment of cash at any time in its sole discretion.

(d) Term of Option. The term of each Option will be determined by the Administrator and stated in the Award Agreement, provided that, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option: (i) granted to a Ten Percent Owner, the Option may not be exercisable after the expiration of 5 years from the date such Option is granted, or such shorter term as may be provided in the Award

 

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Agreement, and (ii) granted to an ISO Employee other than a Ten Percent Owner, the Option may not be exercisable after the expiration of 10 years from the date such Option is granted term, or such shorter term as may be provided in the Award Agreement.

(e) Incentive Stock Option Limitations.

(i) To the extent that the aggregate fair market value of the shares with respect to which incentive stock options under Code Section 422(b) are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year (under all plans and agreements of the Company Group) exceeds $100,000, the incentive stock options whose value exceeds $100,000 will be treated as nonstatutory stock options. Incentive stock options will be considered in the order in which they were granted. For this purpose, the fair market value of the shares subject to an option will be determined as of the grant date of each option.

(ii) If an Option is designated in the Administrator action that granted it as an Incentive Stock Option but the terms of the Option do not comply with Sections 6(b) and 6(d), then the Option will not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.

(f) Exercise of Option. An Option is exercised when the Company receives: (i) a notice of exercise (in such form as the Administrator may specify from time to time) from the person entitled to exercise the Option and (ii) full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised (together with applicable tax withholdings). Shares issued upon exercise of an Option will be issued in the name of the Participant. Until the Shares are issued (as evidenced by the entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder will exist with respect to the Shares subject to an Option, despite the exercise of the Option. The Company will issue (or cause to be issued) such Shares promptly after the Option is exercised. An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share. Exercising an Option in any manner will decrease the number of Shares thereafter available, both for purposes of the Plan (except as provided in Section 3(c)) and for purchase under the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised.

(i) Termination of Relationship as a Service Provider. If a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider, other than upon such cessation as the result of the Participant’s death or Disability, the Participant may exercise his or her Option within 30 days of such cessation, or such longer period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement or Section 6(d), as applicable) to the extent that the Option is vested on the date of cessation. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator or set forth in the Award Agreement or other written agreement authorized by the Administrator between the Participant and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parents, as applicable, if on the date of such cessation the Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option will revert to the Plan immediately. If after such cessation the Participant does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified by the Administrator, the Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option will revert to the Plan.

(ii) Disability of Participant. If a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider as a result of the Participant’s Disability, the Participant may exercise his or her Option within 6

 

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months of cessation, or such longer period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement or Section 6(d), as applicable) to the extent the Option is vested on the date of cessation. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator or set forth in the Award Agreement or other written agreement authorized by the Administrator between the Participant and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parents, as applicable, if on the date of cessation the Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option will revert to the Plan immediately. If after such cessation the Participant does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified herein, the Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option will revert to the Plan.

(iii) Death of Participant. If a Participant dies while a Service Provider, the Option may be exercised within 6 months following the Participant’s death, or within such longer period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement or Section 6(d), as applicable) to the extent that the Option is vested on the date of death, by the Participant’s designated beneficiary, provided the Administrator has permitted the designation of a beneficiary and provided such beneficiary has been designated prior to the Participant’s death in a form (if any) acceptable to the Administrator. If the Administrator has not permitted the designation of the beneficiary or if no such beneficiary has been designated by the Participant, then such Option may be exercised by the personal representative of the Participant’s estate or by the person(s) to whom the Option is transferred pursuant to the Participant’s will or in accordance with the laws of descent and distribution. If the Option is exercised pursuant to this Section 6(f)(iii), Participant’s designated beneficiary or personal representative shall be subject to the terms of this Plan and the Award Agreement, including but not limited to the restrictions on transferability and forfeitability applicable to the Service Provider. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator or set forth in the Award Agreement or other written agreement authorized by the Administrator between the Participant and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parents, as applicable, if at the time of death Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option will revert to the Plan immediately. If the Option is not so exercised within the time specified herein, the Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option will revert to the Plan.

(g) Expiration of Options. Subject to Section 6(d), an Option’s Expiration Date will be set forth in the Award Agreement. An Option may expire before its expiration date under the Plan (including pursuant to Sections 6(f), 13, 14, or 16(d)) or under the Award Agreement.

(h) Tolling of Expiration. If exercising an Option prior to its expiration is not permitted because of Applicable Laws, other than the rules of any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted, the Option will remain exercisable until 30 days after the first date on which exercise no longer would be prevented by such provisions; provided, however, that this tolling of expiration shall not apply if and to the extent the holder of such Option is a United States taxpayer and the tolling would result in a violation of Section 409A such that the Option would be subject to additional taxation or interest under Section 409A. If this would result in the Option remaining exercisable past its Expiration Date, then unless earlier terminated pursuant to Section 14, the Option will remain exercisable only until the end of the later of (x) the first day on which its exercise would not be prevented by Section 19(a) and (y) its Expiration Date.

 

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7.    Stock Appreciation Rights.

(a) Stock Appreciation Right Award Agreement. Each Stock Appreciation Right grant will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the number of Shares subject to the Stock Appreciation Right, its per share Exercise Price, its Expiration Date, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator determines.

(b) Exercise Price. The Exercise Price of a Stock Appreciation Right will be determined by the Administrator, provided that in the case of a Stock Appreciation Right granted to a U.S. taxpayer, the Exercise Price will be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant.

(c) Payment of Stock Appreciation Right Amount. Payment upon Stock Appreciation Right exercise may be made in cash, in Shares (which, on the date of exercise, have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the amount of payment to be made under the Award), or any combination of cash and Shares, with the determination of form of payment made by the Administrator. When a Participant exercises a Stock Appreciation Right, he or she will be entitled to receive a payment from the Company equal to:

(i) the excess, if any, between the fair market value on the date of exercise over the Exercise Price multiplied by

(ii) the number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised.

(d) Exercise of Stock Appreciation Right. A Stock Appreciation Right is exercised when the Company receives a notice of exercise (in such form as the Administrator may specify from time to time) from the person entitled to exercise the Stock Appreciation Right. Shares issued upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right will be issued in the name of the Participant. Until the Shares are issued (as evidenced by the entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder will exist with respect to the Shares subject to a Stock Appreciation Right, despite the exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right. The Company will issue (or cause to be issued) such Shares promptly after the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised. A Stock Appreciation Right may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share. Exercising a Stock Appreciation Right in any manner will decrease (x) the number of Shares thereafter available under the Stock Appreciation Right by the number of Shares as to which the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised and (y) the number of Shares thereafter available under the Plan by the number of Shares issued upon such exercise.

(e) Expiration of Stock Appreciation Rights. A Stock Appreciation Right’s Expiration Date will be set forth in the Award Agreement. A Stock Appreciation Right may expire before its expiration date under the Plan (including pursuant to Sections 13, 14, or16(d)) or under the Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the rules of Section 6(d) relating to the maximum term and Section 6(f) relating to exercise also will apply to Stock Appreciation Rights.

(f) Tolling of Expiration. If exercising a Stock Appreciation Right prior to its expiration is not permitted because of Applicable Laws, other than the rules of any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted, the Stock Appreciation Right will remain exercisable until 30 days after the first date on which exercise no longer would be prevented

 

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by such provisions; provided, however, that this tolling of expiration shall not apply if and to the extent the holder of such Stock Appreciation Right is a United States taxpayer and the tolling would result in a violation of Section 409A such that the Stock Appreciation Right would be subject to additional taxation or interest under Section 409A. If this would result in the Stock Appreciation Right remaining exercisable past its Expiration Date, then unless earlier terminated pursuant to Section 14, the Stock Appreciation Right will remain exercisable only until the end of the later of (x) the first day on which its exercise would not be prevented by Section 19(a) and (y) its Expiration Date.

8.    Restricted Stock.

(a) Restricted Stock Award Agreement. Each Award of Restricted Stock will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the number of Shares subject to the Award of Restricted Stock and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator determines. For the avoidance of doubt, Restricted Stock may be granted without any Period of Restriction (e.g., vested stock bonuses). Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, Shares of Restricted Stock will be held in escrow while unvested.

(b) Restrictions.

(i) Except as provided in this Section 8(b) or the Award Agreement, while unvested, Shares of Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated.

(ii) While unvested, Service Providers holding Shares of Restricted Stock may exercise full voting rights with respect to those Shares, unless the Administrator determines otherwise.

(iii) Service Providers holding a Share covered by an Award of Restricted Stock will not be entitled to receive dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such Shares while such Shares are unvested, unless the Administrator provides otherwise. If the Administrator provides that dividends and distributions will be received and any such dividends or distributions are paid in cash they will be subject to the same provisions regarding forfeitability as the Shares with respect to which they were paid and if such dividend or distributions are paid in Shares, the Shares will be subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the Shares with respect to which they were paid and, unless the Administrator determines otherwise, the Company will hold such dividends until the restrictions on the Shares with respect to which they were paid have lapsed.

(iv) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 8(b) or an Award Agreement, a Share covered by each Award of Restricted Stock made under the Plan will be released from escrow when practicable after the last day of the applicable Period of Restriction.

(v) The Administrator may impose, prior to grant, or remove any restrictions on Shares covered by an Award of Restricted Stock.

9.    Restricted Stock Units.

(a) Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement. Each Award of Restricted Stock Units will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the number of Restricted Stock Units subject to the Award of Restricted Stock Units and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator determines.

 

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(b) Vesting Criteria and Other Terms. The Administrator will set vesting criteria, if any, that, depending on the extent to which the criteria are met, will determine the number of Restricted Stock Units paid out to the Participant. The Administrator may set vesting criteria based upon the achievement of Company-wide, divisional, business unit, or individual goals (that may include continued employment or service) or any other basis determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion.

(c) Earning Restricted Stock Units. Upon meeting any applicable vesting criteria, the Participant will have earned the Restricted Stock Units and will be paid as determined in Section 9(d). The Administrator may reduce or waive any criteria that must be met to earn the Restricted Stock Units.

(d) Form and Timing of Payment. Payment of earned Restricted Stock Units will be made at the time(s) set forth in the Award Agreement and determined by the Administrator. Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, the Administrator may settle earned Restricted Stock Units in cash, Shares, or a combination of both.

10. Performance Awards.

(a) Award Agreement. Each Performance Award will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify any time period during which any performance objectives or other vesting provisions, if any, will be measured (“Performance Period”), and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator determines.

(b) Objectives or Vesting Provisions and Other Terms. The Administrator will set objectives or vesting provisions that, depending on the extent to which the objectives or vesting provisions are met, will determine the value of the payout for the Performance Awards. The Administrator may set vesting criteria based upon the achievement of Company-wide, divisional, business unit, or individual goals (that may include continued employment or service) or any other basis determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion.

(c) Form and Timing of Payment. Payment of earned Performance Awards will be made at the time(s) specified in the Award Agreement. Payment with respect to earned Performance Awards will be made in cash, in Shares of equivalent value, or any combination of cash and Shares, with the determination of form of payment made by the Administrator at the time of payment or, in the discretion of the Administrator, at the time of grant.

(d) Value of Performance Awards. Each Performance Award’s threshold, target, and maximum payout values will be established by the Administrator on or before the Grant Date.

(e) Earning Performance Awards. After an applicable Performance Period has ended, the holder of a Performance Award will be entitled to receive a payout for the Performance Award earned by the Participant over the Performance Period. The Administrator may reduce or waive any performance objectives or other vesting provisions for such Performance Award.

 

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11.    Leaves of Absence/ Reduced or Part-time Work Schedule/Transfer Between Locations/Change of Status.

(a) Leaves of Absence/ Reduced or Part-time Work Schedule/Transfer Between Locations. Unless the Administrator provides otherwise or as otherwise required by Applicable Laws, vesting of Awards granted hereunder will be adjusted or suspended during any unpaid leave of absence in accordance with the Company’s leave of absence policy in effect at the time of such leave. A Participant will not cease to be an Employee in the case of (i) any leave of absence approved by the Company or (ii) transfers between locations of the Company or within the Company Group. In addition, unless the Administrator provides otherwise or as otherwise required by Applicable Laws, if, after the date of grant of a Participant’s Award, the Participant commences working on a part-time or reduced work schedule basis, the vesting of such Award will be adjusted in accordance with the Company’s reduced work schedule/ part-time policy then in effect. Adjustments or suspensions of vesting pursuant to this Section shall be accomplished in a manner that is exempt from or complies with the requirements of Code Section 409A and the regulations and guidance thereunder.

(b) Employment Status. A Participant will not cease to be a Service Provider in the case of (i) any leave of absence approved by the Company or (ii) transfers between locations of the Company (or member of the Company Group) or between the Company or any member of the Company Group.

(c) Incentive Stock Options. With respect to Incentive Stock Options, no such leave may exceed 3 months, unless reemployment upon expiration of such leave is guaranteed by statute or contract. If reemployment upon expiration of a leave of absence approved by the Company is not so guaranteed, then 6 months following the first day of such leave any Incentive Stock Option held by a Participant will cease to be treated as an Incentive Stock Option and will be treated for tax purposes as a Nonstatutory Stock Option.

12.    Transferability of Awards. Unless determined otherwise by the Administrator, or otherwise required by Applicable Laws, an Award may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised, during the lifetime of the Participant, only by the Participant. If the Administrator makes an Award transferable, the Award will be limited by any additional terms and conditions imposed by the Administrator. Any unauthorized transfer of an Award will be void.

13.    Adjustments; Dissolution or Liquidation.

(a) Adjustments. If any extraordinary dividend or other extraordinary distribution (whether in cash, Shares, other securities, or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, reclassification, repurchase, or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, other change in the corporate structure of the Company affecting the Shares, or any similar equity restructuring transaction, as that term is used in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (or any of its successors) affecting the Shares occurs (including a Change in Control), the Administrator, to prevent diminution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be provided under the Plan, will adjust the number and class of shares that may be delivered under the Plan and/or the number, class, and price of shares covered by each outstanding Award, and the numerical Share limits in Section 3. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the conversion of any convertible securities of the Company and ordinary course repurchases of Shares or other securities of the Company will not be treated as an event that will require adjustment.

 

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(b)    Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Administrator will notify each Participant, at such time prior to the effective date of such proposed transaction as the Administrator determines. To the extent it has not been previously exercised, an Award will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action.

14.    Change in Control or Merger.

(a)    Administrator Discretion. If a Change in Control or a merger of the Company with or into another corporation or other entity occurs (each, a “Transaction”), each outstanding Award will be treated as the Administrator determines (subject to the provisions of this Section), without a Participant’s consent, including that such Award be continued by the successor corporation or a Parent or Subsidiary of the successor corporation (or an affiliate thereof) or that the vesting of any such Awards may accelerate automatically upon consummation of a Transaction.

(b)    Identical Treatment Not Required. The Administrator need not take the same action or actions with respect to all Awards or portions thereof or with respect to all Participants. The Administrator may take different actions with respect to the vested and unvested portions of an Award. The Administrator will not be required to treat all Awards similarly in the Transaction.

(c)    Continuation. An Award will be considered continued if, following the Change in Control or merger:

(i)    the Award confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share subject to the Award immediately prior to the Transaction, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the Transaction by holders of Shares for each Share held on the effective date of the Transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration received by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares) and the Award otherwise is continued in accordance with its terms (including vesting criteria, subject to Section 14(c)(iii) below and Section 13(a)); provided that if the consideration received in the Transaction is not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its Parent, the Administrator may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon exercising an Option or Stock Appreciation Right or upon the payout of a Restricted Stock Unit, or Performance Award, for each Share subject to such Award, to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or its Parent equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the Transaction; or

(ii)    the Award is terminated in exchange for an amount of cash and/or property, if any, equal to the amount that would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights as of the date of the occurrence of the Transaction. Any such cash or property may be subjected to any escrow applicable to holders of Common Stock in the Change in Control. If as of the date of the occurrence of the Transaction the Administrator determines that no amount would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights, then such Award may be terminated by the Company without payment. The amount of cash or property can be subjected to vesting and paid to the Participant over the original vesting schedule of the Award.

 

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(iii)    Notwithstanding anything in this Section 14(c) to the contrary, an Award that vests, is earned or paid-out upon the satisfaction of one or more performance goals will not be considered assumed if the Company or its successor modifies any of such performance goals without the Participant’s consent, in all cases, unless specifically provided otherwise under the applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement authorized by the Administrator between the Participant and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parents, as applicable; provided, however, a modification to such performance goals only to reflect the successor corporation’s post-Transaction corporate structure will not invalidate an otherwise valid Award assumption.

(d)    Modification. The Administrator will have authority to modify Awards in connection with a Change in Control or merger:

(i)    in a manner that causes the Awards to lose their tax-preferred status;

(ii)    to terminate any right a Participant has to exercise an Option prior to vesting in the Shares subject to the Option (i.e., “early exercise”), so that following the closing of the Transaction the Option may only be exercised only to the extent it is vested;

(iii)    to reduce the Exercise Price subject to the Award in a manner that is disproportionate to the increase in the number of Shares subject to the Award, as long as the amount that would be received upon exercise of the Award immediately before and immediately following the closing of the Transaction is equivalent and the adjustment complies with U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(v)(D); and

(iv)    to suspend a Participant’s right to exercise an Option during a limited period of time preceding and or following the closing of the Transaction without Participant consent if such suspension is administratively necessary or advisable to permit the closing of the Transaction.

(e)    Non-Continuation. If the successor corporation does not continue an Award (or some portion of such Award), the Participant will fully vest in (and have the right to exercise) 100% of the then-unvested Shares subject to his or her outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, all restrictions on 100% of the Participant’s outstanding Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units will lapse, and, regarding 100% of Participant’s outstanding Awards with performance-based vesting, all performance goals or other vesting criteria will be treated as achieved at 100% of target levels and all other terms and conditions met, in all cases, unless specifically provided otherwise under the applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement authorized by the Administrator between the Participant and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parents, as applicable. In no event will vesting of an Award accelerate as to more than 100% of the Award. Unless specifically provided otherwise under the applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement authorized by the Administrator between the Participant and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parents, as applicable, if Options or Stock Appreciation Rights are not continued when a Change in Control or a merger of the Company with or into another corporation or other entity occurs, the Administrator will notify the Participant in writing or electronically that the Participant’s vested Options or Stock

 

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Appreciation Rights (after considering the foregoing vesting acceleration, if any) will be exercisable for a period of time determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion and all of the Participant’s Options or Stock Appreciation Rights will terminate upon the expiration of such period (whether vested or unvested).

(f)    Outside Director Grants.

(i)    With respect to Awards granted to an Outside Director, in the event of a Change in Control, the Participant will fully vest in and have the right to exercise outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights as to all of the Shares underlying such Award, including those Shares which otherwise would not be vested or exercisable, all restrictions on other outstanding Awards will lapse, and, with respect to Awards with performance-based vesting, all performance goals or other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at 100% of target levels and all other terms and conditions met, unless specifically provided otherwise under the applicable Award Agreement, a Company policy related to Director compensation, or other written agreement authorized by the Administrator between the Participant and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parents, as applicable, that specifically references this default rule.

15.    Tax Matters.

(a)    Withholding Requirements. Prior to the delivery of any Shares or cash under an Award (or exercise thereof) or such earlier time as any Tax Withholding are due, the Company may deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy any Tax Withholding with respect to such Award or Shares subject to an Award (including upon exercise of an Award).

(b)    Withholding Arrangements. The Administrator, in its sole discretion and under such procedures as it may specify from time to time, may elect to satisfy such Tax Withholding, in whole or in part (including in combination) by (without limitation) (i) requiring the Participant to pay cash, check or other cash equivalents, (ii) withholding otherwise deliverable cash (including cash from the sale of Shares issued to the Participant) or Shares having a fair market value equal to the amount required to be withheld or such greater amount (including up to a maximum statutory amount) as the Administrator may determine or permit if such amount does not result in unfavorable financial accounting treatment, as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion, (iii) forcing the sale of Shares issued pursuant to an Award (or exercise thereof) having a fair market value equal to the minimum statutory amount applicable in a Participant’s jurisdiction or a greater amount as the Administrator may determine or permit if such greater amount would not result in unfavorable financial accounting treatment, as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion, (iv) requiring the Participant to deliver to the Company already-owned Shares having a fair market value equal to the minimum statutory amount required to be withheld or a greater amount as the Administrator may determine or permit if such greater amount would not result in unfavorable financial accounting treatment, as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion, (v) requiring the Participant to engage in a cashless exercise transaction (whether through a broker or otherwise) implemented by the Company in connection with the Plan, (vi) having the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary withhold from wages or any other cash amount due or to become due to the Participant and payable by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, or (vii) such other consideration and method of payment for the meeting of Tax Withholding as the Administrator may determine to the extent permitted by

 

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Applicable Laws, provided that, in all instances, the satisfaction of the Tax Withholding will not result in any adverse accounting consequence to the Company, as the Administrator may determine in its sole discretion. The fair market value of the Shares to be withheld or delivered will be determined as of the date the amount of tax to be withheld is calculated or such other date as Administrator determines is applicable or appropriate with respect to the Tax Withholding calculation.

(c)    Compliance With Code Section 409A. Unless the Administrator determines that compliance with Code Section 409A is not necessary, it is intended that Awards will be designed and operated so that they are either exempt or excepted from the application of Code Section 409A or comply with any requirements necessary to avoid the imposition of additional tax under Code Section 409A(a)(1)(B) so that the grant, payment, settlement or deferral will not be subject to the additional tax or interest applicable under Code Section 409A and the Plan and each Award Agreement will be interpreted consistent with this intent. This Section 15(c) is not a guarantee to any Participant of the consequences of his or her Awards. In no event will the Company have any responsibility, liability or obligation to reimburse, indemnify or hold harmless Participant for any taxes that may be imposed or other costs that may be incurred, as a result of Section 409A.

16.    Other Terms.

(a)    No Effect on Employment or Service. Neither the Plan nor any Award will confer upon a Participant any right regarding continuing the Participant’s relationship as a Service Provider with the Company or member of the Company Group, nor will they interfere with the Participant’s right, or the Participant’s employer’s right, to terminate such relationship at any time free from any liability or claim under the Plan.

(b)    Interpretation and Rules of Construction. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” when used herein shall be deemed in each case to be followed by the words “without limitation.”

(c)    Plan Governs. In the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions of the Plan and the terms and conditions of any Grant Agreement, the terms and conditions of the Plan will prevail.

(d)    Forfeiture Events.

(i)    All Awards granted under the Plan will be subject to recoupment under any clawback policy that the Company is required to adopt pursuant to the listing standards of any national securities exchange or association on which the Company’s securities are listed or as is otherwise required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or other Applicable Laws. In addition, the Administrator may impose such other clawback, recovery or recoupment provisions in an Award Agreement as the Administrator determines necessary or appropriate, including without limitation to any reacquisition right regarding previously acquired Shares or other cash or property. Unless this Section 16(d)(i) is specifically mentioned and waived in an Award Agreement or other document, no recovery of compensation under a clawback policy or otherwise will be an event that triggers or contributes to any right of a Participant to resign for “good reason” or “constructive termination” (or similar term) under any agreement with the Company or a member of the Company Group.

 

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(ii)    The Administrator may specify in an Award Agreement that the Participant’s rights, payments, and benefits with respect to an Award will be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, or recoupment upon the occurrence of specified events, in addition to any otherwise applicable vesting or performance conditions of an Award. Such events may include, but will not be limited to, termination of such Participant’s status as Service Provider for cause or any specified action or inaction by a Participant that would constitute cause for termination of such Participant’s status as a Service Provider.

17.    Term of Plan. Subject to Section 20, the Plan will become effective upon the later to occur of (a) its adoption by the Board, or (b) the business day immediately prior to the Registration Date. The Plan will continue in effect until terminated under Section 18, but (i) no Incentive Stock Options may be granted after 10 years from the earlier of the Board or stockholder approval of the Plan and (ii) Section 3(b) relating to automatic share reserve increase will operate only until the tenth anniversary of the earlier of the Board or stockholder approval of the Plan.

18.    Amendment and Termination of the Plan.

(a)    Amendment and Termination. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may amend, alter, suspend or terminate the Plan or any part thereof, at any time and for any reason.

(b)    Stockholder Approval. The Company will obtain stockholder approval of any Plan amendment to the extent necessary or desirable to comply with Applicable Laws.

(c)    Consent of Participants Generally Required. Subject to Section 18(d) below, no amendment, alteration, suspension or termination of the Plan or an Award under it will materially impair the rights of any Participant without a signed, written agreement authorized by the Administrator between the Participant and the Company. Termination of the Plan will not affect the Administrator’s ability to exercise the powers granted to it regarding Awards granted under the Plan prior to such termination.

(d)    Exceptions to Consent Requirement.

(i)    A Participant’s rights will not be deemed to have been impaired by any amendment, alteration, suspension or termination if the Administrator, in its sole discretion, determines that the amendment, alteration, suspension or termination taken as a whole, does not materially impair the Participant’s rights; and

(ii)    Subject to any limitations of Applicable Laws, the Administrator may amend the terms of any one or more Awards without the affected Participant’s consent even if it does materially impair the Participant’s right if such amendment is done:

(1)    in a manner specified by the Plan;

(2)    to maintain the qualified status of the Award as an Incentive Stock Option under Code Section 422;

 

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(3)    to change the terms of an Incentive Stock Option, if such change results in impairment of the Award only because it impairs the qualified status of the Award as an Incentive Stock Option under Code Section 422;

(4)    to clarify the manner of exemption from Code Section 409A or compliance with any requirements necessary to avoid the imposition of additional tax or interest under Code Section 409A(a)(1)(B); or

(5)    to comply with other Applicable Laws.

19.    Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares.

(a)    Legal Compliance. The Company will make good faith efforts to comply with all Applicable Laws related to the issuance of Shares. Shares will not be issued pursuant to an Award, including without limitation upon exercise or vesting thereof, as applicable, unless the issuance and delivery of such Shares and exercise or vesting of the Award, as applicable, will comply with Applicable Laws. If required by the Administrator, issuance will be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance. If the Company determines it to be impossible or impractical to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction or to complete or comply with the requirements of any Applicable Laws, registration or other qualification of the Shares under any state, federal or foreign law or under the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the stock exchange on which Shares of the same class are then listed, or any other governmental or regulatory body, which authority, registration, qualification or rule compliance is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary or advisable for the issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, the Company will be relieved of any liability regarding the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such authority, registration, qualification or rule compliance was not obtained and the Administrator reserves the authority, without the consent of a Participant, to terminate or cancel Awards with or without consideration in such a situation.

(b)    Investment Representations. As a condition to the exercise or vesting of an Award, the Company may require the person exercising such Award to represent and warrant during any such exercise or vesting that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and with no present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required.

(c)    Failure to Accept Award. If a Participant has not accepted an Award to the extent such acceptance has been requested or required by the Company or has not taken all administrative and other steps (e.g., setting up an account with a broker designated by the Company) necessary for the Company to issue Shares upon the vesting, exercise, or settlement of the Award prior to the first date the Shares subject to such Award are scheduled to vest, then the portion of the Award scheduled to vest on such date will be cancelled on such date and such Shares subject to the Award immediately will revert to the Plan for no additional consideration unless otherwise provided by the Administrator.

20.    Stockholder Approval. The Plan will be subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company within 12 months after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board. Such stockholder approval will be obtained in the manner and to the degree required under Applicable Laws.

 

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BLEND LABS, INC.

2021 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

NOTICE OF STOCK OPTION GRANT

Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the Blend Labs, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) will have the same defined meanings in this Stock Option Agreement, which includes the Notice of Stock Option Grant (the “Notice of Grant”), the Terms and Conditions of Stock Option Grant, attached hereto as Exhibit A, the Exercise Notice, attached hereto as Exhibit B, and all other exhibits, appendices, and addenda attached hereto (all together, the “Option Agreement”).

Name:    

Address:    

The undersigned Participant has been granted an Option to purchase Common Stock of Blend Labs, Inc. (the “Company”), subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option Agreement, as follows:

 

Grant Number:

                                                                    

Date of Grant:

                                                                    

Vesting Commencement Date:

                                                                    

Total Number of Shares Subject to Option:

                                                                    

Exercise Price per Share (in U.S. Dollars):

   $                                                               

Total Exercise Price (in U.S. Dollars):

   $                                                               

Type of Option:

           Incentive Stock Option
           Nonstatutory Stock Option

Term/Expiration Date:

                                                                    

Vesting Schedule:

Subject to any acceleration provisions contained in the Plan or set forth below, this Option will be scheduled to vest and be exercisable, in whole or in part, in accordance with the following schedule:


[Insert Vesting Schedule.]

Termination Period:

In the event Participant ceases to be a Service Provider, this Option will be exercisable, to the extent vested, for a period of [three (3) months] after Participant ceases to be a Service Provider, unless such termination is due to Participant’s death or Disability, in which case the Option will be exercisable, to the extent vested, for a period of [twelve (12) months] after Participant ceases to be a Service Provider. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, in no event may this Option be exercised after the Term/Expiration Date as provided above and this Option may be subject to earlier termination as provided in Section 14 of the Plan.

By Participant’s signature and the signature of the representative of the Company below, Participant and the Company agree that this Option is granted under and governed by the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option Agreement, including the Terms and Conditions of Stock Option Grant, attached hereto as Exhibit A, the Exercise Notice, attached hereto as Exhibit B, and all other exhibits, appendices, and addenda attached hereto, all of which are made a part of this document. Participant acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan. Participant has reviewed the Plan and this Option Agreement in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Option Agreement, and fully understands all provisions of the Plan, this Option, and this Option Agreement. Participant hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive, and final all decisions or interpretations of the Administrator upon any questions relating to the Plan or this Option Agreement. Participant further agrees to notify the Company upon any change in the residence address indicated below.

 

PARTICIPANT      BLEND LABS, INC.

 

Signature

    

 

Signature

 

Print Name

    

 

Print Name

    

 

Title

Address:     

 

    

 

 

    

 

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EXHIBIT A

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF STOCK OPTION GRANT

1.    Grant of Option.

(a)    The Company hereby grants to the individual (“Participant”) named in the Notice of Stock Option Grant of this Option Agreement (the “Notice of Grant”) an option (the “Option”) to purchase the number of Shares set forth in the Notice of Grant, at the exercise price per Share set forth in the Notice of Grant (the “Exercise Price”), subject to the terms and conditions of this Option Agreement and the Plan, which is incorporated herein by reference. Subject to Section 18(c) of the Plan, in the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option Agreement, the terms and conditions of the Plan will prevail.

(b)    For U.S. taxpayers, the Option will be designated as either an Incentive Stock Option (“ISO”) or a Nonstatutory Stock Option (“NSO”). If designated in the Notice of Grant as an ISO, this Option is intended to qualify as an ISO under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). However, if this Option is intended to be an ISO, to the extent that it exceeds the $100,000 rule of Code Section 422(d) it will be treated as an NSO. Further, if for any reason this Option (or portion thereof) will not qualify as an ISO, then, to the extent of such nonqualification, such Option (or portion thereof) will be regarded as a NSO granted under the Plan. In no event will the Administrator, the Company, or any Parent or Subsidiary or any of their respective employees or directors have any liability to Participant (or any other person) due to the failure of the Option to qualify for any reason as an ISO.

(c)    For non-U.S. taxpayers, the Option will be designated as an NSO.

2.    Vesting Schedule. Except as provided in Section 3, the Option awarded by this Option Agreement will vest in accordance with the vesting provisions set forth in the Notice of Grant. Unless specifically provided otherwise in this Option Agreement or other written agreement between Participant and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parents, as applicable, Shares subject to this Option that are scheduled to vest on a certain date or upon the occurrence of a certain condition will not vest in accordance with any of the provisions of this Option Agreement, unless Participant will have been continuously a Service Provider from the Date of Grant until the date such vesting occurs.

3.    Administrator Discretion. The Administrator, in its discretion, may accelerate the vesting of the balance, or some lesser portion of the balance, of the unvested Option at any time, subject to the terms of the Plan. If so accelerated, such Option will be considered as having vested as of the date specified by the Administrator.

4.    Exercise of Option.

(a)    Right to Exercise. This Option may be exercised only within the term set out in the Notice of Grant, and may be exercised during such term only in accordance with the Vesting Schedule set out in the Notice of Grant and with the applicable provisions of the Plan and the terms of this Option Agreement.


(b)    Method of Exercise. This Option is exercisable by delivery of an exercise notice (the “Exercise Notice”) in the form attached as Exhibit B to the Notice of Grant or in a manner and pursuant to such procedures as the Administrator may determine, which will state the election to exercise the Option, the number of Shares in respect of which the Option is being exercised (the “Exercised Shares”), and such other representations and agreements as may be required by the Company pursuant to the provisions of the Plan. The Exercise Notice will be completed by Participant and delivered to the Company. The Exercise Notice will be accompanied by payment of the aggregate Exercise Price as to all Exercised Shares and of any Tax Obligations (as defined in Section 6(a)). This Option will be deemed to be exercised upon receipt by the Company of such fully executed Exercise Notice accompanied by the aggregate Exercise Price, together with any applicable Tax Obligations.

5.    Method of Payment. Payment of the aggregate Exercise Price will be by any of the following, or a combination thereof, at the election of Participant:

(a)    cash in U.S. dollars;

(b)    check designated in U.S. dollars;

(c)    consideration received by the Company under a formal cashless exercise program adopted by the Company in connection with the Plan; or

(d)    if Participant is a U.S. employee, surrender of other Shares which have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate Exercise Price of the Exercised Shares and that are owned free and clear of any liens, claims, encumbrances, or security interests, provided that accepting such Shares, in the sole discretion of the Administrator, will not result in any adverse accounting consequences to the Company.

6.    Tax Obligations.

(a)    Responsibility for Taxes. Participant acknowledges that, regardless of any action taken by the Company or, if different, Participant’s employer (the “Employer”) or any Parent or Subsidiary to which Participant is providing services (together, the “Service Recipients”), the ultimate liability for any tax and/or social insurance liability obligations and requirements in connection with the Option, including, without limitation, (i) all federal, state, foreign and local taxes (including Participant’s Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) obligations) that are required to be withheld by any Service Recipient or other payment of tax-related items related to Participant’s participation in the Plan and legally applicable to Participant; (ii) Participant’s and, to the extent required by any Service Recipient, the Service Recipient’s fringe benefit tax liability, if any, associated with the grant, vesting, or exercise of the Option or sale of Shares; and (iii) any other Service Recipient taxes the responsibility for which Participant has, or has agreed to bear, with respect to the Option (or exercise thereof or issuance of Shares thereunder) (collectively, the “Tax Obligations”), is and remains Participant’s sole responsibility and may exceed the amount actually withheld by the applicable Service Recipient(s). Participant further acknowledges that no Service Recipient (A) makes any representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax Obligations in connection with any aspect of the Option, including, but not limited to, the grant,

 

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vesting, or exercise of the Option, the subsequent sale of Shares acquired pursuant to such exercise and the receipt of any dividends or other distributions, and (B) makes any commitment to and is under any obligation to structure the terms of the grant or any aspect of the Option to reduce or eliminate Participant’s liability for Tax Obligations or achieve any particular tax result. Further, if Participant is subject to Tax Obligations in more than one jurisdiction between the Date of Grant and the date of any relevant taxable or tax withholding event, as applicable, Participant acknowledges that the applicable Service Recipient(s) (or former employer, as applicable) may be required to withhold or account for Tax Obligations in more than one jurisdiction. If Participant fails to make satisfactory arrangements for the payment of any required Tax Obligations hereunder at the time of the applicable taxable event, Participant acknowledges and agrees that the Company may refuse to issue or deliver the Shares.

(b)    Tax Withholding. Pursuant to such procedures as the Administrator may specify from time to time, the applicable Service Recipient(s) will withhold the amount required to be withheld for the payment of Tax Obligations. The Administrator, in its sole discretion and pursuant to such procedures as it may specify from time to time, may permit Participant to satisfy such Tax Obligations, in whole or in part (without limitation), if permissible by applicable local law, by (i) paying cash in U.S. dollars; (ii) electing to have the Company withhold otherwise deliverable Shares having a fair market value equal to the minimum amount that is necessary to meet the withholding requirement for such Tax Obligations (or such greater amount as Participant may elect if permitted by the Administrator, if such greater amount would not result in adverse financial accounting consequences); (iii) having the amount of such Tax Obligations withheld from Participant’s wages or other cash compensation paid to Participant by the applicable Service Recipient(s); (iv) delivering to the Company Shares that Participant owns and that have vested with a fair market value equal to such Tax Obligations; or (v) selling a sufficient number of such Shares otherwise deliverable to Participant through such means as the Company may determine in its sole discretion (whether through a broker or otherwise) equal to the minimum amount that is necessary to meet the withholding requirement for such Tax Obligations (or such greater amount as Participant may elect if permitted by the Administrator, if such greater amount would not result in adverse financial accounting consequences). To the extent determined appropriate by the Administrator in its discretion, it will have the right (but not the obligation) to satisfy any Tax Obligations by reducing the number of Shares otherwise deliverable to Participant.

(c)    Notice of Disqualifying Disposition of ISO Shares. If the Option is an ISO, and if Participant sells or otherwise disposes of any of the Shares acquired pursuant to the ISO on or before the later of (i) the date two (2) years after the Date of Grant, or (ii) the date one (1) year after the date of exercise, Participant immediately will notify the Company in writing of such disposition. Participant agrees that Participant may be subject to income tax withholding by the Company on the compensation income recognized by Participant.

(d)    Section 409A. Under Section 409A, a stock right (such as the Option) that vests after December 31, 2004 (or that vested on or prior to such date but which was materially modified after October 3, 2004) that was granted with a per share exercise price that is determined by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) to be less than the fair market value of an underlying share on the date of grant (a “discount option”) may be considered “deferred compensation.” A stock right that is a “discount option” may result in (i) income recognition by the recipient of the

 

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stock right prior to the exercise of the stock right; (ii) an additional twenty percent (20%) federal income tax; and (iii) potential penalty and interest charges. The “discount option” also may result in additional state income, penalty, and interest tax to the recipient of the stock right. Participant acknowledges that the Company cannot and has not guaranteed that the IRS will agree that the per Share exercise price of this Option equals or exceeds the fair market value of a Share on the date of grant in a later examination. Participant agrees that if the IRS determines that the Option was granted with a per Share exercise price that was less than the fair market value of a Share on the date of grant, Participant will be solely responsible for Participant’s costs related to such a determination. In no event will the Company or any of its Parent or Subsidiaries have any liability or obligation to reimburse, indemnify, or hold harmless Participant for any taxes, penalties, and interest that may be imposed, or other costs that may be incurred, as a result of Section 409A.

7.    Rights as Stockholder. Neither Participant nor any person claiming under or through Participant will have any of the rights or privileges of a stockholder of the Company in respect of any Shares deliverable hereunder unless and until certificates representing such Shares (which may be in book entry form) will have been issued, recorded on the records of the Company or its transfer agents or registrars, and delivered to Participant (including through electronic delivery to a brokerage account). After such issuance, recordation, and delivery, Participant will have all the rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to voting such Shares and receipt of dividends and distributions on such Shares.

8.    No Guarantee of Continued Service. PARTICIPANT ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THE VESTING OF SHARES PURSUANT TO THE VESTING SCHEDULE HEREOF IS EARNED ONLY BY CONTINUING AS A SERVICE PROVIDER, WHICH UNLESS PROVIDED OTHERWISE UNDER APPLICABLE LAW IS AT THE WILL OF THE APPLICABLE SERVICE RECIPIENT AND NOT THROUGH THE ACT OF BEING HIRED, BEING GRANTED THIS OPTION OR ACQUIRING SHARES HEREUNDER. PARTICIPANT FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THIS OPTION AGREEMENT, THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREUNDER, AND THE VESTING SCHEDULE SET FORTH HEREIN DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESS OR IMPLIED PROMISE OF CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT AS A SERVICE PROVIDER FOR THE VESTING PERIOD, FOR ANY PERIOD, OR AT ALL, AND WILL NOT INTERFERE IN ANY WAY WITH PARTICIPANT’S RIGHT OR THE RIGHT OF ANY SERVICE RECIPIENT TO TERMINATE PARTICIPANT’S RELATIONSHIP AS A SERVICE PROVIDER, SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE LAW, WHICH TERMINATION, UNLESS PROVIDED OTHERWISE UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, MAY BE AT ANY TIME, WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE.

9.    Nature of Grant. In accepting the Option, Participant acknowledges, understands and agrees that:

(a)    the grant of the Option is voluntary and occasional and does not create any contractual or other right to receive future grants of equity awards, or benefits in lieu of equity awards, even if equity awards have been granted in the past;

(b)    all decisions with respect to future Options or other grants, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Administrator;

 

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(c)    Participant is voluntarily participating in the Plan;

(d)    the Option and any Shares acquired under the Plan are not intended to replace any pension rights or compensation;

(e)    the Option and Shares acquired under the Plan and the income and value of same, are not part of normal or expected compensation for purposes of calculating any severance, resignation, termination, redundancy, dismissal, end-of-service payments, bonuses, holiday pay, long-service awards, pension or retirement, or welfare benefits or similar payments;

(f)    the future value of the Shares underlying the Option is unknown, indeterminable, and cannot be predicted;

(g)    if the underlying Shares do not increase in value, the Option will have no value;

(h)    if Participant exercises the Option and acquires Shares, the value of such Shares may increase or decrease in value, even below the Exercise Price;

(i)    for purposes of the Option, Participant’s status as a Service Provider will be considered terminated as of the date Participant is no longer actively providing services to the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary (regardless of the reason for such termination and whether or not later found to be invalid or in breach of employment laws in the jurisdiction where Participant is a Service Provider or the terms of Participant’s employment or service agreement, if any), and unless otherwise expressly provided in this Option Agreement (including by reference in the Notice of Grant to other arrangements or contracts) or determined by the Administrator, (i) Participant’s right to vest in the Option under the Plan, if any, will terminate as of such date and will not be extended by any notice period (e.g., Participant’s period of service would not include any contractual notice period or any period of “garden leave” or similar period mandated under employment laws in the jurisdiction where Participant is a Service Provider or the terms of Participant’s employment or service agreement, if any, unless Participant is providing bona fide services during such time), and (ii) the period (if any) during which Participant may exercise the Option after such termination of Participant’s engagement as a Service Provider will commence on the date Participant ceases to actively provide services and will not be extended by any notice period mandated under employment laws in the jurisdiction where Participant is employed or terms of Participant’s engagement agreement, if any; the Administrator will have the exclusive discretion to determine when Participant is no longer actively providing services for purposes of this Option grant (including whether Participant may still be considered to be providing services while on a leave of absence and consistent with local law);

(j)    unless otherwise provided in the Plan or by the Administrator in its discretion, the Option and the benefits evidenced by this Option Agreement do not create any entitlement to have the Option or any such benefits transferred to, or assumed by, another company nor be exchanged, cashed out, or substituted for, in connection with any corporate transaction affecting the Shares; and

 

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(k)        the following provisions apply only if Participant is providing services outside the United States:

(i)        the Option and the Shares subject to the Option are not part of normal or expected compensation or salary for any purpose;

(ii)        Participant acknowledges and agrees that no Service Recipient will be liable for any foreign exchange rate fluctuation between Participant’s local currency and the United States Dollar that may affect the value of the Option or of any amounts due to Participant pursuant to the exercise of the Option or the subsequent sale of any Shares acquired upon exercise; and

(iii)        no claim or entitlement to compensation or damages will arise from forfeiture of the Option resulting from the termination of Participant’s status as a Service Provider (for any reason whatsoever, whether or not later found to be invalid or in breach of employment laws in the jurisdiction where Participant is a Service Provider or the terms of Participant’s employment or service agreement, if any), and in consideration of the grant of the Option to which Participant is otherwise not entitled, Participant irrevocably agrees never to institute any claim against any Service Recipient, waives his or her ability, if any, to bring any such claim, and releases each Service Recipient from any such claim; if, notwithstanding the foregoing, any such claim is allowed by a court of competent jurisdiction, then, by participating in the Plan, Participant will be deemed irrevocably to have agreed not to pursue such claim and agrees to execute any and all documents necessary to request dismissal or withdrawal of such claim.

10.    No Advice Regarding Grant. The Company is not providing any tax, legal, or financial advice, nor is the Company making any recommendations regarding Participant’s participation in the Plan, or Participant’s acquisition or sale of the Shares underlying the Option. Participant is hereby advised to consult with his or her own personal tax, legal, and financial advisors regarding his or her participation in the Plan before taking any action related to the Plan.

11.    Data Privacy. Participant hereby explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use, and transfer, in electronic or other form, of Participant’s personal data as described in this Option Agreement and any other Option grant materials by and among, as applicable, the Service Recipients for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering, and managing Participant’s participation in the Plan.

Participant understands that the Company and the Service Recipient may hold certain personal information about Participant, including, but not limited to, Participant’s name, home address and telephone number, date of birth, social insurance number or other identification number, salary, nationality, job title, any Shares or directorships held in the Company, details of all Options or any other entitlement to Shares awarded, canceled, exercised, vested, unvested or outstanding in Participant’s favor (“Data”), for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering, and managing the Plan.

Participant understands that Data may be transferred to a stock plan service provider, as may be selected by the Company in the future, assisting the Company with the implementation, administration, and management of the Plan. Participant understands that the recipients of the

 

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Data may be located in the United States or elsewhere, and that the recipients’ country of operation (e.g., the United States) may have different data privacy laws and protections than Participant’s country. Participant understands that if he or she resides outside the United States, he or she may request a list with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of the Data by contacting his or her local human resources representative. Participant authorizes the Company, any stock plan service provider selected by the Company, and any other possible recipients which may assist the Company (presently or in the future) with implementing, administering, and managing the Plan to receive, possess, use, retain, and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, for the sole purpose of implementing, administering, and managing his or her participation in the Plan. Participant understands that Data will be held only as long as is necessary to implement, administer, and manage Participant’s participation in the Plan. Participant understands if he or she resides outside the United States, he or she may, at any time, view Data, request additional information about the storage and processing of Data, require any necessary amendments to Data or refuse or withdraw the consents herein, in any case without cost, by contacting in writing his or her local human resources representative. Further, Participant understands that he or she is providing the consents herein on a purely voluntary basis. If Participant does not consent, or if Participant later seeks to revoke his or her consent, his or her status as a Service Provider and career with the Service Recipient will not be adversely affected. The only adverse consequence of refusing or withdrawing Participant’s consent is that the Company would not be able to grant Participant Options or other equity awards or administer or maintain such awards. Therefore, Participant understands that refusing or withdrawing his or her consent may affect Participant’s ability to participate in the Plan. For more information on the consequences of Participant’s refusal to consent or withdrawal of consent, Participant understands that he or she may contact his or her local human resources representative.

12.    Address for Notices. Any notice to be given to the Company under the terms of this Option Agreement will be addressed to the Company at Blend Labs, Inc., 415 Kearny Street, San Francisco, CA 94108, or at such other address as the Company may hereafter designate in writing.

13.    Non-Transferability of Option. This Option may not be transferred in any manner otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and may be exercised during the lifetime of Participant only by Participant.

14.    Successors and Assigns. The Company may assign any of its rights under this Option Agreement to single or multiple assignees, and this Option Agreement will inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the restrictions on transfer herein set forth, this Option Agreement will be binding upon Participant and his or her heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and assigns. The rights and obligations of Participant under this Option Agreement may be assigned only with the prior written consent of the Company.

15.    Additional Conditions to Issuance of Stock. If at any time the Company will determine, in its discretion, that the listing, registration, qualification, or rule compliance of the Shares upon any securities exchange or under any state, federal, or non-U.S. law, the tax code, and related regulations or under the rulings or regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or any other governmental regulatory body or the clearance, consent, or approval of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or any other governmental regulatory

 

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authority is necessary or desirable as a condition to the exercise of the Options or the purchase by, or issuance of Shares, to Participant (or his or her estate) hereunder, such exercise, purchase, or issuance will not occur unless and until such listing, registration, qualification, rule compliance, clearance, consent, or approval will have been completed, effected, or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Company. Subject to the terms of the Option Agreement and the Plan, the Company will not be required to issue any certificate or certificates for (or make any entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company of) the Shares hereunder prior to the lapse of such reasonable period of time following the date of exercise of the Option as the Administrator may establish from time to time for reasons of administrative convenience.

16.    Language. If Participant has received this Option Agreement or any other document related to the Plan translated into a language other than English and if the meaning of the translated version is different than the English version, the English version will control.

17.    Interpretation. The Administrator will have the power to interpret the Plan and this Option Agreement and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation, and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith and to interpret or revoke any such rules (including, but not limited to, the determination of whether or not any Shares subject to the Option have vested). All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Administrator in good faith will be final and binding upon Participant, the Company, and all other interested persons. Neither the Administrator nor any person acting on behalf of the Administrator will be personally liable for any action, determination, or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan or this Option Agreement.

18.    Electronic Delivery and Acceptance. The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to the Option awarded under the Plan or future Options that may be awarded under the Plan by electronic means or require Participant to participate in the Plan by electronic means. Participant hereby consents to receive such documents by electronic delivery and agrees to participate in the Plan through any on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or a third party designated by the Company.

19.    Captions. Captions provided herein are for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Option Agreement.

20.    Option Agreement Severable. In the event that any provision in this Option Agreement will be held invalid or unenforceable, such provision will be severable from, and such invalidity or unenforceability will not be construed to have any effect on, the remaining provisions of this Option Agreement.

21.    Amendment, Suspension or Termination of the Plan. By accepting this Option, Participant expressly warrants that he or she has received an Option under the Plan, and has received, read, and understood a description of the Plan. Participant understands that the Plan is discretionary in nature and may be amended, suspended, or terminated by the Administrator at any time.

 

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22.    Governing Law and Venue. This Option Agreement and the Option are governed by the internal substantive laws, but not the choice of law rules of California. For purposes of litigating any dispute that arises under this Option or this Option Agreement, the parties hereby submit to and consent to the jurisdiction of the State of California, and agree that such litigation will be conducted in the courts of San Francisco County, California, or the United States federal courts for the Northern District of California, and no other courts, where this Option is made and/or to be performed.

23.    Country Addendum. Notwithstanding any provisions in this Option Agreement, this Option will be subject to any special terms and conditions set forth in an appendix (if any) to this Option Agreement for any country whose laws are applicable to Participant and this Option (as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion) (the “Country Addendum”). Moreover, if Participant relocates to one of the countries included in the Country Addendum (if any), the special terms and conditions for such country will apply to Participant, to the extent the Company determines that the application of such terms and conditions is necessary or advisable for legal or administrative reasons. The Country Addendum (if any) constitutes a part of this Option Agreement.

24.    Modifications to the Option Agreement. This Option Agreement constitutes the entire understanding of the parties on the subjects covered. Participant expressly warrants that he or she is not accepting this Option Agreement in reliance on any promises, representations, or inducements other than those contained herein. Modifications to this Option Agreement or the Plan can be made only in an express written contract executed by a duly authorized officer of the Company. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or this Option Agreement, the Company reserves the right to revise this Option Agreement as it deems necessary or advisable, in its sole discretion and without the consent of Participant, to comply with Section 409A or to otherwise avoid imposition of any additional tax or income recognition under Section 409A in connection with the Option.

25.    No Waiver. Either party’s failure to enforce any provision or provisions of this Option Agreement will not in any way be construed as a waiver of any such provision or provisions, nor prevent that party from thereafter enforcing each and every other provision of this Option Agreement. The rights granted both parties herein are cumulative and will not constitute a waiver of either party’s right to assert all other legal remedies available to it under the circumstances.

26.    Tax Consequences. Participant has reviewed with his or her own tax advisors the U.S. federal, state, local, and non-U.S. tax consequences of this investment and the transactions contemplated by this Option Agreement. With respect to such matters, Participant relies solely on such advisors and not on any statements or representations of the Company or any of its agents, written or oral. Participant understands that Participant (and not the Company) will be responsible for Participant’s own tax liability that may arise as a result of this investment or the transactions contemplated by this Option Agreement.

*                *                 *

 

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EXHIBIT B

BLEND LABS, INC.

2021 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

EXERCISE NOTICE

Blend Labs, Inc.

415 Kearny Street

San Francisco, CA 94108

Attention: Stock Administration

1.    Exercise of Option. Effective as of today,                     ,                     , the undersigned (“Purchaser”) hereby elects to purchase                      shares (the “Shares”) of the Common Stock of Blend Labs, Inc. (the “Company”) under and pursuant to the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) and the Stock Option Agreement, dated                      and including the Notice of Grant, the Terms and Conditions of Stock Option Grant, and other exhibits, appendices, and addenda attached thereto (the “Option Agreement”). Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used in this Exercise Notice will be ascribed the same defined meanings as set forth in the Option Agreement (or, as applicable, the Plan or other written agreement or arrangement as specified in the Option Agreement).

2.    Delivery of Payment. Purchaser herewith delivers to the Company the full purchase price of the Shares and any Tax Obligations (as defined in Section 6(a) of the Option Agreement) to be paid in connection with the exercise of the Option.

3.    Representations of Purchaser. Purchaser acknowledges that Purchaser has received, read, and understood the Plan and the Option Agreement and agrees to abide by and be bound by their terms and conditions.

4.    Rights as Stockholder. Until the issuance (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company) of the Shares, no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder will exist with respect to the Shares subject to the Option, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. The Shares so acquired will be issued to Purchaser as soon as practicable after the Option is exercised in accordance with the Option Agreement. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date of issuance, except as provided in Section 13 of the Plan.

5.    Tax Consultation. Purchaser understands that Purchaser may suffer adverse tax consequences as a result of Purchaser’s purchase or disposition of the Shares. Purchaser represents that Purchaser has consulted with any tax consultants Purchaser deems advisable in connection with the purchase or disposition of the Shares and that Purchaser is not relying on the Company for any tax advice.


6.    Entire Agreement; Governing Law. The Plan and Option Agreement are incorporated herein by this reference. This Exercise Notice, the Plan and the Option Agreement (including the exhibits, appendices, and addenda thereto) constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Purchaser with respect to the subject matter hereof, and may not be modified adversely to the Purchaser’s interest except by means of a writing signed by the Company and Purchaser. This Option Agreement is governed by the internal substantive laws, but not the choice of law rules, of California.

 

Submitted by:                   Accepted by:
PURCHASER      BLEND LABS, INC.

 

    

 

Signature      Signature

 

    

 

Print Name      Print Name
Address:     

 

     Title

 

    

 

    
    

 

     Date Received

 

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BLEND LABS, INC.

2021 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

COUNTRY ADDENDUM

Terms and Conditions

This Country Addendum includes additional terms and conditions that govern the Option to purchase shares of the Common Stock of Blend Labs, Inc. (the “Company”) granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Blend Labs, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) and the Option Agreement to which this Country Addendum is attached to the extent the individual to whom the Option was granted (“Participant”) resides in one of the countries listed below.

Notifications

This Country Addendum also includes information regarding securities laws, exchange controls and certain other issues of which Participant should be aware with respect to his or her participation in the Plan. The information is based on the securities, exchange control, and other laws in effect in the respective countries as of June 2021. Such laws often are complex and change frequently. As a result, the Company strongly recommends that Participant not rely on the information in this Country Addendum or any tax summaries provided by the Company as the only source of information relating to the consequences of Participant’s participation in the Plan because the information may be out of date at the time Participant exercises the Options or sells the Shares acquired under the Plan.

In addition, the information contained herein is general in nature and may not apply to Participant’s particular situation and the Company is not in a position to assure Participant of any particular result. Accordingly, Participant is advised to seek appropriate professional advice as to how the relevant laws of Participant’s country may apply to his or her situation.

Finally, if Participant is a citizen or resident of a country other than the one in which Participant currently is working or transfers to another country after the grant of the Option, or is considered a resident of another country for local law purposes, the information contained herein may not be applicable to Participant in the same manner. In addition, the Company, in its discretion, will determine the extent to which the terms and conditions contained herein will apply to Participant under these circumstances.

Participant acknowledges that Participant has been advised to seek appropriate professional advice as to how the relevant exchange control and tax laws in Participant’s country may apply to his or her individual situation.


BLEND LABS, INC.

2021 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT

NOTICE OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT GRANT

Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the Blend Labs, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) will have the same defined meanings in this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, which includes the Notice of Restricted Stock Unit Grant (the “Notice of Grant”), the Terms and Conditions of Restricted Stock Unit Grant, attached hereto as Exhibit A, and all other exhibits, appendices, and addenda attached hereto (all together, the “Award Agreement”).

Name:

Address:

The undersigned Participant has been granted the right to receive an Award of Restricted Stock Units, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Award Agreement, as follows:

 

Grant Number:   

 

Date of Grant:   

 

Vesting Commencement Date:   

 

Total Number of Shares Subject to Restricted Stock Units:   

 

Vesting Schedule:

Subject to any acceleration provisions contained in the Plan or set forth below, the Restricted Stock Units will be scheduled to vest in accordance with the following schedule:

[Insert Vesting Schedule.]

In the event Participant ceases to be a Service Provider for any or no reason before Participant vests in the Restricted Stock Units, the Restricted Stock Units and Participant’s right to acquire any Shares hereunder will terminate immediately, unless specifically provided otherwise in this Award Agreement or other written agreement between Participant and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parents, as applicable.

By Participant’s signature and the signature of the representative of the Company below, Participant and the Company agree that this Award of Restricted Stock Units is granted under and governed by the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Award Agreement, including the Terms and Conditions of Restricted Stock Unit Grant, attached hereto as Exhibit A, and all other exhibits,


appendices, and addenda attached hereto, all of which are made a part of this document. Participant acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan. Participant has reviewed the Plan and this Award Agreement in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Award Agreement, and fully understands all provisions of the Plan and this Award Agreement. Participant hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive, and final all decisions or interpretations of the Administrator upon any questions relating to the Plan or this Award Agreement. Participant further agrees to notify the Company upon any change in the residence address indicated below.

 

PARTICIPANT                    BLEND LABS, INC.

 

     

 

Signature       Signature

 

     

 

Print Name       Print Name
     

 

      Title
Address:      

 

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EXHIBIT A

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT GRANT

1.    Grant of Restricted Stock Units. The Company hereby grants to the individual (“Participant”) named in the Notice of Restricted Stock Unit Grant of this Award Agreement (the “Notice of Grant”) under the Plan an Award of Restricted Stock Units, and subject to the terms and conditions of this Award Agreement and the Plan, which is incorporated herein by reference. Subject to Section 18(c) of the Plan, in the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Award Agreement, the terms and conditions of the Plan will prevail.

2.    Company’s Obligation to Pay. Each Restricted Stock Unit represents the right to receive a Share on the date it vests. Unless and until the Restricted Stock Units will have vested in the manner set forth in Section 3 or 4, Participant will have no right to payment of any such Restricted Stock Units. Prior to actual payment of any vested Restricted Stock Units, such Restricted Stock Unit will represent an unsecured obligation of the Company, payable (if at all) only from the general assets of the Company.

3.    Vesting Schedule. Except as provided in Section 4, and subject to Section 5, the Restricted Stock Units awarded by this Award Agreement will vest in accordance with the vesting provisions set forth in the Notice of Grant. Restricted Stock Units scheduled to vest on a certain date or upon the occurrence of a certain condition will not vest in accordance with any of the provisions of this Award Agreement, unless Participant will have been continuously a Service Provider from the Date of Grant until the date such vesting occurs.

4.    Payment after Vesting.

(a)    General Rule. Subject to Section 8, any Restricted Stock Units that vest will be paid to Participant (or in the event of Participant’s death, to his or her properly designated beneficiary or estate) in whole Shares. Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b), such vested Restricted Stock Units will be paid in whole Shares as soon as practicable after vesting, but in each such case within sixty (60) days following the vesting date. In no event will Participant be permitted, directly or indirectly, to specify the taxable year of payment of any Restricted Stock Units payable under this Award Agreement.

(b)    Acceleration.

(i)    Discretionary Acceleration. The Administrator, in its discretion, may accelerate the vesting of the balance, or some lesser portion of the balance, of the unvested Restricted Stock Units at any time, subject to the terms of the Plan. If so accelerated, such Restricted Stock Units will be considered as having vested as of the date specified by the Administrator. If Participant is a U.S. taxpayer, the payment of Shares vesting pursuant to this Section 4(b) will in all cases be paid at a time or in a manner that is exempt from, or complies with, Section 409A. The prior sentence may be superseded in a future agreement or amendment to this Award Agreement only by direct and specific reference to such sentence.


(ii)    Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or this Award Agreement or any other agreement (whether entered into before, on or after the Date of Grant), if the vesting of the balance, or some lesser portion of the balance, of the Restricted Stock Units is accelerated in connection with the cessation of Participant’s status as a Service Provider (provided that such termination is a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A, as determined by the Administrator), other than due to Participant’s death, and if (x) Participant is a U.S. taxpayer and a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A at the time of such termination as a Service Provider and (y) the payment of such accelerated Restricted Stock Units will result in the imposition of additional tax under Section 409A if paid to Participant on or within the six (6) month period following the cessation of Participant’s status as a Service Provider, then the payment of such accelerated Restricted Stock Units will not be made until the date six (6) months and one (1) day following the date of cessation of Participant’s status as a Service Provider, unless Participant dies following his or her termination as a Service Provider, in which case, the Restricted Stock Units will be paid in Shares to Participant’s estate as soon as practicable following his or her death.

(c)    Section 409A. It is the intent of this Award Agreement that it and all payments and benefits to U.S. taxpayers hereunder be exempt from, or comply with, the requirements of Section 409A so that none of the Restricted Stock Units provided under this Award Agreement or Shares issuable thereunder will be subject to the additional tax imposed under Section 409A, and any ambiguities herein will be interpreted to be so exempt or so comply. Each payment payable under this Award Agreement is intended to constitute a separate payment for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2). However, in no event will the Company or any of its Parent or Subsidiaries have any liability or obligation to reimburse, indemnify, or hold harmless Participant for any taxes, penalties, and interest that may be imposed, or other costs that may be incurred, as a result of Section 409A.

5.    Forfeiture Upon Termination as a Service Provider. Unless specifically provided otherwise in this Award Agreement or other written agreement between Participant and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parents, as applicable, if Participant ceases to be a Service Provider for any or no reason, the then-unvested Restricted Stock Units awarded by this Award Agreement will thereupon be forfeited at no cost to the Company and Participant will have no further rights thereunder.

6.    Tax Consequences. Participant has reviewed with his or her own tax advisors the U.S. federal, state, local, and non-U.S. tax consequences of this investment and the transactions contemplated by this Award Agreement. With respect to such matters, Participant relies solely on such advisors and not on any statements or representations of the Company or any of its agents, written or oral. Participant understands that Participant (and not the Company) will be solely responsible for Participant’s own tax liability that may arise as a result of this investment or the transactions contemplated by this Award Agreement.

7.    Death of Participant. Any distribution or delivery to be made to Participant under this Award Agreement will, if Participant is then deceased, be made to Participant’s designated beneficiary, or if no beneficiary survives Participant, the administrator or executor of Participant’s estate. Any such transferee must furnish the Company with (a) written notice of his or her status as transferee, and (b) evidence satisfactory to the Company to establish the validity of the transfer and compliance with any laws or regulations pertaining to said transfer.

 

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8.    Tax Obligations

(a)    Responsibility for Taxes. Participant acknowledges that, regardless of any action taken by the Company or, if different, Participant’s employer (the “Employer”) or any Parent or Subsidiary to which Participant is providing services (together, the “Service Recipients”), the ultimate liability for any tax and/or social insurance liability obligations and requirements in connection with the Restricted Stock Units, including, without limitation, (i) all federal, state, foreign, and local taxes (including Participant’s Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) obligations) that are required to be withheld by any Service Recipient or other payment of tax-related items related to Participant’s participation in the Plan and legally applicable to Participant; (ii) Participant’s and, to the extent required by any Service Recipient, the Service Recipient’s fringe benefit tax liability, if any, associated with the grant, vesting, or settlement of the Restricted Stock Units or sale of Shares; and (iii) any other Service Recipient taxes the responsibility for which Participant has, or has agreed to bear, with respect to the Restricted Stock Units (or settlement thereof or issuance of Shares thereunder) (collectively, the “Tax Obligations”), is and remains Participant’s sole responsibility and may exceed the amount actually withheld by the applicable Service Recipient(s). Participant further acknowledges that no Service Recipient (A) makes any representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax Obligations in connection with any aspect of the Restricted Stock Units, including, but not limited to, the grant, vesting, or settlement of the Restricted Stock Units, the subsequent sale of Shares acquired pursuant to such settlement, and the receipt of any dividends or other distributions, and (B) makes any commitment to and is under any obligation to structure the terms of the grant or any aspect of the Restricted Stock Units to reduce or eliminate Participant’s liability for Tax Obligations or achieve any particular tax result. Further, if Participant is subject to Tax Obligations in more than one jurisdiction between the Date of Grant and the date of any relevant taxable or tax withholding event, as applicable, Participant acknowledges that the applicable Service Recipient(s) (or former employer, as applicable) may be required to withhold or account for Tax Obligations in more than one jurisdiction. If Participant fails to make satisfactory arrangements for the payment of any required Tax Obligations hereunder at the time of the applicable taxable event, Participant acknowledges and agrees that the Company may refuse to issue or deliver the Shares.

(b)    Tax Withholding and Default Method of Tax Withholding. When Shares are issued as payment for vested Restricted Stock Units, Participant generally will recognize immediate U.S. taxable income if Participant is a U.S. taxpayer. If Participant is a non-U.S. taxpayer, Participant will be subject to applicable taxes in his or her jurisdiction. The minimum amount of Tax Obligations which the Company determines must be withheld with respect to this Award (“Tax Withholding Obligation”) will be satisfied by Shares being sold on Participant’s behalf at the prevailing market price pursuant to such procedures as the Administrator may specify from time to time, including through a broker-assisted arrangement (it being understood that the Shares to be sold must have vested pursuant to the terms of this Award Agreement and the Plan). The proceeds from the sale will be used to satisfy Participant’s Tax Withholding Obligation arising with respect to this Award. In addition to Shares sold to satisfy the Tax Withholding Obligation, additional Shares will be sold to satisfy any associated broker or other fees. Only whole Shares will be sold to satisfy any Tax Withholding Obligation. Any proceeds from the sale of Shares in excess of the Tax Withholding Obligation and any associated broker or other fees will be paid to Participant in accordance with procedures the Company may specify from time to time. By accepting this Award, Participant expressly consents to the sale of Shares to cover the Tax Withholding Obligations (and any associated broker or other fees) and agrees and acknowledges that Participant may not satisfy them by any means other than such sale of Shares, unless required to do so by the Administrator or pursuant to the Administrators express written consent.

 

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(c)    Administrator Discretion. If the Administrator determines that Participant cannot satisfy Participant’s Tax Withholding Obligation through the default procedure described in Section 8(b) or the Administrator otherwise determines to allow Participant to satisfy Participant’s Tax Withholding Obligation by a method other than through the default procedure set forth in Section 8(b), it may permit or require Participant to satisfy Participant’s Tax Withholding Obligation, in whole or in part (without limitation), if permissible by applicable local law, by (i) paying cash in U.S. dollars; (ii) electing to have the Company withhold otherwise deliverable Shares having a value equal to the minimum amount statutorily required to be withheld (or such greater amount as Participant may elect if permitted by the Administrator, if such greater amount would not result in adverse financial accounting consequences); (iii) having the amount of such Tax Withholding Obligation withheld from Participant’s wages or other cash compensation paid to Participant by the applicable Service Recipient(s); (iv) delivering to the Company Shares that Participant owns and that have vested with a fair market value equal to the minimum amount statutorily required to be withheld (or such greater amount as Participant may elect if permitted by the Administrator, if such greater amount would not result in adverse financial accounting consequences); or (v) such other means as the Administrator deems appropriate.

(d)    Companys Obligation to Deliver Shares. For clarification purposes, in no event will the Company issue Participant any Shares unless and until arrangements satisfactory to the Administrator have been made for the payment of Participant’s Tax Withholding Obligation. If Participant fails to make satisfactory arrangements for the payment of such Tax Withholding Obligations hereunder at the time any applicable Restricted Stock Units otherwise are scheduled to vest pursuant to Sections 3 or 4 or Participant’s Tax Withholding Obligations otherwise become due, Participant will permanently forfeit such Restricted Stock Units to which Participant’s Tax Withholding Obligation relates and any right to receive Shares thereunder and such Restricted Stock Units will be returned to the Company at no cost to the Company.

9.    Rights as Stockholder. Neither Participant nor any person claiming under or through Participant will have any of the rights or privileges of a stockholder of the Company in respect of any Shares deliverable hereunder unless and until certificates representing such Shares (which may be in book entry form) will have been issued, recorded on the records of the Company or its transfer agents or registrars, and delivered to Participant (including through electronic delivery to a brokerage account). After such issuance, recordation, and delivery, Participant will have all the rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to voting such Shares and receipt of dividends and distributions on such Shares.

10.    No Guarantee of Continued Service. PARTICIPANT ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THE VESTING OF THE RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS PURSUANT TO THE VESTING SCHEDULE HEREOF IS EARNED ONLY BY CONTINUING AS A SERVICE PROVIDER, WHICH UNLESS PROVIDED OTHERWISE UNDER APPLICABLE LAW IS AT THE WILL OF THE APPLICABLE SERVICE RECIPIENT AND NOT THROUGH THE ACT OF BEING HIRED, BEING GRANTED THIS RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD OR ACQUIRING SHARES HEREUNDER. PARTICIPANT FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THIS AWARD AGREEMENT, THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED

 

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HEREUNDER AND THE VESTING SCHEDULE SET FORTH HEREIN DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESS OR IMPLIED PROMISE OF CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT AS A SERVICE PROVIDER FOR THE VESTING PERIOD, FOR ANY PERIOD, OR AT ALL, AND WILL NOT INTERFERE IN ANY WAY WITH PARTICIPANT’S RIGHT OR THE RIGHT OF ANY SERVICE RECIPIENT TO TERMINATE PARTICIPANT’S RELATIONSHIP AS A SERVICE PROVIDER, SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE LAW, WHICH TERMINATION, UNLESS PROVIDED OTHERWISE UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, MAY BE AT ANY TIME, WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE.

11.    Grant is Not Transferable. Except to the limited extent provided in Section 7, this grant and the rights and privileges conferred hereby will not be transferred, assigned, pledged, or hypothecated in any way (whether by operation of law or otherwise) and will not be subject to sale under execution, attachment, or similar process. Upon any attempt to transfer, assign, pledge, hypothecate, or otherwise dispose of this grant, or any right or privilege conferred hereby, or upon any attempted sale under any execution, attachment, or similar process, this grant and the rights and privileges conferred hereby immediately will become null and void.

12.    Nature of Grant. In accepting this Award of Restricted Stock Units, Participant acknowledges, understands and agrees that:

(a)    the grant of the Restricted Stock Units is voluntary and occasional and does not create any contractual or other right to receive future grants of equity awards, or benefits in lieu of equity awards, even if equity awards have been granted in the past;

(b)    all decisions with respect to future Restricted Stock Units or other grants, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Administrator;

(c)    Participant is voluntarily participating in the Plan;

(d)    the Restricted Stock Units and the Shares subject to the Restricted Stock Units are not intended to replace any pension rights or compensation;

(e)    the Restricted Stock Units and the Shares subject to the Restricted Stock Units, and the income and value of same, are not part of normal or expected compensation for purposes of calculating any severance, resignation, termination, redundancy, dismissal, end-of-service payments, bonuses, holiday pay, long-service awards, pension or retirement, or welfare benefits or similar payments;

(f)    the future value of the Shares underlying the Restricted Stock Units is unknown, indeterminable, and cannot be predicted;

(g)    for purposes of the Restricted Stock Units, Participant’s status as a Service Provider will be considered terminated as of the date Participant is no longer actively providing services to the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary (regardless of the reason for such termination and whether or not later found to be invalid or in breach of employment laws in the jurisdiction where Participant is a Service Provider or the terms of Participant’s employment or service agreement, if any), and unless otherwise expressly provided in this Award Agreement (including by reference in the Notice of Grant to other arrangements or contracts) or determined by the Administrator, Participant’s

 

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right to vest in the Restricted Stock Units under the Plan, if any, will terminate as of such date and will not be extended by any notice period (e.g., Participant’s period of service would not include any contractual notice period or any period of “garden leave” or similar period mandated under employment laws in the jurisdiction where Participant is a Service Provider or the terms of Participant’s employment or service agreement, if any, unless Participant is providing bona fide services during such time); the Administrator will have the exclusive discretion to determine when Participant is no longer actively providing services for purposes of the Restricted Stock Units grant (including whether Participant may still be considered to be providing services while on a leave of absence and consistent with local law);

(h)    unless otherwise provided in the Plan or by the Administrator in its discretion, the Restricted Stock Units and the benefits evidenced by this Award Agreement do not create any entitlement to have the Restricted Stock Units or any such benefits transferred to, or assumed by, another company nor be exchanged, cashed out or substituted for, in connection with any corporate transaction affecting the Shares; and

(i)    the following provisions apply only if Participant is providing services outside the United States:

(i)    the Restricted Stock Units and the Shares subject to the Restricted Stock Units are not part of normal or expected compensation or salary for any purpose;

(ii)    Participant acknowledges and agrees that no Service Recipient will be liable for any foreign exchange rate fluctuation between Participant’s local currency and the United States Dollar that may affect the value of the Restricted Stock Units or of any amounts due to Participant pursuant to the settlement of the Restricted Stock Units or the subsequent sale of any Shares acquired upon settlement; and

(iii)    no claim or entitlement to compensation or damages will arise from forfeiture of the Restricted Stock Units resulting from the termination of Participant’s status as a Service Provider (for any reason whatsoever whether or not later found to be invalid or in breach of employment laws in the jurisdiction where Participant is a Service Provider or the terms of Participant’s employment or service agreement, if any), and in consideration of the grant of the Restricted Stock Units to which Participant is otherwise not entitled, Participant irrevocably agrees never to institute any claim against any Service Recipient, waives his or her ability, if any, to bring any such claim, and releases each Service Recipient from any such claim; if, notwithstanding the foregoing, any such claim is allowed by a court of competent jurisdiction, then, by participating in the Plan, Participant will be deemed irrevocably to have agreed not to pursue such claim and agrees to execute any and all documents necessary to request dismissal or withdrawal of such claim.

13.    No Advice Regarding Grant. The Company is not providing any tax, legal, or financial advice, nor is the Company making any recommendations regarding Participant’s participation in the Plan, or Participant’s acquisition or sale of the Shares underlying the Restricted Stock Units. Participant is hereby advised to consult with his or her own personal tax, legal, and financial advisors regarding his or her participation in the Plan before taking any action related to the Plan.

 

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14.    Data Privacy. Participant hereby explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use, and transfer, in electronic or other form, of Participant’s personal data as described in this Award Agreement and any other Restricted Stock Unit grant materials by and among, as applicable, the Service Recipients for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering, and managing Participant’s participation in the Plan.

Participant understands that the Company and the Service Recipient may hold certain personal information about Participant, including, but not limited to, Participant’s name, home address and telephone number, date of birth, social insurance number or other identification number, salary, nationality, job title, any Shares or directorships held in the Company, details of all Restricted Stock Units or any other entitlement to Shares awarded, canceled, exercised, vested, unvested or outstanding in Participant’s favor (“Data”), for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering, and managing the Plan.

Participant understands that Data may be transferred to a stock plan service provider, as may be selected by the Company in the future, assisting the Company with the implementation, administration, and management of the Plan. Participant understands that the recipients of the Data may be located in the United States or elsewhere, and that the recipients’ country of operation (e.g., the United States) may have different data privacy laws and protections than Participant’s country. Participant understands that if he or she resides outside the United States, he or she may request a list with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of the Data by contacting his or her local human resources representative. Participant authorizes the Company, any stock plan service provider selected by the Company, and any other possible recipients which may assist the Company (presently or in the future) with implementing, administering, and managing the Plan to receive, possess, use, retain, and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, for the sole purpose of implementing, administering, and managing his or her participation in the Plan. Participant understands that Data will be held only as long as is necessary to implement, administer, and manage Participant’s participation in the Plan. Participant understands if he or she resides outside the United States, he or she may, at any time, view Data, request additional information about the storage and processing of Data, require any necessary amendments to Data or refuse or withdraw the consents herein, in any case without cost, by contacting in writing his or her local human resources representative. Further, Participant understands that he or she is providing the consents herein on a purely voluntary basis. If Participant does not consent, or if Participant later seeks to revoke his or her consent, his or her status as a Service Provider and career with the Service Recipient will not be adversely affected. The only adverse consequence of refusing or withdrawing Participant’s consent is that the Company would not be able to grant Participant Restricted Stock Units or other equity awards or administer or maintain such awards. Therefore, Participant understands that refusing or withdrawing his or her consent may affect Participant’s ability to participate in the Plan. For more information on the consequences of Participant’s refusal to consent or withdrawal of consent, Participant understands that he or she may contact his or her local human resources representative.

15.    Address for Notices. Any notice to be given to the Company under the terms of this Award Agreement will be addressed to the Company at Blend Labs, Inc., 415 Kearny Street, San Francisco, CA 94108, or at such other address as the Company may hereafter designate in writing.

 

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16.    Electronic Delivery and Acceptance. The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to the Restricted Stock Units awarded under the Plan or future Restricted Stock Units that may be awarded under the Plan by electronic means or require Participant to participate in the Plan by electronic means. Participant hereby consents to receive such documents by electronic delivery and agrees to participate in the Plan through any on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or a third party designated by the Company.

17.    No Waiver. Either party’s failure to enforce any provision or provisions of this Award Agreement will not in any way be construed as a waiver of any such provision or provisions, nor prevent that party from thereafter enforcing each and every other provision of this Award Agreement. The rights granted both parties herein are cumulative and will not constitute a waiver of either party’s right to assert all other legal remedies available to it under the circumstances.

18.    Successors and Assigns. The Company may assign any of its rights under this Award Agreement to single or multiple assignees, and this Award Agreement will inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the restrictions on transfer herein set forth, this Award Agreement will be binding upon Participant and his or her heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and assigns. The rights and obligations of Participant under this Award Agreement may be assigned only with the prior written consent of the Company.

19.    Additional Conditions to Issuance of Stock. If at any time the Company will determine, in its discretion, that the listing, registration, qualification, or rule compliance of the Shares upon any securities exchange or under any state, federal or non-U.S. law, the tax code, and related regulations or under the rulings or regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or any other governmental regulatory body or the clearance, consent, or approval of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or any other governmental regulatory authority is necessary or desirable as a condition to the issuance of Shares to Participant (or his or her estate) hereunder, such issuance will not occur unless and until such listing, registration, qualification, rule compliance, clearance, consent, or approval will have been completed, effected, or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Company. Subject to the terms of the Award Agreement and the Plan, the Company will not be required to issue any certificate or certificates for (or make any entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company of) the Shares hereunder prior to the lapse of such reasonable period of time following the date of vesting of the Restricted Stock Units as the Administrator may establish from time to time for reasons of administrative convenience.

20.    Language. If Participant has received this Award Agreement or any other document related to the Plan translated into a language other than English and if the meaning of the translated version is different than the English version, the English version will control.

21.    Interpretation. The Administrator will have the power to interpret the Plan and this Award Agreement and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation, and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith and to interpret or revoke any such rules (including, but not limited to, the determination of whether or not any Restricted Stock Units have vested). All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Administrator in good faith will be final and binding upon Participant, the Company, and all other interested persons. Neither the Administrator nor any person acting on behalf of the Administrator will be personally liable for any action, determination, or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan or this Award Agreement.

 

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22.    Captions. Captions provided herein are for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Award Agreement.

23.    Amendment, Suspension or Termination of the Plan. By accepting this Award, Participant expressly warrants that he or she has received an Award of Restricted Stock Units under the Plan, and has received, read, and understood a description of the Plan. Participant understands that the Plan is discretionary in nature and may be amended, suspended, or terminated by the Administrator at any time.

24.    Modifications to the Award Agreement. This Award Agreement constitutes the entire understanding of the parties on the subjects covered. Participant expressly warrants that he or she is not accepting this Award Agreement in reliance on any promises, representations, or inducements other than those contained herein. Modifications to this Award Agreement or the Plan can be made only in an express written contract executed by a duly authorized officer of the Company. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or this Award Agreement, the Company reserves the right to revise this Award Agreement as it deems necessary or advisable, in its sole discretion and without the consent of Participant, to comply with Section 409A or to otherwise avoid imposition of any additional tax or income recognition under Section 409A in connection with this Award of Restricted Stock Units.

25.    Governing Law; Venue; Severability. This Award Agreement and the Restricted Stock Units are governed by the internal substantive laws, but not the choice of law rules, of California. For purposes of litigating any dispute that arises under these Restricted Stock Units or this Award Agreement, the parties hereby submit to and consent to the jurisdiction of the State of California, and agree that such litigation will be conducted in the courts of San Francisco County, California, or the United States federal courts for the Northern District of California, and no other courts, where this Award Agreement is made and/or to be performed. In the event that any provision hereof becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, unenforceable, or void, this Award Agreement will continue in full force and effect.

26.    Entire Agreement. The Plan is incorporated herein by this reference. The Plan and this Award Agreement (including the appendices and exhibits referenced herein) constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Participant with respect to the subject matter hereof, and may not be modified adversely to Participant’s interest except by means of a writing signed by the Company and Participant.

27.    Country Addendum. Notwithstanding any provisions in this Award Agreement, the Restricted Stock Unit grant will be subject to any special terms and conditions set forth in an appendix (if any) to this Award Agreement for any country whose laws are applicable to Participant and this Award of Restricted Stock Units (as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion) (the “Country Addendum”). Moreover, if Participant relocates to one of the countries included in the Country Addendum (if any), the special terms and conditions for such country will apply to Participant, to the extent the Company determines that the application of such terms and conditions is necessary or advisable for legal or administrative reasons. The Country Addendum (if any) constitutes a part of this Award Agreement.

*            *             *

 

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BLEND LABS, INC.

2021 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT

COUNTRY ADDENDUM

Terms and Conditions

This Country Addendum includes additional terms and conditions that govern the Award of Restricted Stock Units granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Blend Labs, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) and the Award Agreement to which this Country Addendum is attached to the extent the individual to whom the Restricted Stock Units were granted (“Participant”) resides in one of the countries listed below.

Notifications

This Country Addendum also includes information regarding securities laws, exchange controls and certain other issues of which Participant should be aware with respect to his or her participation in the Plan. The information is based on the securities, exchange control and other laws in effect in the respective countries as of June 2021. Such laws often are complex and change frequently. As a result, the Company strongly recommends that Participant not rely on the information in this Country Addendum or any tax summaries provided by the Company as the only source of information relating to the consequences of Participant’s participation in the Plan because the information may be out of date at the time Participant vest in or receives or sells the Shares covered by the Restricted Stock Units.

In addition, the information contained herein is general in nature and may not apply to Participant’s particular situation and the Company is not in a position to assure Participant of any particular result. Accordingly, Participant is advised to seek appropriate professional advice as to how the relevant laws of Participant’s country may apply to his or her situation.

Finally, if Participant is a citizen or resident of a country other than the one in which Participant currently is working or transfers to another country after the grant of the Restricted Stock Units, or is considered a resident of another country for local law purposes, the information contained herein may not be applicable to Participant in the same manner. In addition, the Company, in its discretion, will determine the extent to which the terms and conditions contained herein will apply to Participant under these circumstances.

Participant acknowledges that Participant has been advised to seek appropriate professional advice as to how the relevant exchange control and tax laws in Participant’s country may apply to his or her individual situation.

Exhibit 10.6

BLEND LABS, INC.

CHANGE IN CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

This Change in Control Severance Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made between Blend Labs, Inc. (the “Company”) and                      (the “Executive”), effective as of                 , 2021 (the “Effective Date”).

This Agreement provides certain protections to the Executive in connection with a change in control of the Company or in connection with the involuntary termination of the Executive’s employment under the circumstances described in this Agreement. Certain capitalized terms are defined in Section 7 to the extent not otherwise defined in other Sections of the Agreement.

The Company and the Executive agree as follows:

1. Term of Agreement. This Agreement will terminate upon the date that all of the obligations of the parties hereto with respect to this Agreement have been satisfied.

2. At-Will Employment. The Company and the Executive acknowledge that the Executive’s employment is and will continue to be at-will, as defined under applicable law.

3. Severance Benefits.

(a) Qualifying CIC Termination. In the event of a Qualifying CIC Termination (as defined below), and subject to Sections 5 and 6, the Executive will be eligible to receive the following from the Company:

(i) Equity Vesting. Vesting acceleration (and exercisability, as applicable) as to fifty percent (50%) of the then-unvested shares subject to each of the Company equity awards granted to the Executive that is outstanding as of the date of the Qualifying CIC Termination (each, an “Equity Award”). In the case of an Equity Award that is subject to performance-based vesting, unless otherwise specified in the applicable Equity Award agreement governing the Equity Award, all performance goals and other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at fifty percent (50%) of target levels. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event of the Executive’s Qualifying Pre-CIC Termination (as defined below), any then outstanding Equity Awards will remain outstanding until the earlier of (x) three (3) months following the Qualifying CIC Termination or (y) the occurrence of a Change in Control, solely so that any benefits due on a Qualifying Pre-CIC Termination can be provided if a Change in Control occurs within three (3) months following the Qualifying CIC Termination (provided that in no event will the Executive’s stock options or similar Equity Awards remain outstanding beyond the Equity Award’s maximum term to expiration). If no Change in Control occurs within three (3) months following a Qualifying CIC Termination, any unvested portion of the Executive’s Equity Awards automatically and permanently will be forfeited on the date three (3) months following the date of the Qualifying CIC Termination without having vested.


(b) Termination Other Than a Qualifying CIC Termination. If the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company Group (as defined below) is not a Qualifying CIC Termination, then the Executive will not be entitled to receive the vesting accelerations specified in this Agreement.

(c) Non-Duplication of Payment or Benefits. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if the Executive is entitled to any vesting acceleration of any Equity Awards (other than under this Agreement) by operation of applicable law or under a plan, policy, contract, or arrangement sponsored by or to which any member of the Company Group is a party in connection with the Executive’s separation (“Other Benefits”), then the corresponding vesting acceleration under this Agreement will be reduced by the amount of Other Benefits provided to the Executive.

(d) Death of the Executive. In the event of the Executive’s death before all payments or benefits the Executive is entitled to receive under this Agreement have been provided, the unpaid amounts will be provided to the Executive’s designated beneficiary, if living, or otherwise to the Executive’s personal representative in a single lump sum as soon as possible following the Executive’s death.

(e) Transfer Between Members of the Company Group. For purposes of this Agreement, if the Executive is involuntarily transferred from one member of the Company Group to another, the transfer will not be a termination without Cause but may give the Executive the ability to resign for Good Reason.

(f) Exclusive Remedy. In the event of a termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company Group, the provisions of this Agreement are intended to be and are exclusive and in lieu of any other rights or remedies to which the Executive may otherwise be entitled, whether at law, tort or contract, or in equity. The Executive will be entitled to no benefits, compensation or other payments or rights upon termination of employment other than those benefits expressly set forth in this Agreement.

4. Accrued Compensation. On any termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company Group, the Executive will be entitled to receive all accrued but unpaid vacation, expense reimbursements, wages, and other benefits due to the Executive under any Company-provided plans, policies, and arrangements. For avoidance of doubt, receipt of accrued compensation is not subject to the Release Requirement discussed in Section 5(a).

5. Conditions to Receipt of Severance.

(a) Separation Agreement and Release of Claims. The Executive’s receipt of any vesting acceleration upon the Executive’s Qualifying CIC Termination under Section 3 is subject to the Executive signing and not revoking the Company’s then-standard separation agreement and release of claims (which may include an agreement not to disparage any member of the Company Group, non-solicit provisions, an agreement to assist in any litigation matters, and other standard terms and conditions) (the “Release” and that requirement, the “Release Requirement”), which must become effective and irrevocable no later than the sixtieth (60th) day following the date of the Executive’s Qualifying CIC Termination (the “Release Deadline Date”). If the Release does not become effective and irrevocable by the Release Deadline Date, the Executive will forfeit any right to the vesting acceleration under Section 3.

 

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(b) Payment Timing. Subject to Section 5(d), any restricted stock units, performance shares, performance units, and/or similar full value awards that accelerate vesting under Section 3(a) will be settled (x) within ten (10) days following the date the Release becomes effective and irrevocable, or (y) if later, in the event of a Qualifying Pre-CIC Termination, on the date of the Change in Control.

(c) Return of Company Property. The Executive’s receipt of any vesting acceleration upon the Executive’s Qualifying CIC Termination under Section 3 is subject to the Executive having returned all documents and other property provided to the Executive by any member of the Company Group (with the exception of a copy of the Company employee handbook and personnel documents specifically relating to the Executive), developed or obtained by the Executive in connection with his or her employment with the Company Group, or otherwise belonging to the Company Group, by no later than ten (10) days following the date of the Qualifying CIC Termination.

(d) Section 409A. The Company intends that all benefits provided under this Agreement or otherwise are exempt from, or comply with, the requirements of Section 409A of the Code (as defined below) and any guidance promulgated under Section 409A of the Code (collectively, “Section 409A”) so that none of the benefits will be subject to the additional tax imposed under Section 409A, and any ambiguities in this Agreement will be interpreted in accordance with this intent. No benefits to be paid to the Executive, if any such payments or benefits, under this Agreement or otherwise, when considered together with any severance payments or separation benefits that are considered deferred compensation under Section 409A (together, the “Deferred Payments”) will be paid or otherwise provided until the Executive has a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A. If, at the time of the Executive’s termination of employment, the Executive is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A, then the payment of the Deferred Payments will be delayed to the extent necessary to avoid the imposition of the additional tax imposed under Section 409A, which generally means that the Executive will receive payment on the first payroll date that occurs on or after the date that is six (6) months and one (1) day following the Executive’s termination of employment. The Company reserves the right to amend this Agreement as it considers necessary or advisable, in its sole discretion and without the consent of the Executive or the consent of any other individual, to comply with any provision required to avoid the imposition of the additional tax imposed under Section 409A or to otherwise avoid income recognition under Section 409A prior to the actual payment of any benefits or imposition of any additional tax. Each payment, installment, and benefit payable under this Agreement is intended to constitute a separate payment for purposes of U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2). In no event will any member of the Company Group reimburse, indemnify, or hold harmless the Executive for any taxes, penalties and interest that may be imposed, or other costs that may be incurred, as a result of Section 409A.

(e) Resignation of Officer and Director Positions. The Executive’s receipt of any vesting acceleration upon the Executive’s Qualifying CIC Termination under Section 3 is subject to the Executive having resigned from all officer and director positions with all members of the Company Group and the Executive executing any documents the Company may require in connection with the same.

 

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6. Limitation on Payments.

(a) Reduction of Severance Benefits. If any payment or benefit that the Executive would receive from any Company Group member or any other party whether in connection with the provisions in this Agreement or otherwise (the “Payment”) would (i) constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and (ii) but for this sentence, be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then the Payment will be equal to the Best Results Amount. The “Best Results Amount” will be either (x) the full amount of the Payment or (y) a lesser amount that would result in no portion of the Payment being subject to the Excise Tax, whichever of those amounts, taking into account the applicable federal, state and local employment taxes, income taxes and the Excise Tax, results in the Executive’s receipt, on an after-tax basis, of the greater amount. If a reduction in payments or benefits constituting parachute payments is necessary so that the Payment equals the Best Results Amount, reduction will occur in the following order: (A) reduction of cash payments in reverse chronological order (that is, the cash payment owed on the latest date following the occurrence of the event triggering the excise tax will be the first cash payment to be reduced); (B) cancellation of Equity Awards that were granted “contingent on a change in ownership or control” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code in the reverse order of date of grant of the awards (that is, the most recently granted Equity Awards will be cancelled first); (C) reduction of the accelerated vesting of Equity Awards in the reverse order of date of grant of the awards (that is, the vesting of the most recently granted Equity Awards will be cancelled first); and (D) reduction of employee benefits in reverse chronological order (that is, the benefit owed on the latest date following the occurrence of the event triggering the excise tax will be the first benefit to be reduced). In no event will the Executive have any discretion with respect to the ordering of Payment reductions. The Executive will be solely responsible for the payment of all personal tax liability that is incurred as a result of the payments and benefits received under this Agreement, and the Executive will not be reimbursed, indemnified, or held harmless by any member of the Company Group for any of those payments of personal tax liability.

(b) Determination of Excise Tax Liability. Unless the Company and the Executive otherwise agree in writing, the Company will select a professional services firm (the “Firm”) to make all determinations required under this Section 6, which determinations will be conclusive and binding upon the Executive and the Company for all purposes. For purposes of making the calculations required by this Section 6, the Firm may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning the application of Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code. The Company and the Executive will furnish to the Firm such information and documents as the Firm reasonably may request in order to make determinations under this Section 6. The Company will bear the costs and make all payments for the Firm’s services in connection with any calculations contemplated by this Section 6. The Company will have no liability to the Executive for the determinations of the Firm.

 

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7. Definitions. The following terms referred to in this Agreement will have the following meanings:

(a) “Board” means the Company’s Board of Directors.

(b) “Cause” means (i) the Executive’s conviction of, or plea of “guilty” or “no contest” to, a felony under the laws of the United States or any State thereof; (ii) an unauthorized use or disclosure by the Executive of the Company’s confidential information or trade secrets, which use or disclosure causes material harm to the Company; (iii) a material breach by the Executive of any written agreement between the Executive and the Company regarding the terms of the Executive’s service to the Company; (iv) a material failure by the Executive to comply with the Company’s written policies or rules that causes material harm to the Company; (v) the Executive’s gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance in his or her duties to the Company that causes material harm to the Company; (vi) a continuing failure by the Executive to perform assigned duties after receiving written notification of such failure from the Board; or (vii) a failure by the Executive to participate in good faith with a governmental or internal investigation of the Company or its directors, officers or employees, if the Company has requested the Executive’s cooperation; provided that any action, failure, breach or misconduct described in clauses (ii) through (vii) will constitute “Cause” only if such action, failure, breach or misconduct continues after the Company has provided the Participant with written notice and thirty (30) days to cure the same if such action, failure, breach or misconduct is curable.

(c) “Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:

(i) A change in the ownership of the Company which occurs on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group (“Person”), acquires ownership of the stock of the Company that, with the stock held by such Person, constitutes more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the stock of the Company; provided, that for this subsection, the acquisition of additional stock by any one Person, who prior to such acquisition is considered to own more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the stock of the Company will not be considered a Change in Control and provided, further, that any change in the ownership of the stock of the Company as a result of a private financing of the Company that is approved by the Board also will not be considered a Change in Control. Further, if the stockholders of the Company immediately before such change in ownership continue to retain immediately after the change in ownership, in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares of the Company’s voting stock immediately prior to the change in ownership, direct or indirect beneficial ownership of fifty percent (50%) or more of the total voting power of the stock of the Company or of the ultimate parent entity of the Company, such event shall not be considered a Change in Control under this Section 7(c)(i). For this purpose, indirect beneficial ownership shall include, without limitation, an interest resulting from ownership of the voting securities of one or more corporations or other business entities which own the Company, as the case may be, either directly or through one or more subsidiary corporations or other business entities; or

(ii) A change in the effective control of the Company which occurs on the date a majority of members of the Board is replaced during any twelve (12)-month period by members of the Board whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board prior to the appointment or election. For purposes of this Section 7(c)(ii), if any Person is considered to be in effective control of the Company, the acquisition of additional control of the Company by the same Person will not be considered a Change in Control; or

 

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(iii) A change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets which occurs on the date that any Person acquires (or has acquired during the twelve (12)-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such Person or Persons) assets from the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than fifty percent (50%) of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the Company immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions; provided, that for this Section 7(c)(iii), the following will not constitute a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets:

(1) a transfer to an entity controlled by the Company’s stockholders immediately after the transfer, or

(2) a transfer of assets by the Company to:

(A) a stockholder of the Company (immediately before the asset transfer) in exchange for or with respect to the Company’s stock,

(B) an entity, fifty percent (50%) or more of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company,

(C) a Person, that owns, directly or indirectly, fifty percent (50%) or more of the total value or voting power of all the outstanding stock of the Company, or

(D) an entity, at least fifty percent (50%) of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by a Person described in Section 7(c)(iii)(2)(A) to Section 7(c)(iii)(2)(C).

For this definition, gross fair market value means the value of the assets of the Company, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets.

For purposes of this Section 7(c), persons will be considered to be acting as a group if they are owners of a corporation that enters into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of stock, or similar business transaction with the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company shall not be considered “Persons” for purposes of this Section 7(c).

(iv) A transaction will not be a Change in Control:

(1) unless the transaction qualifies as a change in control event within the meaning of Code Section 409A; or

(2) if its primary purpose is to (1) change the jurisdiction of the Company’s incorporation, or (2) create a holding company owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the Company’s securities immediately before such transaction.

 

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(d) “Change in Control Period” means the period beginning three (3) months prior to a Change in Control and ending twelve (12) months following a Change in Control.

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

(f) “Company Group” means the Company and its subsidiaries.

(g) “Disability” means a total and permanent disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

(h) “Good Reason” means that the Executive resigns within twelve (12) months after one of the following conditions has come into existence without the Executive’s consent: (i) a reduction in the Executive’s Salary by more than 10%; (ii) a material diminution of the Executive’s authority, duties or responsibilities provided, however, that continued employment following a Change in Control with substantially the same duties, authorities, or responsibilities with respect to the Company’s business and operations will not constitute “Good Reason” (for example, “Good Reason” does not exist if the Executive is employed by the Company Group or a successor with substantially the same duties, authorities, or responsibilities with respect to the Company Group’s business that the Executive had immediately prior to the Change in Control regardless of whether the Executive’s title is revised to reflect Executive’s placement within the overall corporate hierarchy or whether the Executive provides services to a subsidiary, affiliate, business unit or otherwise); (iii) a material breach by the Company of this Agreement. A condition shall not be considered “Good Reason” unless the Executive gives the Company written notice of such condition within ninety (90) days after such condition comes into existence and the Company fails to remedy such condition within thirty (30) days after receiving the Executive’s written notice.

(i) “Qualifying CIC Termination” means a termination of the Executive’s employment by a Company Group member without Cause and other than by reason of the Executive’s death or Disability or by the Executive for Good Reason, in either case, during the Change in Control Period (a “Qualifying CIC Termination”).

(j) “Qualifying Pre-CIC Termination” means a Qualifying CIC Termination that occurs prior to the date of the Change in Control.

(k) “Salary” means the Executive’s rate of base salary as in effect immediately prior to the Executive’s Qualifying CIC Termination (or if the termination is due to a resignation for Good Reason based on a material reduction in base salary, then the Executive’s rate of base salary in effect immediately prior to the reduction or, if greater, at the level in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control).

8. Successors. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of (a) the heirs, executors, and legal representatives of the Executive upon the Executive’s death, and (b) any successor of the Company. Any such successor of the Company will be deemed substituted for the Company under the terms of this Agreement for all purposes. For this purpose, “successor” means any person, firm, corporation, or other business entity which at any time, whether by purchase, merger, or otherwise, directly or indirectly acquires all or substantially all of the assets or business of

 

- 7 -


the Company. None of the rights of the Executive to receive any form of compensation payable pursuant to this Agreement may be assigned or transferred except by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Any other attempted assignment, transfer, conveyance, or other disposition of the Executive’s right to compensation or other benefits will be null and void.

9. Notice.

(a) General. All notices and other communications required or permitted under this Agreement will be in writing and will be effectively given (i) upon actual delivery to the party to be notified; (ii) upon transmission by email; (iii) twenty-four (24) hours after confirmed facsimile transmission; (iv) one (1) business day after deposit with a recognized overnight courier; or (v) three (3) business days after deposit with the U.S. Postal Service by first class certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed (A) if to the Executive, at the address the Executive will have most recently furnished to the Company in writing, (B) if to the Company, at the following address:

Blend Labs, Inc.

415 Kearny Street

San Francisco, CA 94108

Attention: General Counsel

(b) Notice of Termination. Any termination by a Company Group member for Cause will be communicated by a notice of termination to the Executive, and any termination by the Executive for Good Reason will be communicated by a notice of termination to the Company, in each case given in accordance with Section 9(a) of this Agreement. The notice will indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, will set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination under the provision so indicated, and will specify the termination date (which will be not more than thirty (30) days after the later of (i) the giving of the notice, or (ii) the end of any applicable cure period).

10. Resignation. The termination of the Executive’s employment for any reason will also constitute, without any further required action by the Executive, the Executive’s voluntary resignation from all officer and/or director positions held at any member of the Company Group, and at the Board’s request, the Executive will execute any documents reasonably necessary to reflect the resignations.

11. Miscellaneous Provisions.

(a) No Duty to Mitigate. The Executive will not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment contemplated by this Agreement, nor will any payment be reduced by any earnings that the Executive may receive from any other source except as specified in Section 3(c).

(b) Waiver; Amendment. No provision of this Agreement will be modified, waived or discharged unless the modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by an authorized officer of the Company (other than the Executive) and by the Executive. No waiver by either party of any breach of, or of compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement by the other party will be considered a waiver of any other condition or provision or of the same condition or provision at another time.

 

- 8 -


(c) Headings. All captions and section headings used in this Agreement are for convenient reference only and do not form a part of this Agreement.

(d) Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties and supersedes in their entirety all prior representations, understandings, undertakings or agreements (whether oral or written and whether expressed or implied) of the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, including, for the avoidance of doubt, any other employment letter or agreement, change in control severance agreement, severance policy or program, or Equity Award agreement.

(e) Choice of Law. This Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of California without regard to California’s conflicts of law rules that may result in the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than California. The Executive hereby expressly consents to the personal and exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the state and federal courts located in California for any lawsuit filed against the Executive by any member of the Company Group.

(f) Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement will not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which will remain in full force and effect.

(g) Withholding. All payments and benefits under this Agreement will be paid less applicable withholding taxes. The Company is authorized to withhold from any payments or benefits all federal, state, local, and/or foreign taxes required to be withheld from the payments or benefits and make any other required payroll deductions. No member of the Company Group will pay the Executive’s taxes arising from or relating to any payments or benefits under this Agreement.

(h) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

[Signature page follows.]

 

- 9 -


By its signature below, each of the parties signifies its acceptance of the terms of this Agreement, in the case of the Company by its duly authorized officer.

 

COMPANY     BLEND LABS, INC.
    By:  

 

    Title:  

 

    Date:  

 

EXECUTIVE    

 

    NAME
    Date:  

 

[Signature page to Change in Control Severance Agreement]

 

- 10 -

Exhibit 10.8

July 1, 2021

CONFIDENTIAL

Nima Ghamsari

Re: Confirmatory Employment Letter

Dear Nima Ghamsari:

This letter agreement (the “Agreement”) is entered into between Nima Ghamsari (“you”) and Blend Labs, Inc. (the “Company”) effective as of July 1, 2021 (the “Effective Date”), to confirm the terms and conditions of your employment with the Company as of the Effective Date. Except as provided herein, this Agreement supersedes and replaces any and all employment terms, compensation, or benefits you may have had or to which you may have been entitled prior to the Effective Date.

1. Title; Position. Your position will continue to be the Head of Blend and you will continue to report to the Company’s Board of Directors. This is a full-time position. While you render services to the Company, you agree that you will not engage in any other employment, consulting, or other business activity (whether full-time or part-time) that would create a conflict of interest with the Company. By signing this Agreement, you confirm to the Company that you have no contractual commitments or other legal obligations that would prohibit you from performing your duties for the Company.

2. Cash Compensation. Your current annual base salary is $325,000, payable in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll schedule. You are also eligible to receive discretionary bonuses paid by the Company.

3. Employee Benefits. As a regular employee of the Company, you will continue to be eligible to participate in a number of Company-sponsored benefits. In addition, you will continue to be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the Company’s vacation policy, as in effect from time to time. The Company reserves the right to modify, amend, suspend, or terminate the benefit plans, programs, and policies it offers to its employees at any time.

4. Equity Awards. You will be eligible to receive awards of stock options, restricted stock units, or other equity awards pursuant to any plans or arrangements the Company may have in effect from time to time. The Committee will determine in its discretion whether you will be granted any such equity awards and the terms of any such award in accordance with the terms of any applicable plan or arrangement that may be in effect from time to time.

5. Severance. Any severance benefits or arrangements that applied to you before the Effective Date, including any vesting acceleration provisions applicable to equity awards granted to you prior to the Effective Date, will continue to apply following the Effective Date.

6. Proprietary Information. Like all Company employees, you were required, as a condition of your employment with the Company, to sign the Company’s standard Proprietary Information and Invention Assignment Agreement (the “Proprietary Information Agreement”) and your acceptance of this Agreement confirms that the terms of the Proprietary Information Agreement you previously signed with the Company still apply. The Company respects the right of every employer to protect its confidential and


proprietary information. You therefore agree to continue to abide by the Company’s strict policy that prohibits any employee from using, disclosing, or bringing with them from any prior employer any confidential information, trade secrets, proprietary materials, or processes of such former employers. You hereby represent that you have returned all property and confidential information belonging to any prior employers.

7. Employment Relationship. Employment with the Company is for no specific period of time. Your employment with the Company will continue to be “at will,” meaning that either you or the Company may terminate your employment at any time and for any reason, with or without cause. Any contrary representations that may have been made to you are superseded by this Agreement. This is the full and complete agreement between you and the Company on this term. Although your job duties, title, compensation, and benefits, as well as the Company’s personnel policies and procedures, may change from time to time, the “at will” nature of your employment may only be changed in an express written agreement signed by you and a duly authorized officer of the Company (other than you).

8. Withholding Taxes. All forms of compensation referred to in this Agreement are subject to reduction to reflect applicable withholding and payroll taxes and other deductions required by law.

9. Protected Activity Not Prohibited. Nothing in this Agreement or in any other agreement between you and the Company, as applicable, will in any way limit or prohibit you from engaging for a lawful purpose in any Protected Activity. For purposes of this Agreement, “Protected Activity” means filing a charge, complaint, or report with, or otherwise communicating, cooperating, or participating in any investigation or proceeding that may be conducted by, any state, federal, or local governmental agency or commission, including the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the National Labor Relations Board (the “Government Agencies”). You understand that in connection with such Protected Activity, you are permitted to disclose documents or other information as permitted by law, and without giving notice to, or receiving authorization from, the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you agree to take all reasonable precautions to prevent any unauthorized use or disclosure of any information that may constitute Company confidential information under the Proprietary Information Agreement to any parties other than the Government Agencies. You further understand that “Protected Activity” does not include the disclosure of any Company attorney-client privileged communications. Any language in the Proprietary Information Agreement regarding your right to engage in Protected Activity that conflicts with, or is contrary to, this paragraph is superseded by this Agreement. In addition, pursuant to the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, you are notified that an individual will not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that (i) is made in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official (directly or indirectly) or to an attorney solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law, or (ii) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if (and only if) such filing is made under seal. In addition, an individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law may disclose the trade secret to the individual’s attorney and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual files any document containing the trade secret under seal and does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.

10. Interpretation, Amendment, and Enforcement. This Agreement along with the Proprietary Information Agreement constitute the complete agreement between you and the Company, and except as provided herein, contain all of the terms of your employment with the Company and, except as provided herein, supersede any prior agreements, representations, or understandings (whether written, oral, or implied) between you and the Company. This Agreement may not be amended or modified, except by an


express written agreement signed by both you and a duly authorized officer of the Company. The terms of this Agreement and the resolution of any disputes as to the meaning, effect, performance, or validity of this Agreement or arising out of, related to, or in any way connected with, this Agreement, your employment with the Company, or any other relationship between you and the Company (the “Disputes”) will be governed by California law, excluding laws relating to conflicts or choice of law. You and the Company submit to the exclusive personal jurisdiction of the federal and state courts located in California in connection with any Dispute or any claim related to any Dispute.

To confirm the current terms and conditions of your employment, please sign and date in the spaces indicated and return this Agreement to the Company.

 

Sincerely,
Blend Labs, Inc.

I have read and understood this Agreement and hereby acknowledge, accept and agree to the terms as set forth herein and further acknowledge that no other commitments were made to me as part of my employment except as specifically set forth herein.

Date: July 1, 2021

 

Signature:
By:  

/s/ Nima Ghamsari

Nima Ghamsari
Head of Blend

Exhibit 10.9

July 1, 2021

CONFIDENTIAL

Tim Mayopoulos

Re: Confirmatory Employment Letter

Dear Tim Mayopoulos:

This letter agreement (the “Agreement”) is entered into between Tim Mayopoulos (“you”) and Blend Labs, Inc. (the “Company”) effective as of July 1, 2021 (the “Effective Date”), to confirm the terms and conditions of your employment with the Company as of the Effective Date. This Agreement supersedes and replaces any and all employment terms, compensation, or benefits you may have had or to which you may have been entitled prior to the Effective Date.

1. Title; Position. Your position will continue to be President and you will continue to report to the Head of Blend, Nima Ghamsari. This is a full-time position. While you render services to the Company, you agree that you will not engage in any other employment, consulting, or other business activity (whether full-time or part-time) that would create a conflict of interest with the Company. By signing this Agreement, you confirm to the Company that you have no contractual commitments or other legal obligations that would prohibit you from performing your duties for the Company.

2. Cash Compensation. Your current annual base salary is $500,000, payable in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll schedule. You are eligible to earn an annual cash bonus with a target value of $500,000, based on achieving performance objectives established by the Company’s Board of Directors or its designated committee (the Board of Directors or its designated committee, together, the “Committee”) in its sole discretion and payable upon achievement of those objectives as determined by the Committee. If any portion of such bonus is earned, it will be paid when practicable after the Committee determines it has been earned, subject to you remaining employed with the Company through the payment date. Your annual bonus opportunity will be subject to review and adjustment based upon the Company’s normal performance review practices. You are also eligible to receive discretionary bonuses paid by the Company.

3. Employee Benefits / Expenses. As a regular employee of the Company, you will continue to be eligible to participate in a number of Company-sponsored benefits. In addition, you will continue to be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the Company’s vacation policy, as in effect from time to time. The Company reserves the right to modify, amend, suspend, or terminate the benefit plans, programs, and policies it offers to its employees at any time.

During your employment, the Company will reimburse you for your out-of-pocket expenses for housing in San Francisco, California, not to exceed $70,000 (after-tax) in any twelve (12) month period (the “Housing Reimbursement”). During your employment, the Company will also reimburse you for your personal commuting expenses to and from San Francisco, California, not to exceed more than forty (40) round trips in any twelve (12) month period (the “Commuting Reimbursement”). As with other employees, the Company will pay for all of your business-related travel. All expense reimbursements shall be subject to your submission of proper expense reports in accordance with the Company’s expense reimbursement policy.


As the Housing Reimbursement and Commuting Reimbursement may be regarded as income to you for income tax purposes, the Company will pay you each month a Housing Reimbursement or Commuting Reimbursement is due, a payment from the Company (each such payment, a “Reimbursement Gross-Up Payment”) in an amount, determined by the Company, necessary to pay federal, state and local income taxes incurred by you arising from the Housing Reimbursement and Commuting Reimbursement. Each Reimbursement Gross-Up Payment will be calculated by the Company based on the withholding rates the Company has in effect for you at the time the applicable reimbursement is made to you. In order to receive any Housing Reimbursement, Commuting Reimbursement or Reimbursement Gross-Up Payment, you must remain employed with the Company in good standing through the date the such reimbursement and/or Reimbursement Gross-Up Payment, as applicable is paid to you. The total amount of the Housing Reimbursement, Commuting Reimbursement and Reimbursement Gross-Up Payment to you shall not exceed $250,000 in any calendar year.

4. Equity Awards. You will be eligible to receive awards of stock options, restricted stock units, or other equity awards pursuant to any plans or arrangements the Company may have in effect from time to time. The Committee will determine in its discretion whether you will be granted any such equity awards and the terms of any such award in accordance with the terms of any applicable plan or arrangement that may be in effect from time to time.

5. Severance. You will be eligible to enter into a Change in Control and Severance Agreement (the “Severance Agreement”) applicable to you based on your position within the Company. The Severance Agreement will specify the severance payments and benefits you may become entitled to receive in connection with certain qualifying terminations of your employment with the Company. These protections will supersede all other severance payments and benefits to which you otherwise may be entitled, or may become entitled in the future, under any plan, program, or policy that the Company may have in effect from time to time. For purposes of clarification, any severance benefits or arrangements that may have applied to you before the Effective Date no longer will apply and you will have no rights or entitlements under any such plans, programs, agreements, or arrangements.

6. Proprietary Information. Like all Company employees, you were required, as a condition of your employment with the Company, to sign the Company’s standard Proprietary Information and Invention Assignment Agreement (the “Proprietary Information Agreement”) and your acceptance of this Agreement confirms that the terms of the Proprietary Information Agreement you previously signed with the Company still apply. The Company respects the right of every employer to protect its confidential and proprietary information. You therefore agree to continue to abide by the Company’s strict policy that prohibits any employee from using, disclosing, or bringing with them from any prior employer any confidential information, trade secrets, proprietary materials, or processes of such former employers. You hereby represent that you have returned all property and confidential information belonging to any prior employers.

7. Employment Relationship. Employment with the Company is for no specific period of time. Your employment with the Company will continue to be “at will,” meaning that either you or the Company may terminate your employment at any time and for any reason, with or without cause. Any contrary representations that may have been made to you are superseded by this Agreement. This is the full and complete agreement between you and the Company on this term. Although your job duties, title, compensation, and benefits, as well as the Company’s personnel policies and procedures, may change from time to time, the “at will” nature of your employment may only be changed in an express written agreement signed by you and a duly authorized officer of the Company (other than you).


8. Taxes. All forms of compensation referred to in this Agreement are subject to reduction to reflect applicable withholding and payroll taxes and other deductions required by law.

This Agreement and the terms herein are intended to comply with or be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the Treasury Regulations and any formal guidance promulgated thereunder (“Section 409A”), so that none of the payments and benefits to be provided hereunder will be subject to the additional tax imposed by Section 409A, and any ambiguities or ambiguous terms herein will be interpreted to so comply or be so exempt. You must be employed by the Company on the payment date in order to receive any taxable Housing Reimbursement, Commuting Reimbursement or Reimbursement Gross-Up Payment. Accordingly, such reimbursements and benefits are intended to be exempt from Section 409A pursuant to the “short-term deferral” rule set forth in Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) of the Treasury Regulations. Nonetheless, any taxable reimbursements payable to you under Section 3 above will be paid, less applicable withholdings, only with respect to expenses incurred while you are employed by the Company, no later than the last day of your taxable year immediately following your taxable year in which the expense was incurred by you. No such amounts reimbursable to you in one taxable year of yours will affect the amounts reimbursable to you in another taxable year. In no event will the Company or any of its affiliates have any responsibility, liability or obligation to reimburse or indemnify you, or hold you harmless, for any tax imposed, or other costs incurred, as a result of Section 409A.

9. Protected Activity Not Prohibited. Nothing in this Agreement or in any other agreement between you and the Company, as applicable, will in any way limit or prohibit you from engaging for a lawful purpose in any Protected Activity. For purposes of this Agreement, “Protected Activity” means filing a charge, complaint, or report with, or otherwise communicating, cooperating, or participating in any investigation or proceeding that may be conducted by, any state, federal, or local governmental agency or commission, including the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the National Labor Relations Board (the “Government Agencies”). You understand that in connection with such Protected Activity, you are permitted to disclose documents or other information as permitted by law, and without giving notice to, or receiving authorization from, the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you agree to take all reasonable precautions to prevent any unauthorized use or disclosure of any information that may constitute Company confidential information under the Proprietary Information Agreement to any parties other than the Government Agencies. You further understand that “Protected Activity” does not include the disclosure of any Company attorney-client privileged communications. Any language in the Proprietary Information Agreement regarding your right to engage in Protected Activity that conflicts with, or is contrary to, this paragraph is superseded by this Agreement. In addition, pursuant to the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, you are notified that an individual will not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that (i) is made in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official (directly or indirectly) or to an attorney solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law, or (ii) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if (and only if) such filing is made under seal. In addition, an individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law may disclose the trade secret to the individual’s attorney and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual files any document containing the trade secret under seal and does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.


10. Interpretation, Amendment, and Enforcement. This Agreement along with the Proprietary Information Agreement and the Severance Agreement constitute the complete agreement between you and the Company, contain all of the terms of your employment with the Company and supersede any prior agreements, representations, or understandings (whether written, oral, or implied) between you and the Company. This Agreement may not be amended or modified, except by an express written agreement signed by both you and a duly authorized officer of the Company. The terms of this Agreement and the resolution of any disputes as to the meaning, effect, performance, or validity of this Agreement or arising out of, related to, or in any way connected with, this Agreement, your employment with the Company, or any other relationship between you and the Company (the “Disputes”) will be governed by California law, excluding laws relating to conflicts or choice of law. You and the Company submit to the exclusive personal jurisdiction of the federal and state courts located in California in connection with any Dispute or any claim related to any Dispute.

To confirm the current terms and conditions of your employment, please sign and date in the spaces indicated and return this Agreement to the Company.

 

Sincerely,
Blend Labs, Inc.

I have read and understood this Agreement and hereby acknowledge, accept and agree to the terms as set forth herein and further acknowledge that no other commitments were made to me as part of my employment except as specifically set forth herein.

Date: July 1, 2021

 

Signature: /s/ Timothy J. Mayopoulos
By: Timothy J. Mayopoulos
Tim Mayopoulos
President

Exhibit 10.10

June 29, 2021

CONFIDENTIAL

Crystal Sumner

Re: Confirmatory Employment Letter

Dear Crystal Sumner:

This letter agreement (the “Agreement”) is entered into between Crystal Sumner (“you”) and Blend Labs, Inc. (the “Company”) effective as of June 29, 2021 (the “Effective Date”), to confirm the terms and conditions of your employment with the Company as of the Effective Date. This Agreement supersedes and replaces any and all employment terms, compensation, or benefits you may have had or to which you may have been entitled prior to the Effective Date.

1. Title; Position. Your position will continue to be Head of Legal and you will continue to report to our President, Tim Mayopoulos. This is a full-time position. While you render services to the Company, you agree that you will not engage in any other employment, consulting, or other business activity (whether full-time or part-time) that would create a conflict of interest with the Company. By signing this Agreement, you confirm to the Company that you have no contractual commitments or other legal obligations that would prohibit you from performing your duties for the Company.

2. Cash Compensation. Your current annual base salary is $350,000, payable in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll schedule. You are eligible to earn an annual cash bonus with a target value of $25,000, based on achieving performance objectives established by the Company’s Board of Directors or its designated committee (the Board of Directors or its designated committee, together, the “Committee”) in its sole discretion and payable upon achievement of those objectives as determined by the Committee. If any portion of such bonus is earned, it will be paid when practicable after the Committee determines it has been earned, subject to you remaining employed with the Company through the payment date. Your annual bonus opportunity will be subject to review and adjustment based upon the Company’s normal performance review practices. You are also eligible to receive discretionary bonuses paid by the Company.

3. Employee Benefits. As a regular employee of the Company, you will continue to be eligible to participate in a number of Company-sponsored benefits. In addition, you will continue to be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the Company’s vacation policy, as in effect from time to time. The Company reserves the right to modify, amend, suspend, or terminate the benefit plans, programs, and policies it offers to its employees at any time.

4. Equity Awards. You will be eligible to receive awards of stock options, restricted stock units, or other equity awards pursuant to any plans or arrangements the Company may have in effect from time to time. The Committee will determine in its discretion whether you will be granted any such equity awards and the terms of any such award in accordance with the terms of any applicable plan or arrangement that may be in effect from time to time.


5. Proprietary Information. Like all Company employees, you were required, as a condition of your employment with the Company, to sign the Company’s standard Proprietary Information and Invention Assignment Agreement (the “Proprietary Information Agreement”) and your acceptance of this Agreement confirms that the terms of the Proprietary Information Agreement you previously signed with the Company still apply. The Company respects the right of every employer to protect its confidential and proprietary information. You therefore agree to continue to abide by the Company’s strict policy that prohibits any employee from using, disclosing, or bringing with them from any prior employer any confidential information, trade secrets, proprietary materials, or processes of such former employers. You hereby represent that you have returned all property and confidential information belonging to any prior employers.

6. Employment Relationship. Employment with the Company is for no specific period of time. Your employment with the Company will continue to be “at will,” meaning that either you or the Company may terminate your employment at any time and for any reason, with or without cause. Any contrary representations that may have been made to you are superseded by this Agreement. This is the full and complete agreement between you and the Company on this term. Although your job duties, title, compensation, and benefits, as well as the Company’s personnel policies and procedures, may change from time to time, the “at will” nature of your employment may only be changed in an express written agreement signed by you and a duly authorized officer of the Company (other than you).

7. Withholding Taxes. All forms of compensation referred to in this Agreement are subject to reduction to reflect applicable withholding and payroll taxes and other deductions required by law.

8. Protected Activity Not Prohibited. Nothing in this Agreement or in any other agreement between you and the Company, as applicable, will in any way limit or prohibit you from engaging for a lawful purpose in any Protected Activity. For purposes of this Agreement, “Protected Activity” means filing a charge, complaint, or report with, or otherwise communicating, cooperating, or participating in any investigation or proceeding that may be conducted by, any state, federal, or local governmental agency or commission, including the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the National Labor Relations Board (the “Government Agencies”). You understand that in connection with such Protected Activity, you are permitted to disclose documents or other information as permitted by law, and without giving notice to, or receiving authorization from, the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you agree to take all reasonable precautions to prevent any unauthorized use or disclosure of any information that may constitute Company confidential information under the Proprietary Information Agreement to any parties other than the Government Agencies. You further understand that “Protected Activity” does not include the disclosure of any Company attorney-client privileged communications. Any language in the Proprietary Information Agreement regarding your right to engage in Protected Activity that conflicts with, or is contrary to, this paragraph is superseded by this Agreement. In addition, pursuant to the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, you are notified that an individual will not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that (i) is made in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official (directly or indirectly) or to an attorney solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law, or (ii) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if (and only if) such filing is made under seal. In addition, an individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law may disclose the trade secret to the individual’s attorney and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual files any document containing the trade secret under seal and does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.


9. Interpretation, Amendment, and Enforcement. This Agreement along with the Proprietary Information Agreement and the Severance Agreement constitute the complete agreement between you and the Company, contain all of the terms of your employment with the Company and supersede any prior agreements, representations, or understandings (whether written, oral, or implied) between you and the Company. This Agreement may not be amended or modified, except by an express written agreement signed by both you and a duly authorized officer of the Company. The terms of this Agreement and the resolution of any disputes as to the meaning, effect, performance, or validity of this Agreement or arising out of, related to, or in any way connected with, this Agreement, your employment with the Company, or any other relationship between you and the Company (the “Disputes”) will be governed by California law, excluding laws relating to conflicts or choice of law. You and the Company submit to the exclusive personal jurisdiction of the federal and state courts located in California in connection with any Dispute or any claim related to any Dispute.

To confirm the current terms and conditions of your employment, please sign and date in the spaces indicated and return this Agreement to the Company.

 

Sincerely,
Blend Labs, Inc.

I have read and understood this Agreement and hereby acknowledge, accept and agree to the terms as set forth herein and further acknowledge that no other commitments were made to me as part of my employment except as specifically set forth herein.

Date:

 

7/1/2021

Signature:
By:  

/s/ Crystal Sumner

Crystal Sumner
Head of Legal

Exhibit 10.11

June 29, 2021

CONFIDENTIAL

Marc Greenberg

Re: Confirmatory Employment Letter

Dear Marc Greenberg:

This letter agreement (the “Agreement”) is entered into between Marc Greenberg (“you”) and Blend Labs, Inc. (the “Company”) effective as of June 29, 2021 (the “Effective Date”), to confirm the terms and conditions of your employment with the Company as of the Effective Date. This Agreement supersedes and replaces any and all employment terms, compensation, or benefits you may have had or to which you may have been entitled prior to the Effective Date.

1. Title; Position. Your position will continue to be Head of Finance and you will continue to report to our President, Tim Mayopoulos. This is a full-time position. While you render services to the Company, you agree that you will not engage in any other employment, consulting, or other business activity (whether full-time or part-time) that would create a conflict of interest with the Company. By signing this Agreement, you confirm to the Company that you have no contractual commitments or other legal obligations that would prohibit you from performing your duties for the Company.

2. Cash Compensation. Your current annual base salary is $350,000 payable in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll schedule. You are eligible to earn an annual cash bonus with a target value of $85,000, based on achieving performance objectives established by the Company’s Board of Directors or its designated committee (the Board of Directors or its designated committee, together, the “Committee”) in its sole discretion and payable upon achievement of those objectives as determined by the Committee. If any portion of such bonus is earned, it will be paid when practicable after the Committee determines it has been earned, subject to you remaining employed with the Company through the payment date. Your annual bonus opportunity will be subject to review and adjustment based upon the Company’s normal performance review practices. You are also eligible to receive discretionary bonuses paid by the Company.

3. Employee Benefits. As a regular employee of the Company, you will continue to be eligible to participate in a number of Company-sponsored benefits. In addition, you will continue to be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the Company’s vacation policy, as in effect from time to time. The Company reserves the right to modify, amend, suspend, or terminate the benefit plans, programs, and policies it offers to its employees at any time.

4. Equity Awards. You will be eligible to receive awards of stock options, restricted stock units, or other equity awards pursuant to any plans or arrangements the Company may have in effect from time to time. The Committee will determine in its discretion whether you will be granted any such equity awards and the terms of any such award in accordance with the terms of any applicable plan or arrangement that may be in effect from time to time.


5. Proprietary Information. Like all Company employees, you were required, as a condition of your employment with the Company, to sign the Company’s standard Proprietary Information and Invention Assignment Agreement (the “Proprietary Information Agreement”) and your acceptance of this Agreement confirms that the terms of the Proprietary Information Agreement you previously signed with the Company still apply. The Company respects the right of every employer to protect its confidential and proprietary information. You therefore agree to continue to abide by the Company’s strict policy that prohibits any employee from using, disclosing, or bringing with them from any prior employer any confidential information, trade secrets, proprietary materials, or processes of such former employers. You hereby represent that you have returned all property and confidential information belonging to any prior employers.

6. Employment Relationship. Employment with the Company is for no specific period of time. Your employment with the Company will continue to be “at will,” meaning that either you or the Company may terminate your employment at any time and for any reason, with or without cause. Any contrary representations that may have been made to you are superseded by this Agreement. This is the full and complete agreement between you and the Company on this term. Although your job duties, title, compensation, and benefits, as well as the Company’s personnel policies and procedures, may change from time to time, the “at will” nature of your employment may only be changed in an express written agreement signed by you and a duly authorized officer of the Company (other than you).

7. Withholding Taxes. All forms of compensation referred to in this Agreement are subject to reduction to reflect applicable withholding and payroll taxes and other deductions required by law.

8. Protected Activity Not Prohibited. Nothing in this Agreement or in any other agreement between you and the Company, as applicable, will in any way limit or prohibit you from engaging for a lawful purpose in any Protected Activity. For purposes of this Agreement, “Protected Activity” means filing a charge, complaint, or report with, or otherwise communicating, cooperating, or participating in any investigation or proceeding that may be conducted by, any state, federal, or local governmental agency or commission, including the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the National Labor Relations Board (the “Government Agencies”). You understand that in connection with such Protected Activity, you are permitted to disclose documents or other information as permitted by law, and without giving notice to, or receiving authorization from, the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you agree to take all reasonable precautions to prevent any unauthorized use or disclosure of any information that may constitute Company confidential information under the Proprietary Information Agreement to any parties other than the Government Agencies. You further understand that “Protected Activity” does not include the disclosure of any Company attorney-client privileged communications. Any language in the Proprietary Information Agreement regarding your right to engage in Protected Activity that conflicts with, or is contrary to, this paragraph is superseded by this Agreement. In addition, pursuant to the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, you are notified that an individual will not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that (i) is made in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official (directly or indirectly) or to an attorney solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law, or (ii) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if (and only if) such filing is made under seal. In addition, an individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law may disclose the trade secret to the individual’s attorney and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual files any document containing the trade secret under seal and does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.


9. Interpretation, Amendment, and Enforcement. This Agreement along with the Proprietary Information Agreement and the Severance Agreement constitute the complete agreement between you and the Company, contain all of the terms of your employment with the Company and supersede any prior agreements, representations, or understandings (whether written, oral, or implied) between you and the Company. This Agreement may not be amended or modified, except by an express written agreement signed by both you and a duly authorized officer of the Company. The terms of this Agreement and the resolution of any disputes as to the meaning, effect, performance, or validity of this Agreement or arising out of, related to, or in any way connected with, this Agreement, your employment with the Company, or any other relationship between you and the Company (the “Disputes”) will be governed by California law, excluding laws relating to conflicts or choice of law. You and the Company submit to the exclusive personal jurisdiction of the federal and state courts located in California in connection with any Dispute or any claim related to any Dispute.

To confirm the current terms and conditions of your employment, please sign and date in the spaces indicated and return this Agreement to the Company.

 

Sincerely,
Blend Labs, Inc.

I have read and understood this Agreement and hereby acknowledge, accept and agree to the terms as set forth herein and further acknowledge that no other commitments were made to me as part of my employment except as specifically set forth herein.

 

Date:  

6/30/2021

Signature:
By:  

/s/ Marc Greenberg

Marc Greenberg
Head of Finance

Exhibit 10.14

BLEND LABS, INC.

STAND-ALONE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

 

I.

NOTICE OF STOCK OPTION GRANT

Name: Nima Ghamsari

Address:

The undersigned Participant has been granted a Nonstatutory Stock Option to purchase Common Stock of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of this Stand-Alone Stock Option Agreement (the “Option Agreement”), as follows:

 

Date of Grant:   

March 31, 2021

Exercise Price per Share:   

$2.86

Total Number of Shares Granted:   

78,171,543

Total Exercise Price:   

$223,570,612.98

Type of Option:   

Nonstatutory Stock Option

Term/Expiration Date:   

March 31, 2036

Vesting Schedule:

The Option shall vest and be exercisable, in whole or in part, according to the vesting schedule set forth on Exhibit B attached hereto.

Termination Period:

Following the Termination Date, the vested portion of the Option shall be exercisable in accordance with the following:

 

   

Upon a voluntary termination of service that is not a termination by Participant for Good Reason, the vested portion of the Option may be exercised for one (1) year following the Termination Date.

 

   

Upon a Qualifying Termination, (i) the vested portion of the Option (other than Vesting Eligible Shares that vest following the Termination Date) may be exercised for one (1) year following the Termination Date; and (ii) Vesting Eligible Shares that vest following the Termination Date may be exercised for one (1) year following the date such Shares vest.


   

Upon a termination of service due to Participant’s death or Disability, the vested portion of the Option may be exercised for one (1) year following the Termination Date.

 

   

Upon a termination of Participant’s service for Cause, the vested portion of the Option will terminate immediately for no consideration.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event may the Option be exercised after the Term/Expiration Date as provided above and the Option may be subject to earlier termination as provided in this Option Agreement.

 

II.

AGREEMENT

1. Definitions. As used herein, the following definitions shall apply:

(a) “Achievement Date” means the first Trading Day on or following an IPO with respect to the first Tranche (as defined below) or the first Trading Day occurring during the Performance Period in which a Company Stock Price Hurdle is achieved. For the avoidance of doubt, (i) each Company Stock Price Hurdle may only be achieved once during the Performance Period, and (ii) more than one Company Stock Price Hurdle may be achieved on a particular date. No partial achievement will occur and no Shares subject to the Option will vest for achievement between two Company Stock Price Hurdles.

(b) “Administrator” means the Board or any of its Committees as will be administering the Option. The Administrator has full authority and discretion to administer this Agreement, including but not limited to the authority to: (i) modify or amend the Option (subject to Section 14 of this Option Agreement), including, but not limited to, the discretionary authority to extend the post-termination exercise period of the Option; (ii) authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument required to effect the grant or amendment of the Option previously granted or amended by the Board; (iii) provide for the transferability of the Option; (iv) to institute and determine the terms and conditions of an Exchange Program, including to unilaterally implement an Exchange Program without the consent of Participant, provided that such Exchange Program does not impair the rights of Participant, unless mutually agreed otherwise between Participant and the Administrator in a writing signed by Participant and the Company; and (v) construe and interpret the terms of the Option. All decisions, determinations and interpretations of the Board shall be final and binding on Participant.

(c) “Applicable Laws” means the legal and regulatory requirements relating to the administration of equity-based awards, including but not limited to the related issuance of Shares under U.S. federal and state corporate laws, U.S. federal and state securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and, only to the extent applicable with respect to the Option, the tax, securities, exchange control, and other laws of any jurisdictions other than the United States where the Option is, or will be, granted. Reference to a section of an Applicable Law or regulation related to that section shall include such section or regulation, any valid regulation issued under such section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.

 

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(d) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

(e) “Cause” means (i) Participant’s conviction of, or plea of “guilty” or “no contest” to, a felony under the laws of the Unites States or any State thereof; (ii) an unauthorized use or disclosure by Participant of the Company’s confidential information or trade secrets, which use or disclosure causes material harm to the Company; (iii) a material breach by Participant of any written agreement between Participant and the Company regarding the terms of Participant’s service to the Company; (iv) a material failure by Participant to comply with the Company’s written policies or rules that causes material harm to the Company; (v) Participant’s gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance in his duties to the Company that causes material harm to the Company; (vi) a continuing failure by Participant to perform assigned duties after receiving written notification of such failure from the Board; or (vii) a failure by Participant to participate in good faith with a governmental or internal investigation of the Company or its directors, officers or employees, if the Company has requested Participant’s cooperation; provided that any action, failure, breach or misconduct described in clauses (ii) through (vii) will constitute “Cause” only if such action, failure, breach or misconduct continues after the Company has provided Participant with written notice and thirty (30) days to cure the same if such action, failure, breach or misconduct is curable.

(f) “Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:

(i) A change in the ownership of the Company which occurs on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group (“Person”), acquires ownership of the stock of the Company that, with the stock held by such Person, constitutes more than 50% of the total voting power of the stock of the Company; provided, that for this subsection, the acquisition of additional stock by any one Person, who prior to such acquisition is considered to own more than 50% of the total voting power of the stock of the Company will not be considered a Change in Control and provided, further, that any change in the ownership of the stock of the Company as a result of a private financing of the Company that is approved by the Board also will not be considered a Change in Control. Further, if the stockholders of the Company immediately before such change in ownership continue to retain immediately after the change in ownership, in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares of the Company’s voting stock immediately prior to the change in ownership, direct or indirect beneficial ownership of 50% or more of the total voting power of the stock of the Company or of the ultimate parent entity of the Company, such event shall not be considered a Change in Control under this Section 2(f)(i). For this purpose, indirect beneficial ownership shall include, without limitation, an interest resulting from ownership of the voting securities of one or more corporations or other business entities which own the Company, as the case may be, either directly or through one or more subsidiary corporations or other business entities; or

(ii) A change in the effective control of the Company which occurs on the date a majority of members of the Board is replaced during any twelve (12)-month period by Directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board prior to the appointment or election. For purposes of this Section 2(f)(ii), if any Person is considered to be in effective control of the Company, the acquisition of additional control of the Company by the same Person will not be considered a Change in Control; or

 

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(iii) A change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets which occurs on the date that any Person acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such Person or Persons) assets from the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than 50% of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the Company immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions; provided, that for this Section 2(f)(iii), the following will not constitute a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets:

(1) a transfer to an entity controlled by the Company’s stockholders immediately after the transfer, or

(2) a transfer of assets by the Company to:

(A) a stockholder of the Company (immediately before the asset transfer) in exchange for or with respect to the Company’s stock,

(B) an entity, 50% or more of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company,

(C) a Person, that owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the total value or voting power of all the outstanding stock of the Company, or

(D) an entity, at least 50% of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by a Person described in Section 2(f)(iii)(2)(A) to Section 2(f)(iii)(2)(C).

For this definition, gross fair market value means the value of the assets of the Company, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets. For this definition, persons will be acting as a group if they are owners of a corporation that enters into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of stock, or similar business transaction with the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company shall not be considered “Persons” for purposes of this Section 2(f).

For purposes of this Section 2(f), persons will be considered to be acting as a group if they are owners of a corporation that enters into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of stock, or similar business transaction with the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company shall not be considered “Persons” for purposes of this Section 2(f).

(iv) A transaction will not be a Change in Control:

(1) unless the transaction qualifies as a change in control event within the meaning of Code Section 409A; or

(2) if its primary purpose is to (1) change the jurisdiction of the Company’s incorporation, or (2) create a holding company owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the Company’s securities immediately before such transaction.

 

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(g) “Closing” means the closing of the first Change in Control that occurs following the Date of Grant.

(h) “Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Reference to a section of the Code or regulation related to that section shall include such section or regulation, any valid regulation issued or other official applicable guidance of general or direct applicability promulgated under such section or regulation, and any comparable provision of any future legislation, regulation or official guidance of general or direct applicability amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.

(i) “Committee” means a committee of Directors or of other individuals satisfying Applicable Laws appointed by the Board.

(j) “Common Stock” means the Class B Common Stock of the Company.

(k) “Company” means Blend Labs, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor thereto.

(l) “Company Stock Price” means the average closing price of a Share as reported on a Stock Exchange for each Trading Day during any ninety (90) consecutive calendar day period during the Performance Period (the “90-day average”) and the average closing price of a Share as reported on a Stock Exchange for each Trading Day during the last thirty (30) consecutive calendar day period during such 90-day average (the “30-day average”) and both the 90-day average and the 30-day average must be satisfied to satisfy any Company Stock Price Hurdle. For the avoidance of doubt, if the 90-day average with respect to a particular Company Stock Price Hurdle is satisfied, but the Company Stock Price Hurdle is not achieved for the last thirty (30) consecutive calendar day period in such ninety (90) day period, the Company Stock Price Hurdle will not be achieved for such time period.

(m) “Company Stock Price Hurdle” means each Company Stock Price set forth in the table in Section 2 of Exhibit B.

(n) “Consultant” means any natural person, including an advisor, engaged by the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company to render bona fide services to such entity, provided the services (i) are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction, and (ii) do not directly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities, in each case, within the meaning of Form S-8 promulgated under the Securities Act, and provided, further, that a Consultant will include only those persons to whom the issuance of Shares may be registered under Form S-8 promulgated under the Securities Act.

(o) “Direct Listing” means the consummation of the direct listing or direct placement of the Common Stock in a publicly traded exchange, as a result of or following which the Common Stock will be publicly held and listed on a Stock Exchange.

(p) “Director” means a member of the Board.

 

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(q) “Disability” means total and permanent disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

(r) “Employee” means any person, including Officers and Directors, employed by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company. Neither service as a Director nor payment of a director’s fee by the Company will be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company.

(s) “Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(t) “Exchange Program” means a program under which (i) the Option is surrendered or cancelled in exchange for awards of the same type (which may have higher or lower exercise prices and different terms), awards of a different type, and/or cash; (ii) Participant would have the opportunity to transfer the Option to a financial institution or other person or entity selected by the Administrator; and/or (iii) the exercise price of the Option is reduced or increased. The Administrator will determine the terms and conditions of any Exchange Program in its sole discretion.

(u) “Good Reason” means that Participant resigns within twelve (12) months after one of the following conditions has come into existence without his consent: (i) a reduction in Participant’s base salary by more than 10%; (ii) a material diminution of Participant’s authority, duties or responsibilities; (iii) a relocation of Participant’s principal workplace by more than thirty (30) miles; or (iv) a material breach by the Company of this Option Agreement. A condition shall not be considered “Good Reason” unless Participant gives the Company written notice of such condition within ninety (90) days after such condition comes into existence and the Company fails to remedy such condition within thirty (30) days after receiving Participant’s written notice.

(v) “Holding Period Condition” means that, with respect to certain Shares received following the exercise of the Option, such Shares may not be sold, transferred, hypothecated, pledged, or otherwise disposed of before the earliest of: (i) the two (2) year anniversary of the vesting date of such Shares; (ii) a Change in Control; or (iii) the date Participant’s service terminates due to Participant’s death or Disability; provided, however, Participant may conduct transactions that involve merely a change in the form in which Participant owns such Shares (for example, the transfer of the Shares to an inter vivos trust for which Participant is the beneficiary during Participant’s lifetime. For purposes of clarification, Participant may exercise the vested portion of the Option prior to the satisfaction of the Holding Period Condition, but the exercised Shares will remain subject to the Holding Period Condition. To enforce the Holding Period Condition, the Company, in its discretion, may take any action it determines reasonable or necessary, including attaching applicable legends on the Shares, or transferring the Shares to an escrow account or captive broker, which, in either case, is selected by the Company, and which conditions will expire once the Holding Period Condition is satisfied in accordance with the preceding sentence.

(w) “IPO” means an Underwritten Offering, a Direct Listing, or a SPAC IPO.

 

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(x) “IPO Event” means (i) the expiration of the lock-up period described in Section 4 of this Option Agreement following an Underwritten Offering (but in all cases, no earlier than the ninetieth (90th) day following an Underwritten Offering); (ii) the ninetieth (90th) day following a Direct Listing; or (iii) the ninetieth (90th) day following a SPAC IPO.

(y) “Nonstatutory Stock Option” means an Option that by its terms does not qualify or is not intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Code Section 422 and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

(z) “Officer” means a person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

(aa) “Option” means the option to purchase shares of Common Stock granted pursuant to this Option Agreement.

(bb) “Parent” means a “parent corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Code Section 424(e).

(cc) “Participant” means the person named in the Notice of Stock Option Grant or such person’s successor.

(dd) “Per Share Deal Price” means the total amount of cash consideration and value of any non-cash consideration received or potentially receivable for a Share by holders of Common Stock in connection with a Change in Control. The value of any non-cash consideration will be determined in good faith by the Board, except that if such non-cash consideration is in the form of publicly traded securities, then the value of such publicly traded securities will be based on the volume weighted average closing trading price of such publicly traded securities over the five (5) trading day period ending three (3) business days prior to the Closing.

(ee) “Performance Period” means the period (i) commencing on the first Trading Day on or following an IPO Event, and (ii) ending on the first to occur of (A) Participant’s failure to satisfy the Service Condition; (B) a Closing; or (C) the ten (10) year anniversary of the Date of Grant.

(ff) “Qualifying Termination” means a termination of Participant’s service either (i) by the Company (or any Parent or Subsidiary) without Cause and other than by reason of Participant’s death or Disability, or (ii) by Participant for Good Reason.

(gg) “Section 409A” means Code Section 409A and the Treasury Regulations and guidance thereunder, and any applicable state law equivalent, as each may be promulgated, amended or modified from time to time.

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

(ii) “Service Condition” means, prior to a Closing, (i) Participant’s continuous service as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, or (ii) Participant remaining in the Vesting Eligibility Window, in either event, through the Achievement Date.

 

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(jj) “Service Provider” means an Employee, Director or Consultant.

(kk) “Share” means a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in accordance with the terms of this Option Agreement.

(ll) “SPAC IPO” means the Company’s completion of a merger or consolidation with a special purpose acquisition company or its subsidiary in which the shares (or similar securities) of the surviving or parent entity are listed on a Stock Exchange.

(mm) “Stock Exchange” means an established stock exchange or a national market system, including without limitation the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market or the Nasdaq Capital Market of The Nasdaq Stock Market or other reputable and internationally recognized foreign exchange.

(nn) “Subsidiary” means a “subsidiary corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Code Section 424(f).

(oo) “Termination Date” means the date Participant ceases to be a Service Provider.

(pp) “Trading Day” means a day on which the primary stock exchange or national market system (or other trading platform, as applicable) on which the Common Stock trades is open for trading.

(qq) “Underwritten Offering” means the consummation of the first firm commitment underwritten public offering pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, covering the offer and sale by the Company of Common Stock, as a result of or following which the equity securities will be publicly held and listed on a Stock Exchange.

(rr) “Vesting Eligibility Window” means, if during the period between the five (5) year anniversary of the Date of Grant and the end of the Performance Period, (i) Participant’s status as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer terminates due to a change in role on terms determined by the Company; provided, however, that Participant remains a Service Provider following such change (a “Change in Role”); (ii) Participant’s status as a Service Provider is terminated due to a mutually-agreed departure between Participant and the Company (a “Agreed Departure”); or (iii) Participant undergoes a Qualifying Termination (the date of such Change in Role, Agreed Departure or Qualifying Termination, the “Vesting Eligibility Window Start Date”), a number of Shares equal to the Vesting Eligible Shares will remain outstanding and eligible to vest, subject to the satisfaction of the Company Stock Price Hurdle during the Performance Period.

(ss) “Vesting Eligible Shares” means that number of unvested Shares subject to the Option that remain eligible to vest during the Vesting Eligibility Window, in accordance with the provisions set forth in Exhibit B.

2. Grant of Option. The Board grants to the Participant named in the Notice of Stock Option Grant in Part I of this Option Agreement, the Option to purchase the number of Shares set forth in the Notice of Stock Option Grant, at the exercise price per Share set forth in the Notice of Stock Option Grant (the “Exercise Price”), and subject to the terms and conditions of this Option Agreement.

 

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3. Exercise of Option.

(a) Right to Exercise. The Option shall be exercisable during its term in accordance with the Vesting Schedule set out in the Notice of Stock Option Grant and Exhibit B and with the applicable provisions of this Option Agreement.

(b) Method of Exercise. The Option shall be exercisable by delivery of an exercise notice in the form attached as Exhibit A (the “Exercise Notice”) or in a manner and pursuant to such procedures as the Administrator may determine, which shall state the election to exercise the Option, the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised (the “Exercised Shares”), and such other representations and agreements as may be required by the Company. The Exercise Notice shall be accompanied by payment of the aggregate Exercise Price as to all Exercised Shares, together with any applicable tax withholding. The Option shall be deemed to be exercised upon receipt by the Company of such fully executed Exercise Notice accompanied by the aggregate Exercise Price, together with any applicable tax withholding.

No Shares shall be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Option unless such issuance and such exercise comply with Applicable Laws. Assuming such compliance, for income tax purposes the Shares shall be considered transferred to Participant on the date on which the Option is exercised with respect to such Shares.

4. Lock-Up Period. Participant hereby agrees that Participant shall not offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Common Stock (or other securities) of the Company or enter into any swap, hedging or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Common Stock (or other securities) of the Company held by Participant (other than those included in the registration) for such period of time as applies to holders of Common Stock generally as requested by the representative of the underwriters of Common Stock (or other securities) of the Company.

Participant agrees to execute and deliver such other agreements as may be reasonably requested by the Company or the underwriter which are consistent with the foregoing or which are necessary to give further effect thereto. In addition, if requested by the Company or the representative of the underwriters of Common Stock (or other securities) of the Company, Participant shall provide, within ten (10) days of such request, such information as may be required by the Company or such representative in connection with the completion of any public offering of the Company’s securities pursuant to a registration statement filed under the Securities Act. The obligations described in this Section 4 shall not apply to a registration relating solely to employee benefit plans on Form S-1 or Form S-8 or similar forms that may be promulgated in the future, or a registration relating solely to a Commission Rule 145 transaction on Form S-4 or similar forms that may be promulgated in the future. The Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to the shares of Common Stock (or other securities) subject to the foregoing restriction until the end of said period. Participant agrees that any transferee of the Option or shares acquired pursuant to the Option shall be bound by this Section 4.

 

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5. Method of Payment. Payment of the aggregate Exercise Price shall be by any of the following, or a combination thereof, at the election of the Participant:

(a) cash;

(b) check;

(c) consideration received by the Company under a formal cashless exercise program adopted by the Company in connection with the Option; or

(d) surrender of other Shares which (i) shall be valued at its fair market value on the date of exercise, and (ii) must be owned free and clear of any liens, claims, encumbrances or security interests, if accepting such Shares, in the sole discretion of the Administrator, shall not result in any adverse accounting consequences to the Company.

6. Restrictions on Exercise. The Option may not be exercised if the issuance of such Shares upon such exercise or the method of payment of consideration for such Shares would constitute a violation of any Applicable Laws.

7. Non-Transferability of Option.

(a) The Option may not be transferred in any manner otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised during the lifetime of Participant only by Participant. The terms of this Option Agreement shall be binding upon the executors, administrators, heirs, successors and assigns of Participant.

(b) Further, until the Company becomes subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, or after the Administrator determines that it is, will, or may no longer be relying upon the exemption from registration of Options under the Exchange Act as set forth in Rule 12h-1(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act (the “Rule 12h-1(f) Exemption”) (such date, the “Reliance End Date”), Participant shall not transfer the Option or, prior to exercise, the Shares subject to the Option, in any manner other than (i) to persons who are “family members” (as defined in Rule 701(c)(3) of the Securities Act) through gifts or domestic relations orders, or (ii) to an executor or guardian of Participant upon the death or disability of Participant in each case, to the extent required for continued reliance on the Rule 12h-1(f) Exemption. Until the Reliance End Date, the Options and, prior to exercise, the Shares subject to the Option, may not be pledged, hypothecated or otherwise transferred or disposed of, including by entering into any short position, any “put equivalent position” or any “call equivalent position” (as defined in Rule 16a-1(h) and Rule 16a-1(b) of the Exchange Act, respectively), other than as permitted in clauses (i) and (ii) of this paragraph. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may determine to permit transfers to the Company or in connection with a Change in Control or other acquisition transactions involving the Company to the extent permitted by Rule 12h-1(f) or, if the Company is not relying on the Rule 12h-1(f) Exemption, to the extent permitted by this Option Agreement.

 

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8. Rights as a Stockholder. Until the Shares are issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder will exist with respect to the Shares subject to an Option, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. The Company will issue (or cause to be issued) such Shares promptly after the Option is exercised. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the Shares are issued, except as otherwise provided in this Option Agreement.

9. Term of Option. The Option may be exercised only within the term set out in the Notice of Stock Option Grant, and may be exercised during such term only in accordance with the terms of this Option Agreement.

10. Tax Obligations.

(a) Tax Withholding. Participant agrees to make appropriate arrangements with the Company (or the Parent or Subsidiary employing or retaining Participant) for the satisfaction of all Federal, state, local and foreign income and employment tax withholding requirements applicable to the Option exercise. Participant acknowledges and agrees that the Company may refuse to honor the exercise and refuse to deliver the Shares if such withholding amounts are not delivered at the time of exercise. The Administrator, in its sole discretion and pursuant to such procedures as it may specify from time to time, may permit a Participant to satisfy such tax withholding obligation, in whole or in part by such methods as the Administrator shall determine, including, without limitation, (i) paying cash, (ii) electing to have the Company withhold otherwise deliverable Shares having a fair market value equal to the minimum statutory amount required to be withheld or such greater amount as the Administrator may determine if such amount would not have adverse accounting consequences, as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion, (iii) delivering to the Company already-owned Shares having a fair market value equal to the statutory amount required to be withheld or such greater amount as the Administrator may determine, in each case, provided the delivery of such Shares will not result in any adverse accounting consequences, as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion, (iv) selling a sufficient number of Shares otherwise deliverable to the Participant through such means as the Administrator may determine in its sole discretion (whether through a broker or otherwise) equal to the amount required to be withheld, (v) such other consideration and method of payment for the meeting of tax withholding obligations as the Administrator may determine to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, or (vi) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment. The amount of the withholding requirement will be deemed to include any amount which the Administrator agrees may be withheld at the time the election is made, not to exceed the amount determined by using the maximum federal, state or local marginal income tax rates applicable to the Participant with respect to the Option on the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined or such greater amount as the Administrator may determine if such amount would not have adverse accounting consequences, as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion. The fair market value of the Shares to be withheld or delivered will be determined as of the date that the taxes are required to be withheld.

 

-11-


(b) Code Section 409A. Under Code Section 409A, a stock right (such as the Option) that vests after December 31, 2004 (or that vested on or prior to such date but which was materially modified after October 3, 2004) that was granted with a per share exercise price that is determined by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) to be less than the fair market value of an underlying share on the date of grant (a “discount option”) may be considered “deferred compensation.” A stock right that is a “discount option” may result in (i) income recognition by the recipient of the stock right prior to the exercise of the stock right, (ii) an additional 20% federal income tax, and (iii) potential penalty and interest charges. The “discount option” may also result in additional state income, penalty and interest tax to the recipient of the stock right. Participant acknowledges that the Company cannot and has not guaranteed that the IRS will agree that the per Share exercise price of the Option equals or exceeds the fair market value of a Share on the date of grant in a later examination. Participant agrees that if the IRS determines that the Option was granted with a per Share exercise price that was less than the fair market value of a Share on the date of grant, Participant shall be solely responsible for Participant’s costs related to such a determination.

11. Adjustments; Dissolution or Liquidation; Merger or Change in Control.

(a) Adjustments. In the event that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities, or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase, or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, or other change in the corporate structure of the Company affecting the Shares occurs, the Administrator, in order to prevent diminution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Option, will adjust the number, class, and price of shares of stock covered by the Option as well as the applicable Company Stock Price Hurdles with respect to the performance goals set forth in Exhibit B hereto. Further, the Administrator will make such adjustments to the Option as required by Section 25102(o) of the California Corporations Code to the extent the Company is relying upon the exemption afforded thereby with respect to the Option.

(b) Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Administrator will notify Participant as soon as practicable prior to the effective date of such proposed transaction. To the extent it has not been previously exercised, the Option will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action.

(c) Merger or Change in Control. In the event of a merger of the Company with or into another corporation or other entity or a Change in Control, the Option will treated in accordance with the following without Participant’s consent, provided that any portion of the Option that is unvested as of the effective time of a Change in Control (after first applying the provisions of Section 4(b) of Exhibit B, will terminate automatically upon such effective time: (i) the Option will be assumed or an equivalent option or right substituted by the successor corporation or a Parent or Subsidiary of the successor corporation, or (ii) (A) the termination of the Option in exchange for an amount of cash and/or property, if any, equal to the amount that would have been attained upon the exercise of the Option or realization of the Participant’s rights as of the date of the occurrence of the transaction (and, for the avoidance of doubt, if as of the date of the occurrence of the transaction the Administrator determines in good faith that no amount would have been attained upon the exercise of the Option or realization of Participant’s rights, then the Option may be terminated by the Company without payment), or (B) the replacement of the Option with other equivalent rights or property selected by the Administrator in its sole discretion; or (iii) any combination of the foregoing. In taking any of the actions permitted under this subsection 11(c), the Administrator will not be obligated to treat all Company equity awards, all equity awards held by Participant, or all equity awards of the same type, similarly.

 

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For the purposes of this provision, the Option will be considered assumed if, following the merger or Change in Control, the Option confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share subject to the Option immediately prior to the merger or Change in Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the merger or Change in Control by holders of Common Stock for each Share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the merger or Change in Control is not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its Parent, the Administrator may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of an Option, for each Share subject to the Option, to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or its Parent equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the merger or Change in Control.

12. Inability to Obtain Authority. The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction or to complete or comply with the requirements of any registration or other qualification of the Shares under any state, federal or foreign law or under the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the stock exchange on which Shares of the same class are then listed, or any other governmental or regulatory body, which authority, registration, qualification or rule compliance is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary or advisable for the issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, will relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority, registration, qualification or rule compliance will not have been obtained.

13. Holding Period Condition. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Option Agreement, any Shares issued to Participant pursuant to the exercise of the Option (after being reduced for any such Shares sold or withheld to cover the Exercise Price and applicable withholding tax obligations) will be subject to the Holding Period Condition.

14. Entire Agreement; Governing Law. This Option Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Participant with respect to the subject matter hereof, and may not be modified adversely to the Participant’s interest except by means of a writing signed by the Company and Participant. This Option Agreement is governed by the internal substantive laws but not the choice of law rules of Delaware.

15. No Guarantee of Continued Service. PARTICIPANT ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THE OPTION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESS OR IMPLIED PROMISE OF ENGAGEMENT AS A SERVICE PROVIDER FOR ANY PERIOD, OR AT ALL, AND SHALL NOT INTERFERE IN ANY WAY WITH PARTICIPANT’S RIGHT OR THE RIGHT OF THE COMPANY (OR THE PARENT OR SUBSIDIARY EMPLOYING OR RETAINING PARTICIPANT) TO TERMINATE PARTICIPANT’S RELATIONSHIP AS A SERVICE PROVIDER AT ANY TIME, WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE.

 

-13-


16. Notices. Any notice to be given to the Company hereunder shall be in writing and shall be addressed to the Company at its then current principal executive office or to such other address as the Company may hereafter designate to Participant by notice as provided in this Section 16. Any notice to be given to Participant hereunder shall be addressed to Participant at the address set forth beneath his signature hereto, or at such other address as Participant may hereafter designate to the Company by notice as provided herein. A notice shall be deemed to have been duly given when personally delivered or mailed by registered or certified mail to the party entitled to receive it.

Participant hereby accepts the Option and this Option Agreement subject to all of the terms and provisions thereof. Participant has reviewed this Option Agreement in its entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Option Agreement and fully understands all provisions of the Option. Participant hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Administrator upon any questions arising under the Option and this Option Agreement. Participant further agrees to notify the Company upon any change in the residence address indicated below.

 

Submitted by:    Accepted by:
NIMA GHAMSARI    BLEND LABS, INC.

/s/ Nima Ghamsari

  

/s/ Marc Greenberg

Signature    By

Nima Ghamsari

  

Marc Greenberg

Print Name    Print Name
  

Head of Finance

   Title

 

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EXHIBIT A

BLEND LABS, INC.

EXERCISE NOTICE

Blend Labs, Inc.

415 Kearny Street

San Francisco, CA 94108

Attention: Secretary

1. Exercise of Option. Effective as of today, ________________, ____, the undersigned (“Participant”) hereby elects to exercise Participant’s option (the “Option”) to purchase ________________ shares of the Common Stock (the “Shares”) of Blend Labs, Inc. (the “Company”) under and pursuant to the Stand-Alone Stock Option Agreement dated [DATE] (the “Option Agreement”).

2. Delivery of Payment. Participant herewith delivers to the Company the full purchase price of the Shares, as set forth in this Option Agreement, and any and all withholding taxes due in connection with the exercise of the Option.

3. Representations of Participant. Participant acknowledges that Participant has received, read and understood this Option Agreement and agrees to abide by and be bound by their terms and conditions.

4. Rights as Stockholder. Until the issuance of the Shares (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder shall exist with respect to the Common Stock subject to the Option, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. The Shares shall be issued to Participant as soon as practicable after the Option is exercised in accordance with this Option Agreement. No adjustment shall be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date of issuance except as provided in this Option Agreement.

5. Tax Consultation. Participant understands that Participant may suffer adverse tax consequences as a result of Participant’s purchase or disposition of the Shares. Participant represents that Participant has consulted with any tax consultants Participant deems advisable in connection with the purchase or disposition of the Shares and that Participant is not relying on the Company for any tax advice.

6. Restrictive Legends and Stop-Transfer Orders.

(a) Legends. Participant understands and agrees that the Company shall cause the legends set forth below or legends substantially equivalent thereto, to be placed upon any certificate(s) evidencing ownership of the Shares together with any other legends that may be required by the Company or by state or federal securities laws:


THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER FOR A PERIOD OF TIME FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE UNDERWRITTEN PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE COMPANY’S SECURITIES SET FORTH IN AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ISSUER AND THE ORIGINAL HOLDER OF THESE SHARES AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF BY THE HOLDER PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF SUCH PERIOD WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE COMPANY OR THE MANAGING UNDERWRITER.

(b) Stop-Transfer Notices. Participant agrees that, in order to ensure compliance with the restrictions referred to herein, the Company may issue appropriate “stop transfer” instructions to its transfer agent, if any, and that, if the Company transfers its own securities, it may make appropriate notations to the same effect in its own records.

(c) Refusal to Transfer. The Company shall not be required (i) to transfer on its books any Shares that have been sold or otherwise transferred in violation of any of the provisions of this Exercise Notice or (ii) to treat as owner of such Shares or to accord the right to vote or pay dividends to any purchaser or other transferee to whom such Shares shall have been so transferred.

7. Successors and Assigns. The Company may assign any of its rights under this Exercise Notice to single or multiple assignees, and this Exercise Notice shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the restrictions on transfer herein set forth, this Exercise Notice shall be binding upon Participant and its heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.

8. Interpretation. Any dispute regarding the interpretation of this Exercise Notice shall be submitted by Participant or by the Company forthwith to the Administrator, which shall review such dispute at its next regular meeting. The resolution of such a dispute by the Administrator shall be final and binding on all parties.

9. Governing Law; Severability. This Exercise Notice is governed by the internal substantive laws, but not the choice of law rules, of Delaware. In the event that any provision hereof becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, unenforceable or void, this Exercise Notice shall continue in full force and effect.

10. Entire Agreement. The Option Agreement is incorporated herein by reference. This Exercise Notice and the Option Agreement (including the exhibits thereto) constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Participant with respect to the subject matter hereof, and may not be modified adversely to the Participant’s interest except by means of a writing signed by the Company and Participant.

 

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Submitted by:    Accepted by:
NIMA GHAMSARI    BLEND LABS, INC.

                    

Signature

  

                    

By

                 

Print Name

  

                 

Print Name

  

                 

Title

Address:    Address:

 

  

 

 

  

 

                                                                                    Date Received

 

-3-


EXHIBIT B

Capitalized terms used in this Exhibit B will have the meanings prescribed to them in this Exhibit B or as set forth in this Option Agreement, as applicable.

1. Performance Condition.

(a) The actual number of Shares subject to the Option that will vest and become exercisable will be determined based upon the occurrence of an IPO or the achievement of the Company Stock Price Hurdle(s) during the Performance Period and, in either event, the satisfaction of the Service Condition, all in accordance with this Exhibit B.

(b) No Shares subject to the Option will vest, and the Option will immediately terminate for no consideration upon: (a) the fifteen (15) month anniversary of the Date of Grant if an IPO has not occurred as of such date; (b) the Company’s completion of an equity or debt financing prior to an IPO having occurred; or (c) the occurrence of a Change in Control prior to an IPO having occurred.

2. Performance Goals. As detailed in the table below, the Option is divided into five (5) vesting tranches, each a “Tranche”), with each Tranche representing a portion of the Option covering that number of Shares specified next to the applicable Tranche number in the table below. Subject to Section 1 of this Exhibit B, Tranche 1 will vest upon an IPO and Tranches 2 – 5 will have a Company Stock Price Hurdle associated with the vesting of such Tranche. Further, and also subject to Section 1 of this Exhibit B, the performance goal must be achieved by the “Tranche Expiration Date” set forth below for any Shares subject to a particular Tranche to vest. If the performance goal associated with a Tranche is not achieved by the applicable Tranche Expiration Date set forth in the table below or if the Shares terminate pursuant to Section 1(b) of this Exhibit B, Participant will not be eligible to vest in such Shares and the Shares subject to such Tranche will terminate for no consideration. Except as set forth in Sections 3 and 4 of this Exhibit B, on each Achievement Date, a number of Shares will vest and become exercisable equal to the number of Shares listed as the “Number of Shares” corresponding to the applicable performance goal for the applicable Tranche in the table below, subject to Participant satisfying the Service Condition through the vesting date.


Tranche

  

Number of

Shares

  

Performance

Goal

  

Company Stock

Price Hurdle(1)(2)

  

Tranche

Expiration

Date

1    5,862,866    IPO    N/A    Fifteen (15) month anniversary of Date of Grant
2    17,588,597    Company Stock Price Hurdle    $13.97    Four (4) year anniversary of Date of Grant
3    13,680,020    Company Stock Price Hurdle    $27.94    Six (6) year anniversary of Date of Grant
4    17,588,597    Company Stock Price Hurdle    $69.85    Eight (8) year anniversary of Date of Grant
5    23,451,463    Company Stock Price Hurdle    $139.70    Ten (10) year anniversary of Date of Grant

(1) The Company Stock Price Hurdles and the Number of Shares each will be adjusted to reflect any transaction described in Section 11(a) of this Option Agreement. The Administrator, in order to prevent diminution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under this Option Agreement, will make the determination of any such adjustments required in connection with any such event.

(2) If, during the Performance Period, the core Consumer Price Index increases by over 5% annually for a consecutive three (3) year period, the Company Stock Price Hurdles that have not been achieved at such time will be increased by 20%. For purposes of clarification, such increase will occur only once during the Performance Period.

For example, assume a date of grant of April 1, 2021, an IPO Event on September 1, 2021, which is the first day of the Performance Period, and the Company Stock Price as of April 1, 2023 is $13.97. Further assume that only the Tranche 1 Performance Goal has been achieved. April 1, 2023 will be an Achievement Date for 17,588,597 Shares subject to the Option (comprised of the Shares in Tranche 2), which would vest on such date, subject to Participant having satisfied the Service Condition through such date.

3. Service Condition and Forfeiture. In order for any Shares subject to the Option to vest, and subject to satisfying the other terms of this Option Agreement, Participant must have continuously satisfied the Service Condition through the applicable Achievement Date. If Participant fails to satisfy the Service Condition, any unvested Shares subject to the Option will immediately terminate and be forfeited for no consideration. Further, any Shares subject to the Option that are not vested as of the end of the Performance Period will immediately terminate and be forfeited for no consideration.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of a Change in Role, Agreed Departure or a Qualifying Termination that occurs on or after the five (5) year anniversary of the Date of Grant, a portion of the unvested Shares subject to each Tranche will remain Vesting Eligible Shares and any unvested Shares that are not Vesting Eligible Shares will terminate for no consideration. The Vesting Eligible Shares will vest upon the satisfaction of the Company Stock Price Hurdle associated with such Tranche in accordance with the following:

 

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Vesting Eligibility Window Start Date

   Percentage of Unvested Shares Subject to
each Unvested Tranche that will Remain
Vesting Eligible Shares*
 
     Change
in Role
    Agreed Departure or Qualifying
Termination
 

On or after the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Date of Grant, but prior to the sixth (6th) anniversary of the Date of Grant

     30     10

On or after the sixth (6th) anniversary of the Date of Grant, but prior to the seventh (7th) anniversary of the Date of Grant

     35     15

On or after the seventh (7th) anniversary of the Date of Grant, but prior to the eighth (8th) anniversary of the Date of Grant

     40     20

On or after the eighth (8th) anniversary of the Date of Grant, but prior to the ninth (9th) anniversary of the Date of Grant

     45     25

On or after the ninth (9th) anniversary of the Date of Grant, but prior to the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Date of Grant

     50     25

*The unvested Shares in the applicable Tranche that are not Vesting Eligible Shares will terminate for no consideration on the date of the Change in Role, Agreed Departure or Qualifying Termination, as applicable.

4. Change in Control. If a Change in Control occurs during the Performance Period, then the following rules will apply:

(a) Immediately prior to the Closing, rather than applying the definition of “Company Stock Price” in Section 2 of this Exhibit B, “Company Stock Price” will instead mean the Per Share Deal Price.

(b) After determining the “Company Stock Price” pursuant to Section 4(a) of this Exhibit B, the same rules under the table set forth in Section 2 of this Exhibit B apply in determining whether any additional “Company Stock Price Hurdles” are achieved and additional Shares subject to the Option will vest as of immediately prior to the Closing. Additionally, if the Per Share Deal Price equals or exceeds $13.97, then 25% of the remaining unvested Shares subject to the Option will vest (after first determining if any additional Company Stock Price Hurdles are achieved) as of immediately prior to the Closing. At the Closing, any Shares subject to the Option that remain unvested, after first applying any vesting provided for in this Section 4(b), will terminate for no consideration.

 

-3-


BLEND LABS, INC.

AMENDMENT TO STAND-ALONE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

This Amendment (the “Amendment”) to the Stand-Alone Stock Option Agreement (the “Agreement”) of Nima Ghamsari (the “Optionee”) is made on [DATE], 2021, by and between Optionee and Blend Labs, Inc. (the “Company”).

WHEREAS, the Company granted Optionee a nonstatutory stock option to purchase 78,171,543 shares of Class A Common Stock of the Company at an exercise price of $2.86 per share pursuant to the Agreement dated March 31, 2021 (the “Option”); and

WHEREAS, the Company and Optionee desire to amend the Agreement to reflect certain changes to the Option.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and Optionee agree that the Agreement shall be amended as follows:

1.    Adjustment to Stock Price Hurdles. Footnote 2 in Section 2 of Exhibit B of the Agreement that currently reads:

“If, during the Performance Period, the core Consumer Price Index increases by over 5% annually for a consecutive three (3) year period, the Company Stock Price Hurdles that have not been achieved at such time will be increased by 20%. For purposes of clarification, such increase will occur only once during the Performance Period.”

is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:

“If, during the Performance Period, the annual return of the S&P 500 Equal-Weighted Financial Index is 40% or above for a consecutive three (3) year period, the Company Stock Price Hurdles that have not yet been achieved at such time will be increased by 20%. For purposes of clarification, such increase will occur only once during the Performance Period. If data for the S&P 500 Equity-Weighted Financial Index is no longer published, the index shall become the S&P 500 Equal-Weighted Index.”

2.    Full Force and Effect. To the extent not expressly amended hereby, the Agreement remains in full force and effect.

3.    Entire Agreement. This Amendment, together with the Agreement (to the extent not amended hereby), constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and shall supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Optionee with respect to the Option. This Amendment may not be modified adversely to Optionee’s interest except by means of a writing signed by the Company and Optionee.

4.    Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in counterparts, and each counterpart will have the same force and effect as an original and will constitute an effective, binding agreement on the part of each of the undersigned.

5.    Headings. All captions and section headings used in this Amendment are for convenient reference only and do not form a part of this Amendment.


6.    Governing Law. This Amendment is governed by the internal substantive laws but not the choice of law rules of Delaware.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amendment has been entered into as of the date first set forth above.

 

BLEND LABS, INC.     NIMA GHAMSARI (OPTIONEE)
By: /s/ Marc Greenberg                                                      /s/ Nima Ghamsari                                                         
Its: Chief Financial Officer    

 

-22-

Exhibit 10.15

EXCHANGE AGREEMENT

THIS EXCHANGE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of July    , 2021, by and between Blend Labs Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and stockholders of the Company listed on Schedule A hereto (collectively, “Exchange Stockholders”).

WHEREAS, the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to implement a multi class common stock structure in connection with the Company’s initial public offering of its capital stock (the “IPO”) to enable the Company to execute its long-term vision;

WHEREAS, in connection with the IPO, the Board has approved an Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the “Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”) which, among other things, when effected will create three classes of common stock of the Company, Class A Common Stock, par value $0.00001 per share (“Class A Common Stock”), entitling holders to one (1) vote for each share thereof held, Class B Common Stock, par value $0.00001 per share (“Class B Common Stock”), entitling holders to forty (40) votes for each share thereof held, and Class C Common Stock, par value $0.00001 per share, without voting rights, and providing that shares of Class B Common Stock are convertible into shares of Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis, upon certain circumstances, including at the option of the holder thereof;

WHEREAS, the Exchange Stockholders currently hold shares of (i) the Company’s Class A Common Stock, par value $0.00001 per share (the “Pre-IPO Class A Common Stock”), (ii) Company’s Class B Common Stock, par value $0.00001 per share (the “Pre-IPO Class B Common Stock”) and (iii) Founder’s Preferred Stock, par value $0.00001 per share (the “Founders Preferred Stock Stock”);

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on January    , 2021 (as amended through the date hereof, the “Certificate of Incorporation”) upon the Company’s sale of its Common Stock in a Qualified IPO (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation), all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock, including the Founders Preferred Stock shall automatically convert into an equal number of shares of Pre-IPO Class A Common Stock (the “Preferred Stock Conversion”);

WHEREAS, the requisite holders of the Company’s Pre-IPO Class A Common Stock have consented to the conversion of the Pre-IPO Class A Common Stock into an equal number of shares of Pre-IPO Class B Common Stock immediately following the Preferred Stock Conversion (the “Common Stock Conversion”);

WHEREAS, upon the filing and effectiveness of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation(i) each share of the Company’s Class B Common Stock issued and outstanding or held as treasury stock immediately prior to the Effective Time (as defined in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation), shall, automatically and without further action by any stockholder, be reclassified as, and shall become, one share of Class A Common Stock. Any stock certificate that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock shall from and after the Effective Time be deemed to represent shares of Class A Common Stock, without the need for surrender or exchange thereof; (ii) each share of the Company’s Class A Common Stock issued and outstanding or held as treasury stock immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall, automatically and without further action by any stockholder, be reclassified as, and shall become, one share of Class B Common Stock. Any stock certificate that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock shall from and after the Effective Time be deemed to represent shares of Class B Common Stock, without the need for surrender or exchange thereof (the reclassifications described in (i) and (ii) above shall be referred to as the “Reclassification”);


WHEREAS, the Company and the Exchange Stockholders desire to exchange each share of Class A Common Stock held by the Exchange Stockholders following the Reclassification for one (1) share of Class B Common Stock effective upon the earlier of (i) immediately following the Reclassification upon the filing and effectiveness of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company with Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or (ii) the date that is fifty-nine (59) calendar days following the date of this Agreement (the “Exchange Effective Time”), upon the terms and conditions set forth herein (the “Exchange”);

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the Exchange, as part of the implementation of the multi class common stock structure, is advisable and in the best interest of the Company and all of its stockholders, including its stockholders other than the Exchange Stockholders; and

WHEREAS, the Parties intend that no gain or loss shall be recognized in the Exchange pursuant to Sections 368(a)(1)(E) and/or 1036 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and the mutual promises, representations and covenants set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged and accepted, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I.

EXCHANGE AND ISSUANCE OF CLASS B COMMON STOCK

1.1    Exchange of Class A Common Stock.

(a)    Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at the Exchange Effective Time, the Company shall issue to each Exchange Stockholder, and each Exchange Stockholder shall receive and accept from the Company, the number of shares of Class B Common Stock set forth on Schedule A attached hereto (such shares, the “New Shares”) only to the extent the New Shares are in exchange for all shares of Class A Common Stock held by such Exchange Stockholder as of the Effective Time (the “Reclassified Shares”).

(b)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, any stock certificate representing Reclassified Shares outstanding immediately prior to the Exchange Effective Time shall, from and after the Exchange Effective Time, be deemed to represent an equivalent number of shares of Class B Common Stock pursuant to the Exchange.

1.2    Effective Time of the Exchange:

(a)    The Exchange shall occur and be deemed effective without any further action by the Company or the Exchange Stockholders at the Effective Time and prior to the consummation of the sale of the shares of the Company’s capital stock in the IPO as part of the closing thereof.

(b)    Upon the effectiveness of the Exchange, the Company shall deliver to each Exchange Stockholder such documentation as may be reasonably required to evidence that the New Shares have been duly issued and transferred to the applicable Exchange Stockholder.

 

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ARTICLE II.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE EXCHANGE HOLDER

Each Exchange Stockholder hereby represents and warrants to the Company, with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby, as follows:

2.1    Ownership; Authority. Each Exchange Stockholder is, as of the date hereof, or will be, immediately prior to the Exchange Effective Time, the beneficial and legal owner of the Reclassified Shares exchanged hereunder (or the Preferred Stock evidencing the right to receive the Reclassified Shares upon conversion), free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and restrictions (except for restrictions on transfer arising under applicable securities laws or as set forth or contemplated by this Agreement, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or any other agreements to which such Exchange Stockholder and the Company are a party). Each Exchange Stockholder has the full right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and, assuming the waiver or inapplicability of any and all rights of first refusal or co-sale by the Company and the Company’s stockholders that are applicable to the transactions contemplated hereby, to transfer, convey and exchange the Reclassified Shares in accordance with this Agreement. Assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the Company, this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of such Exchange Stockholder, enforceable against such Exchange Stockholder in accordance with its terms (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity). Upon consummation of the Exchange contemplated hereby, the Company will acquire from Exchange Stockholder good and marketable title to the Reclassified Shares, free and clear of any and all liens, encumbrances and restrictions (except for restrictions on transfer arising under applicable securities laws or as set forth or contemplated by this Agreement, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or any other agreements to which such Exchange Stockholder and the Company are a party, and subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity).

2.2    Governmental Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by such Exchange Stockholder of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental authority on the part of such Exchange Stockholder (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt (a) the filing by the Company of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and (b) compliance by the Company with any applicable requirements of any applicable state or federal securities laws). For purposes of this Agreement, “governmental authority” means any transnational, domestic or foreign federal, state or local governmental, regulatory or administrative authority, department, court, agency or official, including any political subdivision thereof.

2.3    Noncontravention. The execution, delivery and performance by such Exchange Stockholder of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not (a) violate any governing document, including any trust agreement, applicable to such Exchange Stockholder, (b) subject to compliance with Section 2.2, violate any applicable law, (c) assuming the waiver or inapplicability of any and all rights of first refusal or co-sale held by the Company or the Company’s stockholders that are applicable to the transactions contemplated hereby, require any consent or other action under, constitute a default under, or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation of such Exchange Stockholder or to the loss of any benefit to which such Exchange Stockholder is entitled under any provision of any agreement or other instrument binding upon such Exchange Stockholder or (d) result in the creation or imposition of any lien on such Exchange Stockholder’s New Shares, other than restrictions on transfer arising under applicable securities laws or as set forth or contemplated by this Agreement, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or any other agreements to which such Exchange Stockholder and the Company are a party.

 

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2.4    Restricted Securities; Rule 144. Such Exchange Stockholder understands that the New Shares are characterized as “restricted securities” under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”) because such shares are being acquired from the Company in a transaction not involving a public offering and in exchange for shares acquired from the Company in a transaction not involving a public offering, and that under the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder the New Shares may be resold without registration under the Securities Act only in certain limited circumstances, and subject to the restrictions under the Company’s certificate of incorporation. Such Exchange Stockholder understands and hereby acknowledges that the New Shares must be held indefinitely unless subsequently registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from such registration is otherwise available. Such Exchange Stockholder is aware of the provisions of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, which permit limited resales of shares purchased in a transaction not involving a public offering, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions.

2.5    Legends. It is understood that any certificate or book entry position representing the New Shares and any securities issued in respect thereof or exchange therefor, shall bear legends in substantially the following form (in addition to any legend required under applicable state securities laws or agreements to which the Exchange Stockholder is a party):

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”), OR UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF CERTAIN STATES. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED EXCEPT AS PERMITTED UNDER THE ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM. THE ISSUER OF THESE SECURITIES MAY REQUIRE AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE ISSUER THAT SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR HYPOTHECATION OTHERWISE COMPLIES WITH THE ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.”

ARTICLE III.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

The Company hereby represents and warrants to each Exchange Stockholder, with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby, as follows:

3.1    Corporate Existence and Power. The Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.

3.2    Corporate Authorization. (a) The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the issuance and delivery of the New Shares (including the conversion thereof into Class A Common Stock) in accordance with the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, are within the corporate powers of the Company and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and the Company’s stockholders, subject to compliance with Section 3.3. Any and all rights of first refusal or co-sale or pre-emptive rights held by the Company or the Company’s stockholders that are applicable to the transactions contemplated hereby have been waived by or are otherwise inapplicable. Assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by each Exchange Stockholder, this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity).

 

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3.3    Governmental Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental authority other than (a) the filing by the Company of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and (b) compliance by the Company with any applicable requirements of any applicable state or federal securities laws.

3.4    Noncontravention. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not, assuming compliance with the matters referred to in Section 3.3, (a) violate the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the Company, (b) violate any applicable law, (c) require any consent or other action by any person under, constitute a default under, or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any right obligation of the Company or to the loss of any benefit to which the Company is entitled under any provision of any agreement or other instrument binding upon the Company or (d) result in the creation or imposition of any lien on the New Shares other than as set forth or contemplated by this Agreement or the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

3.5    Due Issuance. The New Shares, when issued in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be duly issued, fully paid and nonassessable shares of Class B Common Stock under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

ARTICLE IV.

COVENANTS

4.1    Market Stand-Off Agreement. Each of the Exchange Stockholders has entered into a lock-up agreement with the underwriters of the IPO with respect to the sale, disposition or transfer of such Exchange Stockholder’s securities of the Company and each of the Exchange Stockholders agrees not to revoke such lock-up agreement. Each of the Exchange Stockholders also agrees that any other lock-up or market stand-off agreements applicable to the Reclassified Shares held by such Exchange Stockholders continue to apply to the New Shares.

4.2    Waiver of Right of First Refusal. The Company hereby waives any preexisting rights of first refusal applicable to the transactions contemplated hereby.

4.3    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. The Company shall file the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, or alternatively an amended charter containing provisions consistent with the description of the Class B Common Stock contained in the recitals hereto (in which case, the Exchange Stockholders agree to take all steps reasonable necessary to approve such charter), with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware no later than immediately prior to the Effective Time.

ARTICLE V.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

5.1    Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed in all respects by the internal laws of the State of Delaware as applied to agreements entered into among Delaware residents to be performed entirely within Delaware, without regard to principles of conflicts of law.

5.2    Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators of the parties hereto.

 

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5.3    Entire Agreement; Amendment. Other than the rights, restrictions and preferences provided for the Class B Common Stock pursuant to the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws, this Agreement, including the exhibits attached hereto, constitutes the full and entire understanding and agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. Neither this Agreement nor any term hereof may be amended or, waived other than by a written instrument signed by the Exchange Stockholders and the Company.

5.4    Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

5.5    Tax Consequences. The Parties intend that no gain or loss shall be recognized in the Exchange pursuant to Sections 368(a)(1)(E) and/or 1036 of the Code. Except to the extent otherwise required by a determination (as defined in Section 1313(a) of the Code) or a change in law occurring after the date hereof, the Parties shall file all U.S. federal income, state and local tax returns consistently with such tax treatment, and none of the Parties shall take any position (whether in audits, tax returns, or otherwise) that is inconsistent with such tax treatment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Exchange Stockholder has reviewed with his own tax advisors the federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of the Exchange, investment in the New Shares and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each Exchange Stockholder is relying solely on such advisors and not on any statements or representations of the Company or any of its agents in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, except for the representations and warranties of the Company expressly set forth in Article III.

(signature pages follow)

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement to be effective as of the date first above written.

 

COMPANY:
BLEND LABS INC.
By:                                                                                   
Name:  
Title:  

[Signature Page to Exchange Agreement]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement to be effective as of the date first above written.

 

EXCHANGE STOCKHOLDER:
NIMA GHAMSARI

 

Date Signed:  

 

 

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SCHEDULE A1

 

Exchange Stockholder

   Number of Shares of Class B
Common Stock to be Issued
     Number of Shares of Class A
Common Stock Exchanged
 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

TOTAL

     
                 

 

1 

Holdings are as of                , 2021. To be updated for any transfers or acquisitions prior to Effective time

Exhibit 10.16

EQUITY EXCHANGE RIGHT AGREEMENT

THIS EQUITY EXCHANGE RIGHT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of July     , 2021, by and between Blend Labs Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Nima Ghamsari (the “Executive”).

WHEREAS, the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to implement a multi class common stock structure in connection with the Company’s initial public offering of its capital stock (the “IPO”) to, among other things, enable the Company to execute its long-term vision;

WHEREAS, in connection with the IPO, the Board has approved an Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the “Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”), which, among other things, if effected, would create three classes of common stock of the Company, Class A Common Stock, par value $0.00001 per share (“Class A Common Stock”), entitling holders to one (1) vote for each share thereof held, Class B Common Stock, par value $0.00001 per share (“Class B Common Stock”), entitling holders to forty (40) votes for each share thereof held, and Class C Common Stock, par value $0.00001 per share, entitling holders to zero votes per share unless otherwise required by applicable law;

WHEREAS, Executive holds one or more awards of options to purchase Class A Common Stock (following the Reclassification, as defined in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation) that will be outstanding as of immediately prior to the effectiveness of the filing of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Effective Time”) as set forth in Exhibit A (each, an “Executive Equity Award”) and each Executive Equity Award has been granted under the Company’s 2012 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and restated, and the award agreement memorializing such Executive Equity Award (collectively, the “Equity Documents”); and

WHEREAS, as part of the implementation of the multi class common stock structure, the Board has determined that it is advisable and in the best interest of the Company and all of its stockholders, including its stockholders other than Executive, to provide Executive with the right to require the Company to exchange shares of Class A Common Stock that Executive acquires upon the exercise of an Executive Equity Award for a number of shares of Class B Common Stock of equivalent value as determined on the date of the exchange (which is expected to be on a one share-for-one share basis), subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement; and.

WHEREAS, the parties intend that no gain or loss will be recognized in any Exchange (as defined below) pursuant to Sections 368(a)(1)(E) and/or 1036 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and the mutual promises, representations and covenants set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged and accepted, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I.

PUT RIGHT AND EXCHANGE AND ISSUANCE OF CLASS B COMMON STOCK

1.1    Grant of Put Right. Effective immediately following the Effective Time, and subject to the terms and provisions of this Agreement (including Section 1.2(a) below), the Company hereby irrevocably grants to Executive the right (the “Put Right”) to require the Company to exchange any


shares of Class A Common Stock that Executive acquires following the Effective Time as a result of the exercise of the Executive Equity Awards (each, a “Put Eligible Share”) for a number of shares of Class B Common Stock of equivalent value as determined on the date of the exchange (which is expected to be on a one share-for-one share basis), subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement (the “Exchange”).

1.2    Exercise of Put Right.

(a)    As a condition precedent to the exercise of the Put Right on any given date, the Company and Executive must mutually agree that no gain or loss will be required to be recognized for U.S. federal tax purposes on account of such exercise and related Exchange (the “Put Right Condition”).

(b)    If the Put Right Condition is satisfied, the Put Right will be exercisable by Executive by submitting a completed and fully-executed notice in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Put Right Notice”) to the Company on or prior to the Put Right’s Expiration Date (as defined in Section 1.5 below). If the Put Right Condition is satisfied, the Put Right will be deemed to have been exercised immediately prior to 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on the date of timely delivery of a Put Right Notice with respect to the Put Right.

(c)    Failure to satisfy the Put Right Condition or to deliver a Put Right Notice prior to 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on a Put Right’s Expiration Date will constitute an irrevocable waiver of the Put Right with respect to any shares of Class A Common Stock that remain subject to Executive Equity Awards and any remaining Put Eligible Shares.

(d)    A Put Right cannot be exercised by Executive with respect to any Put Eligible Share more than once. Further, Executive will have no Put Right pursuant to this Agreement with respect to any share of Class A Common Stock that is acquired by Executive following the Effective Time other than as a result of the exercise the Executive Equity Awards.

1.3    Exchange of Shares. Within ten (10) calendar days after the Company’s receipt of a properly executed Put Right Notice, and provided the Put Right Condition remains satisfied, the Company will complete the Exchange for the specified number of Put Eligible Shares indicated in the Put Right Notice (“Exercised Shares”) by issuing, out of funds legally available therefor, a number of shares of Class B Common Stock to Executive of equivalent value determined on the date of the Exchange (which is expected to be on a one share-for-one share basis). Upon the effectiveness of such Exchange, the Company will deliver to Executive such documentation as may be reasonably required to evidence that the shares of Class B Common Stock have been duly issued and transferred to the applicable Executive in exchange for the Exercised Shares.

1.4    Rights to Shares of Class A Common Stock Following Exchange. Upon the Exchange, Executive will no longer have any rights as a holder of the Exercised Shares that are the subject of the Exchange (other than the right to receive the shares of Class B Common Stock in accordance with this Agreement). Such Exercised Shares will be deemed to have been redeemed by the Company in accordance with the applicable provisions hereof, whether or not the certificate(s) therefor have been delivered to Executive.

1.5    Termination of Put Right. The Put Right will terminate on the following date(s) (the “Expiration Date”):

 

2


(a)    With respect to any shares of Class A Common Stock subject to the Executive Equity Awards that have not become Put Eligible Shares, the Expiration Date will be the date such shares are forfeited pursuant to the applicable Equity Documents; and

(b)    With respect to any Put Eligible Shares, the Expiration Date will be the earliest of the date on which:

(i)    Executive sells, transfers, or otherwise disposes of such Put Eligible Shares; and

(ii)    the Final Conversion Date (as defined in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation).

ARTICLE II.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE

Executive hereby represents and warrants to the Company, with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby, as follows:

2.1    Ownership; Authority. Executive has the full right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement. Assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the Company, this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of such Executive, enforceable against such Executive in accordance with its terms (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity). Upon consummation of an Exchange contemplated hereby, the Company will acquire from Executive good and marketable title to the Exercised Shares subject to such Exchange, free and clear of any and all liens, encumbrances and restrictions (except for restrictions on transfer arising under applicable securities laws or as set forth or contemplated by this Agreement, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or any other agreements to which such Executive and the Company are a party, and subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity).

2.2    Governmental Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by such Executive of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental authority on the part of such Executive (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt (a) the filing by the Company of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and (b) compliance by the Company with any applicable requirements of any applicable state or federal securities laws). For purposes of this Agreement, “governmental authority” means any transnational, domestic or foreign federal, state or local governmental, regulatory or administrative authority, department, court, agency or official, including any political subdivision thereof.

2.3    Noncontravention. The execution, delivery and performance by Executive of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not (a) violate any governing document, including any trust agreement, applicable to such Executive, (b) subject to compliance with Section 2.2, violate any applicable law, (c) assuming the waiver or inapplicability of any and all rights of first refusal or co-sale held by the Company or the Company’s stockholders that are applicable to the transactions contemplated hereby, require any consent or other action under, constitute a default under, or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation of such Executive or to the loss of any benefit to which such Executive is entitled under any provision of any agreement or other instrument binding upon such Executive or (d) result in the creation or imposition of

 

3


any lien on the Executive Equity Awards or the shares of Class A Common Stock underlying such award, other than restrictions on transfer arising under applicable securities laws or as set forth or contemplated by this Agreement, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or any other agreements to which such Executive and the Company are a party.

ARTICLE III.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

The Company hereby represents and warrants to Executive, with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby, as follows:

3.1    Corporate Existence and Power. The Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.

3.2    Corporate Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the issuance and delivery of the shares of Class B Common Stock in connection with each Exchange hereunder (including the conversion thereof into Class A Common Stock upon the terms specified in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation) in accordance with the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, are within the corporate powers of the Company and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and the Company’s stockholders, subject to compliance with Section 3.3 and the approval of and adoption by the Company’s stockholders of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Any and all rights of first refusal or co-sale held by the Company or the Company’s stockholders that are applicable to the transactions contemplated hereby have been waived or are otherwise inapplicable to the transactions contemplated in this Agreement. Assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by Executive, this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity).

3.3    Governmental Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental authority other than (a) the filing by the Company of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and (b) compliance by the Company with any applicable requirements of any applicable state or federal securities laws.

3.4    Noncontravention. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not, assuming compliance with the matters referred to in Section 3.3 and approval of and adoption by the Company’s stockholders of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, (a) violate the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the Company, (b) violate any applicable law, (c) require any consent or other action by any person under, constitute a default under, or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any right obligation of the Company or to the loss of any benefit to which the Company is entitled under any provision of any agreement or other instrument binding upon the Company or (d) result in the creation or imposition of any lien on the shares of Class B Common Stock other than as set forth or contemplated by this Agreement or the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

 

4


ARTICLE IV.

COVENANTS

4.1    Market Stand-Off Agreement. Executive has entered into a lock-up agreement with the underwriters of the IPO with respect to the sale, disposition or transfer of such Executive’s securities of the Company and Executive agrees not to revoke such lock-up agreement. Executive also agrees that any other lock-up or market stand-off agreements applicable to the shares of Common Stock of the Company held by Executive will continue to apply to the shares of the Class B Common Stock in accordance with the terms of such agreements.

ARTICLE V.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

5.1    Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed in all respects by the internal laws of the State of Delaware as applied to agreements entered into among Delaware residents to be performed entirely within Delaware, without regard to principles of conflicts of law.

5.2    Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions hereof will inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators of the parties hereto.

5.3    Entire Agreement; Amendment. Other than the rights, restrictions and preferences provided for under the Equity Documents with respect to Executive Equity Awards and the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and bylaws with respect to the shares of Class B Common Stock, this Agreement, including the exhibits attached hereto, constitute the full and entire understanding and agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. Neither this Agreement nor any term hereof may be amended or waived other than by a written instrument signed by Executive and the Company.

5.4    Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, and all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

5.5    No Guarantee of Continued Service. Executive acknowledges and agrees that neither the execution of this Agreement nor the existence of the Put Right granted hereunder constitutes an express or implied promise of continuous employment or service with the Company for any period, or at all, and that neither the execution of this Agreement nor the existence of the Put Right granted hereunder will interfere in any way with Executive’s right or the right of the Company to terminate Executive’s employment or service at any time, with or without cause.

5.6    Tax Consequences. The parties intend that no gain or loss will be recognized in any Exchange pursuant to Sections 368(a)(1)(E) and/or 1036 of the Code. The parties adopt this Agreement as a plan of reorganization within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3(a). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and Executive each have reviewed with its/his own tax advisors the federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of the Put Right and the Exchange, Executive Equity Awards and the potential acquisition of shares of Class A Common Stock thereunder, the potential exchange of such shares for shares of Class B Common Stock, and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each party hereto is relying solely on such advisors and not on any statements or representations of the Company or any of its agents, or Executive or any of his agents, as applicable, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, except for the representations and warranties of the Company and Executive expressly set forth in Articles II and III.

 

5


[Signature Page Follows]

 

6


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement to be effective as of the date first above written.

 

BLEND LABS INC.
By:                                                                                  
Name:                                                                            
Title:                                                                               

[Signature Page to Put Right Agreement]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement to be effective as of the date first above written.

 

NIMA GHAMSARI
By:                                                                                  

[Signature Page to Put Right Agreement]


EXHIBIT A

 

Grant Date

  

Expiration Date

  

Equity Award Type

  

Number of Shares of

Class A Common Stock

Subject to Executive

Equity Award

        
        
        

Total:

        


EXHIBIT B

Put Right Notice (the “Notice”)

(To be signed only upon exercise of an Equity Exchange Right)

To:    Blend Labs Inc.

Attn: Chief Legal Officer

The undersigned (the “Executive”), hereby irrevocably elects to exercise its right under the Put Right pursuant to the Equity Exchange Right Agreement dated as of July [    ], 2021 (the “Agreement”), by and between Blend Labs Inc. (the “Company”) and Executive, to require the Company to exchange                                  Eligible Shares (the “Exercised Shares”) for a number of shares of Class B Common Stock of equivalent value as determined on the date of the Exchange, subject to the terms of this Notice and the Agreement. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in the Notice will have the meaning ascribed to them in the Agreement.

By executing this Notice, Executive hereby represents and warrants to the Purchaser as follows:

1.    Acknowledgements. Executive acknowledges and affirms that the representations and warranties set forth in Article II of the Agreement as of the date of this Notice are true and correct, and agrees to the covenants set forth in Article IV of the Agreement

2.    Legends. It is understood that any certificate or book entry position representing the shares of Class B Common Stock and any securities issued in respect thereof or exchange therefor, will bear legends in substantially the following form (in addition to any legend required under applicable state securities laws or agreements to which Executive is a party):

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”), OR UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF CERTAIN STATES. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED EXCEPT AS PERMITTED UNDER THE ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM. THE ISSUER OF THESE SECURITIES MAY REQUIRE AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE ISSUER THAT SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR HYPOTHECATION OTHERWISE COMPLIES WITH THE ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.”

3.    Restricted Securities; Rule 144. Except as otherwise permitted by applicable law, Executive understands that any shares of Class B Common Stock issued to Executive in an Exchange will be characterized as “restricted securities” under the Act because such shares are being acquired from the Company in a transaction not involving a public offering and in exchange for shares acquired from the Company in a transaction not involving a public offering, and that under the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder the shares of Class B Common Stock may be resold without registration under the Act only in certain limited circumstances, and subject to the restrictions under the Company’s certificate of incorporation. Executive understands and hereby acknowledges that the shares of Class B Common Stock must be held indefinitely unless subsequently registered under the Act or an exemption from such registration is otherwise available. Such Executive is aware of the provisions of Rule 144 promulgated under the Act, which permit limited resales of shares purchased in a transaction not involving a public offering, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions.


4.    Tax Matters. Executive has reviewed with his own tax advisors the federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of the Put Right and the Exchange, Executive Equity Awards and the potential acquisition of shares of Class A Common Stock thereunder, the potential exchange of such shares for shares of Class B Common Stock, and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Executive is relying solely on such advisors and not on any statements or representations of the Company or any of its agents in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, except for the representations and warranties of the Company expressly set forth in Article III of the Agreement.

 

Dated:  

 

 

Address:  

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Put Right Notice]

Exhibit 10.18

 

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT

dated as of June 30, 2021

among

BLEND LABS, INC,

as Borrower,

THE GUARANTORS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO,

THE LENDERS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO,

OWL ROCK TECHNOLOGY FINANCE CORP.,

as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent

OWL ROCK TECHNOLOGY ADVISORS LLC,

as Lead Arranger and Bookrunner,

and

OR TECH LENDING LLC,

OR LENDING LLC,

and

ORO BL LLC,

as Co-Syndication Agents.

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  
   ARTICLE I   
   DEFINITIONS   

Section 1.01

   Defined Terms      2  

Section 1.02

   Classification of Loans and Borrowings      58  

Section 1.03

   Terms Generally      58  

Section 1.04

   Accounting Terms; GAAP; Tax Laws      59  

Section 1.05

   Resolution of Drafting Ambiguities      61  

Section 1.06

   Limited Condition Acquisition      61  

Section 1.07

   Times of Day      62  

Section 1.08

   Deliveries      62  

Section 1.09

   Schedules and Exhibits      62  

Section 1.10

   Currency Generally      62  

Section 1.11

   Basket Amounts and Application of Multiple Relevant Provisions      63  
   ARTICLE II   
   THE CREDITS   

Section 2.01

   Commitments      63  

Section 2.02

   Loans      64  

Section 2.03

   Borrowing Procedure      65  

Section 2.04

   Evidence of Debt; Repayment of Loans      66  

Section 2.05

   Fees      67  

Section 2.06

   Interest on Loans      68  

Section 2.07

   Termination and Reduction of Commitments      69  

Section 2.08

   Interest Elections      70  

Section 2.09

   Amortization of Term Loans      71  

Section 2.10

   Optional and Mandatory Prepayments of Loans      71  

Section 2.11

   Alternate Rate of Interest      77  

Section 2.12

   Yield Protection      78  

Section 2.13

   Funding Losses      80  

Section 2.14

   Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Setoffs      80  

Section 2.15

   Taxes      83  

Section 2.16

   Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders      87  

Section 2.17

   Swingline Loans      88  

Section 2.18

   Letters of Credit      90  

Section 2.19

   Defaulting Lenders      98  

Section 2.20

   Increase in Commitments      101  

Section 2.21

   Extension Amendments      105  

Section 2.22

   Refinancing Facilities      108  

Section 2.23

   Tax Treatment      109  
   ARTICLE III   
   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES   

Section 3.01

   Organization; Powers      109  

 

i


Section 3.02

   Authorization; Enforceability      109  

Section 3.03

   No Conflicts      109  

Section 3.04

   Financial Statements; Projections.      110  

Section 3.05

   Properties      111  

Section 3.06

   Intellectual Property      111  

Section 3.07

   Equity Interests and Restricted Subsidiaries      112  

Section 3.08

   Litigation      112  

Section 3.09

   Federal Reserve Regulations      113  

Section 3.10

   Investment Company Act      113  

Section 3.11

   Use of Proceeds      113  

Section 3.12

   Taxes      113  

Section 3.13

   No Material Misstatements      114  

Section 3.14

   Labor Matters      114  

Section 3.15

   Solvency      114  

Section 3.16

   Employee Benefit Plans      114  

Section 3.17

   Environmental Matters      115  

Section 3.18

   Security Documents      116  

Section 3.19

   Anti-Terrorism Law      116  

Section 3.20

   OFAC      117  

Section 3.21

   Foreign Corrupt Practices Act      117  

Section 3.22

   Compliance with Law      117  

Section 3.23

   No Defaults      117  
   ARTICLE IV   
   CONDITIONS   

Section 4.01

   Conditions to Initial Credit Extension      117  

Section 4.02

   Conditions to All Credit Extensions      121  
   ARTICLE V   
   AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS   

Section 5.01

   Financial Statements, Reports, etc.      122  

Section 5.02

   Litigation and Other Notices      124  

Section 5.03

   Existence; Properties      125  

Section 5.04

   Insurance      125  

Section 5.05

   Taxes      126  

Section 5.06

   Employee Benefits      126  

Section 5.07

   Maintaining Records; Access to Properties and Inspections      127  

Section 5.08

   Use of Proceeds      128  

Section 5.09

   Compliance with Environmental Laws; Environmental Reports      128  

Section 5.10

   Additional Collateral; Additional Guarantors      128  

Section 5.11

   Security Interests; Further Assurances      130  

Section 5.12

   Maintenance of Deposit Accounts      131  

Section 5.13

   Compliance with Laws      131  

Section 5.14

   Anti-Terrorism Law; Anti-Money Laundering; Foreign Corrupt Practices Act      131  

Section 5.15

   Post-Closing Deliveries      132  

 

ii


   ARTICLE VI   
   NEGATIVE COVENANTS   

Section 6.01

   Indebtedness      133  

Section 6.02

   Liens      136  

Section 6.03

   Investments, Loans and Advances      140  

Section 6.04

   Mergers and Consolidations      143  

Section 6.05

   Asset Sales      144  

Section 6.06

   Dividends      147  

Section 6.07

   Transactions with Affiliates      149  

Section 6.08

   Financial Covenant      151  

Section 6.09

   Prepayments of Certain Indebtedness; Modifications of Organizational Documents and Other Documents, etc.      151  

Section 6.10

   No Further Negative Pledge; Subsidiary Distributions      154  

Section 6.11

   Nature of Business      154  

Section 6.12

   Fiscal Year      155  
   ARTICLE VII   
   GUARANTEE   

Section 7.01

   The Guarantee      155  

Section 7.02

   Obligations Unconditional      155  

Section 7.03

   Reinstatement      157  

Section 7.04

   Subrogation; Subordination      157  

Section 7.05

   Remedies      158  

Section 7.06

   Instrument for the Payment of Money      158  

Section 7.07

   Continuing Guarantee      158  

Section 7.08

   General Limitation on Guarantee Obligations      158  

Section 7.09

   Release of Guarantors      158  

Section 7.10

   Right of Contribution      159  
   ARTICLE VIII   
   EVENTS OF DEFAULT   

Section 8.01

   Events of Default      159  

Section 8.02

   Application of Proceeds      162  
   ARTICLE IX   
   THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND THE COLLATERAL AGENT   

Section 9.01

   Appointment and Authority      163  

Section 9.02

   Binding Effect      164  

Section 9.03

   Use of Discretion      164  

Section 9.04

   Delegation of Rights and Duties      165  

Section 9.05

   Reliance and Liability      165  

Section 9.06

   Administrative Agent Individually      166  

Section 9.07

   Lender Credit Decision      166  

Section 9.08

   Expenses, Indemnification      167  

Section 9.09

   Resignation of Administrative Agent or Issuing Bank      168  

Section 9.10

   Release or Subordination of Collateral or Guarantors      169  

 

iii


Section 9.11

   Additional Secured Parties      171  

Section 9.12

   Certain ERISA Matters.      171  

Section 9.13

   Erroneous Payments      172  
   ARTICLE X   
   MISCELLANEOUS   

Section 10.01

   Notices      174  

Section 10.02

   Waivers; Amendment      178  

Section 10.03

   Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver      183  

Section 10.04

   Successors and Assigns      186  

Section 10.05

   Survival of Agreement      191  

Section 10.06

   Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness      192  

Section 10.07

   Severability      192  

Section 10.08

   Right of Setoff      192  

Section 10.09

   Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process      193  

Section 10.10

   Waiver of Jury Trial      194  

Section 10.11

   Headings      194  

Section 10.12

   Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality      194  

Section 10.13

   USA PATRIOT Act Notice      196  

Section 10.14

   Interest Rate Limitation      196  

Section 10.15

   Obligations Absolute      196  

Section 10.16

   No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility      197  

Section 10.17

   Intercreditor Agreement      197  

Section 10.18

   Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions      198  

Section 10.19

   Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents      198  

Section 10.20

   No Other Duties      199  
   ARTICLE XI   
   ACQUISITION MATTERS   

Section 11.01

   Consent to the Closing Date Acquisition      199  

Section 11.02

   Reference to Closing Date      199  

 

iv


ANNEXES   
Annex A    Commitments
SCHEDULES   
Schedule 3.03    Conflicts
Schedule 3.06    Intellectual Property
Schedule 3.07    Subsidiaries
Schedule 3.08    Litigation
Schedule 5.15    Post-Closing Deliveries
Schedule 6.01(b)    Permitted Surviving Indebtedness
Schedule 6.02(c)    Existing Liens
Schedule 6.03(b)    Existing Investments
Schedule 6.05    Permitted Dispositions
Schedule 6.07    Transactions with Affiliates
EXHIBITS   
Exhibit A    Form of Assignment and Assumption
Exhibit B    Form of Borrowing Request
Exhibit C    Form of Compliance Certificate
Exhibit D    Form of Interest Election Request
Exhibit E    Form of Joinder Agreement
Exhibit F    Form of LC Request
Exhibit G-1    Form of Term Loan Note
Exhibit G-2    Form of Revolving Note
Exhibit G-3    Form of Swingline Note
Exhibit H-1    Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate
Exhibit H-2    Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate
Exhibit H-3    Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate
Exhibit H-4    Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate
Exhibit I    Form of Solvency Certificate
Exhibit J    Form of Board Observer Letter
Exhibit K    Form of Warrant

 

v


CREDIT AGREEMENT

This CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of June 30, 2021, is made among Blend Labs, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), each of the Guarantors (such terms and each other capitalized term used but not defined herein having the meaning given to it in Article I) from time to time party hereto, the Lenders from time to time party hereto and Owl Rock Technology Finance Corp. (“Owl Rock”), as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors and permitted assigns, the “Administrative Agent”) and as collateral agent for the Secured Parties (in such capacity, together with its successors and permitted assigns, the “Collateral Agent”), OR Tech Lending LLC, OR Lending LLC and ORO BL LLC, as Co-Syndication Agents (together with each other Lender that is an Affiliate of Owl Rock that signs this Agreement, each a “Co-Syndication Agent”, and collectively, the “Co-Syndication Agents”) and Owl Rock Technology Advisors LLC, as Lead Arranger (“Lead Arranger”) and Bookrunner (“Bookrunner”).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, on the Closing Date, pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 12, 2021 (together with the exhibits and schedules thereto, as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in a manner permitted hereunder, the “Closing Date Acquisition Agreement”), by and among Borrower, T365 (as defined herein), Xome Holdings LLC and, with respect to certain provisions thereof, Mr. Cooper Group Inc., Borrower intends to consummate the acquisition of 90.1% of the outstanding equity interests of T365 (the “Closing Date Acquisition”);

WHEREAS, on the Closing Date, the Borrower has requested that (a) the Term Loan Lenders extend credit in the form of Term Loans in an aggregate principal amount equal to $225,000,000 to (i) fund a portion of the consideration for the Closing Date Acquisition and (ii) pay related fees, costs and expenses and other transaction costs incurred in connection with the Transactions (including without limitation upfront fees and original issue discount) and (b) the Revolving Lenders extend Revolving Loans of a maximum commitment of up to $25,000,000 at any time and from time to time prior to the Revolving Maturity Date, in an aggregate principal amount not in excess of the Total Revolving Commitment (as defined below) (which shall include a Letter of Credit sub-facility of up to $10,000,000, a sub-facility for Swingline Loans of up to $5,000,000 and will provide that no extensions of Revolving Loans will be made on the Closing Date).

NOW, THEREFORE, the Lenders are willing to extend such credit to the Borrower and the Issuing Bank is willing to issue letters of credit for the account of the Borrower on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein. Accordingly, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:


ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01    Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings specified below:

ABR” when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, is used when such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.

ABR Borrowing” shall mean a Borrowing comprised of ABR Loans.

ABR Loan” shall mean any ABR Term Loan or ABR Revolving Loan.

ABR Revolving Loan” shall mean any Revolving Loan bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate in accordance with the provisions of Article II.

ABR Term Loan” shall mean any Term Loan bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate in accordance with the provisions of Article II.

Additional Amount” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.15(a).

Additional Guarantor” shall mean any Restricted Subsidiary that becomes a Guarantor after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 5.10.

Additional Lender” shall mean each Eligible Assignee that becomes a Lender.

Adjusted LIBO Rate” shall mean, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, the greater of (i)(a) an interest rate per annum (rounded upward, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100th of 1.00%) equal to the LIBO Rate for such Eurodollar Borrowing in effect for such Interest Period divided by (b) 1 minus the Statutory Reserves (if any) for such Eurodollar Borrowing for such Interest Period and (ii) 1.00%.

Administrative Agent” shall have the meaning given to that term in the preamble hereto, and include each other person appointed as a successor pursuant to Article IX.

Administrative Questionnaire” shall mean an Administrative Questionnaire in form that may be supplied from time to time by Administrative Agent.

Affiliate” shall mean, when used with respect to a specified person, another person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is Controlled by or is under common Control with the person specified; provided, however, that neither any Lender nor any Agent (nor any of their Affiliates) shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries solely by virtue of its capacity as a Lender or Agent hereunder.

 

2


Agent-Related Distress Event” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Person that directly or indirectly controls the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent (each, a “Distressed Agent-Related Person”), a voluntary or involuntary case with respect to such Distressed Agent-Related Person under any Debtor Relief Law is commenced, or a custodian, conservator, receiver or similar official is appointed for such Distressed Agent-Related Person or any substantial part of such Distressed Agent-Related Person’s assets, or such Distressed Agent-Related Person makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or is otherwise adjudicated as, or determined by any Governmental Authority having regulatory authority over such Distressed Agent-Related Person to be, insolvent or bankrupt; provided, that an Agent-Related Distress Event shall not be deemed to have occurred solely by virtue of any Distressed Agent-Related Person (other than the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent) owning Equity Interests in the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Person that directly or indirectly controls the Administrative Agent.

Agents” shall mean the Administrative Agent, the Co-Syndication Agents, the Collateral Agent, Lead Arranger and Bookrunner; and “Agent” shall mean either of them.

Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Alternate Base Rate” shall mean, for any day, a rate per annum equal (rounded upward, if necessary, to the next highest 1/100 of 1%) to the highest of (i) the Base Rate as in effect on such date, (ii) the Federal Funds Rate as in effect on such date plus 1/2 of 1.00% and (iii) the one-month Adjusted LIBO Rate on such date plus 1.00% per annum. The applicable Alternate Base Rate shall at no time be less than 2.00% per annum. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Base Rate, the Federal Funds Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate shall be effective on the effective date of such change in the Base Rate, the Federal Funds Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate, as the case may be.

Anti-Terrorism Laws” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.19.

Applicable Margin” shall mean (x) 6.50% per annum for ABR Loans and (y) 7.50% per annum for Eurodollar Loans and the LC Participation Fee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Applicable Margin in respect of any Extended Loan shall be the applicable percentages per annum set forth in the relevant Extension Amendment.

Applicable Other Indebtedness” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.10(i).

Applicable Prepayment Premium” means, as of the date of any prepayment subject to the Applicable Prepayment Premium, the present value at such date of all remaining interest payments on the principal amount of the Term Loans so prepaid or repaid to, but excluding, the second anniversary of the Closing Date, assuming a date of prepayment or repayment on the second anniversary of the Closing Date, in each case, computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate plus 0.50%.

Applicable Tax Laws” shall mean the Code and any other applicable Requirement of Law relating to Taxes, as in effect from time to time.

 

3


Approved Fund” shall mean any Fund that is administered, advised or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity, or an Affiliate of an entity, that administers, advises or manages a Lender.

Arrangement Fee Letter” shall mean that certain Arrangement Fee Letter, dated March 12, 2021, by and between the Borrower and the Lead Arranger.

Article 55 BRRD” means Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU establishing a framework for the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms.

Asset Sale” shall mean any conveyance, sale, transfer or other disposition of any property (including Equity Interests of a Group Member) other than as permitted pursuant to Section 6.05 (other than Section 6.05(b) or (q)), and in any event “Asset Sales” shall exclude Casualty Events of any Group Member.

Asset Sale/Casualty Event Threshold” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.10(c)(i).

Assignment and Assumption” shall mean an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 10.04(b)), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form (including electronic documentation generated by use of an electronic platform) of Exhibit A, or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

Attributable Indebtedness” shall mean, when used with respect to any Sale Leaseback Transaction, as at the time of determination, the present value (discounted at a rate equivalent to the Borrower’s then-current weighted average cost of funds for borrowed money as at the time of determination, compounded on a semi-annual basis) of the total obligations of the lessee for rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in any such Sale Leaseback Transaction.

Bail-In Action” shall mean the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers.

Bail-In Legislation” shall mean:

(a)    with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 BRRD, the implementing law for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule; and

(b)    in relation to any state other than such an EEA Member Country or (to the extent that the United Kingdom is not such an EEA Member Country) the United Kingdom, any analogous law or regulation from time to time which requires contractual recognition of any Write-down and Conversion Powers contained in that law or regulation.

Bankruptcy Code” shall mean the Federal Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978, as heretofore and hereafter amended, and codified as 11 U.S.C. §§ 101 et seq. and the regulations issued thereunder.

 

4


Base Rate” shall mean a rate per annum equal to the rate last quoted by The Wall Street Journal as the “Prime Rate” in the United States or, if The Wall Street Journal ceases to quote such rate, the highest per annum interest rate published by the Federal Reserve Board in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (Selected Interest Rates) as the “bank prime loan” rate or, if such rate is no longer quoted therein, any similar rate quoted therein (as determined by the Administrative Agent) or any similar release by the Federal Reserve Board (as determined by the Administrative Agent).

Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, which certification shall be substantially similar to the form of Certification Regarding Beneficial Owners of Legal Entity Customers published jointly, in May 2018, by the Loan Syndications and Trading Association and Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association.

Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 C.F. R. § 1010.230.

Benefit Plan” means any of (a) an Employee Benefit Plan that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” as defined in and subject to Section 4975 of the Code or (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of ERISA Section 3(42) or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such Employee Benefit Plan or “plan”.

Board” shall mean the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.

Board Observer Letter” means a board observer rights letter substantially in the form of Exhibit J.

Board of Directors” shall mean, with respect to any person, (a) in the case of any corporation, the board of directors of such person, (b) in the case of any limited liability company, the board of managers, manager or managing member of such person, (c) in the case of any partnership, the general partner of such person and (d) in any other case, the functional equivalent of the foregoing.

Bookrunner” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble.

Borrower” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Borrowing” shall mean (a) Loans of the same Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect, or (b) a Swingline Loan.

Borrowing Request” shall mean a written request by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of Section 2.03 and substantially in the form of Exhibit B, or such other form (including electronic documentation generated by the use of an electronic platform) as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld).

Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to close; provided, however, that when used in connection with a Eurodollar Loan, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in dollar deposits in the London interbank market.

 

5


Capital Assets” shall mean, with respect to any person, all equipment, rolling stock, aircraft, fixed assets and Real Property or improvements of such person, or replacements or substitutions therefor or additions thereto, that, in accordance with GAAP, have been or should be reflected as additions to property, plant or equipment on the balance sheet of such person.

Capital Expenditures” shall mean, for any period, the aggregate of, without duplication, (a) all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities) by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period that, in conformity with GAAP, are or are required to be included as additions during such period to property, plant or equipment reflected in the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) Capital Lease Obligations incurred by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period.

Capital Lease Obligations” shall mean, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a Capital Lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) prepared in accordance with GAAP as in effect on December 31, 2018.

Capital Leases” shall mean all leases that are required to be, in accordance with GAAP as in effect on December 31, 2018, recorded as capitalized leases; provided that the adoption or issuance of any accounting standards after such date will not cause any lease that was not or would not have been a Capital Lease prior to such adoption or issuance to be deemed a Capital Lease.

Cash Equivalents” shall mean, as to any person, (a) securities issued, or directly, unconditionally and fully guaranteed or insured, by the United States or any political subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support thereof) having maturities of not more than one year from the date of acquisition by such person; (b) securities issued, or directly, unconditionally and fully guaranteed or insured, by any state of the United States or any political subdivision of any such state or any public instrumentality thereof (provided that the full faith and credit of such state is pledged in support thereof) having maturities of not more than one year from the date of acquisition by such person; (c) time deposits and certificates of deposit of any Lender or any commercial bank having, or which is the principal banking subsidiary of a bank holding company organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia having, capital and surplus aggregating in excess of $500,000,000 and a rating of “A” (or such other similar equivalent rating) or higher by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization (as defined in Rule 436 under the Securities Act) with maturities of not more than one year from the date of acquisition by such person, and securities with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition backed by standby letters of credit issued by any Lender or any commercial bank satisfying the requirements of this clause (c); (d) repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (a), (b) or (c) above entered into with any bank meeting the qualifications specified in clause (c) above, which repurchase obligations are secured by a valid perfected security interest in the underlying securities; (e) commercial paper issued by any person incorporated in the United States rated at least A-1 or the equivalent thereof by S&P or at least P-1

 

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or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s, and in each case maturing not more than one year after the date of acquisition by such person; (f) investments in money market funds substantially all of whose assets are comprised of securities of the types described in clauses (a) through (e) above, or that (i) comply with the criteria set forth in SEC Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (ii) are rated AAA by S&P or Aaa by Moody’s and (iii) have portfolio assets of at least $500,000,000; and (g) demand deposit accounts maintained in the ordinary course of business.

Casualty Event” shall mean any involuntary loss of title, any involuntary loss of, damage to or any destruction of, or any condemnation or other taking (including by any Governmental Authority) of, any property of any Group Member. “Casualty Event” shall include but not be limited to any taking of all or any part of any Real Property of any Person, in or by condemnation or other eminent domain proceedings pursuant to any Requirements of Law, or by reason of the temporary requisition of the use or occupancy of all or any part of any Real Property of any Person or any part thereof by any Governmental Authority, civil or military, or any settlement in lieu thereof.

CFC” shall mean a Foreign Subsidiary that is a controlled foreign corporation within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code.

CFC Holding Company” shall mean any (a) Subsidiary of the Borrower, substantially all of the assets of which consist of (i) Equity Interests (including any debt instrument treated as equity for U.S. federal income tax purposes) or (ii) Equity Interests (including any debt instrument treated as equity for U.S. federal income tax purposes) and debt instruments, in the case of clauses (a)(i) and (a)(ii), of one or more CFCs and (b) any Subsidiary of the Borrower, substantially all of the assets of which consists of (i) Equity Interests (including any debt instrument treated as equity for U.S. federal income tax purposes) or (ii) Equity Interests (including any debt instrument treated as equity for U.S. federal income tax purposes) and debt instruments, in the case of clauses (b)(i) and (b)(ii), of one or more other Subsidiaries of the type referred to in the immediately preceding clause (a).

A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if:

(a)    any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), in each case other than a Permitted Holder (i) at any time prior to the occurrence of a Qualifying IPO, (x) is or becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 (other than clause (b) thereof) and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that for purposes of this clause such person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all securities that such person or group has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of 50.1% or more of the Voting Stock of the Borrower or (y) has or acquires the power (whether or not exercised) to appoint or remove a majority of the Board of Directors of the Borrower or (ii) at any time after the occurrence of a Qualified IPO, is or becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 (other than clause (b) thereof) and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that for purposes of this clause such person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all securities that such person or group has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of 35.0% or more of the Voting Stock of the Borrower;

 

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(b)    the sale, lease or transfer, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person other than the Borrower or a Guarantor; or

(c)    a “Change in Control” (or equivalent term) as defined in the definitive debt documentation for other Indebtedness (including, without limitation, any Permitted Convertible Indebtedness and any other Convertible Indebtedness) of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries, so long as the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness exceeds $17,500,000.

For purposes of this definition, a person acquiring Voting Stock shall not be deemed to have beneficial ownership of such Voting Stock subject to a stock purchase agreement, merger agreement or similar agreement, so long as such agreement contains a condition to the closing of the transactions contemplated thereunder that the Obligations shall be Paid in Full and the Commitments hereunder terminated prior to (or contemporaneously with) the consummation of such transactions.

Change in Law” shall mean (a) the adoption of, or taking effect of, any law, treaty, order, rule or regulation after the date hereof, (b) any change in any law, treaty, order, rule or regulation or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority after the date hereof or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date hereof; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law,” regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.

Class” subject to Section 2.21 and Section 2.22, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Loans, Term Loans or Swingline Loans and, when used in reference to any Commitment, refers to whether such Commitment is a Revolving Commitment, Term Loan Commitment or Swingline Commitment, in each case, under this Agreement as originally in effect or pursuant to Section 2.20.

Closing Date” shall mean June 30, 2021.

Closing Date Acquisition” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

Closing Date Acquisition Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

 

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Closing Date Acquisition Documents” shall mean the Closing Date Acquisition Agreement and all material documents and agreements related thereto or expressly contemplated thereby (in each case, as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in a manner permitted hereunder).

Closing Date Fee Letter” shall mean that certain Closing Date Fee Letter, dated March 12, 2021, by and among the Borrower and the Commitment Parties.

Co-Syndication Agents” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble.

Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Collateral” shall mean, collectively, all of the Security Agreement Collateral and all other property of whatever kind and nature, whether now owned or hereinafter acquired, subject or purported to be subject from time to time to a Lien under any Security Document and in each case other than Excluded Property.

Collateral Agent” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto, and include each other person appointed as a successor thereto pursuant to Article IX. For purposes of Article IX only, references to the Administrative Agent shall be deemed to also refer to the Collateral Agent unless the context requires otherwise.

Commitment” shall mean, with respect to any Lender, such Lender’s Revolving Commitment, Term Loan Commitment or Swingline Commitment.

Commitment Letter” means the Commitment Letter, dated March 12, 2021, by and among the Commitment Parties and the Borrower.

Commitment Parties” shall mean each of Owl Rock and Owl Rock Technology Finance Corp.

Commodity Exchange Act” shall mean the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

Communications” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.01(d).

Company Owned IP” shall mean all Intellectual Property Rights owned by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary.

Company Proprietary Software” shall mean any and all computer programs, including any and all software implementations of algorithms, models and methodologies, whether accessed locally or remotely, whether in source code or object code for which the underlying Intellectual Property Rights are Company Owned IP.

 

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Competitor” means any person that (x) is not a commercial bank, finance company, insurance company, financial institution or other similar entity, in each case that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of business and (y) is an operating company directly engaged in substantially similar business operations as the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (or is a direct or indirect holding company thereof).

Compliance Certificate” shall mean a certificate of a Financial Officer substantially in the form of Exhibit C.

Connection Income Taxes” shall mean Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.

Consolidated Total Assets” shall mean, as of any date, the total property and assets of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, determined in accordance with GAAP, as set forth on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower most recently delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or (b) as applicable (on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to any Permitted Acquisitions or any Investments or dispositions permitted hereunder or by the other Loan Documents).

Consolidated Total Indebtedness” shall mean, as of any date of determination, for the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis, the sum of, without duplication, (a) the aggregate principal amount of (x) all funded Indebtedness for borrowed money (including, without limitation, any Permitted Convertible Indebtedness and any other Convertible Indebtedness) and (y) other Indebtedness or other obligations evidenced by notes, (b) all Purchase Money Obligations (other than in respect of Capital Lease Obligations), (c) the principal portion of Capital Lease Obligations, (e) Earn-Outs and other deferred purchase price obligations, in each case, to the extent such obligations become a liability on the balance sheet of the Borrower and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP and (e) letters of credit (to the extent of any unreimbursed amounts thereunder) that are not paid when the same become due and payable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the following constitute “Consolidated Total Indebtedness”: (i) obligations under any derivative transaction or other Hedging Agreement, (ii) undrawn letters of credit, (iii) Earn-Outs and other deferred purchase price obligations, in each case, to the extent such obligations are not treated as a liability on the balance sheet of the Borrower and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP and (iv) leases that would be characterized as operating leases in accordance with GAAP as in effect on December 31, 2018.

Contingent Obligation” shall mean, as to any person, any obligation or agreement of such person guaranteeing or intended to guarantee any Indebtedness, leases, Dividends or other obligations (“primary obligations”) of any other person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including any such obligation or agreement of such person, whether or not contingent, (a) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor; (b) to advance or supply funds (i) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation or (ii) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor; (c) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make

 

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payment of such primary obligation; (d) with respect to bankers’ acceptances, letters of credit and similar credit arrangements, until a reimbursement obligation arises (which reimbursement obligation shall constitute Indebtedness); or (e) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the holder of such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof; provided, however, that the term “Contingent Obligation” shall not include endorsements of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business or any product warranties or other similar contingent obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business, including indemnities. The amount of any Contingent Obligation shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such Contingent Obligation is made (or, if less, the maximum amount of such primary obligation for which such person may be liable, whether singly or jointly, pursuant to the terms of the instrument evidencing such Contingent Obligation) or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof (assuming such person is required to perform thereunder) as determined by such person in good faith.

Control” shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and the terms “Controlling” and “Controlled” shall have meanings correlative thereto.

Convertible Indebtedness” means unsecured Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries permitted to be incurred under this Agreement that is either (a) convertible into common stock of the Borrower (and cash in lieu of fractional shares) and/or cash (in an amount determined by reference to the price of such common stock) or (b) sold as units with call options, warrants or rights to purchase (or substantially equivalent derivative transactions) that are exercisable for common stock of the Borrower and/or cash (in an amount determined by reference to the price of such common stock).

Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness” shall mean (a) Permitted Pari Passu Refinancing Debt or (b) Permitted Unsecured Refinancing Debt obtained pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment and/or separate credit documentation to the extent such Indebtedness is to be governed by separate documentation, in each case, issued, incurred or otherwise obtained (including by means of the extension or renewal of existing Indebtedness) in exchange for, or to extend, renew, replace or refinance, in whole or part, existing Term Loans, Incremental Term Loans, or Refinancing Term Loans, Revolving Loans, Incremental Revolving Loans or Refinancing Revolving Loans hereunder (including any successive Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness) (“Refinanced Debt”); provided that (i) such extending, renewing or refinancing Indebtedness is in an original aggregate principal amount not greater than (A) the aggregate principal amount of the Refinanced Debt, plus (B) accrued and unpaid interest thereon, any fees, premiums, accrued interest associated therewith, or other reasonable amount paid, and fees, costs and expenses, commissions or underwriting discounts incurred in connection therewith, (ii) the terms applicable to such extending, renewing or refinancing Indebtedness comply with the Required Debt Terms, (iii) such Refinanced Debt (other than unasserted contingent indemnification or reimbursement obligations and letters of credit that have been cash collateralized or backstopped in accordance with the terms thereof) shall be repaid, defeased or satisfied and discharged, and (unless otherwise agreed by all Lenders holding such Refinanced Debt) all accrued interest, fees and premiums (if any) in connection therewith shall be paid

 

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substantially concurrently with the issuance or incurrence of such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness, (iv) if any Refinanced Debt is unsecured, such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness shall also be unsecured, (v) such Indebtedness is used solely for the substantially concurrent and pro rata replacement or refinancing of the Refinanced Debt and such other amounts set forth in clause (i)(B) above applicable to such Refinanced Debt, (vi) such extending, renewing or refinancing Indebtedness will, to the extent in the form of Refinancing Revolving Loans, Refinancing Revolving Loan Commitments or otherwise refinancing revolving loans and/or revolving commitments, participate in the payment, borrowing, participation and commitment reduction provisions herein on a pro rata basis with any then outstanding Revolving Loans and Revolving Commitments, except that the Borrower shall be permitted to permanently repay and terminate commitments of any such Class on a better than a pro rata basis as compared to any other Class with a later maturity date than such Class.

Credit Extension” shall mean, as the context may require, (i) the making of a Loan by a Lender or (ii) the issuance of any Letter of Credit, or the amendment, extension or renewal of any existing Letter of Credit, by the Issuing Bank.

Credit Parties” shall mean the Borrower and the Guarantors; and “Credit Party” shall mean any one of them.

Debt Issuance” shall mean the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any Indebtedness after the Closing Date (other than Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01 (other than Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness which shall, for the avoidance of doubt, constitute a Debt Issuance)).

Debtor Relief Law” shall mean the Bankruptcy Code (including Title 11 of the United States Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended) and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect.

Declined Proceeds” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.10(j).

Default” shall mean any event, occurrence or condition which is, or upon notice, lapse of time or both would constitute, an Event of Default.

Default Rate” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(c).

Defaulting Lender” shall mean any Lender, as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent in a manner consistent with similar determinations by the Administrative Agent in respect of other Lenders, that (a) has failed to fund any portion of its Loans, Incremental Loans or participations in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans required to be funded by it hereunder or under any commitment to fund an Incremental Loan within two (2) Business Days of the date on which such amount is required to be funded by it hereunder or under any commitment to fund an Incremental Loan unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s reasonable and good faith determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions

 

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precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, (b) has notified the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender, any Lender and/or the Borrower in writing that it does not intend to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement or has made a public statement to the effect that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations under this Agreement or under other agreements in which it has committed to extend credit (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund a Loan hereunder or thereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender’s reasonable and good faith determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied), (c) has failed, within two (2) Business Days after request by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, to confirm that it will comply with the terms of this Agreement relating to its obligations to fund prospective Loans or Incremental Loans and participations in then outstanding Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans, (d) has otherwise failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within one (1) Business Day of the date when due, unless such payment is the subject of a good faith dispute, or (e) in the case of a Lender that has a Commitment or LC Exposure outstanding at such time, shall have, or shall be the Subsidiary of any person that shall have, (i) taken any action or been the subject of any action or proceeding of a type described in Section 8.01(g) or Section 8.01(h) (or any comparable proceeding initiated by a regulatory authority having jurisdiction over such Lender or such person) or (ii) become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided that the Administrative Agent and the Borrower may declare (A) by joint notice to the Lenders that a Defaulting Lender is no longer a “Defaulting Lender”, or (B) that a Lender is not a Defaulting Lender, if in the case of both clauses (A) and (B) the Administrative Agent and the Borrower each determines, in its sole respective discretion, that (x) the circumstances that resulted in such Lender becoming a “Defaulting Lender” no longer apply, or (y) it is satisfied that such Lender will continue to perform its funding or issuance obligations hereunder. For the avoidance of doubt, a Lender shall not be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of (i) the ownership or acquisition of any Equity Interest in such Lender or its parent by a Governmental Authority, unless such ownership interest results in or provides such person with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such person (or such governmental authority or instrumentality) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made by such person or its parent entity or (ii) such Lender becoming subject to an Undisclosed Administration.

Deposit Account” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

Deposit Account Control Agreement” shall mean an agreement in writing, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, by and among the Collateral Agent, a Credit Party with a Deposit Account or a Securities Account, as applicable, at any bank and the bank at which such Deposit Account or such Securities Account is at any time maintained which provides that, after activation of control, such bank will comply with instructions originated by the Collateral Agent directing disposition of the funds in the Deposit Account or the Securities Account, as applicable, without further consent by such Credit Party in accordance with the terms of Section 5.12 of this Agreement.

 

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Designated Noncash Consideration” shall mean as of any date of determination the fair market value at the time received (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) of any non-cash consideration received by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an Asset Sale that is designated in writing as Designated Noncash Consideration, less the amount of cash or Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent payment, redemption, retirement, sale or other disposition of such Designated Noncash Consideration. A particular item of Designated Noncash Consideration will no longer be considered to be outstanding when and to the extent it has been paid, redeemed or otherwise retired or sold or otherwise disposed of in compliance with Section 6.05.

Disqualified Capital Stock” shall mean any Equity Interest which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security or any other Equity Interests into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable) or upon the happening of any event or condition, would (i) mature or be mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Qualified Capital Stock) pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (except as a result of a customarily defined change of control or asset sale and only so long as any rights of the holders thereof after such change of control or asset sale shall be subject to the Payment in Full of the Obligations and the termination of the Revolving Commitments), (ii) be redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely for Qualified Capital Stock), in whole or in part, (iii) provide for scheduled payments of dividends in cash or (iv) be or become convertible into or exchangeable for Indebtedness or any other Disqualified Capital Stock, in whole or in part, in each case on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the Latest Maturity Date at the time of issuance.

Disqualified Institutions” shall mean (i) Competitors of the Borrower, T365 and their respective Subsidiaries specified to the Lead Arranger in writing from time to time, (ii) any Persons that are engaged as principals primarily in private equity, mezzanine financing or venture capital and certain banks, financial institutions, other institutional lenders and other entities, in each case, that have been specified to the Lead Arranger in writing on or prior to the date of the Commitment Letter (and, which list may be updated (x) if after the date of the Commitment Letter, but prior to the Closing Date, with the consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) of the Commitment Party or Commitment Parties holding a majority of the aggregate amount of outstanding financing commitments in respect of the Loans on the date of the Commitment Letter and (y) on and after the Closing Date, with the Administrative Agent’s consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed)) and (iii) as to any entity referenced in each case of clauses (i) and (ii) above (the “Primary Disqualified Institution”), any of such Primary Disqualified Institution’s known affiliates or affiliates identified in writing to the Lead Arranger from time to time or otherwise readily identifiable by name, but excluding any affiliate that is primarily engaged in, or that advises funds or other investment vehicles that are engaged in, making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans, bonds and similar extensions of credit or securities in the ordinary course and with respect to which the Primary Disqualified Institution does not, directly or indirectly, possess the power to direct or cause the direction of the investment policies of such entity; provided that any additional designation permitted by the foregoing shall not apply retroactively to any prior assignment to any Lender (or prior participation in the Loans); provided further that the list of Disqualified Institutions shall be made available to any Lender upon written request (it being understood that the identity of Disqualified Institutions will not be posted or distributed to any Person, other than a distribution by the Administrative Agent to a Lender upon written request).

 

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Dividend” shall mean, with respect to any person, that such person has declared or paid a dividend or returned any equity capital to the holders of its Equity Interests or authorized or made any other distribution, payment or delivery of property (other than Qualified Capital Stock of such person) or cash to the holders of its Equity Interests as such, or redeemed, retired, purchased or otherwise acquired, directly or indirectly, for consideration any of its Equity Interests outstanding (or any options or warrants issued by such person with respect to its Equity Interests), or set aside or otherwise reserved, directly or indirectly, any funds for any of the foregoing purposes, or shall have permitted any of its Subsidiaries to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any of the outstanding Equity Interests of such person (or any options or warrants issued by such person with respect to its Equity Interests).

Dollars,” “dollars” or “$” shall mean lawful money of the United States.

Domestic Subsidiary” shall mean any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

Earn-Outs” shall mean, with respect to a Permitted Acquisition or any other acquisition of any assets or Property by any Group Member permitted hereunder, that portion of the purchase consideration therefor and that portion of all other payments and liabilities (whether payable in cash or by exchange of Equity Interests or of any Property or otherwise), directly or indirectly, payable by any Group Member in exchange for, or as part of, or in connection with, such Permitted Acquisition or such other acquisition, as the case may be, that is deferred for payment to a future time after the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition or such other acquisition, as the case may be, and includes any and all payments representing the purchase price and any assumptions of Indebtedness, Earn-Outs and other agreements to make any payment the amount of which is, or the terms of payment of which are, in any respect subject to or contingent upon the revenues, income, cash flow or profits (or the like) of any person or business.

EEA Member Country” shall mean any member state of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

Eligible Assignee” shall mean (a) if the assignment does not include the assignment of a Revolving Commitment, (i) any Lender, (ii) an Affiliate of any Lender, (iii) an Approved Fund, and (iv) any other person approved by the Administrative Agent, Issuing Bank and the Borrower (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed; it being understood that the Borrower shall have absolute consent rights with regard to any proposed assignment to a Disqualified Institution unless Event of Default under Section 8.01(a), (b), (d) (solely as a result of a breach of Section 6.08), (g), (h) or (m) (solely with respect to the failure to comply with the financial reporting requirements set forth in Section 5.01(a), (b), (c) or (d) is at such time continuing) and (b) if the assignment includes the assignment of a Revolving Commitment, (i) any Revolving Lender, (ii) an affiliate of any Revolving Lender), (iii) an Approved Fund with respect to a Revolving Lender and (iv) any other person approved by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed; it being understood that the Borrower shall have absolute consent rights with regard to any proposed assignment to a Disqualified Institution); provided that, in the case of the foregoing clauses (a) and (b), (1) no approval of the Borrower (other than with respect to Disqualified Institutions) shall be required during the continuance of an Event of Default under

 

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Section 8.01(a), (b), (d) (solely with respect to the failure to comply with Section 6.08), (g), (h) or (m) (solely with respect to the failure to comply with the financial reporting requirements set forth in Section 5.01(a), (b), (c) or (d)), (2) to the extent the consent of the Borrower is required for any assignment, such consent shall be deemed to have been given (except with respect to Disqualified Institutions) if the Borrower has not responded within ten (10) Business Days of a written request for such consent, (3) no approval of the Borrower shall be required with respect to assignment of Term Loans to another Lender, an Affiliate of any Lender or an Approved Fund, (4) no approval of the Borrower shall be required with respect to assignment of a Revolving Commitment to another Revolving Lender, an Affiliate of any Revolving Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to a Revolving Lender and (5) notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, “Eligible Assignee” shall not include at any time any Disqualified Institutions (unless consented to in writing by the Borrower in its sole discretion) or any natural person.

Eligible Equity Issuance” shall mean an issuance and sale of Qualified Capital Stock of the Borrower following the Closing Date.

Employee Benefit Plan” shall mean each “employee benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) that is maintained or contributed to by, or required to be contributed by, a Group Member or with respect to which a Group Member has any liability (including on account of an ERISA Affiliate).

Environment” shall mean ambient air, surface water and groundwater (including potable water, navigable water and wetlands) and the land surface.

Environmental Claim” shall mean any claim, notice, demand, order, action, suit or proceeding relating to any investigation, remediation, removal, cleanup, response, corrective action, penalties or other costs (including damages, natural resources damages, contribution, indemnification, cost recovery, compensation or injunctive relief) resulting from, related to or arising out of (i) the presence, Release or threatened Release of Hazardous Material, (ii) any violation or alleged violation of any Environmental Law, or (iii) any actual or alleged exposure to Hazardous Materials.

Environmental Law” shall mean all applicable Requirements of Law relating to pollution or protection of the Environment, or to the Release or threatened Release of Hazardous Materials.

Environmental Permit” shall mean any permit, license, approval, registration, consent or other authorization required by or from a Governmental Authority under Environmental Law.

Equity Interest” shall mean, with respect to any person, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents, including membership interests (however designated, whether voting or nonvoting and whether or not represented by a certificate), of equity of such person, including warrants, options and other rights to purchase and including, if such person is a limited liability company, membership interests or if such person is a partnership, partnership interests (whether general or limited) and any other interest or participation that confers on a person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of property of, such

 

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partnership, whether outstanding on the date hereof or issued after the Closing Date; provided that “Equity Interest” shall not include at any time (i) Permitted Convertible Indebtedness until such debt securities have been converted pursuant to the terms thereof, (ii) other debt securities that are or by their terms may be convertible or exchangeable into such equity until such debt securities have been converted pursuant to the terms thereof, (iii) Permitted Convertible Indebtedness Call Transactions so long as qualifying as such or (iv) Earn-Outs.

Equity Issuance” shall mean, without duplication, (a) any issuance or sale by the Borrower of any Equity Interests in the Borrower (including any Equity Interests issued upon the exercise of any warrant or option or equity-based derivative) or any warrants or options or equity-based derivatives to purchase Equity Interests of the Borrower or (b) any contribution to the capital of the Borrower.

ERISA” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as the same may be amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

ERISA Affiliate” shall mean, with respect to any person, any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with such person, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for purposes of Section 412 of the Code, Section 414(m) or (o) of the Code.

ERISA Event” shall mean (a) any “reportable event,” as defined in Section 4043(c) of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder, with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30-day notice period is waived by regulation); (b) with respect to a Plan, the failure to satisfy the minimum funding standard of Section 412 or 430 of the Code and Section 302 or 303 of ERISA, whether or not waived; (c) the failure to make by its due date a required installment under Section 430(j) of the Code or Section 303(j) of ERISA with respect to any Plan or the failure to make any required contribution to a Multiemployer Plan; (d) the determination that any Plan is, or is expected to be, in “at risk” status (as defined in Section 430 of the Code or Section 303 of ERISA); (e) the incurrence by any Group Member or any of its ERISA Affiliates of a Lien or any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (f) the receipt by any Group Member or any of its ERISA Affiliates from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to the intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan, or the occurrence of any event or condition which would reasonably be expected to constitute grounds under ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan; (g) the complete or partial withdrawal (within the meanings of Sections 4203 and 4205 of ERISA) of a Group Member or ERISA Affiliate from any Multiemployer Plan; (h) the receipt by any Group Member or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any notice concerning a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is reasonably expected to be, insolvent (within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA) or in “critical” or “endangered” status, under Section 432 of the Code or Section 305 of ERISA; (i) the withdrawal of any Group Member or ERISA Affiliate thereof from a Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which such entity was a “substantial employer” as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (j) the occurrence of non-exempt prohibited transaction (within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA) which would reasonably be expected to result in liability to any Group Member (other than any non-exempt prohibited transaction resulting from any Loan being funded with “plan assets” (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA) of one or more Benefit Plans); or (k) a Foreign Benefit Event.

 

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Erroneous Payment” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.13(a).

Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.13(d).

Erroneous Payment Impacted Class” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.13(d).

Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.13(d).

EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person), as in effect from time to time.

Eurodollar Borrowing” shall mean a Borrowing comprised of Eurodollar Loans.

Eurodollar Loan” shall mean any Eurodollar Revolving Loan or Eurodollar Term Loan.

Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing” shall mean a Borrowing comprised of Eurodollar Revolving Loans.

Eurodollar Revolving Loan” shall mean any Revolving Loan bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate in accordance with the provisions of Article II.

Eurodollar Term Loan” shall mean any Term Loan bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate in accordance with the provisions of Article II.

Event of Default” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.01.

Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Excluded Account” shall mean any Deposit Accounts, Securities Accounts and Commodities Accounts, (a) where the average daily balance during any month is less than $1,500,000 in the aggregate for all such accounts, (b) that is used for payroll, payroll taxes, similar withholding, and other employee wage and benefit payments to or for the benefit of any Credit Party’s employees, (c) that is used as a cash collateral account securing letter of credit and/or cash management obligations that are permitted under this Agreement, (d) that is used as an escrow account or as a fiduciary or trust account or is a customer account or is otherwise held exclusively for the benefit of an unaffiliated third party or (e) which is a zero balance Deposit Account, Securities Account or Commodity Account.

 

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Excluded Affiliate” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.12.

Excluded Equity Interests” shall mean Equity Interests (a) in excess of 65% of the Voting Stock and one-hundred percent (100%) of the non-Voting Stock issued by any first-tier CFC or CFC Holding Company (for the avoidance of doubt, none of the Equity Interests of any direct or indirect subsidiary of any CFC or CFC Holding Company), (b) in a joint venture which cannot be pledged without the consent of third parties, or the pledge of which is prohibited by the terms of, or would create a right of termination of one or more third parties under, any applicable Organizational Documents, joint venture agreement or shareholders’ agreement after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law, in each case, so long as such prohibition or restriction was not created or entered into in contemplation of the creation or acquisition of such joint venture (or to avoid the security requirements hereof), (c) in any Immaterial Subsidiary, Unrestricted Subsidiary, not-for-profit Subsidiary, captive insurance entity or special purpose entity (including any Receivables Entity), (d) with respect to which the cost, burden or consequence of obtaining a security interest therein exceeds the practical benefit to the Lenders afforded thereby, as mutually and reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, (e) with respect to which a pledge therein is prohibited or restricted by applicable law (including any requirement to obtain the consent of any governmental authority or third party) or impossible or impracticable (as mutually and reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower) to obtain under applicable law, (f) with respect to which a pledge therein would reasonably be expected to result in material adverse tax consequences (including as a result of any law or regulation in any applicable jurisdiction similar to Section 956 of the Code) as reasonably determined by the Borrower in consultation with the Administrative Agent, (g) issued by T365 and owned by the Borrower or any other Credit Party and (h) owned by T365, T365Co or any of their respective direct or indirect Subsidiaries; provided that in each case set forth above, such equity will immediately cease to constitute Excluded Equity Interests when the relevant property ceases to meet this definition and, with respect to any such equity, a security interest under any applicable Security Document shall attach immediately and automatically without further action.

Excluded Foreign Subsidiary” shall mean any direct or indirect Foreign Subsidiary of the Borrower.

Excluded Property” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

Excluded Subsidiary” shall mean (a) any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower, (b) any Excluded Foreign Subsidiary, (c) any Immaterial Subsidiary, (d) any Unrestricted Subsidiary, (e) any not-for-profit Subsidiary, (f) any Excluded U.S. Subsidiary, (g) any captive insurance entity, (h) any special purpose entity, (i) any merger Subsidiary formed in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or other permitted Investment so long as such merger Subsidiary is merged out of existence pursuant to such Permitted Acquisition or other Investment or dissolved within sixty days of its formation thereof or such later date as permitted by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion, (j) any Subsidiary to the extent a Guarantee or other guarantee of the Obligations is prohibited or restricted by any contractual obligation as in existence on the Closing Date or at the time such Person

 

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becomes a Subsidiary (in each case, not entered into in contemplation hereof and for so long as such prohibition or restriction remains in effect) or by applicable Requirements of Law (including any requirement to obtain Governmental Authority or third party consent, license or authorization unless such consent, license or authorization has been obtained), (k) any Restricted Subsidiary acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition or other Investment that has or guarantees assumed Indebtedness not incurred in contemplation of such Permitted Acquisition or other Investment and any Restricted Subsidiary thereof that guarantees such Indebtedness, in each case, to the extent (but only for so long as) such Indebtedness prohibits such Restricted Subsidiary from becoming a Guarantor, (l) any Subsidiary to the extent the Administrative Agent and the Borrower mutually and reasonably determine the cost or other consequences of providing such a Guarantee is excessive in relation to the value thereof to the Lenders, (m) any Subsidiary to the extent the Borrower (in consultation with the Administrative Agent) reasonably determines that a Guarantee by such Subsidiary would reasonably be expected to result in a materially adverse tax consequence to a Credit Party and (n) notwithstanding anything else contained herein, T365, T365Co and any of their respective direct or indirect Subsidiaries; provided that the Borrower shall not be an Excluded Subsidiary.

Excluded Taxes” shall mean, with respect to any Recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Credit Party under any Loan Document, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by such Recipient’s net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of the Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, any U.S. federal withholding Tax to the extent imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which such Lender becomes a party or acquires an interest hereto (or designates a new lending office), except (x) to the extent that such Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, immediately prior to the designation of a new lending office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts or indemnity payments with respect to such withholding Tax pursuant to Section 2.15 or (y) if such Lender is an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 2.16, (c) any withholding Tax that is attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 2.15(e)(i) and (ii), and (d) any withholding Tax imposed under FATCA.

Excluded U.S. Subsidiary” shall mean (a) any direct or indirect Domestic Subsidiary of an Excluded Foreign Subsidiary or (b) any CFC Holding Company or any direct or indirect Subsidiary of a CFC Holding Company; provided that the Borrower shall not be an Excluded U.S. Subsidiary.

Executive Order” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.19.

Existing Lien” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.02(c).

Existing Loans” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.21(a).

Existing Tranche” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.21(a).

 

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Extended Loans” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.21(a).

Extended Tranche” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.21(a).

Extending Lender” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.21(b).

Extension Amendment” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.21(c).

Extension Date” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.21(d).

Extension Election” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.21(b).

Extension Request” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.21(a).

FATCA” shall mean Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version thereof to the extent such version is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or other official governmental interpretations thereof, any agreements entered into pursuant to current Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code (or any amended or successor version described above) and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among Governmental Authorities implementing such Sections of the Code.

Federal Funds Rate shall mean, for any day, the weighted average of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System of the United States, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average (rounded upwards, if necessary to the next 1/100th of 1.00%) of the quotations for the day for such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

Fee Letters” shall mean the Closing Date Fee Letter and the Arrangement Fee Letter.

Financial Covenant” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the covenant set forth Section 6.08 which are then in effect as of such date.

Financial Officer” of any person shall mean the chief financial officer, chief executive officer, vice president of finance, treasurer, assistant treasurer, controller, or, in each case, anyone acting in such capacity or any similar capacity.

 

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Fixed Incremental Amount” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Maximum Incremental Facilities Amount”.

Flood Insurance Laws” shall mean, collectively, (i) the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (ii) the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (iii) the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto and (iv) the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto.

Foreign Benefit Event” shall mean, with respect to any Foreign Pension Plan, (a) the existence of unfunded liabilities in excess of the amount permitted under any applicable law, or in excess of the amount that would be permitted absent a waiver from a Governmental Authority, (b) the failure to make the required contributions or payments, under any applicable law, on or before the due date for such contributions or payments, (c) the receipt of a notice by a Governmental Authority relating to the intention to terminate any such Foreign Pension Plan or to appoint a trustee or similar official to administer any such Foreign Pension Plan, or alleging the insolvency of any such Foreign Pension Plan, (d) the incurrence of any liability by any Group Member under applicable law on account of the complete or partial termination of such Foreign Pension Plan or the complete or partial withdrawal of any participating employer therein, or (e) the occurrence of any transaction that is prohibited under any applicable law and that could reasonably be expected to result in the incurrence of any liability by any Group Member, or the imposition on any Group Member of any fine, excise tax or penalty resulting from any noncompliance with any applicable law.

Foreign Casualty Event” has the meaning specified in Section 2.10(h).

Foreign Disposition” has the meaning specified in Section 2.10(h).

Foreign Lender” shall mean any Recipient that is not a “United States person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

Foreign Pension Plan” shall mean any defined benefit pension maintained or contributed to by (or required to be contributed to by) any Group Member with respect to employees employed outside the United States.

Foreign Plan” shall mean any employee benefit plan, program, policy, arrangement or agreement sponsored, maintained or contributed to by (or required to be contributed to by) any Group Member with respect to employees employed outside the United States.

Foreign Subsidiary” shall mean a Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

Fund” shall mean any Person that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business.

 

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GAAP” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, applied on a consistent basis other than as expressly set forth herein.

Governmental Authority” shall mean the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state, provincial, local or otherwise, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

Group Members” shall mean the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries; and “Group Member” shall mean any one of them.

Guaranteed Obligations” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.01.

Guarantees” shall mean the guarantees issued pursuant to Article VII by the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors.

Guarantors” shall mean each of the Subsidiary Guarantors.

Hazardous Materials” shall mean the following: toxic or hazardous substances; hazardous wastes; polychlorinated biphenyls (“PCBs”) or any substance or compound containing PCBs; friable asbestos or friable asbestos-containing materials; radon or any other radioactive materials including any source, special nuclear or by-product material; petroleum, crude oil or any fraction thereof; and any other pollutant or contaminant subject to regulation under any Environmental Laws due to their dangerous or deleterious properties or characteristics, or which can give rise to liability under any Environmental Laws due to their dangerous or deleterious properties or characteristics.

Hedging Agreement” shall mean any swap, cap, collar, forward purchase or similar agreements or arrangements dealing with interest rates, currency exchange rates or commodity prices, either generally or under specific contingencies. For the avoidance of doubt, any agreements entered into in connection with a Permitted Convertible Indebtedness Call Transaction will not constitute a Hedging Agreement.

Hedging Obligations” shall mean obligations under or with respect to Hedging Agreements. For the avoidance of doubt, any Permitted Convertible Indebtedness Call Transaction will not constitute Hedging Obligations.

Historical Financial Statements” shall mean (i) audited consolidated balance sheets and related statements of income and cash flows of T365 for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020 (to the extent delivered to the Borrower pursuant to the Closing Date Acquisition Agreement), (ii) unaudited consolidated balance sheets and related statements of operations and cash flows of T365 as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 (to the extent delivered to the Borrower pursuant to the Closing Date Acquisition Agreement), (iii) the audited consolidated balance sheets and related statements of income and cash flows of the Borrower as of and for the years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31,

 

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2019, (iv) the unaudited consolidated balance sheets and related statements of income and cash flows of the Borrower for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2020 and (v) the unaudited consolidated balance sheets and related unaudited consolidated statements of operations and cash flows of for each of the Borrower and T365 for each fiscal quarter ended after, in the case of the Borrower, September 30, 2020 and, in the case of T365, December 31, 2020 and at least 45 days prior to the Closing Date (to the extent and in the form, in the case of the reporting of T365, delivered to the Borrower pursuant to the terms of the Acquisition Agreement).

Immaterial Subsidiary” shall mean any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that the Borrower designates in writing (including via email) to the Administrative Agent as an “Immaterial Subsidiary”; provided that, as of the date of the last financial statements delivered or required to be delivered on or prior to the date of such designation pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or (b), (a) the Consolidated Total Assets attributable to all such Subsidiaries shall not be in excess of 5.0% of Consolidated Total Assets as of such date, (b) the LQA Revenue attributable to all such Subsidiaries shall not be in excess of 5.0% of total LQA Revenue of the Group Members on a consolidated basis as of such date, and (c) any such Restricted Subsidiary shall not own or license any Intellectual Property that is material to the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, further, that in each case, the Borrower may designate and re-designate a Subsidiary as an Immaterial Subsidiary at any time, subject to the limitations and requirements set forth in this definition. If the Consolidated Total Assets or total LQA Revenues of all Restricted Subsidiaries so designated by the Borrower as “Immaterial Subsidiaries” shall at any time exceed the limits set forth in the preceding sentence, then starting with the largest Restricted Subsidiary (or in such other order as the Borrower may elect in its sole discretion), the number of Restricted Subsidiaries that are at such time designated as Immaterial Subsidiaries shall automatically be deemed to no longer be designated as Immaterial Subsidiaries until the threshold amounts in the preceding sentence are no longer exceeded (as reasonably determined by the Borrower), with any Immaterial Subsidiaries at such time that are below such threshold amounts still being designated as (and remaining as) Immaterial Subsidiaries.

Increase Effective Date” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(a).

Incremental Amendment” shall mean an amendment to this Agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower executed by each of (a) the Borrower, (b) the Administrative Agent and (c) each Incremental Term Loan Lender and each Incremental Revolving Loan Lender, as applicable, that agrees to provide any portion of the Incremental Facilities being incurred pursuant thereto.

Incremental Facilities” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(a).

Incremental Loans” shall mean the Incremental Term Loans and the Incremental Revolving Loans.

Incremental Revolving Loan” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(d).

 

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Incremental Revolving Loan Commitment” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(a).

Incremental Revolving Loan Lender” shall mean a Lender with an Incremental Revolving Loan Commitment or an outstanding Incremental Revolving Loan.

Incremental Term Loan Commitment” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(a).

Incremental Term Loan Lender” shall mean a Lender with an Incremental Term Loan Commitment or an outstanding Incremental Term Loan.

Incremental Term Loans” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(c)(i).

Indebtedness” of any person shall mean, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such person for borrowed money or advances; (b) all obligations of such person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments; (c) all obligations of such person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property purchased by such person; (d) all obligations of such person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services; (e) all Indebtedness of others (excluding prepaid interest thereon) secured by any Lien on property owned or acquired by such person, whether or not the obligations secured thereby have been assumed by such person, but limited to, to the extent that such Indebtedness is recourse only to such property (and not to such person), the lower of (x) fair market value of such property as determined by such person in good faith and (y) the amount of Indebtedness secured by such Lien; (f) all Capital Lease Obligations, Purchase Money Obligations and synthetic lease obligations of such person to the extent classified as indebtedness under GAAP (for the avoidance of doubt, lease payments under any operating leases (other than Capital Leases recorded as capitalized leases in accordance with GAAP as in effect on December 31, 2018) shall not constitute Indebtedness); (g) all Hedging Obligations to the extent required to be reflected as a liability on the balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such person prepared in accordance with GAAP, (h) all Attributable Indebtedness of such person; (i) all obligations of such person for the reimbursement of any obligor in respect of letters of credit, letters of guaranty, bankers’ acceptances and similar credit transactions; (j) all obligations of such person, whether or not contingent, in respect of Disqualified Capital Stock of such person, valued at, in the case of redeemable preferred capital stock, the greater of the voluntary liquidation preference and the involuntary liquidation preference of such capital stock plus accrued and unpaid dividends; and (k) all Contingent Obligations of such person in respect of Indebtedness or obligations of others of the kinds referred to in clauses (a) through (j) above. The Indebtedness of any person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such person is a general partner) to the extent such person is liable therefor as a result of such person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except (other than in the case of general partner liability) to the extent that terms of such Indebtedness expressly provide that such person is not liable therefor. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else herein to the contrary, Indebtedness shall not include: (a) trade accounts payable, (b) accrued obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business, (c) purchase price adjustments, (d) royalty payments made in the ordinary course of business in respect of licenses (to the extent such licenses are permitted hereby),

 

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(e) any accruals for payroll and other non-interest bearing liabilities accrued in the ordinary course of business, including tax accruals, (f) deferred rent obligations, taxes and compensation, (g) customary payables with respect to money orders or wire transfers, (h) customary obligations under employment arrangements, (i) operating leases (including for the avoidance of doubt any lease, concession or license treated as an operating lease under GAAP), (j) obligations in respect of any license, permit or other approval arising in the ordinary course of business, and (k) any obligations attributable to the exercise of appraisal rights and the settlement or resolution of any claims or actions (whether actual, contingent or potential) with respect thereto. For the avoidance of doubt, no Permitted Convertible Indebtedness Call Transaction will constitute Indebtedness.

Indemnified Taxes” shall mean (a) all Taxes imposed on or with respect to any Loan Document or any payment thereunder other than Excluded Taxes and (b) to the extent not described in (a), Other Taxes.

Indemnitee” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.03(b).

Information” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.12.

Intellectual Property” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

Intellectual Property Rights” means any intellectual property rights and other proprietary rights recognized in any jurisdiction in the world associated with (a) patents and patent applications (and any patents that issue as a result of those patent applications), including such rights in invention disclosures, (b) copyrights, copyright registrations and copyright applications, “moral” rights and mask work rights, including such rights in original works of authorship in any medium of expression, whether or not published, (c) the protection of knowhow, trade and industrial secrets and proprietary and confidential information, (d) other proprietary rights related to Technology, (e) logos, trademarks, trade names, service marks, including such rights in business names, brand names, certification marks, trade dress, slogans, Domain Names, and any other protected indicia of commercial source or origin, and any goodwill associated with the foregoing, (f) analogous rights to those set forth above, (g) divisions, continuations, continuations in part and counterparts claiming priority therefrom, renewals, reissuances, provisionals and extensions of the foregoing (as applicable), and (i) claims, causes of action, rights to sue for past, present and future infringement or unconsented use of any of the foregoing.

Intercreditor Agreement” shall mean any intercreditor agreement executed in connection with any transaction requiring such agreement to be executed pursuant to the terms hereof, or otherwise required to be executed pursuant to the terms hereof, among the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and one or more other Senior Representatives of Indebtedness, or any other party, as the case may be, and acknowledged and agreed to by the Borrower and the Guarantors, in each case, on terms that are reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, in each case, as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented, renewed, replaced, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time with the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).

 

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Interest Election Request” shall mean a written request by the Borrower to convert or continue a Revolving Borrowing or Term Loan Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.08(b), substantially in the form of Exhibit D or such other form (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system) as may be approved by the Administrative Agent, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of each Borrower.

Interest Payment Date” shall mean (a) with respect to any ABR Loan (including Swingline Loans), the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December to occur during any period in which such Loan is outstanding, (b) with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, the last Business Day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Eurodollar Loan with an Interest Period of more than three months’ duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months’ duration after the first day of such Interest Period, (c) with respect to any Revolving Loan or Swingline Loan, the Revolving Maturity Date or such earlier date on which the Revolving Commitments are terminated in accordance with the terms hereof, and (d) with respect to any Term Loan, the Term Loan the Maturity Date.

Interest Period” shall mean, with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, three or six months (or, if agreed to by all relevant Lenders, twelve months or any shorter period) thereafter, as the Borrower may elect; provided that (a) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the nearest preceding Business Day, (b) any Interest Period that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period and (c) no Interest Period shall extend beyond (i) in the case of any Eurodollar Revolving Loan, the Revolving Maturity Date and (ii) in the case of any Eurodollar Term Loan, the Term Loan Maturity Date. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.

Issuing Bank” shall mean, as the context may require, (a) any bank or financial institution reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower as designated in writing by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower and agreed to by such bank or financial institution; (b) any other Lender that may become an Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.18(j) or (k) with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Lender; and/or (c) collectively, all of the foregoing. Any Issuing Bank may, at its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by one or more Affiliates of such Issuing Bank (and each such Affiliate shall be deemed to be an “Issuing Bank” for all purposes of the Loan Documents). In the event that there is more than one Issuing Bank at any time, references herein and in the other Loan Documents to the Issuing Bank shall be deemed to refer to the Issuing Bank in respect of the applicable Letter of Credit or to all Issuing Banks, as the context requires.

Investments” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.03.

 

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Joinder Agreement” shall mean a joinder agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit E, with such amendments as may be reasonably and mutually agreed between the Administrative Agent and the Borrower.

Junior Secured Indebtedness” shall mean senior Indebtedness of the Credit Parties for borrowed money that is secured on a junior basis to the Secured Obligations, subject to an Intercreditor Agreement.

Latest Maturity Date” as of any date of determination, shall mean the latest maturity or expiration date applicable to any Loan or Commitment hereunder at such time, including the latest maturity or expiration date of any Incremental Term Loan, any Incremental Revolving Loan, any Refinancing Term Loan, any Swingline Loan, LC Extension or an Refinancing Revolving Loan or any Refinancing Loan, in each case, that is governed by the terms of this Agreement.

LC Commitment” shall mean the commitment of the Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit pursuant to Section 2.18.

LC Disbursement” shall mean a payment or disbursement made by the Issuing Bank pursuant to a drawing under a Letter of Credit.

LC Exposure” shall mean at any time the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time (including, without limitation, any and all Letters of Credit for which documents have been presented that have not been honored or dishonored) plus (b) the aggregate principal amount of all Reimbursement Obligations outstanding at such time. The LC Exposure of any Revolving Lender at any time shall mean its Pro Rata Percentage of the aggregate LC Exposure at such time.

LC Extension” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.18(c).

LC Obligations” shall mean, as at any date of determination, the aggregate amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time (including, without limitation, any and all Letters of Credit for which documents have been presented that have not been honored or dishonored) plus the aggregate amount of all outstanding Reimbursement Obligations at such time. For purposes of computing the amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.12. The amount of such LC Obligations shall equal the maximum amount that may be payable by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders thereupon or pursuant thereto. For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.

LC Participation Fee” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(c).

 

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LC Request” shall mean an application and agreement for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit in the form from time to time in use by the Issuing Bank in accordance with the terms of Section 2.18(b) and substantially in the form of Exhibit F.

LC Sublimit” shall mean $10,000,000.

LCA Election” shall mean the Borrower’s election to test the permissibility of a Limited Condition Acquisition in accordance with the methodology set forth in Section 1.06 by delivering written notice thereof to the Administrative Agent on or after the date that the definitive agreement for such Limited Condition Acquisition is entered into (but prior to the consummation thereof).

LCA Test Date” shall have the meaning given to that term in Section 1.06.

Lead Arranger” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble.

Leases” shall mean any and all leases, subleases, tenancies, options, concession agreements, rental agreements, occupancy agreements, access agreements and any other agreements (including all amendments, extensions, replacements, renewals, modifications and/or guarantees thereof), whether or not of record and whether now in existence or hereafter entered into, affecting the use or occupancy of all or any portion of any Real Property.

Lender” shall mean a Lender with a Commitment or an outstanding Loan. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the term “Lenders” shall include an Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender.

Letter of Credit” shall mean any standby letter of credit issued or to be issued by an Issuing Bank for the account of the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 2.18.

Letter of Credit Expiration Date” shall mean the date which is the earlier of (i) the first anniversary of the date of issuance of the applicable Letter of Credit or such longer period as may be agreed with the applicable Issuing Bank and (ii) five (5) Business Days prior to the Revolving Maturity Date then in effect (or, if such date is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day), or such later date to the extent such Letter of Credit has been cash collateralized in an amount equal to 103% of the LC Exposure or backstopped with another letter of credit for such period after the Revolving Maturity Date in a manner to be mutually and reasonably agreed between the applicable Issuing Bank and the Borrower.

LIBO Rate” shall mean, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, the rate per annum equal to the London Interbank Offered Rate or a comparable or successor rate, which rate is approved by the Administrative Agent, as published on the applicable Bloomberg screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, for Dollar deposits (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period. In the event that such rate does not appear on such page (or any such successor or substitute page), the LIBO Rate shall be the average rate at which dollar deposits for a maturity comparable

 

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to such Interest Period are offered to the Administrative Agent by three major banking institutions in immediately available funds in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period; provided that to the extent a comparable or successor rate is approved by the Administrative Agent in connection herewith, the approved rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided, further that to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such approved rate shall be applied in a manner as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent. If the LIBO Rate shall be less than one percent (1%) per annum, such rate shall be deemed to be one percent (1%) per annum for purposes of this Agreement.

Lien” shall mean, with respect to any property, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, encumbrance, claim, charge, assignment for security, hypothecation, security interest or encumbrance of any kind or any arrangement to provide priority or preference, including any easement, right-of-way or other encumbrance on title to owned Real Property, in each of the foregoing cases whether voluntary or imposed by law; (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, Capital Lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such property; provided that in no event shall an operating lease be deemed to be a Lien; and (c) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities.

Limited Condition Acquisition” shall mean any Permitted Acquisition or other Investment permitted hereunder whose consummation is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third party financing and which is not a simultaneous sign and close transaction; provided that, in the event the consummation of any such Permitted Acquisition or other permitted Investment shall not have occurred on or prior to the date that is ninety (90) days following the signing of the applicable acquisition agreement, such Permitted Acquisition or permitted Investment shall no longer constitute a Limited Condition Acquisition for any purpose (unless otherwise agreed to by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion).

Liquidity” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the sum of (a) the Total Revolving Commitment as of such date less (i) the amount of any Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans, in each case, actually borrowed and outstanding as of such date and (ii) the LC Exposure as of such date plus (b) the amount of Unrestricted Cash of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date.

Loan” shall mean, as the context may require, a Revolving Loan (including, without limitation, deemed Revolving Loans made under Section 2.18(e)(ii)) or Swingline Loan or Term Loan, and shall include, unless the context shall otherwise require, any Incremental Loans made pursuant to Section 2.20 after the Closing Date.

Loan Documents” shall mean this Agreement, any amendments hereto, the Letters of Credit, the LC Requests, any Intercreditor Agreement, the Notes (if any), the Security Documents, the Fee Letters (other than for purposes of Section 10.02) and intercreditor agreements and subordination agreements entered into pursuant to the terms hereof that any Credit Party is party to and any other document designated as such by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent,

 

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in each case as amended, amended and restated, restated, supplemented and/or modified from time to time.

LQA Revenue” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the product of (a) revenues of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries determined in accordance with GAAP for the fiscal quarter most recently ended for which financial statements have been (or required to be) delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders multiplied by (b) four.

Margin Stock” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Regulation U.

Material Acquisition” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Permitted Acquisition”.

Material Adverse Effect” shall mean a material adverse effect on (a) the business or financial condition or results of operations of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) the material rights and remedies (taken as a whole) of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or the Lenders under the Loan Documents (other than due to the action or inaction of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the applicable Lenders or any other Secured Party) or (c) the ability of the Borrower and the Guarantors, taken as a whole, to perform their payment obligations under the Loan Documents. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of any representations and warranties in the Loan Documents with respect to the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries to be made on the Closing Date, “Material Adverse Effect” shall mean Company Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Closing Date Acquisition Agreement).

Material Property” shall mean all Real Property owned in fee in the United States by any Credit Party, in each case, with a fair market value of $5,000,000 (or $7,500,000 in the aggregate for all such Real Property) or more, as determined (i) with respect to any Real Property owned by any Credit Party on the Closing Date, as of the Closing Date, and (ii) with respect to any Real Property acquired by a Credit Party after the Closing Date, as of the date of such acquisition; provided that, “Material Property” shall not include any portion of Real Property owned in fee that contains improvements located in an area identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (or any successor agency) as a “special flood hazard area”.

Maturity Date” shall mean (x) with respect to any Loans the maturity date of which has not been extended pursuant to Section 2.21, June 30, 2026, and (y) with respect to any Extended Tranche of Loans, the final maturity date specified in the applicable Extension Election accepted by the respective Lender or Lenders.

Maximum Incremental Facilities Amount” shall mean (i) an aggregate amount equal to $30,000,000, plus (ii) the amount of any voluntary prepayments of any Loans and any Incremental Facility (in the case of any prepayment of Revolving Loans and/or Incremental Revolving Loans, to the extent accompanied by a corresponding permanent reduction in the relevant commitment) (it being understood that any such voluntary prepayment financed with the proceeds of Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness shall not increase the calculation of the amount under this clause (ii)), plus (iii) payments required by Sections 2.16(b)(B) or 10.02(e)(i), in each case to the extent financed with sources other than the proceeds of long-term Indebtedness (other than revolving Indebtedness) of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries and such Loans

 

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are permanently repaid (the “Fixed Incremental Amount”); provided that, at the Borrower’s option, capacity under clause (ii) of the Fixed Incremental Amount shall be deemed to be used prior to the capacity under clause (i) of the Fixed Incremental Amount).

Maximum Rate” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.14.

Minimum Borrowing Amount” shall mean

(a)    in the case of Eurodollar Loans, $250,000; and

(b)    in the case of ABR Loans that are Term Loans, $250,000; and

(c)    in the case of ABR Loans that are Revolving Loans, the lesser of $250,000 and the Revolving Commitment at such time.

Minority Holder” shall mean Xome Holdings LLC, in its capacity as the minority shareholder of T365.

MNPI” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.01(f)(i).

Moody’s” shall mean Moody’s Investors Service Inc.

Mortgage” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.10(c)(ii).

Multiemployer Plan” shall mean a “multiemployer plan” within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) or Section 3(37) of ERISA which is subject to Title IV of ERISA (a) to which any Group Member is then making or accruing an obligation to make contributions or (b) with respect to which any Group Member has any liability (including on account of an ERISA Affiliate).

Net Cash Proceeds” shall mean:

(a)    with respect to any Asset Sale (other than any issuance or sale of Equity Interests), the proceeds thereof in the form of cash, cash equivalents (including Cash Equivalents) and marketable securities (including any such proceeds received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or purchase price adjustment receivable, or by the sale, transfer or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received in connection therewith or otherwise, but only as and when received) received by any Group Member, net of, without duplication, (i) fees and expenses (including brokers’ fees or commissions, discounts, legal, accounting and other professional and transactional fees, transfer and similar Taxes and the Borrower’s good faith estimate of Taxes paid or payable in connection with such sale or with the repatriation of such proceeds (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any payments or payable amounts under tax sharing arrangements permitted under the Loan Documents) (provided that, to the extent and at the time that any such Taxes are no longer required to be paid or payable, such amounts then constitute Net Cash Proceeds)), (ii) amounts required to repay or return customer deposits required to be repaid or returned upon such Asset Sale, (iii) amounts reasonably required to be provided as a reserve, in accordance with GAAP, against (x) any liabilities under any indemnification obligations, earn-out obligations or purchase price adjustments associated with such Asset Sale or (y) any other liabilities retained or payable by any

 

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Group Member associated with the Properties sold in such Asset Sale (provided that, to the extent and at the time any such amounts are released from such reserve, such amounts shall constitute Net Cash Proceeds), (iv) the principal amount, premium or penalty, if any, interest and other amounts on any Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than the Loans) that is secured by a Lien on the Properties sold in such Asset Sale (so long as such Lien was permitted to encumber such Properties under the Loan Documents at the time of such sale and was not a pari passu or junior Lien on Collateral) and which is repaid with such proceeds (other than any such Indebtedness assumed by the purchaser of such Properties);

(b)    with respect to any Casualty Event, the cash insurance proceeds, condemnation awards and other compensation received by, or on behalf of, any Group Member in respect thereof, net of all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the collection of such proceeds, awards or other compensation in respect of such Casualty Event (including, in respect of any such Casualty Event, transfer and similar Taxes and the Borrower’s good faith estimate of Taxes paid or payable in connection with such Casualty Event or with the repatriation of such proceeds (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any payments or payable amounts under tax sharing arrangements permitted under the Loan Documents) (provided that, to the extent and at the time that any such Taxes are no longer required to be paid or payable, such amounts shall then constitute Net Cash Proceeds));

(c)    with respect to any issuance or sale of Equity Interests by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, the cash proceeds thereof, net of Taxes (including Taxes payable upon the repatriation of any such proceeds to a Group Member after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions), fees, commissions, costs and other expenses incurred in connection therewith; and

(d)    with respect to any Debt Issuance by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, the cash proceeds thereof, net of Taxes (including Taxes payable upon repatriation of the proceeds to a Group Member after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions), fees, commissions, costs and other expenses incurred in connection therewith.

Non-Consenting Lender” shall mean any Lender that does not approve any consent, waiver or amendment that (i) requires the approval of all Lenders or all affected Lenders in accordance with the terms of Section 10.02 and (ii) has been approved by the Required Lenders (or the Required Revolving Lenders, as applicable) or more than 50% of the affected Lenders, as applicable.

Non-Credit Party Target” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Permitted Acquisition”.

Non-Extending Lender” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.21(e).

Not Otherwise Applied” shall mean, with reference to any amount of proceeds of any transaction or event, that such amount (a) was not required to be applied to prepay the Loans pursuant to Section 2.10, (b) was not previously applied in determining the permissibility of a transaction under the Loan Documents where such permissibility was contingent on receipt of such

 

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amount or utilization of such amount for a specified purpose and (c) was not previously applied to finance, fund or otherwise constitute all or a portion of the purchase price of a “Permitted Acquisition”.

Notes” shall mean any notes evidencing the Loans issued pursuant to this Agreement, if any, substantially in the form of Exhibits G-1 through G-3.

Obligations” shall mean obligations of the Borrower and the other Credit Parties from time to time arising under or in respect of the due and punctual payment of (i) the principal of and premium (including the Applicable Prepayment Premium), if any, and interest (including any interest accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding) on the Loans, when and as due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, upon one or more dates set for prepayment or otherwise, (ii) each payment required to be made by the Borrower and the other Credit Parties under this Agreement in respect of any Letter of Credit, when and as due, including payments in respect of Reimbursement Obligations with respect to Letters of Credit, interest thereon and obligations to provide cash collateral with respect thereto and (iii) all other monetary obligations, including fees, costs, expenses and indemnities, whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise (including fees and other monetary obligations incurred during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), of the Borrower and the other Credit Parties under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

OFAC” shall mean the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Organizational Documents” shall mean, with respect to any person, (i) in the case of any corporation, the certificate of incorporation and by-laws (or similar documents) of such person, (ii) in the case of any limited liability company, the certificate of formation and operating agreement (or similar documents) of such person, (iii) in the case of any limited partnership, the certificate of limited partnership and limited partnership agreement (or similar documents) of such person, (iv) in the case of any general partnership, the partnership agreement (or similar document) of such person and (v) in any other case, the functional equivalent of the foregoing.

Other Connection Taxes” shall mean, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced by any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).

Other Taxes” shall mean all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes arising from any payment made hereunder or under any other Loan Document or from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except for any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 2.16).

 

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Owl Rock” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble.

Paid in Full”, “Pay in Full” or “Payment in Full” shall mean, with respect to any Obligations, Secured Obligations or Guaranteed Obligations, as applicable, the payment in full in cash of all such Obligations, Secured Obligations or Guaranteed Obligations, as applicable (other than contingent indemnification obligations or unasserted expense reimbursement obligations.

Participant” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.04(d)(i).

Participant Register” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.04(d)(iii).

Participating Receivables Grantor” shall mean any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that is or that becomes a participant or originator in a Permitted Receivables Financing.

Patriot Act” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.19.

Payment Block” means any of the circumstances described in Section 2.10(h).

Payment Notice” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.13(b).

Payment Recipient” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.13(a).

PBGC” shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.

Permitted Acquisition” shall mean any transaction or series of related transactions by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for (a) the direct or indirect acquisition of all or substantially all of the property of any Person, or of any assets constituting an entire line of business, business unit, division or product line (including research and development and related assets in respect of any product) of any Person; (b) the acquisition (including by merger or consolidation) of the Equity Interests (other than director qualifying shares) of any Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary after giving effect to such transaction; or (c) a merger or consolidation or any other combination with any Person (so long as a Credit Party (including for the avoidance of doubt (except in the case of a merger, consolidation or other combination involving the Borrower) any such Person that becomes a Credit Party upon the consummation of such merger, consolidation or other combination), to the extent such Credit Party is a party to such merger, consolidation or other combination, is the surviving entity); provided that each of the following conditions shall be met or waived by the Required Lenders:

(i)    no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing immediately before giving pro forma effect to such acquisition and immediately after giving effect to such acquisition (or in the case of a Limited Condition Acquisition, subject

 

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to Section 1.06, no Event of Default under Section 8.01(a), (b), (g) or (h) shall have occurred and be continuing immediately before giving pro forma effect to such acquisition and immediately after giving effect to such acquisition);

(ii)    subject to Section 1.06, immediately before and after giving effect to such transaction on a Pro Forma Basis (assuming that such transaction and all other Permitted Acquisitions consummated since the first day of the relevant Test Period ending on or prior to the date of such transaction had occurred on the first day of such relevant Test Period), the Borrower shall be in compliance with the Financial Covenant; provided that, such Pro Forma Basis calculation shall give effect to the sale of any assets (including the exclusion of any historical performance thereof) to be sold substantially concurrently with such Permitted Acquisition pursuant to Section 6.05(f)¸but, for the avoidance of doubt, such Pro Forma Basis calculation shall give effect to any cash received by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with the sale of such assets;

(iii)    immediately after giving effect to such transaction, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be in compliance with Section 6.11;

(iv)    any such newly created or acquired Restricted Subsidiary or property shall either (x) to the extent required by Section 5.10 or Section 5.11, as applicable, become a Credit Party and comply with the requirements of Section 5.10 or become part of the “Collateral” and be subject to the requirements of Section 5.11, or (y) if any such newly created or acquired Restricted Subsidiary does not become a Credit Party and comply with the requirements of Section 5.10 (a “Non-Credit Party Target”) or such assets do not become part of the “Collateral”, Total Consideration paid in connection with such purchase or acquisition and all other such purchases or acquisitions described in this clause (y) shall not exceed $22,500,000 in the aggregate;

(v)    with respect to any Permitted Acquisition with a total consideration in excess of $20,000,000 (any such Permitted Acquisition, a “Material Acquisition”), such acquisition shall not be consummated pursuant to a tender offer that is not supported by the board of directors of the Person to be acquired and the board of directors of any such Person shall not have indicated publicly its opposition to the consummation of such acquisition (which opposition has not been publicly withdrawn);

(vi)    with respect to any Material Acquisition, receipt by Administrative Agent of drafts of the material acquisition documents at least five (5) days prior to the closing of such acquisition or such shorter period as Administrative Agent may reasonably accept (with executed copies thereof provided to Administrative Agent as soon as available), and with respect to any Permitted Acquisition that is not a Material Acquisition, executed copies of the material acquisition documents promptly following the date that they are made available to the Borrower;

(vii)    with respect to any Material Acquisition, delivery to Administrative Agent at least five (5) days prior to the closing of such acquisition or such shorter period as Administrative Agent may reasonably accept of, to the extent readily available, (i) a description of the proposed acquisition and if available, material and customary legal and

 

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business diligence reports (on a non-reliance basis), (ii) to the extent available, summary historical annual audited and quarterly unaudited financial statements (including a balance sheet, income statement and cash flows statement) of the target for the previous twelve (12) month period, (iii) pro forma forecasted balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, all prepared on a basis consistent with the Borrower’s historical financial statements, subject to adjustments to reflect projected consolidated operations following the acquisition, together with appropriate supporting details and a statement of underlying assumptions for the one year period following the date of the proposed acquisition, on a month by month basis, and (iv) a quality of earnings report from a firm of regionally recognized standing or otherwise reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent; provided that, with respect to any Permitted Acquisition that is not a Material Acquisition, to the extent any of the items set forth in (i) – (iv) of this clause (vii) are available, the Borrower shall provide (or cause to be provided) such items promptly following the date that they are made available to the Borrower; and

(viii)    with respect to any Material Acquisition, the Borrower shall have delivered to Administrative Agent, on or prior to the date of the consummation of each Permitted Acquisition, a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent, certifying that all the requirements in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (v) above have been met or will be satisfied on or prior to the consummation of such acquisition.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the immediately preceding sentence, an acquisition which does not otherwise meet the requirements set forth above in the definition of “Permitted Acquisition” shall constitute a Permitted Acquisition if, and to the extent, the Required Lenders agree in writing, prior to the consummation thereof, that such acquisition shall constitute a Permitted Acquisition for purposes of this Agreement.

Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction” means any call or capped call option (or substantively equivalent derivative transaction) on the Borrower’s common stock purchased by the Borrower in connection with the issuance of any Post-Qualified IPO Unsecured Convertible Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to the terms of Section 6.01(r) after the occurrence of a Qualified IPO; provided that (a) the purchase price for such Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction, less the proceeds received by the Borrower from the sale of any related Permitted Warrant Transaction, does not exceed the net proceeds received by the Borrower from the sale of such Permitted Convertible Indebtedness issued in connection with the Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction, (b) the other terms, conditions and covenants of each such transaction shall be such as are reasonable and customary for transactions of such type (as determined by Borrower in good faith and in its reasonable discretion), and (c) any payments or settlements by a Group Member in respect of such Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction shall only be permitted to the extent permitted under Sections 6.03(v), 6.05(p), 6.06(j) and 6.09(a).

Permitted Convertible Indebtedness” means Pre-Qualified IPO Unsecured Convertible Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to the terms of Section 6.01(q) and Post-Qualified IPO Unsecured Convertible Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to the terms of Section 6.01(r).

 

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Permitted Convertible Indebtedness Call Transaction” means any Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction and any Permitted Warrant Transaction.

Permitted Holders” shall mean Nima Ghamsari, Formation8 Partners Fund I, L.P., Lightspeed Venture Partners IX, L.P. and Ossa Investments Pte. Ltd. and their respective controlled investment affiliates or, if an individual, any trust or other controlled structure.

Permitted Indian Subsidiary Transaction” shall mean (i) the formation under the laws of India of a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Borrower (the “Indian Subsidiary”) (which, for the avoidance of doubt, such Indian Subsidiary shall be a Restricted Subsidiary but shall not be a Guarantor), (ii) the purchase from Xome Services India Private Limited (or its Affiliates) (the “Indian Seller”) of the portion of Xome Services India Private Limited’s business allocable to the Business (as such term is defined in the Closing Date Acquisition Agreement on the Closing Date) (the “Indian Business”) and (iii) the registration and qualification of the Indian Subsidiary to do business under the laws of India; provided that (x) the Permitted Indian Subsidiary Transaction must be consummated on or prior to the nine-month anniversary of the Closing Date; (y) the amount of any Dividend made to the Indian Seller or the value of any Transaction with an Affiliate entered into in connection with the Permitted Indian Subsidiary Transaction shall in no event exceed the purchase price of the Indian Business as set forth in the Closing Date Acquisition Agreement on the Closing Date and (z) the amount of any Investments made in the Indian Subsidiary in connection with the Permitted Indian Subsidiary Transaction shall not exceed the amount sufficient to (I) fund the purchase price of the Indian Business as set forth in the Closing Date Acquisition Agreement on the Closing Date and (II) cover reasonable, documented and customary regulatory and legal fees of the Indian Subsidiary incurred in connection with its formation and qualification to do business; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary, the amounts permitted to be paid pursuant to this Permitted Indian Subsidiary Transaction definition will be solely for the purposes explicitly set forth in this definition and not be for the ongoing support, funding of business operations or other requirements of or purposes for the Indian Subsidiary.

Permitted Liens” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.02.

Permitted Pari Passu Refinancing Debt” shall mean any secured Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or any other Credit Party and guarantees with respect thereto by any Credit Party; provided that (i) such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis (but without regard to the control of remedies) with the Secured Obligations and is not secured by any property or assets of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries other than the Collateral, (ii) such Indebtedness constitutes Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of Term Loans, Incremental Term Loans, Refinancing Term Loans, Revolving Loans, Revolving Commitments, Incremental Revolving Loans, Incremental Revolving Loan Commitments, Refinancing Revolving Loan Commitments or Refinancing Revolving Loans, and (iii) a Senior Representative validly acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness shall have become party to an Intercreditor Agreement.

Permitted Receivables Financing” shall mean any of one or more receivables financing programs as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, renewed, restated or refunded from time to time, the obligations of which are non-recourse (except for customary representations,

 

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warranties, covenants and indemnities and other customary forms of support, in each case made in connection with such facilities) to the Credit Parties and their Restricted Subsidiaries (other than a Receivables Entity), and the financing terms (including, without limitation, the advance rate), covenants, termination events and other provisions of which are on market and customary terms (as determined in good faith by the Borrowers in its reasonable discretion) but may include Standard Receivables Undertakings, in each case, providing for the sale, conveyance, or contribution to capital of Receivables Facility Assets by Participating Receivables Grantors in the sales of Receivables Facility Assets to either (a) a Person that is not a Group Member or (b) a Receivables Entity that in turn promptly funds such purchase by the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance, pledge, or grant of participation or other interest in such Receivables Facility Assets to a Person that is not a Group Member.

Permitted Refinancing” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal, replacement or extension of any Indebtedness of such Person; provided that (a) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) thereof does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness so modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended except by an amount equal to unpaid accrued interest and premium thereon plus other reasonable amounts paid, and fees, expenses, commissions, underwriting discounts and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal, replacement or extension and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder, (b) other than with respect to a Permitted Refinancing of Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.01(e), such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal, replacement or extension has a final maturity date equal to or later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended, (c) other than with respect to a Permitted Refinancing of Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.01(d) or (e), at the time thereof, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (d) to the extent such Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations, such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal, replacement or extension is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations on terms, taken as a whole, at least as favorable (as reasonably determined by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent) to the Lenders in all material respects as those contained in the documentation governing the subordination of the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended, (e) if any Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended is unsecured, such modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended Indebtedness shall also be unsecured, and if such Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended is secured on a junior basis to the Loans, such modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended Indebtedness shall also be secured on a junior basis to the Loans, (f) neither the Borrower nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be an obligor, security provider or guarantor (or otherwise be recourse to) of any such refinancings, replacements, refundings, renewals, replacements or extensions except to the extent that such Person was such an obligor or guarantor in respect of the applicable Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended and (g) if the Indebtedness being refinanced is secured, no Lien relating thereto shall be expanded to cover any additional property of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary.

 

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Permitted Unsecured Refinancing Debt” shall mean unsecured Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or any other Credit Party and guarantees with respect thereto by any Credit Party; provided that such Indebtedness constitutes Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of Term Loans, Incremental Term Loans, Refinancing Term Loans, Revolving Loans, Revolving Commitments, Incremental Revolving Loans, Incremental Revolving Loan Commitments, Refinancing Revolving Loan Commitments or Refinancing Revolving Loans.

Permitted Warrant Transaction” means any call option, warrant or right to purchase (or substantively equivalent derivative transaction) on the Borrower’s common stock sold by the Borrower substantially concurrently with any purchase by the Borrower of a related Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction; provided that (x) the terms, conditions and covenants of each such call option transaction are reasonable and customary for agreements of such type, as determined by Borrower in its good faith and reasonable discretion and (y) any underlying Indebtedness or Equity Interests or other security or instrument issued in connection with such option, warrant or right to purchase (or substantively equivalent derivative transaction) would be otherwise separately permitted hereunder at the time of such exercise of such option, warrant or right to purchase (or substantively equivalent derivative transaction).

Person” or “person” shall mean any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.

Plan” shall mean any “employee pension benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 or Section 430 of the Code or Section 302 or Section 303 of ERISA which is maintained or contributed to by (or required to be contributed to by) any Group Member or with respect to which any Group Member has any liability (including on account of an ERISA Affiliate).

Platform” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.01(e).

Post-Qualified IPO Unsecured Convertible Indebtedness” means unsecured Convertible Indebtedness issued following the occurrence of a Qualified IPO; provided that such Indebtedness shall constitute Post-Qualified IPO Unsecured Convertible Indebtedness only if it satisfies the following conditions: (i) such Indebtedness shall not, until 91 days or more after the Latest Maturity Date, (x) require any amortization or other scheduled cash repayment and (y) have any put rights, redemption, repayment or other conditions that cause payment that are not customary mandatory redemption or repayment events for convertible public company Indebtedness (excluding any put rights, redemption, repayment or other conditions that cause payment based on any default or maturity of such debt); (ii) such Indebtedness shall not permit any voluntary prepayments until at least 91 days after the Latest Maturity Date; (iii) such Indebtedness shall have no (x) events of default other than those that are typical for public company convertible Indebtedness, (y) financial covenants (unless such financial covenants are not in addition to those under this Agreement and are set back with at least a 20% cushion relative to such financial covenants under this Agreement or as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion) or (z) other restrictive covenants other than covenants customary for convertible public company Indebtedness of such type (unless, in each case, such restrictive

 

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covenants are not in addition to those under this Agreement and are set back with at least a 20% cushion relative to such restrictive covenants under this Agreement or as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion); (iv) the maturity date of such Indebtedness shall be at least 91 days after the Latest Maturity Date; and (v) (x) such Indebtedness shall not be guaranteed by any Person other than the Guarantors of the Obligations hereunder and (y) if any additional Person is proposed to become a guarantor under such Indebtedness, such Person shall also become a Guarantor hereunder, provided that if such Person is a Foreign Subsidiary, the Administrative Agent shall have consented, in its reasonable discretion, to the joinder of such Person as a Guarantor hereunder; provided, however, that such Post-Qualified IPO Unsecured Convertible Indebtedness may allow for or permit (1) the making of cash payments in connection with any conversion or exchange of such Post-Qualified IPO Unsecured Convertible Indebtedness in an aggregate amount since the date of the indenture governing such Post-Qualified IPO Unsecured Convertible Indebtedness not to exceed the sum of (x) the principal amount of such Post-Qualified IPO Unsecured Convertible Indebtedness, and (y) aggregate payments received by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to the exercise, settlement, termination or unwind of any related Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction substantially concurrently with, or a commercially reasonable period of time before or after, the settlement date for the exchange or conversion of such relevant Permitted Convertible Indebtedness or (2) the payment of cash in lieu of the issuance of any Qualified Capital Stock in connection with any issuance referred to in clause (1) or (2) of Section 6.09(a)(A), in each case of the foregoing clauses (1) and (2), so long as such cash payments (whether with respect to a redemption or conversion or otherwise) are only permitted at least 91 days after the Latest Maturity Date.

Pre-Qualified IPO Unsecured Convertible Indebtedness” means unsecured Convertible Indebtedness issued prior to the occurrence of a Qualified IPO; provided that such Indebtedness shall constitute Pre-Qualified IPO Unsecured Convertible Indebtedness only if it satisfies the following conditions: (i) cash interest on such Indebtedness shall be no greater than 5.0% per annum, and payment of such interest in cash shall only be permitted if there is no continuing Event of Default at the time of such interest payment, after giving effect thereto (it being understood that payment of interest in kind will be permitted at any time); (ii) such Indebtedness shall contain no put rights, mandatory prepayment or redemption events or other conditions that cause payment (other than in connection with a bankruptcy or similar event) until at least 91 days after the Latest Maturity Date; (ii) such Indebtedness shall not, until 91 days or more after the Latest Maturity Date, permit any voluntary prepayments or require any amortization thereof; (iii) the Borrower shall have used commercially reasonable efforts to secure an allocation of up to 10% of the principal amount of such Indebtedness for the Lead Arranger (or its Affiliates); (iv) such Indebtedness shall have no (x) events of default other than those that are typical for private company convertible Indebtedness, (y) financial covenants (unless such financial covenants are not in addition to those under this Agreement and are set back with at least a 20% cushion relative to such financial covenants under this Agreement or as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion) or (z) other restrictive covenants (unless such restrictive covenants are not in addition to those under this Agreement and are set back with at least a 20% cushion relative to such restrictive covenants under this Agreement or as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion); (v) the maturity date of such Indebtedness shall be at least 91 days after the Latest Maturity Date; (vi) (x) such Indebtedness shall not be guaranteed by any Person other than the Guarantors of the Obligations hereunder and (y) if any additional Person is proposed to become a guarantor under such Indebtedness, such

 

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Person shall also become a Guarantor hereunder, provided that if such Person is a Foreign Subsidiary, the Administrative Agent shall have consented, in its reasonable discretion, to the joinder of such Person as a Guarantor hereunder; and (vii) at the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness, no Event of Default pursuant to Section 8.01(a), (b), (g) or (h) is continuing. provided, however, that such Pre-Qualified IPO Unsecured Convertible Indebtedness may allow for or permit (1) the making of cash payments in connection with any conversion or exchange of such Post-Qualified IPO Unsecured Convertible Indebtedness in an aggregate amount since the date of the indenture governing such Post-Qualified IPO Unsecured Convertible Indebtedness not to exceed the sum of the principal amount of such Post-Qualified IPO Unsecured Convertible Indebtedness, or (2) the payment of cash in lieu of the issuance of any Qualified Capital Stock in connection with any issuance referred to in clause (1) or (2) of Section 6.09(a)(A), in each case of the foregoing clauses (1) and (2), so long as such cash payments (whether with respect to a redemption or conversion or otherwise) are only permitted at least 91 days after the Latest Maturity Date.

Privacy, Data Security and Consumer Protection Laws” means all applicable Laws, regulations, and legally binding guidelines concerning the collection, receiving, processing, handling, disposal, privacy, protection, accessing, using, disclosing, electronically transmitting, securing, sharing, transferring and storing of Protected Information.

Private Side Communications” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.01(f).

Private Siders” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.01(f).

Pro Forma Balance Sheet” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.04(a).

Pro Forma Basis” shall mean, with respect to the calculation of all financial ratios and tests (including the Total Net Leverage Ratio and the amount of Consolidated Total Assets and LQA Revenue) contained in this Agreement, in each case as of any date, that such calculation shall give pro forma effect to the Transactions and all Subject Transactions (and the application of the proceeds from any such asset sale or debt incurrence) that have occurred during the relevant testing period for which such financial test or ratio is being calculated and/or during the period immediately following such period and prior to or substantially concurrently with the events for which the calculation of any such ratio or test is made (including such event itself), including pro forma adjustments arising out of events which are attributable to the Transactions, the proposed Subject Transaction and/or all other Subject Transactions that have been consummated during the relevant period, in each case as certified on behalf of the Borrower by a Financial Officer of the Borrower, using, for purposes of determining such compliance with a financial test or ratio (including any incurrence test), the historical financial statements of all entities, divisions or lines or assets so acquired or sold and the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and/or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, calculated as if the Transactions or such Subject Transaction (including the Subject Transaction(s) for which the calculation of any such ratio or test is made and any other substantially concurrent Subject Transaction(s)), and/or all other Subject Transactions that have been consummated during the relevant period, and any Indebtedness repaid in connection therewith, had been consummated and incurred or repaid at the beginning of such

 

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period and Consolidated Total Assets shall be calculated after giving effect thereto. Pro Forma Basis calculations shall give effect to the sale of any assets (including the exclusion of any historical performance thereof) to be sold substantially concurrently with the consummation of a Permitted Acquisition pursuant to Section 6.05(f), but, for the avoidance of the doubt, such Pro Forma Basis calculations shall give effect to any cash received by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with the sale of such assets.

If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the applicable date of determination for which the calculation is made had been the applicable rate for the entire test period (taking into account any interest hedging arrangements applicable to such Indebtedness). Interest on a Capital Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a Financial Officer of the Borrower to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capital Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be determined to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or if none, then based upon such optional rate as the Borrower may designate.

Pro Rata Percentage” of any Revolving Lender at any time shall mean the percentage of the Total Revolving Commitment of all Revolving Lenders represented by such Lender’s Revolving Commitment; provided that for purposes of Section 2.19(b), “Pro Rata Percentage” shall mean the percentage of the Total Revolving Commitment (disregarding the Revolving Commitment of any Defaulting Lender to the extent its LC Exposure is reallocated to the non-Defaulting Lenders) represented by such Lender’s Revolving Commitment. If the Revolving Commitments have terminated or expired, the Pro Rata Percentage shall be determined based upon the Revolving Commitments most recently in effect, after giving effect to any assignments.

Projections” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.13(a).

Property” or “property” shall mean any right, title or interest in or to property or assets of any kind whatsoever, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible and including Equity Interests or other ownership interests of any person and whether now in existence or owned or hereafter entered into or acquired, including all Real Property.

Protected Information” means, any information that: (i) identifies (or in combination with other information may identify), relates to, describes, is capable of being associated with, or can be reasonably linked, directly or indirectly, to a natural person, including an individual’s name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, date of birth, photograph, social security number or tax identification number, credit card number, bank account number, biometric identifiers, persistent identifiers including IP address; as well as medical, health or insurance information; or (ii) is “personal information”, “personal data” or similar defined term protected by one or more of the applicable Privacy, Security and Consumer Protection Laws.

PTE” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.

 

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Public Side Communications” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.01(f).

Public Siders” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.01(f).

Purchase Money Obligation” shall mean, for any Person, the obligations of such Person in respect of Indebtedness (including Capital Lease Obligations) incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price of any fixed or Capital Assets or the cost of installation, construction or improvement of any fixed or Capital Assets and any refinancing thereof; provided, however, that (i) such Indebtedness is incurred no later than 180 days after the acquisition, installation, construction, repair, replacement, exchange or improvement of such fixed or Capital Assets by such Person, (ii) the amount of such Indebtedness (excluding any costs, expenses and fees incurred in connection therewith) does not exceed 100% of the cost of such acquisition, installation, construction or improvement, as the case may be, and (iii) the Liens granted with respect thereto do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness (with respect to Capital Lease Obligations, the Liens granted with respect thereto do not at any time extend to or cover any assets other than the assets subject to such Capital Lease Obligations).

Qualified Capital Stock” of any Person shall mean any Equity Interests of such Person that are not Disqualified Capital Stock.

Qualified IPO” shall mean the issuance by the Borrower or any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower, in each case, of its Qualified Capital Stock in an underwritten primary public offering (other than a public offering pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-8) pursuant to an effective registration statement filed with the SEC in accordance with the Securities Act (whether alone or in connection with a secondary public offering) or any merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, capital stock exchange, stock sale, asset sale or other similar transaction or business combination (or series of related transactions or related business combinations), in each such case, between the Borrower (or any of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries) and a newly incorporated “blank check company” (or any of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries) that is a special purpose acquisition company formed solely for the purpose of effecting such qualifying initial public offering with one or more businesses, which for the avoidance of doubt, is deemed to be a “blank check company” under the Securities Act.

Rate Charges” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.14.

Real Property” shall mean, collectively, all right, title and interest (including any leasehold, mineral or other estate) in and to any and all parcels of or interests in real property owned, leased or operated by any Person, whether by lease, license or other means, together with, in each case, all easements, hereditaments and appurtenances relating thereto, all improvements and appurtenant fixtures and equipment, all general intangibles and contract rights and other property and rights incidental to the ownership, lease or operation thereof.

Receivables Entity” shall mean any Person formed solely for the purpose of facilitating or entering into one or more Permitted Receivables Financings (and any other activities substantially related or incidental thereto).

 

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Receivables Facility Assets” shall mean currently existing and hereafter arising or originated Accounts, Payment Intangibles and Chattel Paper (as each such term is defined in the UCC), and to the extent related to or supporting any Accounts, Chattel Paper or Payment Intangibles, or constituting a receivable, all General Intangibles (as each such term is defined in the UCC) and other forms of obligations and receivables, including the right to payment of any interest, finance charges, late payment fees or other charges with respect thereto (the foregoing, collectively, solely for purposes of this definition being “receivables”), all rights as an unpaid vendor (including rights in any goods the sale of which gave rise to any receivables), all security interests or liens and property subject to such security interests or liens from time to time purporting to secure payment of any receivables or other items described in this definition, all guarantees, letters of credit, security agreements, insurance and other agreements or arrangements from time to time supporting or securing payment of any receivables or other items described in this definition, all customer deposits with respect thereto, all rights under any contracts giving rise to or evidencing any receivables or other items described in this definition, and all documents, books, records and information (including computer programs, tapes, disks, data processing software and related property and rights) relating to any receivables or other items described in this definition or to any obligor with respect thereto and any other assets customarily transferred together with receivables in connection with a customary non-recourse accounts receivable factoring arrangement and which are sold, conveyed assigned or otherwise transferred or pledge in connection with a customary receivables financing programs, and all proceeds of the foregoing.

Receivables Repurchase Obligation” shall mean any obligation of a seller (or any guaranty of such obligation) of Receivables Facility Assets under a Permitted Receivables Financing to repurchase Receivables Facility Assets arising as a result of a breach of a representation, warranty or covenant or otherwise, including, without limitation, as a result of a receivable or portion thereof becoming subject to any asserted defense, dispute, offset or counterclaim of any kind as a result of any action taken by, any failure to take action by or any other event relating to the seller.

Recipient” shall mean any Agent and any Lender, as applicable.

Refinanced Debt” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness.”

Refinanced Series of Convertible Debt” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.09(a).

Refinancing Amendment” shall mean an amendment to this Agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower executed by each of (a) the Borrower, (b) the Administrative Agent and (c) each Lender and Additional Lender that agrees to provide any portion of the Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness being incurred pursuant thereto.

Refinancing Convertible Notes” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.09(a).

 

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Refinancing Revolving Loan Commitments” shall mean one or more Tranches of revolving loan commitments hereunder that result from a Refinancing Amendment.

Refinancing Revolving Loans” shall mean one or more Tranches of Revolving Loans that result from a Refinancing Amendment.

Refinancing Term Commitments” shall mean one or more Tranches of Term Loan Commitments hereunder that result from a Refinancing Amendment.

Refinancing Term Loans” shall mean one or more Tranches of Term Loans that result from a Refinancing Amendment.

Register” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.04(c).

Regulation D” shall mean Regulation D of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

Regulation S-X” shall mean Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act.

Regulation T” shall mean Regulation T of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

Regulation U” shall mean Regulation U of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

Regulation X” shall mean Regulation X of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

Reimbursement Obligations” shall mean the Borrower’s obligations under Section 2.18(e) to reimburse LC Disbursements.

Rejection Notice” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.10(j).

Related Parties” shall mean, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and its successors and assigns and the partners, shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, administrators, managers, advisors, attorneys and representatives of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates and its successors and assigns; provided that “Related Parties” shall not include Excluded Affiliates.

Release” shall mean any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, or disposing of any Hazardous Material into the Environment.

Required Debt Terms” shall mean in respect of any Indebtedness, the following requirements: (i) such Indebtedness (x) does not have a maturity date or have any mandatory prepayment or redemption features (other than customary asset sale events, insurance and

 

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condemnation proceeds events, change of control offers or events of default, AHYDO catch-up payments and excess cash flow and indebtedness sweeps), in each case prior to the date that is 91 days after the then Latest Maturity Date at the time such Indebtedness is incurred and (y) does not have a shorter Weighted Average Life to Maturity than the Term Loans, (ii) such Indebtedness is not guaranteed by any Subsidiaries of the Borrower that are not Guarantors, (iii) if such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral, a Senior Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness has become party to an Intercreditor Agreement, (iv) to the extent secured, any such Indebtedness is not secured by assets not constituting Collateral, (v) any such Indebtedness that is payment subordinated shall be subject to a subordination agreement on terms that are reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, (vi) solely with respect to Permitted Pari Passu Refinancing Debt and Junior Secured Indebtedness, the terms and conditions of such Indebtedness (excluding pricing, interest rate margins, rate floors, discounts, premiums, fees, and prepayment or redemption terms, customary cushions to the covenants and financial covenants (which shall be applied for Junior Secured Indebtedness), and provisions which shall be determined by the Borrower) are substantially identical to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (when taken as a whole) to the terms and conditions of this Agreement (when taken as a whole), or (when taken as a whole) are less favorable to the Lenders providing such Indebtedness (as determined by the Borrower in good faith) (except for covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the applicable Latest Maturity Date, or that are added to this Agreement for the benefit of the Lenders hereunder or that reflect market terms and conditions (taken as a whole) at the time of incurrence or issuance of such Indebtedness (as determined by the Borrower in good faith) (it being understood that to the extent that any financial maintenance covenant is added for the benefit of any such Indebtedness or a materially more restrictive term is provided for the benefit of such Indebtedness, no consent shall be required from the Administrative Agent if such financial covenant or other terms are added to this Agreement) and (vii) other than with respect to Indebtedness incurred pursuant to (A) Section 6.01(s) and (B) to the extent explicitly permitted by the definitions of Pre-Qualified IPO Unsecured Convertible Indebtedness and Post-Qualified IPO Unsecured Convertible Indebtedness, Section 6.01(q) and 6.01(r), shall for purposes of mandatory prepayments not be treated more favorably than the existing Loans; provided, further, that a certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent at least five (5) Business Days prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, together with a reasonably detailed description of the material terms and conditions of such Indebtedness or drafts of the documentation relating thereto, stating that the Borrower has determined in good faith that such terms and conditions satisfy the requirements of this definition, shall be conclusive evidence that such terms and conditions satisfy the requirements of this definition unless the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower within such five (5) Business Day period that it disagrees with such determination (including a reasonable description of the basis upon which it disagrees).

Required Lenders” shall mean Lenders having more than 50% of the sum of all Loans outstanding, LC Exposure and unused Revolving Commitments and Term Loan Commitments; provided that the Loans, LC Exposure and unused Commitments held or deemed held by any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded from both numerator and denominator for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.

Required Revolving Lenders” shall mean Lenders having more than 50% of all Revolving Commitments or, after the Revolving Commitments have terminated, more than 50% of all Revolving Exposure; provided that the Revolving Commitments or Revolving Exposure held or deemed held by any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of the Required Revolving Lenders.

 

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Requirements of Law” shall mean, collectively, all international, foreign, federal, state and local laws (including common law), judgments, decrees, statutes, treaties, rules, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, or other requirements of, any Governmental Authority, in each case whether or not having the force of law.

Resolution Authority” means any body which has authority to exercise any Write-down and Conversion Powers.

Responsible Officer” of any Person shall mean any executive officer (including, without limitation, the president, any vice president, secretary and assistant secretary), any authorized person or Financial Officer of such Person and any other officer or similar official or authorized person thereof with responsibility for the administration of the obligations of such Person in respect of this Agreement and, solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to Article II, any other officer or employee of the applicable Credit Party so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a notice to the Administrative Agent or any other officer or employee of the applicable Credit Party designated in or pursuant to an agreement between the applicable Credit Party and the Administrative Agent.

Restricted Debt Payment” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.09(a).

Restricted Subsidiary” shall mean each Subsidiary of the Borrower other than any Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Revolving Borrowing” shall mean a Borrowing comprised of Revolving Loans.

Revolving Commitment” shall mean, with respect to each Lender, the commitment, if any, of such Lender to make Revolving Loans hereunder up to the amount set forth on Annex A hereto or by an Increase Joinder, or in any Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender assumed its Revolving Commitment, as applicable, as the same may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.07 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to Incremental Revolving Loan Commitments or assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 2.16(b), Section 10.02(e) or Section 10.04.

Revolving Exposure” shall mean, with respect to any Lender at any time, the aggregate principal amount at such time of all outstanding Revolving Loans of such Lender, plus the aggregate amount at such time of such Lender’s LC Exposure, plus the aggregate amount at such time of such Lender’s Swingline Exposure.

Revolving Lender” shall mean a Lender with a Revolving Commitment or that holds a Revolving Loan.

 

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Revolving Loan” shall mean a Loan made by Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01(b), including, unless the context shall otherwise require, any Incremental Revolving Loans made pursuant to Section 2.20 after the Closing Date and, to the extent not duplicative, any Swingline Loans.

Revolving Maturity Date” shall mean (x) with respect to any Revolving Commitments the maturity date of which has not been extended pursuant to Section 2.21, June 30, 2026 and (y) with respect to any Extended Tranche of Revolving Commitments, the final maturity date specified in the applicable Extension Election accepted by the respective Lender or Lenders.

S&P” shall mean Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service, a division of McGraw Hill Companies, Inc.

Sale Leaseback Transaction” shall mean any arrangement, directly or indirectly, with any Person whereby the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any property, real or personal, used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such property (or use such property through the lease of an Affiliate) or other property that it intends to use (other than any such arrangement between Credit Parties or between Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties); provided that (a) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would immediately result therefrom and (b) such Sale Leaseback Transaction is consummated within 180 days of the disposition of such property.

Sanctions” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.20.

SEC” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

Secured Obligations” shall mean the Obligations.

Secured Parties” shall mean, collectively, (i) the Administrative Agent, (ii) the Collateral Agent, (iii) the Lenders and (iv) each other Agent.

Securities Account” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Security Agreement” shall mean one or more security agreements by and among one or more of the Credit Parties and the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties with respect to Liens granted on the Collateral thereunder as security for the Secured Obligations.

Security Agreement Collateral” shall mean all property pledged or granted, or purported to be pledged or granted, as collateral pursuant to a Security Agreement, including, without limitation, as required pursuant to Section 5.10 or Section 5.11 and in each case other than Excluded Property.

 

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Security Documents” shall mean the Security Agreements, the Mortgages (if any) and each other security document or pledge agreement delivered in accordance with applicable local law to grant a valid, perfected security interest in any property as Collateral for the Secured Obligations, and any other document or instrument utilized to pledge or grant or purport to pledge or grant a security interest in or lien on any property as Collateral for the Secured Obligations.

Senior Representative” shall mean the trustee, sole lender, administrative agent, collateral agent, security agent or similar agent under the indenture or agreement pursuant to which such Indebtedness is issued, incurred or otherwise obtained, as the case may be, and each of their successors in such capacities.

Solvent” shall mean, (i) the Fair Value of the assets of Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole exceeds their Liabilities, (ii) the Present Fair Salable Value of the assets of Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole exceeds their Liabilities; (iii) Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole do not have Unreasonably Small Capital; and (iv) Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole will be able to pay their Liabilities as they mature. For purposes hereof, (i) “Fair Value” shall mean the amount at which the assets (both tangible and intangible), in their entirety, of Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole would change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller, within a commercially reasonable period of time, each having reasonable knowledge of the relevant facts, with neither being under any compulsion to act, (ii) “Present Fair Salable Value” shall mean the amount that could be obtained by an independent willing seller from an independent willing buyer if the assets of Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole are sold with reasonable promptness in an arm’s-length transaction under present conditions for the sale of comparable business enterprises insofar as such conditions can be reasonably evaluated, (iii) “Liabilities” shall mean the recorded liabilities (including contingent liabilities that would be recorded in accordance with GAAP) of Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, as of the date hereof after giving effect to the consummation of the transactions to occur on the date hereof, determined in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, (iv) “Will be able to pay their Liabilities as they mature” shall mean for the period from the date hereof through the Maturity Date, Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole will have sufficient assets and cash flow to pay their Liabilities as those liabilities mature or (in the case of contingent Liabilities) otherwise become payable, in light of business conducted or anticipated to be conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as reflected in the projected financial statements and in light of the anticipated credit capacity, and (v) “Do not have Unreasonably Small Capital” shall mean Borrower and its subsidiaries taken as a whole after consummation of the Transactions is a going concern and has sufficient capital to reasonably ensure that it will continue to be a going concern for the period from the date hereof through the Maturity Date.

Specified Acquisition Agreement Representations” shall mean such of the representations and warranties made by T365 with respect to T365 and its Subsidiaries in the Closing Date Acquisition Agreement as are material to the interests of the Commitment Parties, but only to the extent that the Borrower (or its Affiliates party thereto) have the right (determined without regard to any notice requirement but taking into account any applicable grace periods or cure provisions) to terminate its (or their respective) obligations under Section 10.01(b) of the Closing Date Acquisition Agreement, or the right to decline to consummate the Closing Date

 

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Acquisition in accordance with Section 7.02(b) of the Closing Date Acquisition Agreement, in each case, as a result of a failure of such representations and warranties in the Closing Date Acquisition Agreement to be true and correct.

Specified Existing Tranche” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.21(a).

Specified Representations” shall mean the representations made by the Borrower and the Guarantors (including with respect to the Restricted Subsidiaries, as applicable, other than any Foreign Subsidiaries, after giving effect to the Closing Date Acquisition) on the Closing Date with respect to Section 3.01(a) and (as it applies to the Loan Documents) (b), Section 3.02 (in each case, related to the entering into and performance of the Loan Documents by the Borrower and the Guarantors), Section 3.03(b), Section 3.09, Section 3.10, Section 3.15, Section 3.19, and to the extent it applies to the use of proceeds of the Loans, Section 3.20 and Section 3.21.

Standard Receivables Undertakings” shall mean representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities entered into by any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary which the Borrowers have determined in good faith to be customary in a Receivables Facility, including, without limitation, those relating to the servicing of the assets of a Receivables Entity, it being understood that any Receivables Repurchase Obligation shall be deemed to be a Standard Receivables Undertaking.

Statutory Reserves” shall mean for any Interest Period for any Eurodollar Borrowing, the average maximum rate at which reserves (including any marginal, supplemental or emergency reserves) are required to be maintained during such Interest Period under Regulation D by member banks of the United States Federal Reserve System in New York City with deposits exceeding one billion dollars against “Eurocurrency liabilities” (as such term is used in Regulation D). Eurodollar Borrowings shall be deemed to constitute Eurocurrency liabilities and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exceptions or offsets which may be available from time to time to any Lender under Regulation D.

Subject Transaction” shall mean any (a) disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of or all of the Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary or of any product line, business unit, line of business (including, without limitation, a product line) or division of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case to the extent permitted hereunder, (b) Permitted Acquisition, (c) other Investment that is permitted hereunder that results in a Person becoming a Subsidiary, (d) designation of any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, (e) incurrence of Indebtedness or making of a Dividend or a Restricted Debt Payment or (f) any non-ordinary course restructurings, cost savings and similar initiatives, operating improvements and synergy realizations (solely to the extent permitted to be added back pursuant to the definition of Pro Forma Basis).

Subordinated Indebtedness” shall mean Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Guarantor that is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations of the Borrower and such Guarantor, as applicable; provided that such terms of subordination and the intercreditor documentation with respect thereto, are reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

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Subsidiary” shall mean, with respect to any Person (the “parent”) at any date, (i) any Person the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent’s in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, (ii) any other corporation, limited liability company, association or other business entity of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the voting power of all Equity Interests entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of the Board of Directors thereof are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held by the parent and/or one or more subsidiaries of the parent, (iii) any partnership (a) the sole general partner or the managing general partner of which is the parent and/or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or (b) the only general partners of which are the parent and/or one or more subsidiaries of the parent and (iv) any other Person that is otherwise Controlled by the parent and/or one or more subsidiaries of the parent. Unless otherwise specified, references to “Subsidiary” or “Subsidiaries” herein shall refer to Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

Subsidiary Guarantor” means each Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower that is or becomes pursuant to Section 5.10 a party to this Agreement; provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary, no Excluded Subsidiary shall be a Subsidiary Guarantor.

Swingline Commitment” means the commitment of the Swingline Lender to make loans pursuant to Section 2.17, as the same may be reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.07 provided that at no time shall the Swingline Commitment exceed the Revolving Commitment. The aggregate principal amount of the Swingline Commitment shall be $5,000,000 on the Closing Date

Swingline Exposure” means at any time the aggregate principal amount at such time of all outstanding Swingline Loans. The Swingline Exposure of any Revolving Lender at any time shall equal its Pro Rata Percentage of the aggregate Swingline Exposure at such time.

Swingline Lender” means Owl Rock or one of its Affiliates or Approved Funds.

Swingline Loan” means any loan made by the Swingline Lender pursuant to Section 2.17.

T365” means Title365 Holding Co., a California corporation.

T365Co” means Title365 Company, a California corporation.

Tax Change” means any change in the Code or any other applicable Requirements of Law that would have the effect of changing the amount of Taxes due and payable by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any taxable period, as compared to the amount of Taxes that would have been due and payable by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such taxable period under the Code or any other Requirements of Law as in effect immediately prior to such change; provided for avoidance of doubt, that the calculation of a change in Taxes due and payable shall take into account all changes to the Code or any other Requirements of Law.

Tax Group” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.06(b).

 

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Tax Return” shall mean all returns, statements, declarations, reports, filings, attachments and other documents or certifications required to be filed in respect of Taxes, including any amendments thereof.

Tax Withholdings” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.15(a).

Taxes” shall mean all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholdings), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

Term Loan” shall mean a Loan made by Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01(a), and shall include, unless the context shall otherwise require, any Incremental Term Loans made pursuant to Section 2.20 after the Closing Date.

Term Loan Borrowing” shall mean a Borrowing comprised of Term Loans.

Term Loan Commitment” shall mean, with respect to any Lender, (a) its obligation to make its portion of Term Loans to the Borrower in the amount set forth on Annex A, and (b) unless the context shall otherwise require, any Incremental Term Loan Commitments made pursuant to Section 2.20 after the Closing Date. The initial aggregate amount of the Term Loan Commitments as of the date hereof is $225,000,000.

Term Loan Lender” shall mean a Lender with a Term Loan Commitment or an outstanding Term Loan.

Term Loan Maturity Date” shall mean (x) with respect to any Term Loans the maturity date of which has not been extended pursuant to Section 2.21, June 30, 2026, and (y) with respect to any Extended Tranche of Term Loans, the final maturity date specified in the applicable Extension Election accepted by the respective Lender or Lenders.

Test Period” shall mean, at any time, subject to Section 1.06, the four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower then last ended (in each case taken as one accounting period) for which financial statements have been or were required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a), (b) or (c).

Total Consideration” shall mean (without duplication), with respect to any Permitted Acquisition, the sum of (a) cash paid as consideration to the seller in connection with such Permitted Acquisition (other than Earn-Outs), plus (b) Indebtedness for borrowed money payable to the seller in connection with such Permitted Acquisition (other than Earn-Outs), plus (c) the present value of future payments which are required to be made over a period of time and are not contingent upon the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries meeting financial performance objectives (exclusive of salaries paid in the ordinary course of business) (discounted at ABR), plus (d) the amount of Indebtedness for borrowed money assumed in connection with such Permitted Acquisition, minus (e) the aggregate principal amount of equity contributions made to the Borrower the proceeds of which are used substantially contemporaneously with such contribution to fund all or a portion of the cash purchase price (including deferred payments) of such Permitted Acquisition, minus (f) any cash and Cash Equivalents on the balance sheet of the

 

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target entity acquired as part of the applicable Permitted Acquisition, minus (g) all transaction costs incurred in connection therewith; provided that Total Consideration shall not include any consideration or payment (y) paid by the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries directly in the form of Equity Interests of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent company thereof) (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) or (z) funded by cash and Cash Equivalents generated by any Excluded Subsidiary.

Total Net Leverage Ratio” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) (i) Consolidated Total Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on such date minus (ii) Unrestricted Cash and Cash Equivalents of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount not to exceed $10,000,000, in Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts subject to Deposit Account Control Agreements in favor of the Administrative Agent (provided that, such requirement that Unrestricted Cash and Cash Equivalents be in Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts subject to Deposit Account Control Agreements in favor of the Administrative Agent shall not apply until the date that Deposit Account Control Agreements are required to be put in place pursuant to Section 5.12) to (b) LQA Revenue of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date, in each case on a Pro Forma Basis (other than (a)(ii)).

Total Revolving Commitment” shall mean the sum of all Revolving Commitments pursuant to this Agreement. On the Closing Date, the Total Revolving Commitment shall be $25,000,000, as set forth on Annex A, as the same may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.07 or Section 2.16(b) and (b) increased from time to time pursuant to Incremental Revolving Loan Commitments.

Tranche” shall mean each tranche of Loans and/or Commitments available hereunder. On the Closing Date there shall be two tranches, one comprised of the Term Loans and the other comprised of the Revolving Commitments (and Revolving Loans subsequently extended thereunder).

Transaction Documents” shall mean the Closing Date Acquisition Documents and the Loan Documents.

Transactions” shall mean, collectively, the transactions to occur on or prior to the Closing Date pursuant to the Closing Date Acquisition Documents and the Loan Documents; the execution, delivery and performance of the Closing Date Acquisition Documents, the Loan Documents and the initial Borrowings hereunder; and the payment of all fees, costs and expenses owing in connection with the foregoing.

Treasury Rate” means the rate per annum equal to the yield to maturity at the time of computation of the most recently issued United States of America Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (or is obtainable from the Federal Reserve System’s Data Download Program as of the date of such H.15) that has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to such date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from such date of prepayment or repayment, as applicable, to the second anniversary of the Closing Date; provided, however, that if the period from such date of prepayment or repayment, as applicable, to the second anniversary of the

 

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applicable Closing Date is not equal to the constant maturity of a United States of America Treasury security for which a weekly average yield is given, the Treasury Rate shall be obtained by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of a year) from the weekly average yields of United States of America Treasury securities for which such yields are given, except that if the period from such date of prepayment or repayment, as applicable, to the second anniversary of the applicable Closing Date is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States of America Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year shall be used.

Transferred Guarantor” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.09.

Type” when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, shall mean a reference to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the Alternate Base Rate.

UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time (except as otherwise specified) in any applicable state or jurisdiction.

UK Bail-In Legislation” means (to the extent that the United Kingdom is not an EEA Member Country which has implemented, or implements, Article 55 BRRD) Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 and any other law or regulation applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (otherwise than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).

United States” or “U.S.” shall mean the United States of America.

Unrestricted Cash” shall mean, at any time, the aggregate amount of unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents held in Deposit Accounts or Securities Accounts of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (whether or not held in an account pledged to the Administrative Agent) that is free and clear of all Liens other than (i) Liens created by the Loan Documents or (ii) other Liens permitted hereunder; provided that any such Liens are subordinated to or pari passu with the Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent (and perfected to no greater extent than the Liens on such cash and Cash Equivalents in favor of the Administrative Agent); provided further, in any event, “Unrestricted Cash” shall exclude any cash and Cash Equivalents held in accounts of the Borrower and the Guarantors that are not subject to Deposit Account Control Agreements in contravention of Section 5.12.

Unrestricted Subsidiary” shall mean (a) any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is formed or acquired after the Closing Date; provided that the Borrower designates such Subsidiary an Unrestricted Subsidiary in a notice to the Administrative Agent, (b) any Restricted Subsidiary subsequently designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Borrower in a written notice to the Administrative Agent, and (c) each Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided that in the case of clauses (a) and (b) above, (i) such designation shall be deemed to be an Investment on the date of such designation in an amount equal to the fair market value of the investment therein and such designation shall be permitted only to the extent permitted under Section 6.03 on the date of

 

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such designation, (ii) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would immediately result from such designation after giving pro forma effect thereto (including the re-designation of Indebtedness and Liens on the assets of such Subsidiary as Indebtedness and Liens on assets of an Unrestricted Subsidiary), (iii) immediately after giving effect to any such designation, on a Pro Forma Basis (including, for the avoidance of doubt, giving pro forma effect to the re-designation of Indebtedness and Liens on the assets of such Subsidiary as Indebtedness and Liens on assets of an Unrestricted Subsidiary), as of the date of determination and for the applicable Test Period, the Total Net Leverage Ratio does not exceed 2.00 to 1.00, and (iv) no Subsidiary of the Borrower that exists as of the Closing Date shall be permitted to be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

The Borrower may, by written notice to the Administrative Agent, re-designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary (which shall constitute a reduction in any outstanding Investment), and thereafter, such Subsidiary shall no longer constitute an Unrestricted Subsidiary, but only if (a) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would immediately result from such re-designation (including the re-designation of Indebtedness and Liens on the assets of such Subsidiary as Indebtedness and Liens on assets of a Restricted Subsidiary and the deemed return on any Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to clause (y)) and (b) immediately after giving effect to any such re-designation (including the re-designation of Indebtedness and Liens on the assets of such Subsidiary as Indebtedness and Liens on assets of a Restricted Subsidiary and the deemed return on any Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to clause (y)), on a Pro Forma Basis, as of the date of determination and for the applicable Test Period, the Total Net Leverage Ratio does not exceed (x) prior to a Qualified IPO, 1.25 to 1.00 and (y) on or after a Qualified IPO, 1.67 to 1.00. The designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary shall constitute (x) the incurrence by such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such designation of any Indebtedness or Liens of such Restricted Subsidiary outstanding at such time (after giving effect to, and taking into account, any payoff or termination of Indebtedness or any release or termination of Liens, in each case, occurring in connection or substantially concurrently therewith) and (y) constitute a return on any Investment by the Borrower in such Unrestricted Subsidiary in an amount equal to the fair market value at the date of such prior designation of such Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary (solely for purposes of Section 6.03(q)). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the last quarter annualized revenue (defined in a manner consistent with LQA Revenue) of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries shall not in the aggregate represent in excess of 5.0% of the LQA Revenues of the Group Members on a consolidated basis as of any date. Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary, (I) no Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if (i) such designated Unrestricted Subsidiary shall directly or indirectly own any equity or debt of, or hold a Lien on any property of, the Borrower or any Person that will remain a Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) the Borrower or any other Person that will remain a Restricted Subsidiary shall be directly or indirectly liable for Indebtedness that provides that the holder thereof may (with the passage of time or notice or both) declare a default thereon or cause the payment to be accelerated or payable prior to its stated maturity thereof upon the occurrence of a default with respect to any Indebtedness, Lien or other obligation of such Unrestricted Subsidiary (including any right to take enforcement actions against such Unrestricted Subsidiary), (II) no Unrestricted Subsidiary shall develop (or own) any Intellectual Property that is material to the Credit Parties, or, to the extent any Unrestricted Subsidiary develops (or owns) such material Intellectual Property, (A) such Intellectual Property will be transferred to a Restricted Subsidiary as soon as is reasonably

 

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practicable (in the good faith determination of the Borrower) after the determination that such Intellectual Property is material or (B) such Unrestricted Subsidiary is designated as a Restricted Subsidiary as soon as is reasonably practicable (in the good faith determination of the Borrower) after the determination that such Intellectual Property is material and (III) no Unrestricted Subsidiary shall directly or indirectly own any equity or debt of, or hold a Lien on any property of, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary.

Voting Stock” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any class or classes of Equity Interests pursuant to which the holders thereof have the general voting power under ordinary circumstances to elect at least a majority of the Board of Directors of such Person.

Warrant” shall mean the Warrant for the Borrower’s Series G Preferred Stock issued to OR Lending LLC, OR Tech Lending LLC and OR BL LLC pursuant to the terms of Section 5.15.

Warrant Agreement” shall mean a warrant agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit K.

Weighted Average Life to Maturity” shall mean, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing: (i) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment by (ii) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness; provided that for purposes of determining the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any Indebtedness or Disqualified Capital Stock that is being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended, the effects of any prepayments or amortization made on such Indebtedness or Disqualified Capital Stock prior to the date of the applicable modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal, replacement or extension shall be disregarded.

Wholly Owned Subsidiary” shall mean, as to any Person, (a) any corporation 100% of whose capital stock (other than directors’ qualifying shares or other nominal issuance in order to comply with local laws) is at the time owned by such Person and/or one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person and (b) any partnership, association, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity in which such Person and/or one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person have a 100% equity interest at such time.

Withholding Agent” shall mean any Credit Party and the Administrative Agent.

Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means:

(a)    in relation to any Bail-In Legislation described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule from time to time, the powers described as such in relation to that Bail-In Legislation in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule;

(b)    in relation to any other applicable Bail-In Legislation:

(i)    any powers under that Bail-In Legislation to cancel, transfer or dilute shares issued by a person that is a bank or investment firm or other financial

 

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institution or affiliate of a bank, investment firm or other financial institution, to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of such a person or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers; and

(ii)    any similar or analogous powers under that Bail-In Legislation; and

(c)     in relation to any UK Bail-In Legislation:

(i)    any powers under that UK Bail-In Legislation to cancel, transfer or dilute shares issued by a person that is a bank or investment firm or other financial institution or affiliate of a bank, investment firm or other financial institution, to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of such a person or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that UK Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers; and

(ii)    any similar or analogous powers under that UK Bail-In Legislation.

Yield” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(f).

Section 1.02    Classification of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Revolving Loan”) or by Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Loan”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Revolving Loan”). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Revolving Borrowing,” “Borrowing of Term Loans”) or by Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Borrowing”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing”).

Section 1.03    Terms Generally.

(a)    The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.” Unless the context requires otherwise (i) any definition of or reference to any Loan Document, agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented, replaced or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements, replacements or modifications set forth herein), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns (subject to any restrictions on assignments set forth herein), (iii) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof,

 

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(iv) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement, (v) any reference to any law or regulation herein shall refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, (vi) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights, and (vii) all references to the knowledge of any Group Member or facts known by any Group Member shall mean actual knowledge of any Responsible Officer of such Person. Any Responsible Officer or Financial Officer executing any Loan Document or any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto, so executes or certifies in his/her capacity as a Responsible Officer or Financial Officer, as applicable, on behalf of the applicable Credit Party and not in any individual capacity.

(b)    The term “enforceability” and its derivatives when used to describe the enforceability of an agreement shall mean that such agreement is enforceable except as enforceability may be limited by any Debtor Relief Law and by general equitable principles (whether enforcement is sought by proceedings in equity or at law).

(c)    Any terms used in this Agreement that are defined in the UCC shall be construed and defined as set forth in the UCC unless otherwise defined herein; provided that to the extent that the UCC is used to define any term herein and such term is defined differently in different Articles of the UCC, the definition of such term contained in Article 9 of the UCC shall govern.

(d)    For all purposes under the Loan Documents, in connection with any division or plan of division under Delaware law (or any comparable event under a different jurisdiction’s laws): (a) if any asset, right, obligation or liability of any Person becomes the asset, right, obligation or liability of a different Person, then it shall be deemed to have been transferred from the original Person to the subsequent Person, and (b) if any new Person comes into existence, such new Person shall be deemed to have been organized on the first date of its existence by the holders of its Equity Interests at such time.

Section 1.04    Accounting Terms; GAAP; Tax Laws. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all financial statements to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP as in effect from time to time and all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with GAAP, as in effect on December 31, 2018; provided that in the event a change in GAAP occurs, the Borrower may, at its election in its sole discretion and upon notice to the Administrative Agent, until such time as the audited financial statements for such fiscal year are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a), prepare any unaudited financial statement to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(b) or 5.01(c) of this Agreement during such fiscal year in accordance with GAAP without giving effect to such change in GAAP. The Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, concurrently with the delivery of each certificate or financial report required hereunder at a time when a change in GAAP or a Tax Change is being accounted for differently as between the preparation of financial statements and the calculation of any financial ratio, term or standard hereunder, a written statement of a Financial Officer of the Borrower setting forth in reasonable detail the differences (including any differences that would affect any calculations relating to the

 

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Financial Covenant as set forth in Section 6.08) that resulted from such differences in the application of the change in GAAP or the implementation of any Tax Change as a result of the foregoing rules of construction. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, for all purposes under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including negative covenants, financial covenants and component definitions, GAAP will be deemed to treat operating leases and Capital Leases in a manner consistent with their current treatment under GAAP as in effect on December 31, 2018, notwithstanding any modifications or interpretive changes thereto that may occur thereafter. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, (i) all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made, without giving effect to any election under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 159 or FASB ASC 825 (or any other Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries at “fair value,” as defined therein and (ii) the financial ratios and related definitions set forth in the Loan Documents shall be computed to exclude the application of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, 150 or 123(R) or any other financial accounting standard having a similar result or effect (to the extent that the pronouncements in Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R) result in recording an equity award as a liability on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the circumstance where, but for the application of the pronouncements, such award would have been classified as equity).

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, all financial ratios and tests (including the Total Net Leverage Ratio and the amount of Consolidated Total Assets and LQA Revenue) contained in this Agreement that are calculated with respect to any Test Period during which any Subject Transaction occurs shall be calculated with respect to such Test Period and such Subject Transaction on a Pro Forma Basis. Further, if since the beginning of any Test Period and on or prior to the date of any required calculation of any financial ratio or test (x) any Subject Transaction shall have occurred (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Subject Transaction whose permissibility is being tested and any substantially concurrent Subject Transactions) or (y) any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries since the beginning of such Test Period shall have consummated any Subject Transaction, then, in each case, any applicable financial ratio or test shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis for such Test Period as if such Subject Transaction had occurred at the beginning of the applicable Test Period (it being understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that solely for purposes of calculating quarterly compliance with Section 6.08, the date of the required calculation shall be the last day of the Test Period, and no Subject Transaction occurring thereafter shall be taken into account).

Other than as provided in Section 1.06 below, for purposes of determining the permissibility of any action, change, transaction or event that by the terms of the Loan Documents requires a calculation of any financial ratio or test (including the Total Net Leverage Ratio and the amount of LQA Revenue and Consolidated Total Assets), (x) such financial ratio or test shall be calculated at the time such action is taken, such change is made, such transaction is consummated or such event occurs, as the case may be, and no Default or Event of Default shall be deemed to have occurred solely as a result of a change in such financial ratio or test occurring after the time such action is taken, such change is made, such transaction is consummated or such event occurs, as the case may be and (y) such financial ratio or test shall be calculated (on a Pro Forma Basis if applicable) using the most recent financial statements which have been delivered by the Credit Parties in accordance with Section 5.01(a), 5.01(b) or 5.01(c).

 

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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, (a) to the extent compliance with a financial ratio or test is calculated prior to the date financial statements are first delivered under Section 5.01(a), (b) or (c) such calculation shall use the latest financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 4.01(m), and (b) any determination of compliance with the Financial Covenant for purposes of determining the permissibility under the Loan Documents of any transaction occurring on or prior to the last day of the first full fiscal quarter commencing after the Closing Date shall be made applying the covenant levels applicable to the Test Period ending the last day of the first full fiscal quarter commencing after the Closing Date.

Section 1.05    Resolution of Drafting Ambiguities. Each party hereto acknowledges and agrees that it was represented by counsel in connection with the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, that it and its counsel reviewed and participated in the preparation and negotiation hereof and thereof and that any rule of construction to the effect that ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation hereof or thereof.

Section 1.06    Limited Condition Acquisition. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in the case of the incurrence of any Indebtedness (other than under any Incremental Facilities, which shall remain subject to the terms of Section 2.20 with respect to the impact, if any, of a Limited Condition Acquisition) or Liens or the making of any Permitted Acquisitions or other permitted Investments or fundamental changes in connection with a Limited Condition Acquisition, if the Borrower has made an LCA Election with respect to such Limited Condition Acquisition, the relevant ratios and the component amounts thereof (including LQA Revenue, Total Net Leverage Ratio or Consolidated Total Indebtedness (in each case)) (but other than the Financial Covenant under Section 6.08 (other than compliance with the Financial Covenant as a condition to effecting any transaction)) and baskets shall be determined as of the date the definitive agreements for such Limited Condition Acquisition are entered into and effective (and not, for the avoidance of doubt, the date of consummation of any Limited Condition Acquisition) (the “LCA Test Date”), and shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis assuming such Limited Condition Acquisition and other transactions in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) were consummated on such LCA Test Date (but, for the avoidance of doubt, without giving effect to the cash proceeds of any indebtedness incurred to finance such Limited Condition Acquisition for the purposes of cash netting in the determination of any leverage multiples); provided that, (i) if the Borrower has made an LCA Election, in connection with the calculation of any ratio or basket with respect to the incurrence of any other Indebtedness or Liens, or the making of any Permitted Acquisitions or other permitted Investments, Dividends, Restricted Debt Payments, Asset Sales or other sales or dispositions of assets or fundamental changes on or following the applicable LCA Test Date and on prior to the earlier of (x) the date on which such Limited Condition Acquisition is consummated or (y) the date that the definitive agreement (or in the case of a Limited Condition Acquisition that involves some other manner of establishing a binding obligation under local law, such other binding obligation to consummate such transaction) for such Limited Condition Acquisition is terminated or expires, any such ratio or basket shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis (I) assuming such Limited Condition Acquisition and other transactions in connection therewith (including any incurrence of

 

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Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) have been consummated and (II) assuming such Limited Condition Acquisition and other transactions in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) have not been consummated (in which case such ratios or baskets, as applicable, relating to such subsequent transaction shall be required to be satisfied under both the preceding clauses (I) and (II) to be in compliance with the terms of this Agreement) and (ii) no Event of Default shall exist on the LCA Test Date and no Event of Default under Section 8.01(a), (b), (g) or (h) shall exist the date on which such Limited Condition Acquisition is consummated.

Section 1.07    Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to New York City time.

Section 1.08    Deliveries. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, whenever any document, agreement or other item is required by any Loan Document to be delivered or completed on a day that is not a Business Day, the due date thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day.

Section 1.09    Schedules and Exhibits. All of the schedules and exhibits attached to this Agreement shall be deemed incorporated herein by reference.

Section 1.10    Currency Generally.

(a)    All Loans shall be made in U.S. dollars.

(b)    For purposes of determining compliance with Sections 6.01, 6.02, 6.03, 6.04, 6.05, 6.06, 6.07 or 6.09, with respect to any Indebtedness, Liens, Investments, liquidations, dissolutions, mergers, consolidations, Asset Sales or other dispositions, Dividends, affiliate transactions or Restricted Debt Payments in a currency other than Dollars, no Default or Event of Default shall be deemed to have occurred solely as a result of changes in rates of currency exchange occurring after the time the Borrower or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries is contractually obligated to incur, enter into, make or acquire such Indebtedness, Liens, Investments, liquidations, dissolutions, mergers, consolidations, Asset Sales or other dispositions, Dividends, affiliate transactions or Restricted Debt Payments (so long as, at the time of entering into the contract to incur, enter into, make or acquire such Indebtedness, Liens, Investments, liquidations, dissolutions, mergers, consolidations, Asset Sales or other dispositions, Dividends, affiliate transactions or Restricted Debt Payments, such transaction was permitted hereunder) and once contractually obligated to be incurred, entered into, made or acquired, the amount of such Indebtedness, Liens, Investments, liquidations, dissolutions, mergers, consolidations, Asset Sales or other dispositions, Dividends, affiliate transactions or Restricted Debt Payments, shall be always deemed to be at the Dollar amount on such date, regardless of later changes in currency exchange rates.

(c)    In respect of any relevant period, the exchange rates used in relation to calculating Consolidated Total Indebtedness shall be the weighted average exchange rates used for determining LQA Revenues (or any component thereof) for the relevant period, provided that if the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has entered into any currency Hedging

 

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Agreement in respect of any borrowings, the currency and amount of such borrowings shall be determined by first taking into account the effects of that currency Hedging Agreement.

Section 1.11    Basket Amounts and Application of Multiple Relevant Provisions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, (a) unless specifically stated otherwise herein, any dollar, number, percentage or other amount available under any carve-out, basket, exclusion or exception to any affirmative, negative or other covenant in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents may be accumulated, added, combined, aggregated or used together by any Credit Party and its Subsidiaries without limitation for any purpose permitted hereby, and (b) any action or event permitted by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents need not be permitted solely by reference to one provision permitting such action or event but may be permitted in part by one such provision and in part by one or more other provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with Article VI, in the event that any Lien, Investment, liquidation, dissolution merger, consolidation, Indebtedness, disposition, Dividend, Affiliate transaction, contractual requirement or prepayment of Indebtedness meets the criteria of one, or more than one, of the “baskets” or categories of transactions then permitted pursuant to any clause or subsection of Article VI, such transaction (or any portion thereof) at any time shall be permitted under one or more of such “baskets” or categories at the time of such transaction or any later time from time to time, in each case, as determined by the Borrower in its sole discretion at such time and thereafter may be reclassified or divided (as if incurred at such later time) by the Borrower (solely among baskets within a particular covenant (i.e. within Section 6.01)), other than with respect to Sections 6.06 and 6.09 thereof, in any manner not expressly prohibited by this Agreement, and such Lien, Investment, liquidation, dissolution merger, consolidation, Indebtedness, disposition, Dividend, Affiliate transaction, contractual requirement or prepayment of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) shall be treated as having been incurred or existing pursuant to only such “basket” or category of transactions or “baskets” or categories of transactions (or any portion thereof) without giving pro forma effect to such item (or portion thereof) when calculating the amount of Liens, Investments, liquidations, dissolutions, mergers, consolidations, Indebtedness, dispositions, Dividends, Affiliate transactions, contractual requirements or prepayments of Indebtedness, as applicable, that may be incurred pursuant to any other “basket” or category of transactions.

ARTICLE II

THE CREDITS

Section 2.01    Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, each Lender agrees, severally and not jointly:

(a)    Term Loans. To make a Term Loan to the Borrower on the Closing Date in the principal amount of its Term Loan Commitment; and

(b)    Revolving Loans. To make Revolving Loans, upon the terms and conditions set forth herein, to the Borrower at any time and from time to time on or after the Closing Date until the earlier of the Revolving Maturity Date and the termination of the Revolving Commitment of such Lender in accordance with the terms hereof, in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding that (i) will not result in such Lender’s Revolving Exposure exceeding such Lender’s Revolving Commitment and (ii) will not, after giving effect thereto and to the

 

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application of the proceeds thereof, at any time result in the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Exposure outstanding at such time exceeding the Total Revolving Commitment then in effect; provided that no Revolving Loans may be drawn on the Closing Date. The Revolving Loans may, at the option of the Borrower, be incurred and maintained as, and/or converted into, ABR Revolving Loans or Eurodollar Revolving Loans; provided, that all Revolving Loans made by each of the Lenders pursuant to the same Borrowing shall, unless otherwise specifically provided herein, consist entirely of Revolving Loans of the same Type.

Amounts paid or prepaid in respect of Term Loans may not be reborrowed. Within the limits set forth in clause (b) above and subject to the terms, conditions and limitations set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, pay or prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans.

Section 2.02 Loans.

(a)    Each Loan (other than Swingline Loans) shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans made by the applicable Lenders ratably in accordance with their applicable Commitments; provided that the failure of any Lender to make its Loan shall not in itself relieve any other Lender of its obligation to lend hereunder (it being understood, however, that no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make any Loan required to be made by such other Lender). Except for Loans deemed made pursuant to Section 2.18(e)(ii), (x) ABR Loans comprising any Borrowing shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is (i) an integral multiple of $100,000 and not less than the Minimum Borrowing Amount or (ii) equal to the remaining available balance of the applicable Commitments and (y) the Eurodollar Loans comprising any Borrowing shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is (i) an integral multiple of $100,000 and not less than the Minimum Borrowing Amount or (ii) equal to the remaining available balance of the applicable Commitments.

(b)    Subject to Sections 2.01, 2.11 and 2.12, each Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans as the Borrower may request pursuant to Section 2.03. Each Lender may at its option make any Eurodollar Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan; provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. More than one Borrowing may be incurred on any day, but at no time shall there be outstanding more than, in the case of Loans maintained as Eurodollar Loans, seven (7) Borrowings of such Loans in the aggregate. For purposes of the foregoing, Borrowings having different Interest Periods, regardless of whether they commence on the same date, shall be considered separate Borrowings.

(c)    Except for Loans deemed made pursuant to Section 2.01(a) or Section 2.18(e)(ii), each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds to such account as the Administrative Agent may designate not later than 12:00 (noon) New York City time, with respect to Eurodollar Loans, or 1:30 p.m. New York City time, with respect to ABR Loans, and upon receipt of all requested Loan funds, the Administrative Agent shall promptly wire all such requested amounts so received to an account as directed by the Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request or, if a Borrowing shall not occur on such date because any condition precedent herein specified shall not have been met, return the amounts so received to the respective Lenders.

 

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(d)    Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received written notice from a Lender prior to the date (in the case of any Eurodollar Borrowing) and at least two (2) hours prior to the time (in the case of any ABR Borrowing) of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s portion of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such portion available to the Administrative Agent at the time of such Borrowing in accordance with clause (c) above, and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower on such date a corresponding amount. If the Administrative Agent shall have so made funds available, then, to the extent that such Lender shall not have made such portion available to the Administrative Agent, each of such Lender and the Borrower severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is made available to the Borrower until the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at (i) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable at the time to the Loans comprising such Borrowing and (ii) in the case of such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation. If such Lender shall repay to the Administrative Agent such corresponding amount, such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan as part of such Borrowing for the purposes of this Agreement, and the Borrower’s obligation to repay the Administrative Agent such corresponding amount pursuant to this Section 2.02(d) shall cease.

(e)    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Borrower shall not be entitled to request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Revolving Maturity Date or the Term Loan Maturity Date, as applicable.

Section 2.03    Borrowing Procedure. To request a Revolving Borrowing or Term Loan Borrowing, the Borrower shall deliver, by facsimile or other electronic transmission if arrangements for doing so have been approved in writing (including via email) by the Administrative Agent, a duly completed and executed Borrowing Request to the Administrative Agent (a) in the case of a Revolving Borrowing, not later than 12:00 p.m., New York City time (or such later time on such Business Day as may be reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent), three (3) Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing; provided that a Revolving Borrowing may not be requested more than twice per calendar month, or (b) in the case of Term Loan Borrowings to be made on the Closing Date, not later than 12:00 p.m., New York City time, (1) one Business Day before the date of the proposed Borrowing. Each Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:

(a)    whether the requested Borrowing is to be a Borrowing of Revolving Loans or Term Loans;

(b)    the aggregate amount of such Borrowing;

(c)    the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;

 

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(d)    whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing;

(e)    in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, the initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”;

(f)    the wiring instructions, including the location and number of the account to which funds are to be disbursed; and

(g)    with respect to each Credit Extension made after the Closing Date, that the conditions set forth in Section 4.02(b) and Section 4.02(c) will be satisfied or waived as of the date the requested Borrowing is made.

If no election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified, then the requested Borrowing shall be a Eurodollar Borrowing with an Interest Period of one month’s duration. If the Borrower requests a Eurodollar Borrowing but fails to specify an Interest Period, the Borrower will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month’s duration. Promptly following receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section 2.03, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lender’s Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.

Section 2.04    Evidence of Debt; Repayment of Loans.

(a)    Promise to Repay. The Borrower unconditionally promises to pay to the Administrative Agent (i) for the account of each Term Loan Lender, the principal amount of each Term Loan of such Term Loan Lender as provided in Section 2.09, (ii) for the account of each Revolving Lender, the then unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan of such Revolving Lender on the Revolving Maturity Date and (iii) the Swingline Lender, the then unpaid principal amount of each Swingline Loan on the earlier of the Revolving Maturity Date and the first date after such Swingline Loan is made that is the 15th or last day of a calendar month (or, if such date is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day) and is at least two Business Days after such Swingline Loan is made; provided that, on each date that a Revolving Borrowing is made, Borrower shall repay all Swingline Loans that were outstanding on the date such Borrowing was requested.

(b)    Lender and Administrative Agent Records. Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the Indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender from time to time, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time under this Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it will record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Type and Class thereof and the Interest Period applicable thereto; (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder; and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each Lender’s share thereof. The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to this paragraph shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations therein recorded; provided that the

 

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failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligations of the Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with their terms. In the event of any conflict between the records maintained by any Lender and the records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.

(c)    Promissory Notes. Any Lender by written notice to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) may request that Loans of any Class made by it be evidenced by a Note. In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a Note payable to such Lender or its registered assigns in the form of Exhibit G-1 or G-2, as the case may be. Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such Note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 10.04) be represented by one or more Notes in such form payable to the payee named therein or its registered assigns.

Section 2.05    Fees.

(a)    Commitment Fee. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender (subject to Section 2.19, in the case of a Defaulting Lender) a commitment fee (a “Commitment Fee”) equal 0.50% per annum on the actual daily unused amount of the Revolving Commitment of such Revolving Lender during the period from and including the Closing Date to but excluding the date on which such Revolving Commitment terminates. Accrued Commitment Fees shall be payable in arrears (A) on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December of each year, commencing on the end of the first full quarterly period to occur after the Closing Date, and (B) on the date on which such Commitment terminates. Commitment Fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as applicable, and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). For purposes of computing Commitment Fees with respect to Revolving Commitments, a Revolving Commitment of a Lender shall be deemed to be used to the extent of the outstanding Revolving Loans and LC Exposure of such Lender (and the Swingline Exposure of such Lender shall be disregarded for such purpose); provided that for the purpose of calculations and payments pursuant to this Section 2.05, the Revolving Commitment of each Defaulting Lender shall be deemed equal to $0.

(b)    Administrative Agent Fees. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, the administrative fees payable in the amounts and at the times set forth in the Agent’s Fee Letter (the “Administrative Agent Fee”).

(c)    LC Participation and Fronting Fees. The Borrower agrees to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender a participation fee (“LC Participation Fee”) in Dollars with respect to its participations in Letters of Credit, which shall accrue at a rate equal to the Applicable Margin for the LC Participation Fee on the actual daily amount of such Lender’s LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to Reimbursement Obligations) during the period from and including the Closing Date to but excluding the later of the date on which such Lender’s Revolving Commitment terminates and the date on which such Lender ceases to have any LC Exposure, and (ii) to the Issuing Bank a fronting fee (“Fronting Fee”) in Dollars which shall accrue at a rate of 0.25% per annum on the actual daily amount of the LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to Reimbursement

 

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Obligations) during the period from and including the Closing Date to but excluding the later of the date of termination of the Revolving Commitments and the date on which there ceases to be any LC Exposure, as well as such Issuing Bank’s reasonable customary fees with respect to the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or processing of drawings thereunder. Accrued LC Participation Fees and Fronting Fees shall be payable in arrears (i) on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December of each year, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and (ii) on the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate. Any such fees accruing after the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate shall be payable promptly on written demand. Any other fees payable to the applicable Issuing Bank pursuant to this paragraph shall be payable within ten (10) Business Days after written demand therefor. All LC Participation Fees and Fronting Fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as applicable, and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).

(d)    Fee Letter. Without duplication of any other fees set forth in this Section 2.05, the Borrower agrees to pay the fees set forth in the Fee Letters at the times and in the manner set forth therein.

(e)    All Fees shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent for distribution, if and as appropriate, among the applicable Lenders, except that the Borrower shall pay the Fronting Fees directly to the Issuing Bank. Once paid when due and payable, none of the Fees shall be refundable under any circumstances.

Section 2.06    Interest on Loans.

(a)    ABR Loans. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.06(c), the Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing, including each Swingline Loan, shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin in effect from time to time.

(b)    Eurodollar Loans. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.06(c), the Loans comprising each Eurodollar Borrowing shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Margin in effect from time to time.

(c)    Default Rate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) upon the occurrence and during the existence of an Event of Default under Sections 8.01(a), (b), (g) or (h) or (y) at the election of the Required Lenders upon an Event of Default (other than under Sections 8.01(a), (b), (g) or (h)), in each case, the Obligations hereunder shall bear interest from the date of such Event of Default (after as well as before judgment) at a per annum rate equal to (i) in the case of amounts constituting principal, 2.00% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan as provided in Section 2.06(a) and Section 2.06(b) or (ii) in the case of amounts constituting the aggregate principal amount of, or interest on, all LC Disbursements, 2.00% plus the rate otherwise applicable as provided in Section 2.18(h) or (iii) in the case of any other Obligations that constitute overdue amounts (including overdue interest), 2.00% plus the rate applicable to ABR Loans as provided in Section 2.06(a) (in either case, the “Default Rate”).

 

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(d)    Interest Payment Dates. Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to Section 2.06(c) shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan (other than a prepayment of an ABR Revolving Loan or a Swingline Loan without a permanent reduction in Revolving Commitments), accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment and (iii) in the event of any conversion of any Eurodollar Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion.

(e)    Interest Calculation. All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except that interest computed by reference to the Base Rate in clause (a) of the definition of “Alternate Base Rate” shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). The applicable Alternate Base Rate or Adjusted LIBO Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and such determination shall be deemed conclusive absent manifest error. Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid within the time periods specified herein; provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall bear interest for one day.

Section 2.07    Termination and Reduction of Commitments.

(a)    The Term Loan Commitments shall automatically terminate upon the funding of the Term Loans on the Closing Date. The Revolving Commitments, the Swingline Commitment and the LC Commitment shall automatically terminate on the Revolving Maturity Date.

(b)    Optional Terminations and Reductions. At its option, the Borrower may at any time terminate, or from time to time, without premium or penalty (except as provided in Section 2.13 with respect to any concurrent repayment of Revolving Loans), permanently reduce, the Commitments of any Class; provided that (i) each reduction of the Commitments of any Class shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $100,000 and not less than $250,000 and (ii) the Revolving Commitments shall not be terminated or reduced if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Revolving Loans in accordance with Section 2.10, the aggregate amount of Revolving Exposures would exceed the aggregate amount of Revolving Commitments.

(c)    Borrower Notice. The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent in writing of any election to terminate or reduce the Commitments under Section 2.07(b) at least three (3) Business Days, or such shorter period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion, prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date thereof. Promptly following receipt of any such notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the applicable Lenders of the contents thereof. Each notice delivered by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.07(c) shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination of the Commitments delivered by the Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of any other credit facilities or the closing of any securities offering, or the occurrence of any other event specified therein, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower

 

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(by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. With respect to the effectiveness of any such other credit facilities or the closing of any such securities offering, the Borrower may extend the date of termination at any time with the consent of the Administrative Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). Any termination or reduction of the Commitments of any Class shall be permanent. Each reduction of the Commitments of any Class shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Commitments of such Class.

Section 2.08    Interest Elections.

(a)    Generally. Each Revolving Borrowing and Term Loan Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request. Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section. The Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing. This Section 2.08 shall not apply to Swingline Borrowings, which may not be converted or continued.

(b)    Interest Election Notice. To make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower shall deliver, by hand delivery or facsimile or other electronic transmission if arrangements for doing so have been approved in writing (including via email) by the Administrative Agent, a duly completed and executed Interest Election Request to the Administrative Agent not later than (x) in the case of an Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 12:00 p.m., New York City time (or such later time on such Business Day as may be reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent), three (3) Business Days before the proposed effective date of such election and (y) in the case of a conversion of any Borrowing to an ABR Borrowing, not later than 12:00 p.m., New York City time (or such later time on such Business Day as may be reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent), one (1) Business Day before the proposed effective date of such election. Each Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable. Each Interest Election Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:

(i)    the Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies and, if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, or if outstanding Borrowings are being combined, allocation to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) below, as applicable, shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing);

(ii)    the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest Election Request, which shall be a Business Day;

(iii)    whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing; and

 

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(iv)    if the resulting Borrowing is a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Interest Period to be applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period.”

If any such Interest Election Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one (1) month’s duration.

Promptly following receipt of an Interest Election Request, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of such Lender’s portion of each resulting Borrowing.

(c)    Automatic Conversion. If an Interest Election Request with respect to a Eurodollar Borrowing is not timely delivered prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid or prepaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period such Borrowing shall be continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing with an Interest Period of one month’s duration. Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may require, by notice to the Borrower, that (i) no outstanding Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing, and (ii) unless repaid or prepaid, each Eurodollar Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

Section 2.09    Amortization of Term Loans. No amortization shall be required prior to the Term Loan Maturity Date. To the extent not previously paid, all Term Loans shall be due and payable on the Term Loan Maturity Date.

Section 2.10    Optional and Mandatory Prepayments of Loans.

(a)    Optional Prepayments. The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay Revolving Loans and Term Loans without premium or penalty (except as and to the extent provided in Section 2.10(k) or Section 2.13), subject to the requirements of this Section 2.10; provided that each partial prepayment of (x) any Term Loans shall be in a multiple of $250,000 and in an aggregate principal amount of at least $250,000, and (y) any Revolving Loans shall be in a multiple of $100,000 and not less than $250,000 or, if less, the outstanding amount of such Borrowing.

(b)    Revolving Loan Prepayments.

(i)    In the event of the termination of all the Revolving Commitments in accordance with the terms hereof, the Borrower shall, on the date of such termination, repay or prepay all of its outstanding Revolving Borrowings and all outstanding Swingline Loans and, at the Borrower’s option, either replace, backstop or continue under another credit facility (on terms and conditions acceptable to the applicable Issuing Bank) all outstanding Letters of Credit or cash collateralize all outstanding Letters of Credit in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.18(i).

(ii)    In the event of any partial reduction of the Revolving Commitments in accordance with the terms hereof, then (x) at or prior to the effective date of such

 

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reduction, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Revolving Lenders of the sum of the Revolving Exposures after giving effect thereto and (y) if the sum of the Revolving Exposures would exceed the aggregate amount of Revolving Commitments after giving effect to such reduction, then the Borrower shall, on the date of such reduction, first, repay or prepay Swingline Loans, second, repay or prepay Revolving Borrowings and third, at the Borrower’s option, either replace or backstop (on terms and conditions acceptable to the applicable Issuing Bank) outstanding Letters of Credit or cash collateralize outstanding Letters of Credit in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.18(i), in an aggregate amount sufficient to eliminate such excess.

(iii)    In the event that at any time the sum of all Lenders’ Revolving Exposures exceeds the Revolving Commitments then in effect, the Borrower shall, without notice or demand, immediately first, repay or prepay Swingline Loans, second, repay or prepay Revolving Borrowings, and third, at the Borrower’s option, either replace or backstop (on terms and conditions acceptable to the applicable Issuing Bank) outstanding Letters of Credit or cash collateralize outstanding Letters of Credit in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.18(i), in an aggregate amount sufficient to eliminate such excess.

(iv)    In the event that the aggregate LC Exposure exceeds the LC Sublimit then in effect, the Borrower shall, without notice or demand, immediately, at the Borrower’s option, either replace or backstop (on terms and conditions acceptable to the applicable Issuing Bank) outstanding Letters of Credit or cash collateralize outstanding Letters of Credit in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.18(i), in an aggregate amount sufficient to eliminate such excess.

(c)    Asset Sales. Not later than ten (10) Business Days following the receipt of any Net Cash Proceeds of any Asset Sale by any Group Member (other than any issuance or sale of Equity Interests to or from any Group Member to another Group Member permitted hereunder), the Borrower shall apply an aggregate amount equal to 100% of such Net Cash Proceeds to make prepayments in accordance with Sections 2.10(i) and
2.10(j); provided that:

(i)    no such prepayment shall be required under this clause (c) (A) with respect to any disposition of property which constitutes a Casualty Event, or (B) to the extent the aggregate amount of Net Cash Proceeds from all such Asset Sales, together with all Casualty Events, do not exceed $4,000,000 in any twelve month period (the “Asset Sale/Casualty Event Threshold” and the Net Cash Proceeds in excess of the Asset Sale/Casualty Event Threshold, the “Excess Net Cash Proceeds”); provided that, only such Excess Net Cash Proceeds shall subject to this Section 2.10(c);

(ii)    so long as no Event of Default under Section 8.01(a), (b), (g) or (h) shall have occurred and be continuing, such proceeds with respect to any such Asset Sale shall not be required to be so applied on such date to the extent that the Borrower shall have notified the Administrative Agent on or prior to such date stating that such Excess Net Cash Proceeds are expected to be reinvested in assets used or useful in the business of any Group Member (including pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition, Investment or Capital Expenditure) or to be contractually committed to be so reinvested, within 15 months (or

 

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within 21 months following receipt thereof if a contractual commitment to reinvest is entered into within 15 months following receipt thereof) following the date of such Asset Sale; and

(iii)    if all or any portion of such Excess Net Cash Proceeds that are the subject of a notice delivered pursuant to clause (ii) immediately above is neither reinvested nor contractually committed to be so reinvested within such 15 month period (or is not actually reinvested within such additional six (6) month period, if applicable), such unused portion shall be applied within ten (10) Business Days after the last day of such period as a mandatory prepayment as provided in this Section 2.10(c).

(d)    Debt Issuance. Not later than one (1) Business Day following the receipt of any Net Cash Proceeds of any Debt Issuance by any Group Member (or concurrently with the receipt of Net Cash Proceeds of any Debt Issuance by any Group Member in connection with a refinancing facility under Section 2.22), the Borrower shall make prepayments in accordance with Section 2.10(i) and (j) in an aggregate principal amount equal to 100% of such Net Cash Proceeds.

(e)    Casualty Events. Not later than ten (10) Business Days following the receipt of any Net Cash Proceeds from a Casualty Event by any Group Member, the Borrower shall apply an amount equal to 100% of such Net Cash Proceeds to make prepayments in accordance with Section 2.10(i) and (j); provided that

(i)    no such prepayment shall be required under this clause (e) (A) with respect to any disposition of property which constitutes an Asset Sale, or (B) to the extent the aggregate amount of Net Cash Proceeds from all such Casualty Events, together with Asset Sales, do not exceed the Asset Sale/Casualty Event Threshold in any twelve month period; provided that, only such Excess Net Cash Proceeds shall subject to this Section 2.10(e)),

(ii)    so long as no Event of Default under Section 8.01(a), (b), (g) or (h) shall have occurred and be continuing, the Borrower shall have notified the Administrative Agent on or prior to such date stating that such proceeds in excess of the Casualty Event Threshold are expected (x) to be used to repair, replace or restore any Property in respect of which such Net Cash Proceeds were paid or to reinvest in other fixed or Capital Assets or assets that are otherwise used or useful in the business of the Group Members (including pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition, investment or Capital Expenditure), or (y) to be contractually committed to be so reinvested, in each case, no later than 15 months (or within 21 months following receipt thereof if such contractual commitment to reinvest has been entered into within 15 months following receipt thereof) following the date of receipt of such proceeds; and

(iii)    if all or any portion of such Excess Net Cash Proceeds that are the subject of a notice delivered pursuant to clause (i) immediately above is neither reinvested nor contractually committed to be so reinvested within such 15 month period (or is not actually reinvested within such additional six (6) month period, if applicable), such unused portion shall be applied within ten (10) Business Days after the last day of such period as a mandatory prepayment as provided in this Section 2.10(e).

 

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(f)    [Reserved].

(g)    [Reserved].

(h)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) to the extent that any or all of the Net Cash Proceeds of any Asset Sale by a Foreign Subsidiary (or a U.S. Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary) (a “Foreign Disposition”) or the Net Cash Proceeds of any Casualty Event from a Foreign Subsidiary (or a U.S. Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary) (a “Foreign Casualty Event”), in each case giving rise to a prepayment event pursuant to clause (c) or (e) are or is prohibited, restricted or materially delayed by applicable local law, rule or regulation (including, without limitation, financial assistance and corporate benefit restrictions and fiduciary and statutory duties of any director or officer of such Subsidiaries) from being repatriated to the Borrower or so prepaid or such repatriation or prepayment would present a material liability for the applicable Subsidiary or its directors or officers (or gives rise to a material breach of fiduciary or statutory duties by any director or officer), the portion of such Net Cash Proceeds so affected will not be required to be applied to repay Loans at the times provided in this Section 2.10 but may be retained by the applicable Foreign Subsidiary and (ii) to the extent that the Borrower has determined in good faith that repatriation of any or all of the Net Cash Proceeds of any Foreign Disposition or any Foreign Casualty Event, in each case giving rise to a prepayment event pursuant to clause (c) or (e) would result in material adverse tax consequences, the Net Cash Proceeds so affected will not be required to be applied to repay Loans at the times provided in this Section 2.10 but may be retained by the applicable Foreign Subsidiary. The non-application of any such prepayment amounts as a result of the foregoing provisions will not constitute a Default or an Event of Default and such amounts shall be available for working capital purposes of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as long as not required to be prepaid in accordance with the following provisions. The Borrower shall not be required to monitor any Payment Block and/or reserve cash for future repatriation after the Borrower has notified the Administrative Agent of the existence of such Payment Block.

(i)    Application of Prepayments. Prior to any optional or mandatory prepayment hereunder, the Borrower shall select the Borrowing or Borrowings to be prepaid and shall specify such selection in the notice of such prepayment pursuant to Section 2.10(j), subject to the provisions of this Section 2.10(i). Subject to Section 2.10(k) below, all optional prepayments will be applied pro rata amongst each Tranche of outstanding Term Loans and, if applicable, Incremental Term Loans and, within each Tranche, as directed by the Borrower (and absent such direction, in direct order of maturity thereof). Any prepayments pursuant to Section 2.10(b), (c), (d) and (e) (or any equivalent provision applicable to any Tranche of Loans extended hereunder after the Closing Date), shall be applied pro rata amongst each Tranche of outstanding Term Loans and, if applicable, Incremental Term Loans and, within each Tranche, first, to accrued interest and fees with respect to Term Loans and, if applicable, Incremental Term Loans being prepaid and second, to reduce the remaining principal amount of such Term Loans and Incremental Term Loans.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, with respect to any prepayment under Section 2.10(c) or (e), the Borrower may use a portion of the Net Cash Proceeds to prepay or repurchase Permitted Pari Passu Refinancing Debt and any other senior Indebtedness in each case secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Liens securing the Obligations (the “Applicable Other Indebtedness”) to the extent required pursuant to the terms of the

 

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documentation governing such Applicable Other Indebtedness, in which case, the amount of the prepayment required to be offered with respect to such Net Cash Proceeds pursuant to Section 2.10(c) or (e) shall be deemed to be the amount equal to the product of (x) the amount of such Net Cash Proceeds multiplied by (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the outstanding principal amount of Loans required to be prepaid pursuant to Section 2.10(c) or (e) and the denominator of which is the sum of the outstanding principal amount of Loans required to be prepaid pursuant to Section 2.10(c) or (e) and the outstanding principal amount of such Applicable Other Indebtedness required to be prepaid pursuant to the corresponding provisions of such Applicable Other Indebtedness.

(j)    Notice of Prepayment. The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent (and, in the case of prepayment of a Swingline Loan, the Swingline Lender) by written notice of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of prepayments of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 12:00 p.m., New York City time three (3) Business Days before the date of prepayment (or such later time as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent), (ii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 12:00 p.m. New York City time two (2) Business Days prior to the date of prepayment (or such later time as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent) and (iii) in the case of prepayment of a Swingline Loan, not later than 12:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of prepayment delivered by the Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of any such other credit facilities or the closing of any such securities offering, or the occurrence of any other event specified therein, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. With respect to the effectiveness of any such other credit facilities or the closing of any such securities offering, the Borrower may extend the date of prepayment at any time with the consent of the Administrative Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). Each such notice shall specify the Borrowing to be repaid, the prepayment date, the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid and, in the case of a mandatory prepayment, a reasonably detailed calculation of the amount of such prepayment. Promptly following receipt of any such notice (other than a notice relating solely to Swingline Loans), the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each partial prepayment of any Borrowing shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of a Credit Extension of the same Type as provided in Section 2.02, except as necessary to apply fully the required amount of a mandatory prepayment. Each prepayment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing and otherwise in accordance with this Section 2.10. Prepayments shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.06. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Lender may reject all or a portion of its pro rata share of any mandatory prepayment (such declined amounts, the “Declined Proceeds”) of Loans required to be made pursuant to clauses (c), (d) (other than mandatory prepayments with the proceeds of Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness) and (e) of this Section 2.10 by providing written notice (each, a “Rejection Notice”) to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower no later than 5:00 p.m. one (1) Business Day prior to the date of such prepayment. Each Rejection Notice from a given Lender shall specify the principal amount of the mandatory prepayment of Loans to be rejected by such Lender. If a Lender fails to deliver a Rejection Notice to the Administrative Agent within the time frame specified above or such Rejection Notice fails to specify the principal amount of the Loans to be rejected, any such failure will be deemed an acceptance of the total amount of such mandatory repayment of Loans. Any Declined Proceeds may be retained by the Borrower or otherwise applied as directed by the Borrower.

 

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(k)    Loan Call Protection.

(i)    All (i) optional prepayments of the Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.10(a) and (ii) all mandatory prepayments and repayments of the Term Loans pursuant to Sections 2.10(c) (but only if the asset sale giving rise to such repayment constituted the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries), (d) or (e) (but only if the casualty event giving rise to such repayment constituted the loss of all or substantially all of the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries) or (iii) otherwise following any acceleration of the Obligations, in each case, made or required to be made prior to the second anniversary of the Closing Date (whether before or after an Event of Default, an acceleration of the Obligations or the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding), shall be subject to a premium (to be paid to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders as liquidated damages and compensation for the costs of being prepared to make funds available hereunder with respect to the Term Loans) equal to the Applicable Prepayment Premium. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, to the extent that any Non-Consenting Lender is replaced pursuant to Section 10.02(e) due to such Lender’s failure to approve a consent, waiver or amendment, as the case may be, such Non-Consenting Lender shall be entitled to receive a premium in connection with such replacement or prepayment in the amount that would have been payable in respect of the Term Loans of such Non-Consenting Lender, as applicable, under this clause (k) had such Term Loans been the subject of a voluntary prepayment at such time. On or after the second anniversary of the Closing Date, no premiums shall be payable pursuant to this Section 2.10(k) in connection with any prepayments of the Term Loan. The Applicable Prepayment Premium shall be fully earned and payable with respect to the full outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans at the time of any acceleration or commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding or termination prior to the second anniversary of the Closing Date. The Applicable Prepayment Premium, if any, shall constitute part of the Obligations. In view of the impracticability and extreme difficulty of ascertaining actual damages and by mutual agreement of the parties as to a reasonable calculation of each Lender’s lost profits as a result thereof, any Applicable Prepayment Premium payable shall be presumed to by the liquidated damages sustained by each Lender as the result of the early termination and/or repayment of the Term Loans and Borrower agrees that it is reasonable under the circumstances currently existing.

(ii)    [Reserved.]

(iii)    The Applicable Prepayment Premium, if any, shall also be payable in the event the Obligations (and/or this Agreement or the Notes evidencing the Obligations) are satisfied or released by foreclosure (whether by power of judicial proceeding, deed in lieu of foreclosure or by any other means). THE BORROWER EXPRESSLY WAIVES THE PROVISIONS OF ANY PRESENT OR FUTURE STATUTE OR LAW THAT PROHIBITS OR MAY PROHIBIT THE COLLECTION OF THE FOREGOING PREPAYMENT PREMIUM IN CONNECTION WITH ANY

 

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ACCELERATION OF THE TERM LOANS. Borrower expressly acknowledges: (A) the Applicable Prepayment Premium is reasonable and is the product of an arm’s length transaction between sophisticated business people, ably represented by counsel; (B) the Applicable Prepayment Premium shall be payable notwithstanding the then-prevailing market rates at the time payment is made; (C) there has been a course of conduct between the Lenders and Borrower giving specific consideration in this transaction for such agreement to pay the Applicable Prepayment Premium; and (D) Borrower shall be estopped hereafter from claiming differently than as agreed to in this Section 2.10(k). Borrower expressly acknowledge that their agreement to pay the Applicable Prepayment Premium to the Lenders as herein described is a material inducement to the Lenders to provide the Commitments and make the Term Loans.

Section 2.11    Alternate Rate of Interest. If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing:

(a)    the Administrative Agent determines in good faith and in its reasonable discretion (which determination shall be deemed presumptively correct absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate for such Interest Period;

(b)    the Administrative Agent determines in good faith and in its reasonable discretion or is advised in writing by the Required Lenders (which determination shall be deemed presumptively correct absent manifest error) that Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Eurodollar Loan; or

(c)    the Administrative Agent determines in good faith and in its reasonable discretion or is advised in writing by the Required Lenders that the Adjusted LIBO Rate for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining their Loans included in such Borrowing for such Interest Period; then, the Administrative Agent shall give written notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist (which notice shall be delivered by the Administrative Agent within five (5) Business Days after such situation ceases to exist) (i) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be ineffective and (ii) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing; provided that the Borrower may revoke any such Borrowing Request (without penalty) prior to such Borrowing upon written notice to the Administrative Agent.

(d)    If at any time the Administrative Agent determines in good faith (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that either (i) the circumstances set forth in subparagraph (a) of this Section 2.11 have arisen and such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary or (ii) the circumstances set forth in subparagraph (a) of this Section 2.11 have not arisen but the supervisor for the administrator of the LIBO Rate or a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent has made a public statement identifying a

 

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specific date after which the LIBO Rate shall no longer be used for determining interest rates for loans (in the case of either such clause (i) or (ii), an “Alternative Interest Rate Election Event”), the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall endeavor to establish an alternate rate of interest to the LIBO Rate that gives due consideration to the then prevailing market convention for determining a rate of interest for leveraged syndicated loans in the United States at such time, and shall enter into an amendment to this Agreement to reflect such alternate rate of interest and such other related changes to this Agreement as may be applicable. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 10.02, such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement so long as the Administrative Agent shall not have received, within five (5) Business Days after the date notice of such alternate rate of interest is provided to the Lenders, a written notice from Required Lenders stating that they object to such amendment (which amendment shall not be effective prior to the end of such five (5) Business Day notice period). To the extent an alternate rate of interest is adopted as contemplated hereby, the approved rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with prevailing market convention; provided that, to the extent such prevailing market convention is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such approved rate shall be applied in a manner as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower. From such time as an Alternative Interest Rate Election Event has occurred and continuing until an alternate rate of interest has been determined in accordance with the terms and conditions of this paragraph, (x) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Eurodollar Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be ineffective, and (y) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing; provided that, to the extent such Alternative Interest Rate Election Event is as a result of clause (ii) above in this subparagraph (b), then clauses (x) and (y) of this sentence shall apply during such period only if the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period is not available or published at such time on a current basis. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, if such alternate rate of interest as determined in this subparagraph (b) is determined to be less than 1.00% per annum, such rate shall be deemed to be 1.00% per annum for the purposes of this Agreement.

Section 2.12    Yield Protection.

(a)    Increased Costs Generally. If any Change in Law shall:

(i)    impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in, by any Lender (except any reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted LIBO Rate) or the Issuing Bank;

(ii)    subject the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Bank to any Tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to this Agreement, any Letter of Credit, any participation in a Letter of Credit, or any Loan made by it, or change the basis of taxation of payments to such Administrative Agent or Lender or the Issuing Bank in respect thereof (in each case, except for (A) Indemnified Taxes or (B) Taxes described in clauses (b) through (d) of the definition of Excluded Taxes and (C) Connection Income Taxes); or

(iii)    impose on the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Bank or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense (other than any Taxes) affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;

 

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and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making, converting or maintaining any Eurodollar Loan or any other Loan in the case of clause (ii) (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to increase the cost to such Lender, the Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any, of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the Issuing Bank hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount), then, upon written request of the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as applicable, the Borrower will pay to the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

(b)    Capital Requirements. If any Lender or the Issuing Bank determines (in good faith, in its reasonable discretion) that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or the Issuing Bank or any lending office of such Lender or such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any, regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by the Issuing Bank, to a level below that which such Lender or the Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any, would have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any, with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any, for any such reduction suffered.

(c)    Certificates for Reimbursement. A certificate of the Administrative Agent, a Lender or the Issuing Bank, as applicable, setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the Issuing Bank or their respective holding companies, as the case may be, as specified in clause (a) or (b) of this Section 2.12, and setting forth in reasonable detail the calculation of the amount owed and the basis for the claim shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be deemed presumptively correct absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) Business Days after receipt thereof.

(d)    Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section 2.12 shall not constitute a waiver of the Administrative Agent’s, such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or the Issuing Bank pursuant to this Section 2.12 for any increased costs incurred or

 

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reductions suffered more than 180 days prior to the date that the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions pursuant to the certificate to be delivered in subsection (c) above and of the Administrative Agent, such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 180 day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

Section 2.13    Funding Losses.

Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:

(a)    any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Eurodollar Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan; or

(b)    any failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan (other than an ABR Loan) on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower including any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained.

For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this Section 2.13, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurodollar Loan made by it at the LIBO Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the London interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurodollar Loan was in fact so funded.

Section 2.14    Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Setoffs.

(a)    Payments Generally. The Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder or under any other Loan Document (whether of principal, interest, fees or Reimbursement Obligations, or of amounts payable under Sections 2.12, 2.13, 2.15 or 10.03, or otherwise) on or before the time expressly required hereunder or under such other Loan Document for such payment (or, if no such time is expressly required, prior to 3:00 p.m., New York City time), on the date when due, in immediately available funds, free and clear of, and without condition or deduction for, recoupment or setoff. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent to the applicable account designated to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent, except payments to be made directly to the Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender as expressly provided herein and except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.12, 2.13, 2.15 and 10.03 shall be made directly to the persons entitled thereto and payments pursuant to other Loan Documents shall be made to the persons specified therein. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. If any payment under any Loan

 

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Document shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, unless specified otherwise, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments under each Loan Document shall be made in U.S. dollars.

(b)    Pro Rata Treatment.

(i)    Other than as permitted by Section 2.16(b), Section 2.20, Section 2.21, Section 2.22, Section 10.02(e), Section 10.02(f) and Section 10.04, subject to the express provisions of this Agreement which require, or permit, differing payments to be made to non-Defaulting Lenders as opposed to Defaulting Lenders, each payment by the Borrower of interest in respect of the Loans shall be applied to the amounts of such obligations owing to the Lenders pro rata according to the respective amounts then due and owing to the Lenders.

(ii)    Other than as permitted by Section 2.20, Section 2.21, Section 2.22, Section 10.02 and Section 10.04, subject to the express provisions of this Agreement which require, or permit, differing payments to be made to non-Defaulting Lenders as opposed to Defaulting Lenders, (A) each payment by the Borrower on account of principal of the Term Loans shall be allocated among the Term Loan Lenders pro rata based on the principal amount of the Term Loans held by the Term Loan Lenders; (B) each payment by the Borrower on account of principal of the Revolving Borrowings shall be made pro rata according to the respective outstanding principal amounts of the Revolving Loans then held by the Revolving Lenders; and (C) each permanent reduction in Revolving Commitments shall be pro rata according to the respective Revolving Commitments then held by the Revolving Lenders.

(c)    Insufficient Funds. If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, Reimbursement Obligations, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, toward payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, and (ii) second, toward payment of principal and Reimbursement Obligations then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal and Reimbursement Obligations then due to such parties. It is understood that the foregoing does not apply to any adequate protection payments under any federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar proceeding, and that the Administrative Agent may, subject to any applicable federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar orders, distribute any adequate protection payments it receives on behalf of the Lenders to the Lenders in its sole discretion (i.e., whether to pay the earliest accrued interest, all accrued interest on a pro rata basis or otherwise).

(d)    Sharing of Setoff. Subject to the terms of any Intercreditor Agreement, if any Lender (and/or the Issuing Bank, which shall be deemed a “Lender” for purposes of this Section 2.14(d)) shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans or other Obligations resulting

 

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in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and accrued interest thereon or other Obligations greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans and such other obligations of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans and other amounts owing them; provided that:

(i)    if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest; and

(ii)    the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any payment (x) made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or (y) obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or participations in LC Disbursements or Swingline Loans to any assignee or participant other than to any Group Member (as to which the provisions of this Section 2.14 shall apply (unless obtained by such Group Member in accordance with of this Agreement)).

Each Credit Party consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable Requirements of Law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against such Credit Party rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of such Credit Party in the amount of such participation. If under applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or any similar law any Secured Party receives a secured claim in lieu of a setoff or counterclaim to which this Section 2.14(d) applies, such Secured Party shall to the extent practicable, exercise its rights in respect of such secured claim in a manner consistent with the rights to which the Secured Party is entitled under this Section 2.14(d) to share in the benefits of the recovery of such secured claim.

(e)    Borrower Default. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the Issuing Bank hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or the Issuing Bank with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

(f)    Obligations of Lenders Several. The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Loans, to fund participations in Letters of Credit and to make payments pursuant to Section 10.03(c) are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan, to fund

 

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any such participation or to make any payment under Section 10.03(c) on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Loans, to purchase its participation or to make its payment under Section 10.03(c).

Section 2.15    Taxes.

(a)    Payments Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Credit Parties hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without reduction, deduction or withholding for any Taxes (“Tax Withholdings”); provided that if any Taxes are required by any applicable Requirements of Law to be withheld or deducted in respect of any such payments by any applicable Withholding Agent (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable Withholding Agent), then (i) in the case of Indemnified Taxes, the sum payable by the relevant Credit Party shall be increased as necessary so that after all such Tax Withholdings have been made (including deductions or withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.15), each Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such Tax Withholdings been made (including such Tax Withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.15) (such additional sums being the “Additional Amount”), (ii) the applicable Withholding Agent shall make such Tax Withholdings, and (iii) the applicable Withholding Agent shall timely pay the full amount of the Tax Withholdings to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with the applicable Requirements of Law.

(b)    Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower. Without limiting the provisions of clause (a) above, the Borrower shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Requirements of Law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes.

(c)    Indemnification by the Borrower. Without duplication for any Additional Amounts or Other Taxes paid pursuant to Sections 2.15(a) or (b), the Credit Parties shall indemnify and hold harmless (on a joint and several basis) each Recipient, within ten (10) days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 2.15) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Recipient (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Recipient, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(d)    Evidence of Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by any Credit Party pursuant to this Section 2.15 to a Governmental Authority, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the Tax Return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

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(e)    Status of Lenders.

(i)    Any Recipient that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower and to the Administrative Agent, whenever reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and duly executed documentation prescribed by applicable Requirements of Law as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, (x) to determine whether or not any payments made under any Loan Document are subject to Tax Withholdings or information reporting requirements and (y) to determine, if applicable, the required rate of Tax Withholdings. In addition, any Recipient, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable Requirements of Law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Recipient is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding sentence, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation and information (other than such documentation set forth in Section 2.15(e)(ii)(A)(1)-(4), Section 2.15(e)(ii)(B) and Section 2.15(e)(ii)(C) below) shall not be required if in the Recipient’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Recipient to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Recipient.

(ii)    Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower is a U.S. Borrower:

(A)    each Recipient that is a Foreign Lender, shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or about the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Recipient under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:

(1)    in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, properly completed and duly executed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable, claiming eligibility for benefits under the “interest” article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Loan Document, Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable, establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty,

(2)    properly completed and duly executed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI, as applicable,

(3)    in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-1 to the effect that such

 

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Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” related to the Borrower described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) properly completed and duly executed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E,

(4)    to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner (for example, where the Foreign Lender is a partnership or a participating Lender granting a participation), properly completed and duly executed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY, accompanied by a Form W-8ECI, W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E, U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate, substantially in the form of Exhibit H-2 or Exhibit H-3, Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable (provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes (and not a participating Lender) and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, the U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate may be provided by such Foreign Lender substantially in the form of Exhibit H-4 on behalf of such direct or indirect partners), or

(5)    any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or about the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), execute copies of any other form prescribed by applicable Requirements of Law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding Tax duly completed together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable Requirements of Law to permit the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to determine any withholding or deduction required to be made;

(B)    each Recipient that is not a Foreign Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or about the date on which such Recipient becomes a Recipient under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent) two properly completed and duly executed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 certifying that such Recipient is exempt from United States federal backup withholding;

(C)    if a payment made to a Recipient under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Recipient were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as

 

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applicable), such Recipient shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by applicable Requirements of Law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable Requirements of Law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA, to determine whether such Recipient has complied with such Recipient’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount (if any) to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (C), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement;

(D)    notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.15(e), a Recipient shall not be required to deliver any documentation or information that such Recipient is not legally eligible or entitled to deliver; and

(E)    each such Recipient shall, from time to time after the initial delivery by such Recipient of any form or certificate, whenever a lapse in time or change in such Recipient’s circumstances renders such form or certificate (including any specific form or certificate required in this Section 2.15(e)) so delivered obsolete, expired or inaccurate in any material respect, promptly (i) update such form or certificate or (ii) notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal ineligibility to do so.

(iii)    On or before the date the Administrative Agent (or any successor or replacement Administrative Agent) becomes the Administrative Agent hereunder, it shall deliver to the Borrower two duly executed copies of either (i) Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 (or any successor forms) certifying that it is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax or (ii) a U.S. branch withholding certificate on Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY evidencing its agreement with the Borrower to be treated as a U.S. Person (with respect to amounts received on account of any Lender Party) and Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI (with respect to amounts received on its own account), with the effect that, in either case, the Borrower will be entitled to make payments hereunder to the Administrative Agent without withholding or deduction on account of U.S. federal withholding Tax. The Administrative Agent agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification.

(f)    Treatment of Certain Refunds. If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Credit Parties or on account of which the Credit Parties have paid Additional Amounts pursuant to this Section 2.15, it shall pay to the Credit Parties an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or Additional Amounts paid, by the Credit Parties under this Section with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such party, as the case may be, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund);

 

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provided that the Credit Parties, upon the request of such indemnified party, agree to repay to such indemnified party any such amount pursuant to this clause (f) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this clause (f), in no event will such indemnified party be required to pay any amount to the Credit Parties pursuant to this clause (f), the payment of which would place such party, as applicable, in a less favorable net after-Tax position than such indemnified party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification (or the payment of Additional Amounts) and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or imposed and the indemnification payments (or Additional Amounts) with respect to such Tax had never been paid. Nothing herein contained shall to make available its Tax Returns (or disclose any information relating to its Tax affairs or any computations in respect thereof that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.

(g)    Survival. Each party’s obligations under this Section 2.15 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document. For purposes of this Section 2.15, any payments by the Administrative Agent to a Lender of any amounts received by the Administrative Agent from any Credit Party on behalf of such Lender shall be treated as a payment from such Credit Party to such Lender.

(h)    For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Section 2.15, the term “Lender” shall include the Issuing Bank.

Section 2.16    Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

(a)    Designation of a Different Lending Office. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.12, or requires the Borrower to pay any Indemnified Taxes or Additional Amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.15, then such Lender shall (at the request of the Borrower) use commercially reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates or to file any certificate or document reasonably required by the Borrower, if, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment or filing (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.12 or 2.15, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment. A certificate setting forth in reasonable detail the calculation of such costs and expenses submitted by such Lender to the Borrower shall be deemed presumptively correct absent manifest error.

(b)    Replacement of Lenders. If (i) any Lender or the Administrative Agent requests compensation under Section 2.12, or (ii) the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or Additional Amount to any Lender or the Administrative Agent or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender or the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.15, and such Lender or the Administrative Agent declined or is unable to designate a different lending

 

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office in accordance with Section 2.16(a), or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or a Non-Consenting Lender, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort and option, upon notice to any applicable Lender and the Administrative Agent, (A) require any such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 10.04), all of its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Section 2.12 or Section 2.15 arising with respect to any period prior to such assignment) and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), (B) pay off in full all of the Loans and any other Obligations owed to any such Lender, (C) if applicable, terminate any such Lender’s Commitments and/or (D) if applicable, upon at least ten (10) days prior notice, require the Administrative Agent to resign in accordance with Section 9.06; provided that:

(i)    in the case of clause (A), unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the processing and recordation fee specified in Section 10.04(b), if any,

(ii)    such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts (including any amount pursuant to Section 2.10(k)) payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Sections 2.12, 2.13 and 2.15, assuming for this purpose (in the case of a Lender being replaced as the result of a claim or payment under Sections 2.12 or 2.15) that the Loans of such Lender were being prepaid) from the assignee or the Borrower;

(iii)    in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.12 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.15, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter; and

(iv)    in the case of clause (A), such assignment does not conflict with applicable Requirements of Law.

Each Lender agrees that, if the Borrower elects to replace such Lender in accordance with this Section 2.16(b), it shall promptly execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption to evidence the assignment and shall deliver to the Administrative Agent any Note (if Notes have been issued in respect of such Lender’s Loans) subject to such Assignment and Assumption; provided that the failure of any such Lender to execute an Assignment and Assumption shall not render such assignment invalid and such assignment shall be in full force and effect and shall be recorded in the Register.

Section 2.17    Swingline Loans

(a)    Swingline Commitment. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swingline Lender agrees to make Swingline Loans to Borrower from time to time on any Business Day during the Revolving Availability Period, in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding that will not result in (and upon each such Borrowing of Swingline Loans,

 

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Borrower shall be deemed to represent and warrant that such Borrowing will not result in) (i) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Swingline Loans exceeding the Swingline Commitment or (ii) the sum of the total Revolving Exposures exceeding the total Revolving Commitments; provided that the Swingline Lender shall not be required to make a Swingline Loan to refinance, in whole or in part, an outstanding Swingline Loan. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow Swingline Loans.

(b)    Swingline Loans. To request a Swingline Loan, Borrower shall hand deliver or  transmit by facsimile transmission (or transmit by other electronic transmission if arrangements for doing so have been approved in writing by the Administrative Agent), a duly completed and executed Borrowing Request to the Administrative Agent and the Swingline Lender, not later than 12:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Business Day of a proposed Swingline Loan. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the requested date (which shall be a Business Day), the amount of the requested Swingline Loan, the location and number of Borrower’s account to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.02(c), and that the conditions set forth in Sections 4.02(b) and (c) are satisfied as of the date of the notice. Each Swingline Loan shall be (and maintained as) an ABR Loan. The Swingline Lender shall make each Swingline Loan available to Borrower by means of a credit to the general deposit account of Borrower with the Swingline Lender, if any, or otherwise to an account as directed by Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request (or, in the case of a Swingline Loan made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.18(e), by remittance to the Issuing Bank). The Swingline Lender shall endeavor to fund each Swingline Loan by 3:00 p.m., New York City time and shall in all events fund each Swingline Loan by no later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the requested date of such Swingline Loan. Borrower shall not request a Swingline Loan if at the time of or immediately after giving effect to the Credit Extension contemplated by such request a Default has occurred and is continuing or would immediately thereafter result therefrom. Swingline Loans shall be made in minimum amounts of $250,000 and integral multiples of $100,000 above such amount.

(c)    Prepayment. Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to repay any Swingline Loan, in whole or in part, upon giving written notice to the Swingline Lender and the Administrative Agent before 12:00 p.m., New York City time, on the proposed date of repayment.

(d)    Participations. The Swingline Lender may at any time in its discretion by written notice given to the Administrative Agent (provided such notice requirements shall not apply if the Swingline Lender and the Administrative Agent are the same entity) not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next succeeding Business Day following such notice require the Revolving Lenders to acquire participations on such Business Day in all or a portion of the Swingline Loans then outstanding. Such notice shall specify the aggregate amount of Swingline Loans in which Revolving Lenders will participate. Promptly upon receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent will give notice thereof to each Revolving Lender, specifying in such notice such Revolving Lender’s Pro Rata Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans. Each Revolving Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees, upon receipt of notice as provided above, to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Swingline Lender, such Lender’s Pro Rata Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans. Each Revolving Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations in Swingline Loans pursuant to this

 

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Section 2.17(d) is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever (so long as such payment shall not cause such Lender’s Revolving Exposure to exceed such Lender’s Revolving Commitment). Each Revolving Lender shall comply with its obligation under this Section 2.17(d) by wire transfer of immediately available funds, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.02(c) with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.02 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Revolving Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the Swingline Lender the amounts so received by it from the Revolving Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall notify Borrower of any participations in any Swingline Loan acquired by the Revolving Lenders pursuant to this Section 2.17(d), and thereafter payments in respect of such Swingline Loan shall be made to the Administrative Agent and not to the Swingline Lender. Any amounts received by the Swingline Lender from Borrower (or other party on behalf of Borrower) in respect of a Swingline Loan after receipt by the Swingline Lender of the proceeds of a sale of participations therein shall be promptly remitted to the Administrative Agent. Any such amounts received by the Administrative Agent shall be promptly remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Revolving Lenders that shall have made their payments pursuant to this Section 2.17(d), as their interests may appear. The purchase of participations in a Swingline Loan pursuant to this Section 2.17(d) shall not relieve Borrower of any default in the payment thereof.

(e)    Resignation or Removal of the Swingline Lender. The Swingline Lender may resign as the Swingline Lender hereunder at any time upon at least 30 days’ prior written notice to the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and Borrower. Following such notice of resignation, the Swingline Lender may be replaced at any time by written agreement among Borrower (with Borrower’s agreement not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), the Administrative Agent and the successor Swingline Lender. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of any such replacement of the Swingline Lender. At the time any such resignation or replacement shall become effective, Borrower shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the replaced Swingline Lender. From and after the effective date of any such resignation or replacement, (i) the successor Swingline Lender shall have all the rights and obligations of the Swingline Lender under this Agreement with respect to Swingline Loans to be made by it thereafter and (ii) references herein and in the other Loan Documents to the term “Swingline Lender” shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Swingline Lender, or to such successor and all previous Swingline Lenders, as the context shall require. After the resignation or replacement of the Swingline Lender hereunder, the replaced Swingline Lender shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of the Swingline Lender under this Agreement with respect to Swingline Loans made by it prior to such resignation or replacement, but shall not be required to make additional Swingline Loans. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.17(e) or otherwise, the Swingline Lender may not resign until such time as a successor Swingline Lender has been appointed.

Section 2.18    Letters of Credit.

(a)    General. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may request the Issuing Bank to, and the Issuing Bank agrees to, issue Letters of Credit denominated in Dollars for the account of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of the

 

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Borrower (provided that the Borrower shall be a co-applicant, and be jointly and severally liable, with respect to each Letter of Credit issued for the account of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower) upon delivery to the relevant Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent (at least ten (10) Business Days in advance of the requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension) an LC Request requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended, renewed or extended, and specifying the requested date of issuance of such Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day) and, as applicable, specifying the date of amendment, renewal or extension (which shall be a Business Day), the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire, the amount of such Letter of Credit, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend, renew or extend such Letter of Credit. The Issuing Bank shall have no obligation to issue, and the Borrower shall not request the issuance of, any Letter of Credit at any time if after giving effect to such issuance the LC Exposure would exceed the LC Sublimit or the total Revolving Exposure would exceed the Total Revolving Commitment. If requested by the Issuing Bank, the Borrower also shall submit a letter of credit application on the Issuing Bank’s standard form in connection with any request for a Letter of Credit; provided that in the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any form of letter of credit application or other agreement submitted by the Borrower to, or entered into by the Borrower with, the Issuing Bank relating to any Letter of Credit, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control.

(b)    Request for Issuance, Amendment, Renewal, Extension; Certain Conditions and Notices. To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit or the amendment, renewal or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall deliver by hand, facsimile or other electronic communication, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the Issuing Bank in writing (including via e-mail), an LC Request to the Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. New York City time ten (10) Business Days preceding the requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (or such later date and time as is acceptable to the Issuing Bank).

A request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit shall specify, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Issuing Bank:

(i)    the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day);

(ii)    the stated or “face” amount thereof;

(iii)    the expiry date thereof (which shall be determined in accordance with Section 2.18(c) below);

(iv)    the name and address of the beneficiary thereof;

(v)    whether the Letter of Credit is to be issued for the Borrower’s own account, or for the account of one of the Borrower’s Restricted Subsidiaries (provided that the Borrower shall be the applicant with respect to each Letter of Credit issued for the account of any of the Borrower’s Restricted Subsidiaries);

 

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(vi)    the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in connection with any drawing thereunder;

(vii)    the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in connection with any drawing thereunder; and

(viii)    such other matters as the Issuing Bank may reasonably require.

A request for an amendment, renewal or extension of any outstanding Letter of Credit shall specify in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Issuing Bank:

(ix)    the Letter of Credit to be amended, renewed or extended;

(x)    the proposed date of amendment, renewal or extension thereof (which shall be a Business Day);

(xi)    the nature of the proposed amendment, renewal or extension; and

(xii)    such other matters as the Issuing Bank reasonably may require.

A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended, renewed or extended only if (and, upon issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of each Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, (i) the LC Exposure shall not exceed the LC Sublimit, (ii) the total Revolving Exposures shall not exceed the Total Revolving Commitment and (iii) the conditions set forth in Article IV in respect of such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension shall have been satisfied; provided, however, that an Issuing Bank may permit the renewal of an Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit in accordance with Section 2.18(c)(ii) below. Unless the Issuing Bank shall agree otherwise, no Letter of Credit shall be in an initial amount less than $100,000 (or such lesser amount as approved by the Issuing Bank).

Upon the issuance of any Letter of Credit or amendment, renewal, extension or modification of a Letter of Credit, the Issuing Bank shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent in writing (and in the case of an issuance of a new Letter of Credit, or an increase or decrease in the stated amount of an existing Letter of Credit, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Revolving Lender, thereof), which notice shall be accompanied by a copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment, renewal, extension or modification to a Letter of Credit (and in the case of an issuance of a new Letter of Credit, or an increase or decrease in the stated amount of an existing Letter of Credit, the notice to each Revolving Lender shall include a copy of such Letter of Credit also and the amount of each such Revolving Lender’s respective participation in such Letter of Credit pursuant to Section 2.18(d)).

(c)    Expiration Date.

(i)    Each Letter of Credit shall expire at the close of business on the Business Day that is the earlier of (x) a date which is not more than one (1) year after the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any renewal or extension thereof, one (1) year after such renewal or extension) and (y) the Letter of Credit Expiration

 

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Date; provided, however, the Issuing Bank, in its sole discretion, may agree to extend such Letter of Credit beyond the Letter of Credit Expiration Date (the “LC Extension”) upon the Borrower either (i) providing the Issuing Bank funds equal to 103% of the LC Exposure with respect to such Letter of Credit for deposit in a cash collateral account which cash collateral account will be held by the Issuing Bank as a pledged cash collateral account and applied to reimbursement of all drafts submitted under such outstanding Letter of Credit or (ii) delivering to the Issuing Bank one or more letters of credit for the benefit of the Issuing Bank to backstop such outstanding Letter of Credit, issued by a bank reasonably acceptable to the Issuing Bank in its sole discretion, each in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Issuing Bank in its sole discretion, unless the applicable Issuing Bank notifies the beneficiary thereof at least thirty (30) days (or such longer period as may be specified in such Letter of Credit) prior to the then applicable expiration date that such Letter of Credit will not be renewed.

(ii)    If the Borrower so requests in any LC Request for a Letter of Credit, the Issuing Bank may, in its sole and absolute discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic renewal provisions (each, an “Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit”); provided that any such Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit must permit the Issuing Bank to prevent any such renewal at least once in each twelve (12) month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof and the Borrower not later than a day in each such twelve (12) month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Unless otherwise directed by the Issuing Bank, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the Issuing Bank for any such renewal. Once an Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit has been issued, the Revolving Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the Issuing Bank to permit the renewal of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the earlier of (i) one (1) year from the date of such renewal and (ii) the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, unless otherwise extended pursuant to an LC Extension; provided that the Issuing Bank shall not permit any such renewal if (x) the Issuing Bank has determined that it would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its renewed form under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of Section 2.18(m) or otherwise), or (y) it has received notice on or before the day that is five (5) Business Days before the date which has been agreed upon pursuant to the proviso of the first sentence of this paragraph, from the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 are not then satisfied.

(d)    Participations. By the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing the amount thereof) and without any further action on the part of the Issuing Bank or the Lenders, the Issuing Bank hereby irrevocably grants to each Revolving Lender, and each Revolving Lender hereby acquires from the Issuing Bank, a participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such Revolving Lender’s Pro Rata Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Revolving Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Issuing Bank, such Revolving Lender’s Pro Rata Percentage of each LC Disbursement made by the Issuing Bank and not reimbursed by the Borrower on the date due as provided in Section 2.18(e) (the “Unreimbursed Amount”), or of any reimbursement payment required to be refunded to the Borrower for any reason. Each Revolving Lender acknowledges

 

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and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations pursuant to this paragraph in respect of Letters of Credit is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including any amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments, or expiration, termination or cash collateralization of any Letter of Credit and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.

(e)    Reimbursement.

(i)    If the Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement by paying to the Issuing Bank an amount equal to such LC Disbursement and in Dollars not later than 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrower receives such notice of such LC Disbursement; provided that the Borrower may, subject to the conditions to Borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.03 that such payment be financed with ABR Revolving Loans in an equivalent amount and, to the extent so financed, the Borrower’s obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting ABR Revolving Loans.

(ii)    If the Borrower fails to make such payment when due, the Issuing Bank shall notify the Administrative Agent in writing, and the Administrative Agent shall notify each Revolving Lender of the applicable LC Disbursement, the payment then due from the Borrower in respect thereof and such Revolving Lender’s Pro Rata Percentage thereof. Each Revolving Lender shall pay by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 p.m., New York City time, one (1) Business Day after such date, an amount equal to such Revolving Lender’s Pro Rata Percentage of the unreimbursed LC Disbursement in the same manner as provided in Section 2.02(c) with respect to Revolving Loans made by such Revolving Lender, and the Administrative Agent will promptly pay to the Issuing Bank the amounts so received by it from the Revolving Lenders. Any amounts received by the Issuing Bank from the Borrower pursuant to the above paragraph prior to, concurrently with or after any Revolving Lender makes any payment pursuant to the preceding sentence will be promptly remitted by the Issuing Bank to the Administrative Agent and by the Administrative Agent to the Revolving Lenders that shall have made such payments.

(iii)    If any Revolving Lender shall not have made its Pro Rata Percentage of such LC Disbursement to the Administrative Agent available as provided above, each of such Revolving Lender and the Borrower severally agrees to pay interest on such amount, for each day from and including the date such amount is required to be paid in accordance with the foregoing to but excluding the date such amount is paid, to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Bank at (i) in the case of the Borrower, the rate per annum set forth in clause (h) below and (ii) in the case of such Lender, at a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules or practices on interbank compensation.

(f)    Obligations Absolute. The Reimbursement Obligation of the Borrower and the Revolving Lenders as provided in Section 2.18(e) shall be absolute, unconditional and

 

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irrevocable, and shall be paid and performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, or any term or provision therein or herein; (ii) any draft or other document presented under a Letter of Credit being proved to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; (iii) payment by the Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that fails to comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; (iv) any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section 2.18(f), constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, the obligations of the Borrower hereunder; (v) the fact that a Default shall have occurred and be continuing; or (vi) any material adverse change in the business, property, results of operations, prospects or condition, financial or otherwise, of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries. None of the Agents, the Lenders, the Issuing Bank or any of their Affiliates shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the Issuing Bank; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse the Issuing Bank from liability to the Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to consequential damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable Requirements of Law) suffered by the Borrower that are caused by the Issuing Bank’s failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Issuing Bank (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction (which is not subject to appeal)), the Issuing Bank shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination. In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that, with respect to documents presented which appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, the Issuing Bank may, in its reasonable discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit.

(g)    Disbursement Procedures. The Issuing Bank shall, promptly following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit. The Issuing Bank shall promptly give written notice to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower of such compliant demand for payment and whether the Issuing Bank has made or will make an LC Disbursement thereunder; provided that any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the Borrower of its Reimbursement Obligation to the Issuing Bank and the Revolving Lenders with respect to any such LC Disbursement (other than with respect to the timing of such Reimbursement Obligation set forth in Section 2.18(e)).

(h)    Interim Interest. If the Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement, then, unless the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement in full on the date such LC

 

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Disbursement is made, the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest payable on demand, for each day from and including the date such LC Disbursement is made to but excluding the date that the Borrower reimburses such LC Disbursement, at the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin until the date that is three (3) Business Days from the date on which the Borrower receives notice of such LC Disbursement, and at the rate per annum determined pursuant to Section 2.06(c) thereafter. Interest accrued pursuant to this paragraph shall be for the account of the Issuing Bank, except that interest accrued on and after the date of payment by any Revolving Lender pursuant to Section 2.18(e) to reimburse the Issuing Bank shall be for the account of such Lender to the extent of such payment.

(i)    Cash Collateralization. If (1) any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, on the Business Day that the Borrower receives notice from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders (or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated, Revolving Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50% of the total LC Exposure) demanding the deposit of cash collateral pursuant to this paragraph, (2) as of the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, any LC Obligation for any reason remains outstanding (other than any LC Obligation that is backstopped to the reasonable satisfaction of the applicable Issuing Bank or continued under another credit facility) or (3) there shall exist a Defaulting Lender, the Borrower shall immediately (and in the case of clause (3), after the automatic reallocation of LC Exposure pursuant to Section 2.19(b), upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent and solely to the extent of the LC Exposure of such Defaulting Lender not covered by such automatic reallocation) deposit on terms and in accounts satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, in the name of the Collateral Agent and for the benefit of the Revolving Lenders, an amount in cash equal to 103% of the LC Exposure as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon; provided that the obligation to deposit such cash collateral shall become effective immediately, and such deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without demand or other notice of any kind, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default with respect to the Borrower described in Section 8.01(g) or (h). Funds so deposited shall be applied by the Collateral Agent to reimburse the Issuing Bank for LC Disbursements for which it has not been reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of outstanding Reimbursement Obligations or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of Revolving Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50% of the total LC Exposure), be applied to satisfy other Obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement. If the Borrower is required to provide an amount of cash collateral hereunder as a result of the existence of an Event of Default, such amount plus any accrued interest or realized profits with respect to such amounts (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrower within three (3) Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured or waived.

(j)    Additional Issuing Banks. The Borrower may, at any time and from time to time, designate one or more additional Revolving Lenders to act as an issuing bank with respect to Letters of Credit under the terms of this Agreement, with the consent of the Administrative Agent and such designated Revolving Lender(s) in their sole discretion. Any Revolving Lender designated as an issuing bank with respect to Letters of Credit pursuant to this clause (j) shall have all the rights and obligations of the Issuing Bank under the Loan Documents with respect to Letters of Credit issued or to be issued by it, and all references in the Loan Documents to the term “Issuing Bank” shall, with respect to such Letters of Credit, be deemed to refer to such Revolving Lender in its capacity as the Issuing Bank, as the context shall require. If at any time there is more than one Issuing Bank hereunder, the Borrower may, in its discretion, select which Issuing Bank is to issue any particular Letter of Credit.

 

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(k)    Resignation or Removal of the Issuing Bank. The Issuing Bank may resign as Issuing Bank hereunder at any time upon at least thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower. The Issuing Bank may be replaced at any time by the Borrower with the consent of the Administrative Agent and the Revolving Lender(s) to the successor Issuing Bank. The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent and then the Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of any such replacement of the Issuing Bank or any such additional Issuing Bank. At the time any such resignation or replacement shall become effective, the Borrower shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the replaced Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.05(c). From and after the effective date of any such resignation or replacement, as applicable, (i) the successor Issuing Bank shall have all the rights and obligations of the Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit to be issued by it thereafter and (ii) references herein and in the other Loan Documents to the term “Issuing Bank” shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Issuing Bank, or to such successor and all previous Issuing Banks, as the context shall require. After the resignation or replacement of an Issuing Bank hereunder, the replaced Issuing Bank shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such resignation or replacement, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit and, if applicable, shall remain a Lender hereunder and shall continue to have all of the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement.

(l)    Issuing Bank. The Issuing Bank shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and the Issuing Bank shall have all of the benefits and immunities (A) provided to the Administrative Agent in Article IX with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by the Issuing Bank in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and documents pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term “Administrative Agent” as used in Article IX included the Issuing Bank with respect to such acts or omissions, and (B) as additionally provided herein with respect to the Issuing Bank. The Issuing Bank may send a Letter of Credit or conduct any communication to or from the beneficiary via the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication message or overnight courier, or any other commercially reasonable means of communicating with a beneficiary.

(m)    Other. The Issuing Bank shall be under no obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if:

(i)    any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain the Issuing Bank from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any Requirements of Law applicable to the Issuing Bank or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the Issuing Bank shall prohibit, or request that the Issuing Bank refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon the Issuing Bank with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which the Issuing Bank is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose upon the Issuing Bank any

 

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unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Closing Date for which the Issuing Bank is not otherwise compensated hereunder and which the Issuing Bank in good faith deems material to it; or

(ii)    the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of general application of the Issuing Bank.

The Issuing Bank shall be under no obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if (A) the Issuing Bank would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof, or (B) the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to such Letter of Credit. Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the Issuing Bank and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued, the rules of the ISP shall apply to each Letter of Credit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuing Bank shall not be responsible to the Borrower for, and the Issuing Bank’s rights and remedies against the Borrower shall not be impaired by, any action or inaction of the Issuing Bank required or permitted under any law, order, or practice that is required or permitted to be applied to any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, including the Law or any order of a jurisdiction where the Issuing Bank or the beneficiary is located, the practice stated in the ISP or in the decisions, opinions, practice statements, or official commentary of the ICC Banking Commission, the Bankers Association for Finance and Trade - International Financial Services Association (BAFT-IFSA), or the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, whether or not any Letter of Credit chooses such law or practice.

(n)    Letters of Credit Issued for Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit issued or outstanding hereunder is in support of any obligations of, or is for the account of, a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower, the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the Issuing Bank hereunder for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit. The Borrower hereby acknowledges that the issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of the Restricted Subsidiaries of the Borrower inures to the benefit of the Borrower, and that the Borrower’s business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Restricted Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

Section 2.19    Defaulting Lenders. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:

(a)    the Commitment Fee shall cease to accrue on the Commitment of such Lender so long as it is a Defaulting Lender (except to the extent it is payable to the Issuing Bank pursuant to clause (b)(v) below) and such Defaulting Lender shall not be entitled to receive any Commitment Fee pursuant to Section 2.05(a);

(b)    if any LC Exposure exists at the time a Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender then:

(i)    all or any part of such Defaulting Lender’s participation in LC Exposure shall be reallocated among the non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Percentages, but only to the extent that (y) such reallocation does not cause the aggregate Revolving Exposure of any non-Defaulting Lender to exceed such non-Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Commitment and (z) to the extent requested in writing by

 

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the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall confirm that the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 are satisfied at the time of such reallocation and if the Borrower cannot confirm such conditions have been satisfied (which shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default) and such conditions have not otherwise been waived by the Required Revolving Lenders, then clause (ii) below shall apply;

(ii)    if the reallocation described in clause (i) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrower shall within one Business Day following notice by the Administrative Agent, cash collateralize such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure (in each case after giving effect to any partial reallocation pursuant to clause (i) above) in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.18(i) for so long as such LC Exposure is outstanding;

(iii)    if any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure is cash collateralized pursuant to clause (ii) above, the Borrower shall not be required to pay the LC Participation Fee with respect to such portion of such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure so long as it is cash collateralized;

(iv)    if any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure is reallocated to the non-Defaulting Lenders pursuant to clause (i) above, then the LC Participation Fee with respect to such portion shall be allocated among the non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their Pro Rata Percentages;

(v)    if any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure is neither cash collateralized nor reallocated pursuant to this Section 2.19(b), then, without prejudice to any rights or remedies of the Issuing Bank or any Lender hereunder, the Commitment Fee that otherwise would have been payable to such Defaulting Lender (with respect to the portion of such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Commitment that was utilized by such LC Exposure) and the LC Participation Fee payable with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure shall be payable to the Issuing Bank until such LC Exposure is cash collateralized and/or reallocated;

(vi)    so long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, the Issuing Bank shall not be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless it is satisfied that the related exposure will be 100% covered by the Revolving Commitments of the non-Defaulting Lenders and/or cash collateralized in accordance with this Section 2.19(b), and participations in any such newly issued or increased Letter of Credit shall be allocated among non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Percentages (and Defaulting Lenders shall not participate therein); and

(c)    any amount payable to such Defaulting Lender hereunder (whether on account of principal, interest, fees or otherwise and including any amount that would otherwise be payable to such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.14(d), but excluding Section 2.16(b)) may, in lieu of being distributed to such Defaulting Lender, be retained by the Administrative Agent in a segregated non-interest bearing account and, subject to any applicable Requirements of Law, be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent (i) first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent

 

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hereunder, (ii) second, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Issuing Bank hereunder, (iii) third, to the funding of any Loan or the funding or cash collateralization of any participation in any Letter of Credit in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent, (iv) fourth, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, held in such account as cash collateral for future funding obligations of the Defaulting Lender under this Agreement, (v) fifth, pro rata, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower, the Issuing Bank or the Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower, the Issuing Bank or any Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement and (vi) sixth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if such payment is (x) a prepayment of the principal amount of any Loans or Reimbursement Obligations in respect of LC Disbursements which a Defaulting Lender has funded in respect of its participation obligations and (y) made at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 are satisfied, such payment shall be applied solely to prepay the Loans of, and Reimbursement Obligations owed to, all non-Defaulting Lenders pro rata prior to being applied to the prepayment of any Loans, or Reimbursement Obligations owed to, any Defaulting Lender.

(d)    such Defaulting Lender shall be deemed not to be a “Lender,” and the amount of such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Commitment and Revolving Loans and/or Term Loan Commitments and Term Loans shall be excluded, for purposes of voting, and the calculation of voting, on any matters (including the granting of any consents or waivers) with respect to any of the Loan Documents, except as otherwise set forth in Section 10.02(b).

(e)    to the extent permitted by applicable Requirements of Law, until such time as the Default Excess with respect to such Defaulting Lender shall have been reduced to zero, (A) any voluntary prepayment of the Loans pursuant to Section 2.10(a) shall, if the Borrower so directs at the time of making such voluntary prepayment, be applied to the Loans of other Lenders in accordance with Section 2.10(a) as if such Defaulting Lender had no Loans outstanding and the Revolving Exposure of such Defaulting Lender were zero, and (B) any portion of any mandatory prepayment of the Loans pursuant to Section 2.10 that would be applied to the Loans of any Defaulting Lender if such Defaulting Lender had funded all of its defaulted Revolving Loans shall, if the Borrower so directs at the time of making such mandatory prepayment, be (i) applied to the Loans of other Lenders (but not to the Loans of such Defaulting Lender) in accordance with Section 2.10 as if such Defaulting Lender had no Loans outstanding and the Revolving Exposure of such Defaulting Lender were zero or (ii) retained by the Administrative Agent in a segregated non-interest-bearing account.

(f)    No reallocation hereunder shall constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder against a Defaulting Lender arising from that Lender having become a Defaulting Lender, including any claim of a non-Defaulting Lender as a result of such non-Defaulting Lender’s increased exposure following such reallocation.

In the event that the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, and the Borrower each agrees in writing (provided that the Borrower’s agreement shall not be unreasonably withheld) that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then the LC Exposure of the Lenders shall be readjusted

 

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to reflect the inclusion of such Lender’s Commitment and on such date such Lender shall purchase at par such of the Revolving Loans of the other Lenders as the Administrative Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Lender to hold such Revolving Loans in accordance with its Pro Rata Percentage. The rights and remedies against a Defaulting Lender under this Section 2.19 are in addition to other rights and remedies that the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, and the non-Defaulting Lenders may have against such Defaulting Lender. The operation of this Section 2.19 shall not be construed to relieve or excuse the performance by such Defaulting Lender or any other Lender of its duties and obligations hereunder. Any failure by a Defaulting Lender to fund amounts that it was obligated to fund hereunder shall constitute a material breach by such Defaulting Lender of this Agreement and shall entitle the Borrower, at its option, to arrange for a substitute Lender to replace such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.16(b). The arrangements permitted or required by this Section 2.19 shall be permitted under this Agreement, notwithstanding any limitation on Liens or the pro rata sharing provisions hereof or otherwise.

Section 2.20    Increase in Commitments.

(a)    Borrower Request. The Borrower may by written notice to the Administrative Agent elect to request the establishment of one or more new Term Loan Commitments under a new term facility or under the existing term facility or any increase under an existing tranche of Term Loans (each, an “Incremental Term Loan Commitment”) and/or one or more new Revolving Loan Commitments under the then existing revolving facility (each, an “Incremental Revolving Loan Commitment” and together with any Incremental Term Loan Commitment, the “Incremental Facilities”), in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Maximum Incremental Facilities Amount (the date of establishment of any such Incremental Facility, an “Increase Effective Date”); provided, that the aggregate principal amount of all Incremental Revolving Loan Commitments shall not exceed $10,000,000 in the aggregate. The opportunity to commit to provide all or a portion of the Incremental Facilities shall be offered by the Borrower first to the existing Lenders on a pro rata basis (and on a non-pro rata basis, pursuant to terms acceptable to the Administrative Agent, with respect to existing Lenders that elect to cover declining Lenders’ declined amounts) on the terms offered by the Borrower and such other Lenders and, to the extent that such existing Lenders have not agreed to provide such Incremental Facilities within ten (10) Business Days after receiving such offer from the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, after being provided a bona fide opportunity to do so, the Borrower may then offer such opportunity (on terms no less favorable to the Borrower) to any other Eligible Assignees (which may include existing Lenders). Any existing Lender approached to provide all or a portion of such Incremental Term Loan Commitments or Incremental Revolving Loan Commitments may elect or decline, in its sole discretion, to provide such Incremental Term Loan Commitment or Incremental Revolving Loan Commitment and, to the extent any such Incremental Term Loan Commitments or Incremental Revolving Loan Commitments are not provided by existing Lenders, each Lender providing such commitment shall otherwise constitute an Eligible Assignee hereunder; provided that the Administrative Agent and, solely with respect to Incremental Revolving Loan Commitments, the Issuing Bank shall have consented to any such Eligible Assignee providing all or a portion of such Incremental Term Loan Commitment or Incremental Revolving Loan Commitment, as applicable, if and to the extent such consent would be required under Section 10.04 for an assignment of such type of Loans or Commitments, as applicable, to such Eligible Assignee.

 

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(b)    Conditions. Such Incremental Term Loan Commitments and Incremental Revolving Loan Commitments shall become effective, as of such Increase Effective Date; provided that:

(i)    Immediately after giving effect to the funding of such Incremental Facility, no Event of Default would exist; provided, that, with respect to any Incremental Facilities incurred in connection with a Limited Condition Acquisition, the foregoing condition may be limited by the Lenders providing such Incremental Facility to (x) on the LCA Test Date, immediately after giving effect to the funding of such Incremental Facility, no Event of Default would exist and (y) on the date of funding of such Incremental Facility, no Event of Default under Section 8.01(a), (b), (g) or (h) would exist immediately after giving effect to the funding of such Incremental Facility; provided that any Limited Condition Acquisition remains subject to the terms of Section 1.06 hereof;

(ii)    the proceeds of the Incremental Term Loans and/or Incremental Revolving Loans shall be used in accordance with Section 3.11 and Section 5.08;

(iii)    the Borrower shall deliver or cause to be delivered any customary amendments to the Loan Documents or other documents reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Incremental Term Loan Lender or Incremental Revolving Loan Lender in connection with any such transaction;

(iv)    any such Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Loans shall be in an aggregate amount of at least $500,000 and integral multiples of $100,000 above such amount (except, in each case, such minimum amount and integral multiples amount shall not apply when the Borrower uses all of the Maximum Incremental Amount available at such time);

(v)    any Incremental Facilities shall be secured on a pari passu basis with the Loans, shall not be secured by a Lien on any assets of the Borrower or any Guarantor not constituting Collateral and shall not be guaranteed by any person other than the Guarantors; and

(vi)    subject to customary “SunGard” limitations consistent with those applicable to the Closing Date Acquisition (to the extent agreed to by the Lenders providing the applicable Incremental Facility and the extent the proceeds of the applicable Incremental Facility are being used to finance a Limited Condition Acquisition), each of the representations and warranties made by any Credit Party set forth in Article III hereof or in any other Loan Document shall be true and correct in all material respects (or in all respects if such representation or warranty contains any materiality qualifier, including references to “material,” “Material Adverse Effect” or dollar thresholds) both before and after giving effect to such Incremental Facility (or if incurred in connection with a Limited Condition Acquisition on the LCA Test Date) with the same effect as though made on and as of such date, except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects (or in all respects if such representation or warranty contains any materiality qualifier, including references to “material,” “Material Adverse Effect” or dollar thresholds) as of such earlier date.

 

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(c)    Terms of New Term Loans and Commitments. The terms and provisions of Loans made pursuant to such Incremental Term Loan Commitments shall be subject to Section 2.20(f) and as follows:

(i)    the terms and provisions of Loans made pursuant to Incremental Term Loan Commitments (“Incremental Term Loans”) shall be, except as otherwise set forth herein (including Section 2.20(f)), on terms and pursuant to documentation to be determined by the Borrower and the lenders providing such Incremental Term Loans; provided that, such terms (but excluding any terms applicable only after the applicable Maturity Date applicable to Term Loans made on the Closing Date) and documentation (other than as set forth herein (including Section 2.20(f))) shall be consistent with the Term Loans; provided further that, it is understood that no consent shall be required from the Administrative Agent or any Lender for terms or conditions that are more restrictive than the terms and provisions of the Loans existing on the Increase Effective Date of any Incremental Term Loans if such terms or conditions are incorporated into existing Term Loans for the benefit of all existing Lenders, which may be done without further amendment requirements, including, for the avoidance of doubt, at the option of the Borrower, any increase in the applicable interest rate margin or amount of amortization relating to the existing Term Loans to bring such applicable interest rate margin or amount of amortization in line with such Incremental Term Loans to achieve fungibility with such existing Term Loans; provided further that (x) this Section 2.20(c)(i) shall supersede any provisions in Section 10.02 to the contrary and (y) except as expressly stated in this Section 2.20 (which are in all respects subject to the Limited Condition Acquisition provisions), the documentation will not include any financial test with respect to the incurrence of any Incremental Term Facilities;

(ii)    the maturity date of any Incremental Term Loans shall be no earlier than the Latest Maturity Date applicable to the Term Loans made on the Closing Date and such Incremental Term Loans shall have no scheduled amortization or scheduled payments of principal prior to the Latest Maturity Date of the Term Loans made on the Closing Date; and

(iii)    each tranche of Incremental Term Loans shall rank pari passu in right of payment with the Term Loans made on the Closing Date, shall participate on a pro rata basis or less than pro rata basis in any voluntary prepayment of such Term Loans, and shall share ratably (or on a lesser basis) with respect to any mandatory prepayments of Term Loans hereunder (other than mandatory prepayments resulting from a refinancing of any facility which may be applied exclusively to the facility being refinanced).

(d)    Terms of Incremental Revolving Loan Commitments. With respect to any Incremental Revolving Loan Commitment, (i) the maturity date of such Incremental Revolving Loan Commitment shall be the same as the Revolving Maturity Date applicable to the Revolving Commitments subject to such increase, such Incremental Revolving Loan Commitment shall require no scheduled amortization or mandatory commitment reduction prior to the final

 

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Revolving Maturity Date applicable to the Revolving Commitments subject to such increase, and the Incremental Revolving Loan Commitment shall be on the exact same terms and pursuant to the exact same documentation applicable to the Revolving Commitments subject to such increase and (it being understood that, if required to consummate an Incremental Revolving Loan Commitment, the pricing, interest rate margins, rate floors and undrawn fees on the Revolving Commitment being increased may be increased for all Revolving Lenders under the Revolving Commitment being increased, and additional upfront or similar fees may be payable to the Revolving Lenders participating in the Incremental Revolving Loan Commitment without any requirement to pay such amounts to any Revolving Lenders that do not participate in the Incremental Revolving Loan Commitment), and (ii) each of the applicable Revolving Lenders shall be deemed to have assigned to each Lender with Incremental Revolving Loan Commitments, and each such Lender shall be deemed to have purchased from each of the applicable Revolving Lenders, at the principal amount thereof (together with accrued interest), such interests in the applicable Revolving Loans outstanding on the effective date of such increase as shall be necessary in order that, immediately after giving effect to all such assignments and purchases, such Revolving Loans will be held by existing applicable Revolving Lenders and Incremental Revolving Loan Lenders ratably in accordance with their Revolving Commitments after giving effect to the addition of such Incremental Revolving Loan Commitments to the Revolving Commitments; provided, further, the Administrative Agent’s, the Issuing Bank’s and the Swingline Lender’s consent shall be required to each Person providing any portion of an Incremental Revolving Loan Commitment to the same extent, and in the same manner, as if such Person had taken assignment of Revolving Commitments pursuant to Section 10.04. Each Incremental Revolving Loan Commitment shall be deemed for all purposes a Revolving Commitment and each Loan made thereunder (an “Incremental Revolving Loan”) shall be deemed, for all purposes, a Revolving Loan. Additionally, if any Revolving Loans are outstanding at the time any Incremental Revolving Loan Commitments are established, the Revolving Lenders immediately after effectiveness of such Incremental Revolving Loan Commitments shall purchase and assign at par such amounts of the Revolving Loans outstanding at such time as the Administrative Agent may require such that each Revolving Lender holds its Pro Rata Percentage of all Revolving Loans outstanding immediately after giving effect to all such assignments. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby agree that the minimum borrowing, pro rata borrowing and pro rata payment requirements contained elsewhere in this Agreement shall not apply to the transactions effected pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence.

(e)    Joinder. Such Incremental Term Loan Commitments and Incremental Revolving Loan Commitments shall be effected by a joinder agreement (the “Increase Joinder”) executed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each Lender making such Incremental Term Loan Commitment or Incremental Revolving Loan Commitment, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to each of them. The Increase Joinder may, without the consent of any other Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (i) as may be necessary or appropriate (which may be in the form of an amendment and restatement of this Agreement) (including with respect to pro rata payments, repayments, borrowings and commitment reductions of Revolving Commitments (and Revolving Loans thereunder) and Incremental Revolving Loan Commitments (and loans thereunder)), in the opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.20 and (ii) so long as such amendments are not adverse to the Lenders, such other changes as may be necessary, as reasonably determined by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, to maintain the fungibility of any Incremental Term Loans with any Tranche of then-outstanding Term Loans. This Section 2.20(e) shall supersede any provisions in Section 10.02 to the contrary.

 

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(f)    Yield. If the initial Yield (as defined below) on any Incremental Term Loans exceeds the then applicable Yield on the Term Loans existing on the Increase Effective Date by more than 50 basis points, then the interest rate margins then in effect for each applicable existing tranche of Loans shall be increased to the extent necessary so that the Yield on the existing Loans is 50 basis points less than the Yield on such Incremental Facility. “Yield” shall mean, shall mean the yield of such indebtedness, whether in the form of interest rate, margin, OID, upfront fees, index floors or otherwise, in each case payable by the Borrower generally to lenders, provided that OID and upfront fees shall be equated to interest rate assuming a four year life to maturity, and shall not include arrangement fees, structuring fees, ticking fees, commitment fees, unused line fees, underwriting fees and any amendment and similar fees that are not paid generally to the lenders.

(g)    Equal and Ratable Benefit. The Loans and Commitments established pursuant to this Section 2.20 shall constitute Loans and Commitments under, and shall be entitled to all the benefits afforded by, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and shall, without limiting the foregoing, benefit equally and ratably from the Guarantees and security interests created by the Security Documents. The Borrower and the other Credit Parties shall take any actions reasonably required by the Administrative Agent to ensure and/or demonstrate that the Lien and security interests granted by the Security Documents continue to be perfected under the UCC or otherwise after giving effect to the establishment of any such Incremental Loans or any such Incremental Loan Commitments.

Section 2.21    Extension Amendments.

(a)    The Borrower may at any time and from time to time request that all or a portion, including one or more Tranches, of the Loans (including any Extended Loans), in each case existing at the time of such request (each such Tranche of existing Loans, an “Existing Tranche” and the Loans of any such Tranche, the “Existing Loans”) be converted to extend the termination date thereof and the scheduled maturity date(s) of any payment of principal with respect to all or a portion of any such Existing Tranche (any such Existing Tranche or portion thereof which has been so extended, an “Extended Tranche” and the Loans of such Tranche or portion thereof, the “Extended Loans”) and to provide for other terms consistent with this Section 2.21; provided that any such request shall be made by the Borrower to certain Lenders specified by the Borrower with Loans with a like maturity date (whether under one or more Tranches) on a pro rata basis (based on the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Loans); it being understood that each Lender under the applicable Tranche or Tranches that are being requested to extend shall have the opportunity to participate in such extension on the same terms and conditions as each other Lender in such Tranche or Tranches. In order to establish any Extended Tranche, the Borrower shall provide a written notice to the Administrative Agent (who shall provide a copy of such notice to each of the requested Lenders of the applicable Existing Tranche) (an “Extension Request”) setting forth the proposed terms and conditions of the Extended Tranche to be established, which terms and conditions (subject to the proviso at the end of this Section 2.21(a), excluding pricing, interest rate margins, rate floors, discounts, fees, premiums and prepayment or redemption terms and provisions which shall be determined by the Borrower and the Lenders

 

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thereunder) shall be substantially identical to the terms and conditions of the Existing Tranche from which they are to be extended (the “Specified Existing Tranche”), or (when taken as a whole) less favorable to the Lenders providing such Extended Loans (as determined by the Borrower in good faith) (except for covenants or other provisions (x) applicable only to periods after the applicable Latest Maturity Date of the Existing Loans, or (y) that are added to this Agreement for the benefit of the Lenders hereunder (which may be accomplished without further amendment requirements)); provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.21 or otherwise, (1) such Extended Tranche shall not be in an amount less than $5,000,000 and integral multiples of $1,000,000 above such amount, (2) to the extent secured, no Extended Tranche shall be secured by or receive the benefit of any collateral, credit support or security that does not secure or support the Existing Tranches, (3) the mandatory prepayment or the commitment reduction of any of Loans or Commitments under the Extended Tranches shall be made on a pro rata basis with all other outstanding Loans or Commitments respectively; provided that Extended Loans may, if the Extending Lenders making such Extended Loans so agree, participate on a less than pro rata basis in any mandatory prepayment or commitment reductions hereunder, (4) the final maturity of any Extended Tranche shall not be earlier than, and shall not have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity shorter than, the applicable Specified Existing Tranche, (5) each Lender in the Specified Existing Tranche shall be permitted to participate in the Extended Tranche on the same terms and conditions as each other Lender in accordance with its pro rata share of the Specified Existing Tranche, (6) assignments and participations of Extended Tranches shall be governed by the same assignment and participation provisions applicable to Loans and Commitments hereunder as set forth in Section 10.04, (7) no Event of Default would exist immediately after giving effect to the funding of such Extended Loans and (8) no extension shall be permitted pursuant to this Section 2.21 unless Lenders holding not less than a majority of the principal amount of such Loans to be extended consent to such extension. No requested Lender shall have any obligation to agree to have any of its Existing Loans or, if applicable, commitments of any Existing Tranche converted into an Extended Tranche pursuant to any Extension Request. Any Extended Tranche shall constitute a separate Tranche of Loans (and, if applicable, commitments) from the Specified Existing Tranches, from any other Existing Tranches, and from any other Extended Tranches so established on such date.

(b)    The Borrower shall provide the applicable Extension Request at least ten (10) Business Days (or such shorter period as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion) prior to the date on which Lenders under the applicable Existing Tranche or Existing Tranches are requested to respond, and shall agree to such procedures (including regarding timing, rounding and other adjustments and to ensure reasonable administrative management of the credit facilities hereunder after giving effect to such Extension Request), if any, as may be established by, or acceptable to, the Administrative Agent, in each case acting reasonably to accomplish the purposes of this Section 2.21. Any Lender (an “Extending Lender”) wishing to have all or a portion of its Specified Existing Tranche converted into an Extended Tranche shall notify the Administrative Agent (an “Extension Election”) on or prior to the date specified in such Extension Request of the amount of its Specified Existing Tranche that it elects to convert into an Extended Tranche. In the event that the aggregate amount of the Specified Existing Tranche subject to Extension Elections exceeds the amount of Extended Tranches requested pursuant to the Extension Request, the Specified Existing Tranches subject to Extension Elections shall be converted to Extended Tranches on a pro rata basis based on the amount of Specified Existing Tranches included in each such Extension Election.

 

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(c)    Extended Tranches shall be established pursuant to an amendment (an “Extension Amendment”) to this Agreement (which may include amendments to provisions related to maturity, interest margins, fees or prepayments and which, except to the extent expressly contemplated by the penultimate sentence of this Section 2.21(c) and notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in Section 10.02 (but subject to clause (8) of the second proviso in Section 2.21(a)), shall not require the consent of any Lender other than the Extending Lenders with respect to the Extended Tranches established thereby) executed by the Credit Parties, the Administrative Agent, and the Extending Lenders. It is understood and agreed that each Lender has consented for all purposes requiring its consent, and shall at the effective time thereof be deemed to consent to each amendment to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents authorized by this Section 2.21 and the arrangements described above in connection therewith. This Section 2.21(c) shall supersede any provisions in Section 10.02 to the contrary.

(d)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, on any date on which any Existing Tranche is converted to extend the related scheduled maturity date(s) in accordance with clause (a) above (an “Extension Date”), in the case of the Specified Existing Tranche of each Extending Lender, the aggregate principal amount of such Specified Existing Tranche shall be deemed reduced by an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of such Specified Existing Tranche so converted by such Lender into an Extended Tranche or Extended Tranches on such date, and such Extended Tranche or Extended Tranches shall be established as a separate Tranche or Tranches from the Specified Existing Tranche and from any other Existing Tranches and any other Extended Tranches so established on such date.

(e)    If (subject to clause (8) of the second proviso in Section 2.21(a)), in connection with any proposed Extension Amendment, any Lender declines to consent to the applicable extension on the terms and by the deadline set forth in the applicable Extension Request (each such Lender, a “Non-Extending Lender”) then the Borrower may, on notice to the Administrative Agent and the Non-Extending Lender, (A) replace such Non-Extending Lender by causing such Lender to (and such Lender shall be obligated to) assign pursuant to Section 10.04 (with the assignment fee, if any, and any other costs and expenses to be paid by the Borrower in such instance) all of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to one or more assignees; provided that neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall have any obligation to the Borrower to obtain a replacement Lender; provided, further, that the applicable assignee shall have agreed to provide Loans and/or a commitment on the terms set forth in such Extension Amendment; and provided, further, that all Obligations (other than contingent indemnity obligations and unasserted expense reimbursement obligations) of the Borrower owing to the Non-Extending Lender relating to the Loans and participations so assigned shall be paid in full at par to such Non-Extending Lender concurrently with such Assignment and Assumption by the assignee Lender or the Borrower or (B) prepay the Loans and, at the Borrower’s option, if applicable, terminate the Commitments of such Non-Extending Lender, in whole or in part, subject to breakage costs, without premium or penalty. In connection with any such replacement under this Section 2.21, if the Non-Extending Lender does not execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a duly completed Assignment and Assumption and/or any other documentation necessary to reflect such replacement by the later of (a) the date on which the replacement Lender executes and delivers such Assignment and Assumption and/or such other documentation and (b) the date as of which all Obligations (other than contingent indemnity obligations and unasserted expense reimbursement obligations) of the Borrower owing to the Non-Extending Lender relating to the

 

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Loans and participations so assigned shall be paid in full in cash to such Non-Extending Lender by the assignee Lender or the Borrower, then such Non-Extending Lender shall be deemed to have executed and delivered such Assignment and Assumption and/or such other documentation as of such date and the Borrower shall be entitled (but not obligated) to execute and deliver such Assignment and Assumption and/or such other documentation on behalf of such Non-Extending Lender. This Section 2.21(e) shall supersede any provisions in Section 10.02 to the contrary.

Section 2.22    Refinancing Facilities.

(a)    At any time after the Closing Date, the Borrower may obtain, from any Lender or any Additional Lender, Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of all or any portion of the Term Loans, Revolving Loans and/or Revolving Commitments then outstanding under this Agreement (which will be deemed to include any then outstanding Incremental Term Loans under any Incremental Term Loan Commitments or any Incremental Revolving Loan Commitments then outstanding under this Agreement (or any Incremental Revolving Loans outstanding pursuant thereto)) or any then outstanding Refinancing Term Loans in the form of Refinancing Term Loans or Refinancing Term Commitments or any then outstanding Refinancing Revolving Loans or Refinancing Revolving Loan Commitments, respectively, in the form of Refinancing Revolving Loans or Refinancing Revolving Loan Commitments, in each case, pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment, together with any applicable Intercreditor Agreement or other subordination agreement that is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent; provided that such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness (i) will rank pari passu in right of payment and of security (to the extent secured) with the other Loans and Commitments hereunder, (ii) will, to the extent permitted by the definition of “Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness,” have such pricing, interest rate margins, rate floors, discounts, fees, premiums and prepayment or redemption provisions and terms as may be agreed by the Borrower and the Lenders or Additional Lenders with respect thereto and (iii) no Event of Default would exist immediately after giving effect to the funding of such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness. The effectiveness of any Refinancing Amendment shall be subject to, to the extent reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, receipt by the Administrative Agent of board resolutions, officers’ certificates and/or reaffirmation agreements consistent with those delivered on the Closing Date. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender as to the effectiveness of each Refinancing Amendment. Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that, upon the effectiveness of any Refinancing Amendment, this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent (but only to the extent) necessary to reflect the existence and terms of the Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness incurred pursuant thereto (including any amendments necessary to treat the Loans and Commitments subject thereto as Refinancing Term Loans, Refinancing Revolving Loans, Refinancing Term Loan Commitments or Refinancing Revolving Loan Commitments, as applicable) and any Indebtedness being replaced or refinanced with such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness shall be deemed permanently reduced and satisfied in all respects. Any Refinancing Amendment may, without the consent of any other Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent, to effect the provisions of this Section. For the avoidance of doubt, no Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness can be used to prepay or repay any Loans made on the Closing Date without the Applicable Prepayment Premium due thereon, if any.

 

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(b)    This Section 2.22 shall supersede any provisions in Section 10.02 to the contrary.

Section 2.23    Tax Treatment. The Borrower and the Lenders agree (i) that the Loans are debt for U.S. federal income Tax purposes, (ii) that the Loans are not governed by the rules set out in Treasury Regulations Section 1.1275-4, (iii) that, for purposes of Treasury Regulations Section 1.1273-2(h): (A) the Loans and the Warrant constitute an “investment unit” for purposes of Section 1273(c)(2) of the Code, (B) the aggregate “issue price” of the Loans and the Warrant is equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the principal amount of the Loans outstanding as of the Closing Date, and (C) the aggregate fair market value on the date hereof of the Warrant is $7,000,000, and (iv) to use the foregoing pricing and valuation for U.S. federal income tax purposes with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and not to file any tax return, report or declaration inconsistent with the foregoing, except as otherwise required due to a determination within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code. The inclusion of this Section 2.23 is not an admission by any Lender that it is subject to United States taxation.

ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

Each Credit Party (including on behalf of its Restricted Subsidiaries, unless otherwise indicated) represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Issuing Bank and each of the Lenders on each date set forth in Sections 4.01 and 4.02 that:

Section 3.01    Organization; Powers. Each Credit Party (a) is duly incorporated, formed or organized and validly existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority to enter into this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and perform its obligations thereunder in each case and to carry on its business as now conducted and to own and lease its property, in each case except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and (c) is qualified and in good standing (to the extent such concept is applicable in the applicable jurisdiction) to do business in every jurisdiction where such qualification is required, except in such jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify or be in good standing, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.02    Authorization; Enforceability. The Loan Documents to be entered into by each Credit Party are within such Credit Party’s powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of such Credit Party. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each Credit Party and constitutes, and each other Loan Document to which any Credit Party is to be a party, when executed and delivered by such Credit Party, will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Credit Party, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

Section 3.03    No Conflicts. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.03, the execution, delivery and performance by the Credit Parties of the Loan Documents to which they are a party and the Credit Extensions contemplated by the Loan Documents (a) do not require any consent or

 

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approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except (i) such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect, (ii) filings necessary to perfect Liens created by the Loan Documents and (iii) consents, approvals, registrations, filings, permits or actions the failure to obtain or perform which would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (b) will not violate or require consent not obtained under the Organizational Documents of any Group Member, (c) will not violate or result in a default under any indenture or other material agreement or instrument binding upon any Group Member (including, without limitation, any Permitted Convertible Indebtedness) or any of their assets, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment, repurchase or redemption to be made by any Group Member, or give rise to a right of, or result in, termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation thereunder, except, in each case, individually or in the aggregate, as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect and (d) will not violate any Requirements of Law except, individually or in the aggregate, where it would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.04    Financial Statements; Projections.

(a)    Historical Financial Statements; Pro Forma Balance Sheet. On the Closing Date, the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent and made available to the Lenders (i) the Historical Financial Statements and (ii) a pro forma consolidated balance sheet and related pro forma consolidated statement of income of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of and for the twelve-month period ending on December 31, 2020, prepared after giving effect to the Transactions as if the Transactions had occurred as of such date (in the case of such balance sheet) or at the beginning of such period (in the case of such statement of income) (the “Pro Forma Balance Sheet”). The financial statements in the immediately preceding sentence (other than the Pro Forma Balance Sheet) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP and present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and the results of operations and cash flows of the applicable entities to which they relate as of the dates and for the periods to which they relate. The Pro Forma Balance Sheet has been prepared (1) in good faith, based on assumptions believed by the Borrower to be reasonable and information reasonably available to, or in the possession or control of, the Credit Parties, in each case, as of the date of delivery thereof, and presents fairly in all material respects on a pro forma basis the estimated financial position of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as at the last day of and for the twelve month period ending December 31, 2020 and their estimated results of operations for the periods covered thereby, assuming that the Transactions had actually occurred at such date or at the beginning of the periods covered thereby and (2) in a manner consistently applied throughout the applicable period covered thereby. All financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a), Section 5.01(b) and Section 5.01(c) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP and present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries as of the dates and for the periods to which they relate, except as indicated in any notes thereto and, in the case of any such unaudited financial statements, the absence of footnote disclosures and audit adjustments.

(b)    Absence of Material Adverse Effect. Since the Closing Date, there has been no event, change, circumstance or occurrence that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(c)    Pro Forma Financial Statements. The financial projections on a pro forma basis most recently delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Section 5.01(e) (A) have been prepared in good faith by the Credit Parties, based upon (i) the assumptions stated therein (which assumptions are believed by the Credit Parties on the Closing Date to be reasonable), (ii) accounting principles consistent with the historical audited financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 3.04(a) and (iii) the information reasonably available to, or in the possession or control of, the Credit Parties as of the date of delivery thereof, (B) reflect in all material respects, all adjustments required to be made to give effect to the Transactions, (C) have been prepared in a manner consistently applied throughout the applicable period covered thereby, and (D) present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position and results of operations of the Credit Parties described therein as of such date and for such periods set forth therein, on a pro forma basis assuming that the Transactions had occurred at such dates (it being understood and agreed that (x) any financial or business projections or forecasts furnished are predictions as to future events and not to be viewed as facts or a guarantee of performance and are subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, which may be beyond the control of any Credit Party, (y) no assurance is given by any Credit Party that any particular financial projections will be realized and (z) the actual results during the period or periods covered by any such projections or forecasts may differ from the projected or forecasted results and such differences may be material).

(d)    Restatements. Each Lender and the Administrative Agent hereby acknowledge and agree that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may be required to restate historical financial statements as the result of the implementation of changes in GAAP or the interpretation thereof or purchase accounting adjustments and that such restatements on their own will not result in a Default or Event of Default under the Loan Documents.

Section 3.05    Properties.

(a)    Title. Each Group Member (i) has good title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all of its Property (other than Intellectual Property, which is subject to Section 3.06 and not this Section 3.05) material to its business, except to the extent of any irregularities or deficiencies that would not be reasonably expected to, result in a Material Adverse Effect, and (ii) owns its Collateral and any Material Property, if any, in each case, free and clear of all Liens except for Permitted Liens and any Liens and privileges arising mandatorily by Law.

(b)    Collateral. Each Credit Party owns or has rights to use all of the Collateral (other than Intellectual Property which is subject to Section 3.06) and all rights with respect to any of the foregoing, except, in each case, as could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.06    Intellectual Property.

(a)    Ownership; No Claims. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.06, (i) each Credit Party owns, or is authorized to use, all Intellectual Property material to the conduct of its business as currently conducted, except to the extent such failure to own, or be authorized to use, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) to the knowledge of each Credit Party, the operation of such Group Member’s business and the use of Intellectual Property owned by such Group Member or licensed by such

 

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Group Member do not infringe, misappropriate, dilute or otherwise violate the Intellectual Property rights of any person, except to the extent such violations, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (iii) no claim or litigation regarding any Intellectual Property owned by a Group Member is pending or, to the knowledge of any Credit Party, threatened in writing against any Credit Party or Subsidiary, which, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (iv) the Borrower has taken (and caused its Restricted Subsidiaries to take) commercially reasonable steps to maintain, enforce and protect the owned material Intellectual Property of the Credit Parties or Restricted Subsidiaries and maintain the Credit Parties’ rights in any material licensed Intellectual Property and (v) to the knowledge of each Credit Party, no Group Member is in material breach of, or in material default under, any license of Intellectual Property to such Credit Party that is material to the operation of the business of such Group Member except to the extent that such violations would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b)    No Violations. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.06, (i) to the knowledge of each Credit Party, there is no violation, misappropriation, dilution or infringement by others of any right of any Group Member with respect to any Intellectual Property that is owned by any Group Member which, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) each Group Member has used commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that Company Proprietary Software (1) is free from any trojan horse, virus or similar malicious code or program that can cause material damage to computer systems using such Company Proprietary Software, (2) functions and operates in all material respects for its intended purpose, (3) employs reasonable safeguards to protect against security threats, and (4) to the extent such Company Proprietary Software includes or relies upon open source software components, complies with the requirements of all applicable open source licenses, in each case, except to the extent such violations, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.07    Equity Interests and Restricted Subsidiaries. As of the Closing Date, after giving effect to the Transactions, neither the Borrower nor any other Credit Party has any Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed on Schedule 3.07 and all of the outstanding Equity Interests in the Borrower and its Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable (other than Equity Interests consisting of limited liability company interests or partnership interests which, pursuant to the relevant organizational or formation documents, cannot be fully paid and nonassessable and to the extent such concepts are not applicable in the relevant jurisdiction). All Equity Interests owned directly or indirectly by the Borrower or any other Credit Party (other than any such Equity Interests owned directly or indirectly by any Unrestricted Subsidiary) are owned free and clear of all Liens except (i) those created under the Security Documents, and (ii) those Liens permitted under Section 6.02. As of the Closing Date, Schedule 3.07 sets forth (a) the name and jurisdiction of organization or incorporation of the Borrower and each Subsidiary, (b) the ownership interest of the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries in such Subsidiaries, including the percentage of such ownership by class (if applicable) and (c) all outstanding options, warrants, rights of conversion or purchase and similar rights with respect to the equity of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries.

Section 3.08    Litigation. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.08, there are no actions, suits or proceedings at law or in equity by or before any Governmental Authority now

 

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pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in writing against or contemplated, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or against any of their properties or revenues that either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected, if adversely determined, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.09    Federal Reserve Regulations. No Credit Party is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of buying or carrying Margin Stock. No part of the proceeds of any Loan or any Letter of Credit will be used for any purpose that violates Regulation T, U or X.

Section 3.10    Investment Company Act. No Credit Party is an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

Section 3.11    Use of Proceeds. The Borrower will (or will direct a Credit Party to) use the proceeds of the Term Loans on the Closing Date to finance (i) a portion of the consideration for the Closing Date Acquisition and (ii) the payment of related fees, costs and expenses and other transaction costs incurred in connection with the Transactions (including without limitation upfront fees and original issue discount). The Borrower will (or will direct a Credit Party to) use the proceeds of the Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans after the Closing Date for working capital and general corporate purposes and any other transaction not prohibited under this Agreement and, in each case, related fees and expenses. Proceeds of the Incremental Facilities may be used for working capital and general corporate purposes, including, without limitation, to finance Permitted Acquisitions and other permitted Investments and to pay related fees, costs and expenses in connection with any such transactions (but excluding Dividends and Restricted Debt Payments).

Section 3.12    Taxes. Each Group Member has (a) timely filed or caused to be timely filed (after giving effect to any applicable extensions) all material Tax Returns required to have been filed by it, (b) duly and timely paid or remitted or caused to be duly and timely paid or remitted all Taxes due and payable or remittable by it and all assessments received by it, except (i) Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which such Group Member has set aside on its books adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP, or (ii) Taxes which would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (c) satisfied all of its withholding Tax obligations, except for failures that would not be reasonably expected to, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect or Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which such Group Member has set aside on its books adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP. Each Group Member has made adequate provision in accordance with GAAP for all material Taxes not yet due and payable. Each Group Member is unaware of any proposed or pending Tax assessments, deficiencies or audits that would be reasonably expected to, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of each Group Company, no Lien for Taxes (other than a Permitted Lien) has been filed with respect to any material Taxes.

 

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Section 3.13    No Material Misstatements.

(a)    As of the Closing Date, no written information, report, financial statement, certificate, Borrowing Request, LC Request, exhibit or schedule (in each case other than forecasts, projections and other forward looking statements (collectively, “Projections”) and information of a general economic or industry nature) furnished by or on behalf of any Group Member to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with any Loan Document or included therein or delivered pursuant thereto, taken as a whole and when furnished, contained or contains any material misstatement of fact or omitted or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were or are made, not materially misleading when taken as a whole as of the date such information, report, financial statement, certificate, Borrowing Request, LC Request, exhibit or schedule is dated or certified; provided that, with respect to any Projections delivered pursuant to the terms hereof, each Group Member represents only that on the date of delivery thereof it acted in good faith and utilized assumptions believed by it to be reasonable when made in light of the then current circumstances (it being understood that Projections are predictions as to future events and are not to be viewed as facts and are subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, which are beyond the control of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, that no assurance or guarantee can be given that any Projections will be realized, that actual results may differ and that such differences may be material).

Section 3.14    Labor Matters. Except as would not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect, (i) there are no strikes, lockouts, or slowdowns against any Group Member pending or, to the knowledge of any Credit Party, threatened in writing, and (ii) the consummation of the Transactions will not give rise to any right of termination or right of renegotiation on the part of any union under any collective bargaining agreement to which any Group Member is bound. The hours worked by and payments made to employees of any Group Member have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, or any other applicable federal, state, local or foreign law dealing with such matters in any manner which would reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect. All payments due from any Group Member, or for which any claim may be made against any Group Member, on account of wages and employee health and welfare insurance and other benefits, have been paid or accrued as a liability on the books of such Group Member except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.15    Solvency. On the Closing Date, after giving effect to the Transactions, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are Solvent.

Section 3.16    Employee Benefit Plans.

With respect to each Employee Benefit Plan, each Group Member is in compliance in all respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder, and each Employee Benefit Plan is in compliance, except, in each case, as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other ERISA Events, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The present

 

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value of all accumulated benefit obligations of all underfunded Plans (based on the assumptions used for financial reporting purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed the fair market value of the property of all such underfunded Plans by an amount that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Using actuarial assumptions and computation methods consistent with Section 4211 of ERISA, the aggregate liabilities of each Group Member or its ERISA Affiliates to all Multiemployer Plans in the event of a complete withdrawal therefrom, as of the close of the most recent fiscal year of each such Multiemployer Plan, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. As of the date hereof, no Group Member has been notified by the sponsor of a Multiemployer Plan that such Multiemployer Plan is insolvent (within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA), or is in “endangered status” or in “critical status” (each within the meaning of Section 432 of the Code) and no such Multiemployer Plan is reasonably expected by any Group Member to be insolvent, except, in each case, as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Except as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (i) each Foreign Plan has been maintained in compliance with its terms and with the requirements of any and all applicable Requirements of Law and has been maintained, where required, in good standing with applicable regulatory authorities and (ii) no Group Member has incurred any obligation in connection with the termination of or withdrawal from any Foreign Plan. The present value of the accrued benefit liabilities (whether or not vested) under each Foreign Plan which is funded, determined as of the end of the most recently ended fiscal year of the respective Group Member on the basis of actuarial assumptions, each of which is reasonable, did not exceed the current value of the property of such Foreign Plan by an amount that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and for each Foreign Plan which is not funded, the obligations of such Foreign Plan are properly accrued in accordance with GAAP in all material respects.

Section 3.17    Environmental Matters.

(a)    Except as, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect:

(i)    The Group Members and their businesses, operations and Real Property are in compliance with Environmental Law;

(ii)    The Group Members have obtained all Environmental Permits required for the conduct of their businesses and operations, and the ownership, operation and use of their Real Property;

(iii)    There has been no Release or threatened Release of Hazardous Material caused by the Group Members, or to the knowledge of the Group Members by any other Person, on, at, under or from any Real Property presently, or to the knowledge of the Group Members, formerly owned, leased or operated by the Group Members;

(iv)    There is no Environmental Claim pending or, to the knowledge of the Group Members, threatened against the Group Members, and to the knowledge of the Group Members, there are no facts or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to give rise to any such Environmental Claim; and

 

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(v)    No Lien has been recorded or, to the knowledge of any Group Member, threatened under any Environmental Law with respect to any Real Property currently owned, operated or leased by the Group Members.

(b)    This Section 3.17 contains the sole and exclusive representations and warranties of the Group Members with respect to any matters arising under Environmental Laws or relating to Environmental Claims or Hazardous Materials.

Section 3.18    Security Documents.

(a)    Valid Liens. Subject to Section 4.01(k), each Security Document delivered pursuant to Article IV, Section 5.10, and Section 5.11 will, upon execution and delivery thereof, be effective to create (to the extent described therein and subject to other perfection requirements specifically set out in the Security Documents) in favor of the Collateral Agent, for its benefit and the benefit of the other Secured Parties, legal, valid and enforceable Liens on, and security interests in, all of the Credit Parties’ right, title and interest in and to the Collateral thereunder under applicable Requirements of Law (to the extent required hereunder and thereunder), except as such enforceability may be limited by Debtor Relief Laws and by general principles of equity and capital maintenance rules and (i) when appropriate filings or recordings are made in the appropriate offices as may be required under applicable Requirements of Law (to the extent required hereunder and thereunder), and (ii) upon the taking of possession, control or other action by the Collateral Agent of such Collateral with respect to which a security interest may be perfected only by possession, control or other action (which possession, control or other action shall be given to the Collateral Agent or taken by the Collateral Agent to the extent required by any Security Document or this Agreement), the Liens in favor of Collateral Agent will, to the extent required by the Loan Documents (including the Security Documents), constitute fully perfected Liens on, and security interests in, all right, title and interest of the Credit Parties in such Collateral, in each case under applicable Requirements of Law (to the extent required hereunder and thereunder), subject to no Liens other than the applicable Permitted Liens.

(b)    Foreign Law Limitations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, compliance with applicable foreign law with respect to the grant, creation and perfection of Liens on and security interests in the Collateral will not be required herein or under any other Security Document.

Section 3.19    Anti-Terrorism Law. No Credit Party and none of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any applicable Requirements of Law relating to terrorism or money laundering (“Anti-Terrorism Laws”), including Executive Order No. 13224, effective September 24, 2001 (the “Executive Order”), and the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Public Law 107-56, signed into law October 26, 2001 (the “Patriot Act”). The use of proceeds of the Loans will not violate the Trading With the Enemy Act (50 U.S.C. §§ 1-44, as amended) or any applicable foreign asset control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 C.F.R. Subtitle B, Chapter V). As of the Closing Date, to the knowledge of the Borrower, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification is true and correct in all material respects.

 

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Section 3.20    OFAC. None of the Borrower, any Subsidiary nor, to the knowledge of the Borrower, any director, officer, employee, or agent of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary is (x) the subject or target of any applicable U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC or the U.S. Department of State or any applicable similar laws or regulations enacted by the European Union or the United Kingdom (collectively, “Sanctions”) or (y) is located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is subject of comprehensive Sanctions (including, without limitation, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria). The Borrower shall not use the proceeds of the Loans, directly or, to the Borrower’s knowledge, indirectly, or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Person, for the purpose of financing activities of or with (i) any Person that is the subject or target of any applicable Sanctions, or (ii) in any country that, at the time of such financing is the subject or target of any country- or territory-wide Sanctions, or (iii) in any other manner that would result in a violation of applicable Sanctions by any Person that is a party to this Agreement, except, in the case of clauses (i), (ii), and (iii), to the extent licensed by OFAC or otherwise authorized under U.S. law or, if applicable, to the extent licensed or authorized under any similar laws or regulations enacted by the European Union or the United Kingdom.

Section 3.21    Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. No part of the proceeds of the Loans or issued Letters of Credit will be used directly or, to the Borrower’s knowledge, indirectly, for any payments to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or any other Person acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or any similar Requirements of Law.

Section 3.22    Compliance with Law. Each of the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary is in compliance with all Requirements of Law and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its properties, except in such instances in which (a) such Requirements of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or (b) the failure to comply therewith, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.23    No Defaults. On the Closing Date, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

ARTICLE IV

CONDITIONS

Section 4.01    Conditions to Initial Credit Extension. The obligation of each Lender and, if applicable, the Issuing Bank, to fund the initial Credit Extension on the Closing Date requested to be made by the Borrower shall be subject to the prior or concurrent satisfaction or waiver of only the conditions precedent set forth in this Section 4.01 (the making of such initial Credit Extension by a Lender being conclusively deemed to be its satisfaction or waiver of the conditions precedent):

 

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(a)    Loan Documents. There shall have been delivered to the Administrative Agent from each Credit Party an executed counterpart of (i) each of the Loan Documents to which it is a party to be entered into on the Closing Date and (ii) the Board Observer Letter.

(b)    Corporate Documents. The Administrative Agent shall have received:

(i)    a certificate of the secretary or assistant secretary (or equivalent officer) on behalf of each Credit Party dated the Closing Date, certifying (A) that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of each Organizational Document of such Credit Party and, with respect to the articles or certificate of incorporation or organization (or similar document) certified (to the extent applicable) as of a recent date by the Secretary of State (or other applicable Governmental Authority) of the state of its organization, (B) that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of resolutions duly adopted by the Board of Directors or equityholders, as applicable, of such Credit Party authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which such person is a party and, in the case of the Borrower, the Borrowings hereunder, and that such resolutions have not been modified, rescinded or amended and are in full force and effect as of the date of such certificate, and (C) as to the incumbency and specimen signature of each officer or authorized person executing any Loan Document or any other document delivered in connection herewith on behalf of such Credit Party (together with a certificate of another officer or authorized person as to the incumbency and specimen signature of the officer or authorized person executing the certificate in this clause (i));

(ii)    to the extent available, a certificate as to the good standing of each Credit Party as of a recent date, from such Secretary of State (or other applicable Governmental Authority) of its jurisdiction of organization; and

(iii)    the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate dated the Closing Date and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, confirming compliance with the conditions precedent set forth in Sections 4.01(c), (f) and (j).

(c)    Closing Date Acquisition and Other Transactions. The Closing Date Acquisition shall have been consummated or, substantially concurrently with the initial Credit Extension, shall be consummated, in all material respects in accordance with the terms of the Closing Date Acquisition Agreement, without giving effect to any modifications, amendments, consents or waivers thereto that in the aggregate are materially adverse to the Lenders or the Bookrunner without the prior consent of the Bookrunner (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in Section 3 of Exhibit C to the Commitment Letter.

(d)    Opinion of Counsel. The Administrative Agent shall have received, on behalf of itself, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders, a customary opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP, special counsel for the Credit Parties dated as of the Closing Date and addressed to the Agents and the Lenders.

 

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(e)    Solvency Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received a solvency certificate in the form of Exhibit I dated the Closing Date and signed by the chief financial officer (or other officer with reasonably equivalent duties) of the Borrower.

(f)    No Material Adverse Effect. No Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Closing Date Acquisition Agreement) will have occurred after the date of the Closing Date Acquisition Agreement that is continuing.

(g)    Fees. The Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall have received all fees and other amounts due and payable to them by the Borrower on or prior to the Closing Date (which amounts may be offset against the proceeds of the initial Credit Extension), including, to the extent invoiced, reimbursement or payment of all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses (including the legal fees and expenses of Proskauer Rose LLP, special counsel to the Agents) required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower under this Agreement, including, without limitation, as set forth in the Fee Letters; provided that, in the case of costs and expenses, an invoice for all such fees and expenses shall be received by the Borrower at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date for payment to be required as a condition to the Closing Date.

(h)    Patriot Act. So long as reasonably requested in writing by the Administrative Agent at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received, at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, all documentation and other information, including, without limitation, each Credit Party’s W-9, with respect to the Credit Parties that is reasonably determined to be required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act. If the Borrower qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, the Borrower shall deliver a Beneficial Ownership Certification at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date (to the extent reasonably requested in writing by the Administrative Agent at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing Date).

(i)    Debt and Lien Release. All existing indebtedness for borrowed money and any other indebtedness not permitted hereunder of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, T365 and its Restricted Subsidiaries) shall be repaid or refinanced in full in connection with, and substantially concurrently with the closing of, the Closing Date Acquisition, and all commitments to lend and guarantees and security interests and other liens (if any) in connection therewith shall be terminated and/or released.

(j)    Closing Date Representations. (i) The Specified Acquisition Agreement Representations and (ii) the Specified Representations shall be true and correct in all material respects.

(k)    Creation and Perfection of Security Interests. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.01, with respect to the Secured Obligations, all actions necessary to establish that the Collateral Agent will have a perfected first priority security interest (subject to Permitted Liens) in the Collateral under the Loan Documents shall have been taken, in each case, to the extent such Collateral (including the creation or perfection of any security interest) is required to be provided on the Closing Date; provided that to the extent any security interest in the

 

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Collateral is not granted or perfected on the Closing Date after Borrower’s commercially reasonable efforts to do so (other than (x) grants of Collateral subject to the UCC and the delivery of and authorization to file Uniform Commercial Code financing statements, (y) the filing of Intellectual Property security agreements in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office, as the case may be (for the avoidance of doubt, the Borrower shall not be obligated to perfect any foreign Intellectual Property), and (z) the delivery of stock certificates and stock powers for “certificated securities” (as defined in Article 8 of the UCC) of the Borrower’s material, Wholly Owned Subsidiaries that are organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia (other than Excluded Equity Interests) that are part of the Collateral; provided that such “certificated securities” issued by T365 and its Subsidiaries will be required to be delivered hereunder only to the extent received from the T365, after use of commercially reasonable efforts to obtain such “certificated securities”; provided further that any “certificated securities” required to be delivered pursuant to the Loan Documents but not so delivered on the Closing Date will be required to be delivered within 30 days after the Closing Date (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole, reasonable discretion)), the grant or perfection of such security interest (including, without limitation, the security interest on any Real Property that is part of the Collateral) shall not constitute a condition precedent to the availability of the Credit Extension to be made on the Closing Date, but shall be granted or perfected, as the case may be, within 90 days after the Closing Date (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole, reasonable discretion or as provided in Section 5.15).

(l)    Notice. The Administrative Agent shall have received a Borrowing Request as required by Section 2.03 (or such notice shall have been deemed to be given in accordance with Section 2.03) for any Loans to be made on the Closing Date.

(m)    Financial Statements; Pro Forma Financial Information. The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) the Historical Financial Statements and (ii) the Pro Forma Balance Sheet.

(n)    Ownership of T365. Pursuant to the Closing Date Acquisition Agreement, the Borrower will consummate the Closing Date Acquisition, after which the Borrower will own 90.1% of the outstanding equity interests of T365, with the remaining outstanding equity interests being held, pursuant to the terms of the Closing Date Acquisition Agreement, by the Minority Holder.

In determining the satisfaction of the conditions specified in this Section 4.01, (y) to the extent any item is required to be satisfactory to any Lender, such item shall be deemed satisfactory to each Lender which has not notified the Administrative Agent in writing prior to the occurrence of the Closing Date that the respective item or matter does not meet its satisfaction and (z) in determining whether any Lender is aware of any fact, condition or event that has occurred and which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or a Company Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Closing Date Acquisition Agreement), each Lender which has not notified the Administrative Agent in writing prior to the occurrence of the Closing Date of such fact, condition or event shall be deemed not to be aware of any such fact, condition or event on the Closing Date. Upon the Administrative Agent’s good faith determination that the conditions specified in this Section 4.01 have been met (after giving effect to the preceding sentence), then the Closing Date shall have been deemed to have occurred, regardless of any subsequent determination that one or more of the conditions thereto had not been met.

 

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Without limiting the generality of Section 9.05(b), for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required hereunder or thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received written notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

Section 4.02    Conditions to All Credit Extensions. The obligation of each Lender and each Issuing Bank to make any Credit Extension (including the Credit Extensions on the Closing Date) with respect to any Term Loan or Revolving Loan under Section 2.03, Swingline Loan under Section 3.17 or Letter of Credit under Section 2.18 shall be subject to the satisfaction, or waiver, of each of the conditions precedent set forth below.

(a)    Notice. The Administrative Agent shall have received a Borrowing Request as required by Section 2.03 (or such notice shall have been deemed given in accordance with Section 2.03) if Loans are being requested or, in the case of the issuance, amendment, extension or renewal of a Letter of Credit, the Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent shall have received an LC Request as required by Section 2.18.

(b)    No Default. At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Credit Extension, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on such date.

(c)    Representations and Warranties. Each of the representations and warranties made by any Credit Party set forth in Article III hereof or in any other Loan Document or, solely with respect to the Credit Extensions on the Closing Date the Specified Representations, shall be true and correct in all material respects (except that any representation and warranty that is qualified as to “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the date of such Credit Extension with the same effect as though made on and as of such date, except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects (except that any representation and warranty that is qualified as to “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” shall be true and correct in all respects) as of such earlier date, and solely with respect to the Specified Representations, without giving effect to the Closing Date Acquisition.

Each of the delivery (or deemed delivery) of a Borrowing Request or an LC Request and the acceptance by the Borrower of the proceeds of such Credit Extension shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower and each other Credit Party that on the date of such Credit Extension (both immediately before and immediately after giving effect to such Credit Extension) the conditions contained in this Article IV have been satisfied or waived.

 

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ARTICLE V

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

The Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors warrant, covenant and agree with each Lender that at all times after the Closing Date, so long as this Agreement shall remain in effect and until the Obligations have been Paid in Full and the Commitments have been terminated, the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors will, and will cause each of their respective Restricted Subsidiaries to:

Section 5.01    Financial Statements, Reports, etc. Furnish to the Administrative Agent for distribution to each Lender:

(a)    Annual Reports. Within one hundred eighty (180) days after the last day of each fiscal year of the Borrower commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020, a copy of the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (that, together with its consolidated Subsidiaries, constitutes substantially all of the assets of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries) as of the last day of the fiscal year then ended and the consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the fiscal year then ended, and accompanying notes thereto, each in reasonable detail showing in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year (starting with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020) (provided that the Borrower shall be permitted to deliver its 10-K within such timeframe to satisfy the above financial delivery requirement) accompanied by an annual audit opinion from nationally recognized auditors or other accounting firm selected by the Borrower and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (which opinion shall be not be subject to any qualification, exception or explanatory paragraph as to “going concern” or scope of the audit, subject to the proviso below) to the effect that the consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP and present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial condition and results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the close of and for such fiscal year; provided that such financial statements may contain a qualification, exception or explanatory paragraph that is expressly solely with respect to, or expressly resulting from, (A) an upcoming maturity date of the Loans or any other Indebtedness, (B) any potential inability to satisfy the Financial Covenant, or any financial covenant under any other Indebtedness on a future date or in a future period or (C) the activities, operations, financial results, assets or liabilities of any Unrestricted Subsidiary; in each case, such financial statements shall be accompanied by a customary management discussion and analysis of the financial performance of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

(b)    Quarterly Reports. Commencing with the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2021, within forty-five (45) days after the last day of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower for which financial statements are required to be delivered pursuant to this clause (b), a copy of the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (that, together with its consolidated Subsidiaries, constitutes substantially all of the assets of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries) as of the last day of such fiscal quarter and the unaudited consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the fiscal quarter then ended, each in reasonable detail and showing in comparative form the figures for the corresponding date and period in the previous fiscal year of the Borrower, prepared by the Borrower in accordance with GAAP (subject to the absence of

 

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footnote disclosures and year-end audit adjustments) (provided that the Borrower shall be permitted to deliver its 10-Q within such timeframe to satisfy the above financial delivery requirement) and certified on behalf of the Borrower by a Financial Officer as prepared in accordance with GAAP subject to the absence of footnote disclosures and year-end audit adjustments and presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries; in each case, such financial statements shall be accompanied by a customary management discussion and analysis of the financial performance of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(c)    Monthly Reports. Commencing with the month ending June 30, 2021 and ending with the month immediately prior to the month of the occurrence of a Qualifying IPO, within forty-five (45) days after the last day of each month of the Borrower for which financial statements are required to be delivered pursuant to this clause (c), monthly financial reporting, to be limited to (A) volume by business line, (B) updated LQA Revenue information in substantially similar as provided to the Lead Arranger prior to the Closing Date, (C) monthly revenue by business line, (D) cash and investments balance and (E) debt balance;

(d)    Financial Officer’s Certificate. Concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under Section 5.01(a), (b) or (c) a Compliance Certificate (i) certifying on behalf of the Borrower that, to its knowledge, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or, if any such known Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, specifying the nature and extent thereof and any corrective action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto; and (ii) setting forth the computation of the Financial Covenant then in effect; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, no Compliance Certificate shall “bring down” any representations and warranties made herein or in any other Loan Document;

(e)    Budgets. Commencing with the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2022, within ninety (90) days after the beginning of each fiscal year, an annual budget (on a quarterly basis) in form customarily prepared with regard to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries by the Borrower;

(f)    Revenues Reporting. Concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under Section 5.01(a), (b) or (c), a quarterly or monthly, as the case may be, LQA Revenues report for the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, on both a current basis and a Pro Forma Basis including the Closing Date Acquisition and any other Subject Transaction; and

(g)    Other Reporting. Concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under Section 5.01(a) or (b), to the extent provided with Borrower’s public filings, full-course equivalent enrollment reporting;

(h)    Quarterly Lender Calls. At the request of the Administrative Agent (and subject to reasonable prior notice), following the delivery of the financial statements pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or (b) above, the Borrower shall hold an update call (which shall take place at a time mutually acceptable to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent) with a Responsible Officer of the Borrower and the Lenders who choose to attend such conference call to discuss the financial position, financial performance and cash flows of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the period covered by the applicable financial statements; and

 

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(i)    Other Information. Promptly, from time to time, and upon the reasonable written request of the Administrative Agent, other reasonably requested information of the Group Members regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition (including (x) information required under the Patriot Act, (y) an updated Beneficial Ownership Certification and (z) to the extent available to the Borrower, any material agreements, documents or instruments pursuant to which any Permitted Acquisition is to be consummated; provided that nothing in this Section 5.01(i) shall require any Group Member to take any action that would violate any third party customary confidentiality agreement (other than any such confidentiality agreement entered into in contemplation of this Agreement) with any Person that is not an Affiliate (and, in all events, so long as such confidentiality agreement does not relate to information regarding the financial affairs of any Group Member or the compliance with the terms of any Loan Document) or waive any attorney-client or similar privilege.

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) through Section 5.01(g) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date on which such documents are sent via e-mail to the Administrative Agent for posting on the Borrower’s behalf on IntraLinks/IntraAgency or another relevant website, if any, established on its behalf by the Administrative Agent and to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access or the date on which the Borrower has posted such documents on its own website to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access and notified the Administrative Agent of such posting. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, at the reasonable written request of the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall thereafter promptly be required to provide paper copies of any documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01. Each Lender shall be solely responsible for timely accessing posted documents or requesting delivery of paper copies of such documents from the Administrative Agent and maintaining its copies of such documents. If the delivery of any of the foregoing documents required under this Section 5.01 shall fall on a day that is not a Business Day, such deliverable shall be due on the next succeeding Business Day.

Section 5.02    Litigation and Other Notices. Furnish to the Administrative Agent written notice of the following promptly (and, in any event, within five (5) Business Days or such later date as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion) of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower obtaining actual knowledge thereof:

(a)    any Default or Event of Default (provided that (i) no such notice shall be required if cured within the applicable cure period and (ii) any delivery of a notice of Default shall automatically cure any Default or Event of Default then existing with respect to any failure to deliver such notice), specifying the nature and extent thereof and the corrective action (if any) taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto;

(b)    any litigation or governmental proceeding pending against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that could reasonably be expected to be determined adversely and, if so determined, to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(c)    the occurrence of any ERISA Event that could, when taken either alone or together with all such other ERISA Events, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

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(d)    copies of any amendment, amendment and restatement, consent, waiver, supplement or other modification to or of any Convertible Indebtedness, Junior Secured Indebtedness subject to an Intercreditor Agreement or any Subordinated Indebtedness.

Section 5.03    Existence; Properties.

(a)    Do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence, except as otherwise permitted under Sections 6.04 or 6.05 or, in the case of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party, where the failure to perform such obligations could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(b)    Do or cause to be done all things necessary to obtain, preserve, renew, extend and keep in full force and effect the rights, licenses, permits, privileges, franchises, authorizations and Intellectual Property which are necessary and material to the conduct of its business (except where the failure to do so could not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect); provided that nothing in this Section 5.03(b) shall prevent sales of property, consolidations or mergers by or involving any Company in accordance with Section 6.04 or 6.05. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else to the contrary in any Loan Document, each Credit Party and each other Restricted Subsidiary may abandon, cancel, terminate, permit or allow the lapse, invalidation, expiration, cancellation, cessation or termination of, or fail to maintain, pursue, preserve or protect any of its respective Intellectual Property that are, in the reasonable business judgment of such Credit Party or Restricted Subsidiary, no longer economically practicable, commercially desirable to maintain or useful, except to the extent any such abandonment, lapse, cancellation, termination, cessation or failure, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c)    Except to the extent the failure to do so could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, maintain, preserve and protect all of its properties and equipment material to the operation of its business in good working order, repair and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted and casualty or condemnation excepted.

Section 5.04    Insurance.

(a)    Keep its insurable property adequately insured at all times by financially sound and reputable insurers; maintain such other insurance, in each case, to such extent and against such risks as is customary with companies in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations.

(b)    From and after thirty (30) days after the Closing Date (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion), the Credit Parties shall cause all such insurance (other than directors and officers policies and workers compensation) with respect to the Credit Parties and property constituting Collateral to be endorsed to provide that the Collateral Agent is an additional insured or loss payee, as applicable, and that no cancellation, material reduction in amount or material change in coverage thereof shall be effective until at least thirty (30) days after receipt by the Collateral Agent of written notice thereof (or if such cancellation is by reason of nonpayment of premium, at least ten (10) days’ prior written notice)

 

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(unless it is such insurer’s policy not to provide such a statement); provided that, unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (A) all proceeds from insurance policies shall be paid to the Borrower or applicable Guarantor (subject to the requirements of Section 2.10(e) hereof), (B) to the extent the Collateral Agent receives any proceeds, the Collateral Agent shall turn over to the Borrower any amounts received by it as an additional insured or loss payee under any property insurance maintained by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (subject to the requirements of Section 2.10(e) hereof), and (C) the Collateral Agent agrees that the Borrower and/or its applicable Subsidiaries shall have the sole right to adjust or settle any claims under such insurance.

(c)    If at any time the buildings and other improvements (as described in the applicable Mortgage) on a Material Property that is encumbered by a Mortgage required by this Agreement are located in an area identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (or any successor agency) as a special flood hazard area with respect to which flood insurance has been made available under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (as now or hereafter in effect or successor act thereto), then, solely to the extent required by applicable Requirements of Law, the Borrower shall, or shall cause the applicable Credit Party to, maintain, with a financially sound and reputable insurer, flood insurance in an amount and otherwise sufficient to comply with all applicable rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to the Flood Insurance Laws and deliver to the Administrative Agent evidence of such compliance in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

Section 5.05    Taxes. Pay and discharge promptly when due all Taxes imposed upon it or upon its income or profits or in respect of its property, before the same shall become delinquent, or in default; provided that such payment and discharge shall not be required with respect to any such Tax so long as (x)(i) the validity or amount thereof shall be contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and the applicable Group Member shall have set aside on its books adequate reserves or other appropriate provisions with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and (ii) such contest operates to suspend collection of the contested Tax and enforcement of a Lien for Taxes (other than a Permitted Lien) or (y) the failure to pay would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.06    Employee Benefits.

(a)    With respect to each Employee Benefit Plan and Foreign Plan, comply in all respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and applicable Requirements of Law except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and

(b)    Furnish to the Administrative Agent (x) as soon as reasonably practicable after, and in any event within 10 days (or such later date as may be agreed to by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion) after any Responsible Officer of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries knows or has reason to know that any failures to meet funding or other applicable Requirements of Law with respect to Foreign Plans has occurred that, alone or together with any other such noncompliance event with respect to Foreign Plans, would reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth details

 

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as to such noncompliance event with respect to Foreign Plans and the action, if any, that the Group Members propose to take with respect thereto, (y) upon reasonable request by the Administrative Agent, copies of (i) each Schedule B (Actuarial Information) to the annual report (Form 5500 Series) filed by any Group Members or any ERISA Affiliate thereof with the Internal Revenue Service with respect to each Plan; (ii) the most recent actuarial valuation report for each Plan or Foreign Plan; (iii) all notices received by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries from a Multiemployer Plan sponsor or any Governmental Authority concerning an ERISA Event or such noncompliance event with respect to Foreign Plans; and (iv) such other documents or governmental reports or filings relating to any Plan or Foreign Plan in each case, that is sponsored by, or contributed to by, the Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower, as have been received by the Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower and that the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request and (z) promptly following any request therefor, copies of (i) any documents described in Section 101(k) of ERISA that the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries has received with respect to any Multiemployer Plan and (ii) any notices described in Section 101(1) of ERISA that the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries has received with respect to any Multiemployer Plan; provided that if any Group Member has not received such documents or notices from the administrator or sponsor of the applicable Multiemployer Plan, upon the Administrative Agent’s reasonable request, the applicable Group Member shall promptly make a request for such documents or notices from such administrator or sponsor and shall provide copies of such documents and notices promptly after receipt thereof; and provided further, the obligations of the Group Members under this Section shall be subject to applicable Requirements of Law, including protection of data privacy.

Section 5.07    Maintaining Records; Access to Properties and Inspections. Each Group Member will permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent to visit during its regular business hours and with reasonable advance written notice thereof (provided that no such advance notice shall be required during the continuance of an Event of Default) and inspect (subject to the rights of lessees or sublessees thereof and subject to any restrictions or limitations in the applicable lease, sublease or other written occupancy arrangement pursuant to which the Borrower or Restricted Subsidiary is a party, in each case, not entered into in contemplation of avoiding the requirements of this Section 5.07) the financial records and the property of such Group Member at reasonable times up to one (1) time per calendar year (but without frequency limit during the continuance of an Event of Default) and to make extracts from and copies of such financial records, and permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent to discuss the affairs, finances, accounts and condition of any Group Member with the officers and employees thereof and advisors therefor (including independent accountants); provided that the Administrative Agent shall give any Group Member an opportunity for its representatives to participate in any such discussions; provided, further, that so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is then continuing, the Borrower shall not bear the cost of more than one such inspection per calendar year by the Administrative Agent and Lenders (or their respective representatives). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5.07, no Group Member will be required to disclose or permit the inspection or discussion of, any document, information or other matter (i) that constitutes confidential Intellectual Property, including trade secrets, (ii) in respect of which disclosure to the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or their respective representatives or contractors) is prohibited by Requirements of Law or any binding agreement (not entered into in contemplation hereof), or (iii) that is subject to attorney client or similar privilege or constitutes attorney work product.

 

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Section 5.08    Use of Proceeds. Use of the proceeds of the Loans and use of issued Letters of Credit only for the purposes set forth in Section 3.11.

Section 5.09    Compliance with Environmental Laws; Environmental Reports.

(a)    Except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (i) comply with all Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits applicable to its operations and Real Property; (ii) obtain and renew all Environmental Permits applicable to its operations and owned Real Property and, to the extent the Group Members are required to obtain such Environmental Permits under the applicable lease or Requirements of Law, leased Real Property; and (iii) comply with all lawful orders of a Governmental Authority required of the Group Members by, and in accordance with, Environmental Laws; provided that no Group Member shall be required to comply with such orders to the extent that its obligation to do so is being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings.

(b)    If an Event of Default caused by reason of a breach of Section 3.17 or 5.09(a) shall have occurred and be continuing for more than thirty (30) days without the Group Members commencing activities reasonably likely to cure such Event of Default in accordance with Environmental Laws, at the reasonable written request of the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders through the Administrative Agent, which written request will describe the nature and subject of the Event of Default, the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent within sixty (60) days after such request (or by such later date as may be agreed to by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), at the expense of the Borrower, an environmental assessment report regarding the matters which are the subject of such Event of Default, prepared by an environmental consulting firm reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent; provided, however, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, under no other circumstances shall any environmental assessment report (or any other environmental report) be required under any Loan Document.

Section 5.10    Additional Collateral; Additional Guarantors.

(a)    Subject to the terms of the Security Documents and Section 3.18, Section 4.01(k), Section 5.11 and Section 5.15, with respect to any personal property created or acquired after the Closing Date by any Credit Party that constitutes “Collateral” under any of the Security Documents or is intended to be subject to the Liens created by any Security Document but is not so subject to a Lien thereunder, but in any event subject to the terms, conditions and limitations thereunder, within sixty (60) days after the acquisition thereof, or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may approve in each case in its sole discretion, (i) execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent such amendments or supplements to the relevant Security Documents or such other documents, including, without limitation, customary legal opinions as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent shall reasonably deem necessary to grant to the Collateral Agent, for its benefit and for the benefit of the other Secured Parties, a Lien under applicable U.S. state and federal law on such Collateral subject to no Liens other than Permitted Liens, and (ii) take all actions reasonably necessary to cause such Lien to be duly perfected to the extent required by such Security Document in accordance with all applicable U.S. state and federal law, including the filing of financing statements in such U.S. jurisdictions as may

 

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be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent. The Borrower and the other Credit Parties shall otherwise take such actions and execute and/or deliver to the Collateral Agent (or its non-fiduciary agent or designee pursuant to any Intercreditor Agreement) such New York law governed documents as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent shall reasonably require to confirm the validity, perfection and priority of the Lien of the Security Documents on such after-acquired Collateral.

(b)    Subject to the terms of the Security Documents and Section 5.15, upon the formation or acquisition of, or the re-designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as, a Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) after the Closing Date (other than a merger Subsidiary formed in connection with a Permitted Acquisition so long as such merger Subsidiary is merged out of existence pursuant to such Permitted Acquisition or otherwise merged out of existence or dissolved within sixty (60) days of its formation (or such later date as permitted by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion)) or upon any Excluded Subsidiary ceasing to constitute an Excluded Subsidiary (as reasonably determined by the Borrower), within sixty (60) days after such formation, acquisition, designation or cessation, or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may approve in its reasonable discretion, the Borrower shall:

(i)    deliver to the Collateral Agent the certificates, if any, representing all of the Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary that constitute Collateral and that are “certificated securities” (as defined in Article 8 of the UCC), together with undated Equity Interest powers or other appropriate instruments of transfer executed and delivered in blank by a duly authorized officer of the holder(s) of such Equity Interests, and all intercompany notes owing from such Restricted Subsidiary to any Credit Party required to be delivered pursuant to the Security Agreement or other applicable Security Document and not previously so delivered, together with instruments of transfer executed and delivered in blank by a duly authorized officer of such Credit Party or Additional Guarantor, as applicable; and

(ii)    cause any such new Restricted Subsidiary (except Excluded Subsidiaries), (A) to execute a Joinder Agreement or such comparable documentation to become a Subsidiary Guarantor (including, without limitation, (1) all documentation and other information with respect to such new Restricted Subsidiary required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the Patriot Act, and (2) customary secretary’s certificates with respect to each new Restricted Subsidiary attaching such documents as were delivered by the original Subsidiary Guarantors on the Closing Date) and a joinder agreement to the Security Agreement, substantially in the form annexed thereto, and (B) to take all actions reasonably necessary to cause the Lien created on the Collateral (which shall exclude Excluded Property and be subject to the limitations set forth herein and the applicable Security Documents) by the applicable Security Documents to be duly perfected under U.S. federal and applicable state and local law to the extent required by such agreements in accordance with all applicable U.S. Requirements of Law, including the filing of financing statements in such U.S. jurisdictions as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent; provided that (x) no pledge of Excluded Equity Interests shall be required and (y) no perfection actions by “control” (except with respect to Equity Interests and certain debt instruments) shall be required to be taken. For the avoidance of doubt, the Credit Parties shall be under no obligation to deliver any leasehold mortgages, landlord waivers or collateral access agreements with respect to Real Property.

 

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(c)    Upon the acquisition of any new Material Property:

(i)    within fifteen (15) Business Days after such acquisition (as such period may be extended by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), the applicable Credit Party shall furnish to the Collateral Agent a description of such Material Property in detail reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent; and

(ii)    within ninety (90) days after such acquisition (as such period may be extended by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), the applicable Credit Party shall grant to the Collateral Agent a security interest in such Material Property and deliver a mortgage, deed of trust or deed to secure debt in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent (a “Mortgage”) as additional security for the Obligations (which, if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, shall be accompanied by a customary legal opinion) and deliver to the Administrative Agent, a completed “Life-of-Loan” Federal Emergency Management Agency standard flood hazard determination, together with a notice executed by such Credit Party about special flood hazard area status, if applicable, in respect of such Mortgage.

Section 5.11    Security Interests; Further Assurances. Subject to the terms of the Security Documents, Section 5.10 and Section 5.15, promptly, upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, (i) correct any material defect or error that may be discovered in the execution, acknowledgment, filing or recordation of any Security Document or other document or instrument relating to any Collateral, and (ii) do, execute, acknowledge, deliver, record, re-record, file, re-file, register and re-register any and all such further acts, deeds, certificates, assurances and other instruments as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent may reasonably request from time to time in order to carry out more effectively the purposes of this Agreement and the Security Documents; provided that, notwithstanding anything else contained herein or in any other Loan Document to the contrary, (w) neither the Borrower nor any Guarantor shall be required to make any filings or take any other actions to perfect the Lien on and security interest in any Intellectual Property (or to reimburse the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent for any costs incurred in connection with the same) except for filings in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office or by filing a UCC financing statement, (x) the foregoing shall not apply to any Excluded Subsidiary or Property of any Excluded Subsidiary or any Excluded Property or any Excluded Equity Interests, (y) any such documents and deliverables (other than certain mortgages of Material Property) shall be governed by New York law and (z) no other perfection actions by “control” (except with respect to Equity Interests and certain debt instruments and Deposit Account Control Agreements), leasehold mortgages or landlord waivers, estoppels or collateral access agreements shall be required to be taken or entered into hereunder or under any other Loan Document. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else herein or in any other Loan Document to the contrary, in no event shall (A) the assets of any CFC Holding Company or CFC constitute security or secure, or such assets or the proceeds of such assets be required to be available for, payment of the Obligations, (B) more than sixty-five percent (65%) of the Voting Stock and one-hundred percent (100%) of the non-Voting Stock of any first-tier CFC Holding Company or CFC or (C) any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Subsidiary of any CFC Holding Company or CFC.

 

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Section 5.12    Maintenance of Deposit Accounts. Within ninety (90) days following the Closing Date (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion), the Credit Parties shall deliver, or cause to be delivered to the Collateral Agent, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, a Deposit Account Control Agreement, duly authorized, executed and delivered by such bank and such Credit Party with respect to each Deposit Account and Securities Account; except that Credit Parties shall not be required to deliver such Deposit Account Control Agreements with respect to any Excluded Account. No Credit Party shall open any new Deposit Account or Securities Account, other than an Excluded Account, unless such Credit Party enters into a Deposit Account Control Agreement in connection with such account within ninety (90) days (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree) following the opening of such account. Notwithstanding anything in this section to the contrary, the provisions of this Section 5.12 shall not apply to any Deposit Account acquired by a Credit Party in connection with a Permitted Acquisition (or other permitted Investment) prior to the date that is ninety (90) days (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree) following the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition (or other permitted Investment).

Section 5.13    Compliance with Laws. Comply with the requirements of all Requirements of Law and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or to their business or property, except to the extent that the failure to comply therewith could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.14    Anti-Terrorism Law; Anti-Money Laundering; Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

(a)    Not directly or indirectly, (i) knowingly deal in, or otherwise knowingly engage in any transaction relating to, any property or interests in property blocked pursuant to the Executive Order or any other Anti-Terrorism Law in violation of any applicable Anti-Terrorism Law or applicable Sanctions, or (ii) knowingly engage in or conspire to engage in any transaction that violates or attempts to violate, any of the material prohibitions set forth in any applicable Anti-Terrorism Law or applicable Sanctions;

(b)    (i) Not repay the Loans, or make any other payment to any Lender, using funds or properties of the Borrower or any Subsidiaries that are, to the knowledge of the Borrower, the property of any Person that is the subject or target of applicable Sanctions or that are, to the knowledge of the Borrower, fifty percent or more beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any Person that is the subject or target of applicable Sanctions, in each case, in violation of applicable Anti-Terrorism Laws or applicable Sanctions or (ii) to the knowledge of Borrower, permit any Person that is the subject of applicable Sanctions to have any direct or indirect interest, in the Borrower, Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries, with the result that the investment in the Borrower, Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries (whether directly or indirectly) or the Loans made by the Lenders would be in violation of any applicable Sanctions.

(c)    Each Credit Party and its Restricted Subsidiaries will maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure compliance by the Credit Parties, their subsidiaries and each of their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.

 

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(d)    To the extent applicable, each Credit Party and its Restricted Subsidiaries will comply with (i) the laws, regulations, Sanctions and executive orders administered by OFAC, (ii) all Anti-Terrorism Laws, (iii) the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended and (iv) the Patriot Act. No Credit Party nor any of their respective Restricted Subsidiaries will (A) engage in or conspire to engage in any transaction that attempts to violate (or evade in a manner that could violate) any of the foregoing or any similar Requirements of Law or (B) engage in or conspire to engage in any transaction that avoids, or has the purposes of avoiding any of the laws and regulations referenced in clauses (i), (ii) or (iv) of this clause (d) or any similar Requirements of Law.

Section 5.15    Post-Closing Deliveries.

(a)    The Borrower hereby agrees to deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Administrative Agent, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, the items described on Schedule 5.15 hereof on or before the dates specified with respect to such items, or such later dates as may be agreed to by, or as may be waived by, the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion.

(b)    All representations and warranties contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be deemed modified to the extent necessary to effect the foregoing (and to permit the taking of the actions described above within the time periods required above and in Schedule 5.15, rather than as elsewhere provided in the Loan Documents); provided that (x) to the extent any representation and warranty would not be true because the foregoing actions were not taken on the Closing Date or, following the Closing Date, prior to the date by which such action is required to be taken by Section 5.15(a), the respective representation and warranty shall be required to be true and correct in all material respects at the time the respective action is taken (or was required to be taken) in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 5.15 (and Schedule 5.15) and (y) all representations and warranties relating to the assets set forth on Schedule 5.15 pursuant to the Security Documents shall be required to be true in all material respects immediately after the actions required to be taken under this Section 5.15 (and Schedule 5.15) have been taken (or were required to be taken), except to the extent any such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date.

ARTICLE VI

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

Each of the Credit Parties warrants, covenants and agrees with each Lender that at all times after the Closing Date, so long as this Agreement shall remain in effect and until the Obligations have been Paid in Full and the Commitments have been terminated, none of the Credit Parties will, nor will permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to:

 

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Section 6.01    Indebtedness. Incur, create, assume or permit to exist, directly or indirectly, any Indebtedness, except:

(a)    Indebtedness incurred under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 2.20, Section 2.21 and Section 2.22 hereof), and, in each case, any Permitted Refinancing thereof;

(b)    (x) Indebtedness in existence on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 6.01(b) and (y) Permitted Refinancings thereof;

(c)    without duplication, Permitted Pari Passu Refinancing Debt and Permitted Unsecured Refinancing Debt, and, in each case, any Permitted Refinancing thereof;

(d)    Indebtedness under Hedging Obligations with respect to interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates or commodity prices entered in the ordinary course of business and not entered into for speculative purposes;

(e)    Indebtedness in respect of Purchase Money Obligations, Capital Lease Obligations, Indebtedness incurred in connection with Sale Leaseback Transactions and Indebtedness incurred in connection with financing any Real Property, and any Permitted Refinancings of any of the foregoing, in an aggregate amount for all such Indebtedness under this clause (e) not to exceed, at any time outstanding, the greater of $15,000,000 and 3.6% of LQA Revenue for the most recently ended Test Period;

(f)    Indebtedness in respect (x) appeal bonds or similar instruments and (y) of payment, bid, performance or surety bonds, or other similar bonds, completion guarantees, or similar instruments, workers’ compensation claims, health, disability or other employee benefits, self-insurance obligations, and bankers acceptances issued for the account of any Group Member, in each case, in the ordinary course of business and including guarantees supporting such appeal, payment, bid, performance or surety or other similar bonds, completion guarantees, or similar instruments, workers’ compensation claims, health, disability or other employee benefits, self-insurance obligations and bankers acceptances (in each case other than for an obligation for money borrowed);

(g)    (i) Contingent Obligations in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred by such Group Member under this Section 6.01 (provided that (x) the foregoing shall not permit a Group Member to guarantee Indebtedness that it could not otherwise incur under this Section 6.01 and (y) if any such Indebtedness is subordinated (including as to lien or collateral priority) to the Obligations, such Contingent Obligation shall be subordinated on terms at least as favorable to the Lenders) and (ii) Indebtedness constituting Investments permitted under Section 6.03 (other than Section 6.03(l));

(h)    Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently (except in the case of daylight overdrafts) drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business; provided, however, that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five (5) Business Days of incurrence;

 

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(i)    Indebtedness arising in connection with the endorsement of instruments for deposit in the ordinary course of business;

(j)    Indebtedness in respect of netting services or overdraft protection or otherwise in connection with deposit or securities accounts in the ordinary course of business;

(k)    Indebtedness consisting of (i) the financing of insurance premiums or (ii) take or pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;

(l)    subject to Section 6.03(e), intercompany Indebtedness owing (i) by and among the Credit Parties, (ii) by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties to Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties, (iii) by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties to Credit Parties; provided that outstanding Indebtedness under this clause (l)(iii) (together (but without duplication) with Investments made pursuant to Section 6.03(e)(iii)) shall not exceed, at any time, $17,500,000 at any time outstanding, and (iv) by Credit Parties to Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties; provided that Indebtedness under this clause (l)(iv) shall be subordinated to the Obligations pursuant to subordination terms reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and shall not exceed at any time $17,500,000 at any time outstanding;

(m)    Indebtedness arising as a direct result of judgments, orders, awards or decrees against the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case not constituting an Event of Default;

(n)    unsecured Indebtedness representing any Taxes to the extent such Taxes are being contested by any Group Member in good faith by appropriate proceedings and adequate reserves are being maintained by the Group Members in accordance with GAAP;

(o)    Indebtedness assumed in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or other permitted Investment (provided that such Indebtedness was not incurred in contemplation of such Permitted Acquisition or other Investment) or incurred to finance a Permitted Acquisition or other Investment; provided that the aggregate principal amount of all such Indebtedness shall not exceed the greater of $20,000,000 and 4.8% of LQA Revenue for the most recently ended Test Period;

(p)    Indebtedness of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties (but only to the extent non-recourse to the Credit Parties), and any guarantees thereof by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties, in aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of $17,500,000 and 4.2% of LQA Revenue for the most recently ended Test Period, at any time outstanding;

(q)    Pre-Qualified IPO Unsecured Convertible Indebtedness; provided that if such Pre-Qualified IPO Unsecured Convertible Indebtedness is (i) unsubordinated, the aggregate amount of such Indebtedness shall not exceed $200,000,000 and (ii) subordinated pursuant to a subordination agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, the aggregate amount of such Indebtedness shall be uncapped;

 

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(r)    Post-Qualified IPO Unsecured Convertible Indebtedness in an amount not to exceed the greater of (i) $350,000,000 and (ii) an unlimited amount so long as, on a Pro Forma Basis as of the Applicable Date of Determination and for the applicable Test Period, determined after giving effect to the incurrence of any such Post-Qualified IPO Unsecured Convertible Indebtedness, any Indebtedness repaid with the proceeds thereof and any Investment, disposition or debt incurrence in connection therewith and all other pro forma adjustments (but excluding the proceeds of such Post-Qualified IPO Unsecured Convertible Indebtedness in any cash or cash equivalents formulation), the Total Net Leverage Ratio does not exceed 1.67 to 1.00;

(s)    Indebtedness in respect of Permitted Receivables Financings owed by a Receivables Entity; provided that outstanding Indebtedness under this clause (s) shall not exceed the greater of $25,000,000 and 6.0% of LQA Revenue for the most recently ended Test Period at any time outstanding;

(t)    additional Indebtedness of the Borrower and the other Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that, immediately after giving effect to any of incurrence of Indebtedness under this clause (x), the sum of the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding under this clause (x) shall not exceed the greater of $10,000,000 and 2.4% of LQA Revenue for the most recently ended Test Period at such time;

(u)    [reserved];

(v)    to the extent constituting Indebtedness, any contingent liabilities arising in connection with any stock options;

(w)    Indebtedness in respect of netting services, automatic clearinghouse arrangements, overdraft protections and similar arrangements, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(x)    Earn-Outs, holdbacks and other similar deferred payment obligations (regardless of whether such amounts constitute Indebtedness, a “Deferred Payment Obligation”), in each case, incurred in connection with the any Permitted Acquisition or permitted Investment; provided that (i) the aggregate principal amount of such Deferred Payment Obligation shall not exceed the greater of $17,500,000 and 4.2% of LQA Revenue for the most recently ended Test Period and (ii) no Deferred Payment Obligations shall be permitted to be paid unless immediately before and after such payment: (x) no Event of Default shall occur or be continuing either immediately before or immediately after giving effect to such payment, and (y) the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries are in compliance with the financial covenant set forth in Section 6.08 (as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter for which financial statements have been or are required to be delivered to Administrative Agent);

(y)    all premiums (if any), interest (including post-petition interest), fees, expenses, charges and additional or contingent interest on obligations described in clauses (a) through (dd) above.

The accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value and the payment of PIK interest in the form of additional Indebtedness shall not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness and the amounts of such accruals and accretions shall not count as amounts of outstanding Indebtedness, for purposes of this Section 6.01.

 

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Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Indebtedness in respect of any receivables programs, factoring facilities, any facilities or programs relating to Receivables Facility Assets and other similar facilities programs or arrangements may only be incurred pursuant to clause (s) above and may not be incurred or permitted pursuant to any other clause in this Section 6.01.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, for so long as T365 and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries, including T365Co are not Guarantors hereunder, none of T365, T365Co or any of any of their respective direct or indirect Subsidiaries shall be permitted to incur any Indebtedness or Contingent Obligations under clauses (a), (b), (c), (e), (o), (q), (r), (s), (t) or (x) of this Section 6.01.

Section 6.02    Liens. Create, incur, assume or permit to exist, directly or indirectly, any Lien on any property now owned or hereafter acquired by it or on any income or revenues or rights in respect of any thereof, except the following (collectively, the “Permitted Liens”):

(a)    Liens for Taxes not yet due and payable or delinquent and Liens for Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP;

(b)    Liens in respect of property of any Group Member imposed by Requirements of Law, (i) which were incurred in the ordinary course of business and do not secure Indebtedness for borrowed money, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s, materialmen’s, landlords’, workmen’s, suppliers’, repairmen’s and mechanics’ Liens and other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business or otherwise pertaining to Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(f) and (h) which do not in the aggregate materially detract from the value of the property of the Group Members, taken as a whole, and do not materially impair the use thereof in the operation of the business of the Group Members, taken as a whole, and which, if they secure obligations that are then more than thirty days overdue and unpaid, are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP, or (ii) arising mandatorily by Requirements of Law on the assets of any Foreign Subsidiary;

(c)    any Lien in existence on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 6.02(c) and any Lien granted as a replacement or substitute therefor; provided that any such replacement or substitute Lien (i) except as permitted by Section 6.01(b) does not secure an aggregate amount of Indebtedness (excluding any increase in such Indebtedness as a result of a PIK interest payment), if any, greater than the amount of such Indebtedness secured on the Closing Date or any Permitted Refinancing thereof and (ii) does not encumber any property in a material manner other than the property subject thereto on the Closing Date and any proceeds therefrom (any such Lien, an “Existing Lien”);

 

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(d)    easements, rights-of-way, restrictions (including zoning restrictions), covenants, conditions, licenses, encroachments, protrusions and other similar charges or encumbrances, and title deficiencies on or other irregularities with respect to any Real Property, in each case whether now or hereafter in existence, not (i) securing Indebtedness or (ii) individually or in the aggregate materially interfering with the ordinary conduct of the business and operations of the Group Members at such Real Property and the value, use and occupancy thereof;

(e)    Liens to the extent arising out of judgments, orders, attachments, decrees or awards not resulting in an Event of Default;

(f)    Liens (x) imposed by Requirements of Law or deposits made in connection therewith in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security legislation, (y) incurred to secure the performance of appeal bonds or incurred in the ordinary course of business to secure the performance of tenders, statutory obligations (other than excise taxes), surety, stay, customs bonds, statutory bonds, bids, leases (including deposits with respect thereto), government contracts, trade contracts, performance and return of money bonds and other similar obligations (exclusive of obligations for the payment of borrowed money) or (z) arising by virtue of deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure liability for premiums to insurance carriers; provided that (i) with respect to subclauses (x), (y) and (z) of this clause (f), such Liens are for amounts not yet due and payable or delinquent or, to the extent such amounts are so due and payable, such amounts are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP, which proceedings or orders entered in connection with such proceedings have the effect of preventing the forfeiture or sale of the property subject to any such Lien and (ii) to the extent such Liens are not imposed by Requirements of Law, such Liens shall in no event encumber any property other than cash and cash equivalents (including Cash Equivalents);

(g)    Leases, subleases, licenses and sublicenses of any Property (other than Intellectual Property which is subject to Section 6.02(o)) of any Group Member granted by such Group Member to third parties, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of such Group Member’s business;

(h)    any interest or title of a lessor, sublessor, licensor, sublicensor, licensee or sublicensee under any lease, sublease, license or sublicense (other than interests of a licensee or sublicensee with respect to Intellectual Property, which is subject to Section 6.02(o)) permitted by this Agreement or the other Security Documents;

(i)    Liens which may arise as a result of municipal and zoning codes and ordinances, building and other land use laws imposed by any Governmental Authority which are not violated in any material respect by existing improvements or the present use or occupancy of any Real Property, or in the case of any Material Property subject to a Mortgage, encumbrances disclosed in the title insurance policy issued to, and reasonably approved by, the Administrative Agent;

(j)    Liens on cash collateral in respect of letters of credit entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(k)    Liens securing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 6.01(e); provided that any such Liens attach only to the property being financed pursuant to such Indebtedness and do not encumber any other property of any Group Member;

(l)    bankers’ Liens, rights of setoff and other similar Liens existing solely with respect to cash and Cash Equivalents on deposit in one or more accounts maintained by any Group Member, in each case granted in the ordinary course of business in favor of the bank or banks with which such accounts are maintained, securing amounts owing to such bank with respect to cash management and operating account arrangements, including those involving pooled accounts and netting arrangements; provided that, unless such Liens are non-consensual and arise by operation of law, in no case shall any such Liens secure (either directly or indirectly) the repayment of any Indebtedness;

(m)    Liens on property or assets of a person existing at the time such person or asset is acquired or merged with or into or consolidated with any Group Member to the extent such acquisition or merger is permitted hereunder (and such Liens are not created in anticipation or contemplation thereof); provided that such Liens do not extend to property not subject to such Liens at the time of acquisition (other than improvements thereon or pursuant to an after-acquired property clause in the applicable security documents) and are no more favorable (as reasonably determined by the Borrower) to the lienholders than such existing Lien and do not secure Indebtedness permitted hereunder;

(n)    (i) Liens granted pursuant to the Security Documents to secure the Secured Obligations (including Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 2.20, Section 2.21 and Section 2.22 hereof) and (ii) any Liens securing Permitted Pari Passu Refinancing Debt; provided, in each case, that such Liens are subject to any subordination or intercreditor requirements set forth in the applicable definitions referenced above in this Section 6.02(n);

(o)    non-exclusive licenses and sublicenses of Intellectual Property granted by any Group Member in the ordinary course of business or not interfering in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of business of the Group Members;

(p)    the filing of UCC (or equivalent) financing statements solely as a precautionary measure in connection with operating leases or consignment of goods;

(q)    Liens securing Hedging Obligations permitted by Section 6.01(d);

(r)    [reserved];

(s)    Liens attaching solely to cash earnest money deposits in connection with an Investment permitted by Section 6.03;

(t)    Liens of a collecting bank arising in the ordinary course of business under Section 4-208 of the UCC in effect in the relevant jurisdiction covering only the items being collected upon;

(u)    Liens granted by a Restricted Subsidiary (i) that is not a Credit Party in favor of any other Restricted Subsidiary in respect of Indebtedness or other obligations owed by such Restricted Subsidiary to such other Restricted Subsidiary and permitted hereby or (ii) in favor of any Credit Party;

 

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(v)    Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof granted in the ordinary course of business to secure the financing of insurance premiums with respect thereto permitted under Section 6.01(k)(i);

(w)    Liens (i) incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with the purchase or shipping of goods or assets (or the related assets and proceeds thereof), which Liens are in favor of the seller or shipper of such goods or assets and only attach to such goods or assets, and (ii) in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods;

(x)    Liens of any Group Member with respect to Indebtedness and other obligations that do not in the aggregate exceed the greater of $10,000,000 and 2.4% of LQA Revenue for the most recently ended Test Period at any time;

(y)    Liens on assets or property of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties securing Indebtedness and other obligations of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 6.01;

(z)    Liens securing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 6.01(l) (provided that, with respect to Indebtedness incurred pursuant clause (iv) thereof, any such Lien shall be subordinated to the liens securing the Obligations pursuant to a subordination agreement reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent);

(aa)    Liens securing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 6.01(o) (so long as, in the case of clause (o)(i), such Liens secure only the same assets (and any after acquired assets pursuant to any after-acquired property clause in the applicable security documents) and the same Indebtedness that such Liens secured, immediately prior to the assumption of such Indebtedness, and so long as such Liens were not created in contemplation of such assumption);

(bb)    Liens on cash advances in favor of the seller of any property to be acquired in an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 6.03 to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment;

(cc)    Liens on Equity Interests (i) deemed to exist in connection with any options, put and call arrangements, rights of first refusal and similar rights relating to Investments in Persons that are not Restricted Subsidiaries of the Borrower or (ii) of any joint venture or similar arrangement pursuant to any joint venture or similar arrangement;

(dd)    restrictions on dispositions of assets to be disposed of pursuant to merger agreements, stock or asset purchase agreements and similar agreements, in each case, solely to the extent such disposition would be permitted pursuant to the terms hereof;

(ee)    Liens on accounts receivable, other Receivables Facility Assets, or accounts into which collections or proceeds of Receivables Facility Assets are deposited, in each case arising in connection with a Permitted Receivables Financing permitted under Section 6.01(s); and

 

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(ff)    [reserved].

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, for so long as T365 and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries, including T365Co are not Guarantors hereunder, none of T365, T365Co or any of any of their respective direct or indirect Subsidiaries shall be permitted to incur any Liens under clauses (k), (x), (y), or (aa) of this Section 6.02.

Section 6.03    Investments, Loans and Advances. Directly or indirectly, lend money or credit (by way of guarantee or otherwise) or make advances to any person, or purchase or acquire any Equity Interests, bonds, notes, debentures, guarantees or other securities of, or make any capital contribution to, or acquire assets constituting all or substantially all of the assets of, or acquire assets constituting a line of business, business unit or division of, any other person (all of the foregoing, collectively, “Investments”), except that the following shall be permitted:

(a)    the Group Members may consummate the Transactions in accordance with the provisions of the Transaction Documents;

(b)    (i) Investments outstanding, contemplated, or made pursuant to binding commitments in effect on the Closing Date and identified on Schedule 6.03(b) and (ii) Investments consisting of any modification, replacement, renewal, reinvestment or extension of any Investment described in clause (i) above; provided that (x) the amount of any Investment permitted pursuant to this clause (ii) is not increased from the amount of such Investment on the Closing Date except pursuant to the terms of such Investment as of the Closing Date or as otherwise permitted by this Section 6.03 and (y) with respect to contemplated Investments until initially consummated, the terms of such modification, replacement, renewal, reinvestment or extension of such Investment are not materially less favorable to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary than the terms of any such scheduled Investment;

(c)    the Group Members may (i) acquire and hold accounts receivable owing to any of them if created or acquired in the ordinary course of business and payable or dischargeable in accordance with customary terms, (ii) invest in, acquire and hold cash and cash equivalents (including Cash Equivalents), (iii) endorse negotiable instruments held for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business or (iv) make lease, utility and other similar deposits in the ordinary course of business;

(d)    Hedging Obligations permitted by Section 6.01(d);

(e)    Investments (i) by any Group Member in a Credit Party, (ii) by any Group Member that is not a Credit Party in any other Group Member (provided that any such Investments under this clause (e)(ii) in a Group Member that is a Credit Party shall be subordinated to the Obligations pursuant to subordination terms reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent) and (iii) by any Credit Party in any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party; provided that Investments under this clause (e)(iii) (together (without duplication) with outstanding intercompany Indebtedness outstanding under Section 6.01(l)(iii)) by the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor in any other Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor shall not exceed, at any time outstanding, $17,500,000;

 

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(f)    Investments in securities or other assets of trade creditors or customers in the ordinary course of business received in settlement of bona fide disputes or upon foreclosure or pursuant to any plan of reorganization or liquidation or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of such trade creditors or customers;

(g)    Investments held by any Group Member as a result of consideration received in connection with an Asset Sale or other disposition made in compliance with Section 6.05 (other than Section 6.05(e));

(h)    Permitted Acquisitions;

(i)    pledges and deposits by any Group Member permitted under Section 6.02;

(j)    Investments consisting of earnest money deposits required in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or other permitted Investment;

(k)    Investments of any Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or consolidates or merges with any Group Member (including in connection with a Permitted Acquisition) so long as such investments were not made in contemplation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary or of such consolidation or merger;

(l)    Contingent Obligations and other Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01, performance guarantees, and transactions permitted under Section 6.04;

(m)    [reserved];

(n)    Investments in deposit and investment accounts opened in the ordinary course of business with financial institutions;

(o)    unsecured intercompany advances by any Group Member to the Borrower for purposes and in amounts that would otherwise be permitted to be made as Dividends to the Borrower pursuant to Section 6.06; provided that the principal amount of any such loans shall reduce dollar-for-dollar the amounts that would otherwise be permitted to be paid for such purpose in the form of Dividends pursuant to such Section;

(p)    Investments to the extent constituting the reinvestment of the Net Cash Proceeds arising from any Asset Sale (or other disposition) or Casualty Events to repair, replace or restore any property in respect of which such Net Cash Proceeds were paid or to reinvest in other fixed or Capital Assets or assets that are otherwise used or useful in the business of the Group Members (including pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition, Investment or Capital Expenditure);

(q)    Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount (together (without duplication) with all Investments outstanding under Section 6.03(u) and Section 6.03(bb)) not to exceed the greater of $25,000,000 and 6.0% of LQA Revenue for the most recently ended Test Period at any time outstanding;

(r)    purchases and other acquisitions of inventory, materials, equipment, intangible property and other assets in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(s)    (i) leases and subleases of real or personal property in the ordinary course of business and not interfering in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of business of the Group Members and (ii) non-exclusive licenses and sublicenses of Intellectual Property permitted under Section 6.02 including loans and advances to licensees in connection therewith on an arm’s length basis;

(t)    Investments to the extent that payment for such Investments is made solely with cash contributions from the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) of the Borrower which are Not Otherwise Applied and that are received within the year preceding any such Investments;

(u)    Investments in joint ventures of any Group Member or the Borrower in an aggregate amount (together (without duplication) with all Investments outstanding under Section 6.03(q) and Section 6.03(bb)) not to exceed the greater of $25,000,000 and 6.0% of LQA Revenue for the most recently ended Test Period at any time outstanding;

(v)    following the occurrence of a Qualified IPO and solely to the extent such Investments are in connection with (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the entry into, payment of any premium with respect to, and the settlement of) Post-Qualified IPO Unsecured Convertible Indebtedness, any Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction or Permitted Warrant Transaction, in each case, to the extent complied with by the Group Members in accordance with their terms;

(w)    other Investments in an aggregate amount at any time not to exceed the greater of $25,000,000 and 6.0% of LQA Revenue for the most recently ended Test Period at any time outstanding; plus the aggregate total of all other amounts available as a Restricted Debt Payment under Section 6.09(a)(H), which the Borrower may, from time to time, elect to reallocate to the making of Investments pursuant to this Section 6.03(w) (which re-allocation will reduce the amount available thereunder on a dollar-for-dollar basis for so long as, and to the extent that, the Investment made using such reallocated amount remains outstanding);

(x)    to the extent constituting Investments, advances in respect of transfer pricing and cost-sharing arrangements (i.e., “cost-plus” arrangements) that are (A) in the ordinary course of business and consistent with the Group Members’ historical practices and (B) funded not more than 120 days in advance of the applicable transfer pricing and cost-sharing payment;

(y)    (i) loans to employees of a Group Member in an amount not to exceed the greater of $4,000,000 and 1.0% of LQA Revenue for the most recently ended Test Period at any time outstanding and (ii) advances of payroll payments to employees in the ordinary course of business;

(z)    the Permitted Indian Subsidiary Transaction;

(aa)    Investments in the ordinary course of business (x) consisting of customary commercial arrangements and agreements, including program and course agreements, consistent with past practices and (y) in connection with obtaining, maintaining or renewing client and customer contracts and loans or advances made to distributors, customers or clients;

 

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(bb)    Investments in similar businesses in an aggregate amount (together (without duplication) with all Investments outstanding under Section 6.03(q) and Section 6.03(u)) not to exceed the greater of $25,000,000 and 6.0% of LQA Revenue for the most recently ended Test Period at any time outstanding;

(cc)    reorganizations and other activities related to tax planning; provided that, in the reasonable business judgment of the Borrower (in consultation with the Administrative Agent), after giving effect to any such reorganizations and activities, there is no material adverse impact on the value of the (A) Collateral (taken as a whole) granted to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Lenders or (B) Guarantees in favor of the Lenders; and

(dd)    Investments in or by a Receivables Entity arising out of, or in connection with, any Permitted Receivables Financing; provided that any such Investment in a Receivables Entity shall be in the form of a contribution of Receivables Facility Assets in an amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the Investment necessary to support the Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.01(s) (it being understood that upon collection, settlement or write-off of such assets, such amounts shall not be deemed outstanding for purposes of calculating the foregoing limit) or in the form of Equity Interests; provided further that the aggregate amount of Investments at any time outstanding permitted by this clause (dd) shall not exceed $25,000,000.

The amount of any Investment under this Section 6.03 shall be the initial amount of such Investment less all returns of principal, capital, Dividends and other cash returns therefrom (including, without limitation, any repayments, interest, returns, profits, distributions, income or similar amounts received in cash in respect of any Investment in any Unrestricted Subsidiary and the designation thereof) and less all liabilities expressly assumed by another person in connection with the sale of such Investment.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries shall only be permitted pursuant to Section 6.03(q).

Section 6.04    Mergers and Consolidations. Wind up, liquidate or dissolve its affairs or consummate a merger or consolidation, except that the following shall be permitted:

(a)    Asset Sales or other dispositions in compliance with Section 6.05 (other than clause (d) thereof);

(b)    Investments permitted pursuant to Section 6.03 (other than clause (n) thereof);

(c)    (x) any Group Member may merge or consolidate with or into the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor (as long as the Borrower is the surviving person in the case of any merger or consolidation involving the Borrower, and such Subsidiary Guarantor is the surviving person in the case of any merger or consolidation involving such Subsidiary Guarantor (other than mergers or consolidations involving the Borrower)) and (y) any Restricted Subsidiary (other than the Borrower) that is not a Guarantor may merge or consolidate with or into any other Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor;

 

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(d)    a merger or consolidation pursuant to, and in accordance with, the definition of “Permitted Acquisition” to the extent necessary to consummate such Permitted Acquisition;

(e)    any Restricted Subsidiary (but not the Borrower) may dissolve, liquidate or wind up its affairs at any time; provided that (i) such dissolution, liquidation or winding up, as applicable, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (ii) any property or assets of such Restricted Subsidiary that is a Credit Party that exist immediately prior to such dissolution, liquidation or winding up shall be transferred to a Credit Party upon such dissolution, liquidation or winding up; and

(f)    the Closing Date Acquisition.

Section 6.05    Asset Sales. Sell, lease, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of any property, except that the following shall be permitted:

(a)    (x) sales, transfers, leases, subleases and other dispositions of inventory in the ordinary course of business, property no longer used or useful in the business or worn out, obsolete, uneconomical, negligible or surplus property by any Group Member in the ordinary course of business, (y) the abandonment, allowance to lapse or other disposition of Intellectual Property that is, in the reasonable business judgment of the Borrower, immaterial or no longer economically practicable to maintain or (z) sales, transfers, leases, subleases and other dispositions of property by any Group Member (including Intellectual Property) that is, in the reasonable business judgment of the Borrower, immaterial or no longer used or useful in the business, or can be exchanged for consideration that is of greater value than such property so long as, in the cause of this clause (a)(z), such sales, transfers, leases and other dispositions do not exceed $1,000,000 in any fiscal year;

(b)    any sale, lease, assignment, transfer or disposition; provided that (i) such sale, lease, assignment, transfer or disposition shall be for fair market value (as reasonably determined by the Borrower in good faith), (ii) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (iii) the Net Cash Proceeds of such sale, lease, assignment, transfer or disposition shall be applied in accordance with Section 2.10(c), and (iv) with respect to any aggregate consideration received in respect thereof in excess of $11,250,000, at least 75% of the purchase price for all property subject to such sale, lease, assignment, transfer or disposition shall be paid in cash or Cash Equivalents (with assumed liabilities treated as cash and other Designated Noncash Consideration treated as cash) so long as the total Designated Noncash Consideration outstanding at any time does not exceed the greater of $15,000,000 and 3.6% of LQA Revenue for the most recently ended Test Period in the aggregate; provided that Designated Noncash Consideration cannot be utilized for the sale, lease, assignment, transfer, exclusive license or disposition of any material Intellectual Property;

(c)    (x) leases, assignments and subleases of real or personal property in the ordinary course of business and not interfering in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of business of the Group Members and (y) non-exclusive licenses and sublicenses of Intellectual Property otherwise permitted under Section 6.02;

(d)    transactions in compliance with Section 6.04 (other than Section 6.04(a));

 

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(e)    Investments in compliance with Section 6.03, Liens in compliance with Section 6.02, Dividends in compliance with Section 6.06 and Restricted Debt Payments in compliance with Section 6.09;

(f)    sales of any non-core assets (i) acquired in connection with any Permitted Acquisitions or other Investments in compliance with Section 6.03 or (ii) to obtain the approval of an anti-trust authority or required to comply with any order of any other agency, authority or regulatory body or Requirements of Law (including, in each case, in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or other permitted Investment);

(g)    sales, discounts, disposals or forgiveness of customer delinquent notes or accounts receivable (including, in all events, the disposition of delinquent accounts receivable pursuant to any factoring arrangement) in the ordinary course of business in connection with settlement, collection or compromise thereof;

(h)    use of cash and disposition of Cash Equivalents in the ordinary course of business;

(i)    sales, transfers, leases and other dispositions of Real Property to the extent required by any Governmental Authority or otherwise required by any Requirements of law;

(j)    sales, transfers, leases and other dispositions (i) to the Borrower or to any other Credit Party, (ii) to any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party from another Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party (other than T365, T365Co or any of their respective direct or indirect Subsidiaries), or (iii) to any of the Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties (other than T365, T365Co or any of their respective direct or indirect Subsidiaries) from a Credit Party, so long as, such sales, transfers, leases and other dispositions pursuant to this clause (j)(iii) do not exceed $17,500,000 in the aggregate;

(k)    sales, transfers, leases and other dispositions of accounts receivable in connection with the compromise, settlement or collection thereof in the ordinary course of business;

(l)    sales, transfers, leases and other dispositions of property to the extent that such property constitutes an Investment permitted by Section 6.03(g) or another asset received as consideration for the disposition of any asset permitted by this Section 6.05;

(m)    sales or dispositions of immaterial Equity Interests to qualify directors where required by applicable Requirements of Law or to satisfy other similar Requirements of Law with respect to the ownership of Equity Interests;

(n)    any concurrent purchase and sale, swap or exchange of any asset used or useful in the business of the Borrower and the other Restricted Subsidiaries or in any line of business permitted hereunder, or any combination of any such assets and cash or Cash Equivalents, between the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary on one hand and another person on the other;

 

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(o)    dispositions resulting from any casualty or other insured damage to, or any taking under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding of, any property or asset of any Group Member;

(p)    (i) the disposition, unwinding or terminating of Hedging Agreements not entered into for speculative purposes or the transactions contemplated thereby, (ii) to the extent constituting a disposition and otherwise permitted by Sections 6.01(q) or (r), the issuance or sale of any Permitted Convertible Indebtedness (and the performance by the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof of such Person’s obligations thereunder) by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, and (iii) following the occurrence of a Qualified IPO and solely to the extent in connection with Post-Qualified IPO Unsecured Convertible Indebtedness: (A) the unwinding or terminating of any Permitted Warrant Transaction by the Borrower and (B) the unwinding or terminating of any Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction, and in each case of the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the performance by the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof of such Person’s obligations thereunder;

(q)    other sales or dispositions in an amount not to exceed $8,750,000 in any fiscal year;

(r)    Sale Leaseback Transactions in an amount not to exceed $8,750,000 in the aggregate;

(s)    the sale or disposition of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(t)    the surrender or waiver of contractual rights and settlements, releases or waivers of contractual or litigation claims in the ordinary course of business;

(u)    Permitted Liens;

(v)    dispositions scheduled on Schedule 6.05;

(w)    the issuance or sale of Equity Interests in the Borrower to the extent it does not directly or indirectly cause a Change in Control and such issuance or sale is not otherwise prohibited hereunder; and

(x)    dispositions of Receivables Facility Assets in connection with any Permitted Receivables Financing; provided that the aggregate amount of Receivables Facility Assets and other related assets sold in any such transaction shall not exceed the amount necessary to support the Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.01(s) (it being understood that upon collection, settlement or write-off of such assets, such amounts shall not be deemed outstanding for purposes of calculating the foregoing limit); provided, however, that the aggregate amount of dispositions at permitted by this clause (x) in any twelve-month period shall not exceed $25,000,000.

To the extent the Required Lenders or all the Lenders, as applicable, waive the provisions of this Section 6.05 with respect to the sale of any Collateral, or any Collateral is sold as permitted by this Section 6.05, such Collateral (unless sold to a Credit Party) shall be sold automatically free and clear of the Liens created by the Security Documents, and, at the request of the Borrower, the Agents shall take all actions they reasonably deem appropriate in order to effect the foregoing.

 

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Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no Credit Party shall directly or indirectly sell, transfer, assign, grant any exclusive license to, contribute to, or otherwise dispose of, any material Intellectual Property to any Person that is not a Credit Party (including, without limitation, by way of selling, transferring, or otherwise disposing of any Credit Party that owns any such Intellectual Property or has been granted any exclusive license to any such Intellectual Property owned by a Credit Party).

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall any Group Member contribute, sell, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of any Receivables Facility Assets and other related assets, including in connection with any factoring transaction, any receivables transaction, any facilities or programs relating to Receivables Facility Assets or other similar transactions, other than pursuant to clause (x) above and any Receivables Facility Assets and other related assets may not be disposed of and such disposal shall not otherwise be permitted pursuant to any other clause in this Section 6.05.

Section 6.06    Dividends. Authorize, declare or pay, directly or indirectly, any Dividends with respect to any Group Member, except that the following shall be permitted (subject to the proviso in Section 6.03(o)):

(a)    Dividends by any Group Member (x) to the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor, (y) to any Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor; provided that any such Dividend under this clause (y) is either (I) paid only in Equity Interests of such Group Member (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) or (II) if paid in cash, is paid to all shareholders on a pro rata basis and (z) if T365 has declared a Dividend, to the Minority Holder with respect to its interest in T365; provided that any such Dividend under this clause (z) shall be permitted only if (II) it is paid to all shareholders on a pro rata basis and (II) other than the Minority Holder, the only shareholders receiving such Dividends are Credit Parties;

(b)    for any taxable period for which the Borrower or any Subsidiaries of the Borrower are members of a consolidated, combined, unitary, or similar income tax group for federal and/or applicable state or local income tax purposes or are entities treated as disregarded from any such members for U.S. federal income Tax purposes (a “Tax Group”) of which the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower) is the common parent, the Borrower and the Borrower’s Subsidiaries may make Dividends, directly or indirectly, to the Borrower (and the Borrower may pay to any direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower) to permit the parent of such Tax Group to pay any consolidated, combined or similar income Taxes of such Tax Group that are due and payable by the parent of such Tax Group for such taxable period to the extent attributable to the Borrower and/or Subsidiaries of the Borrower, provided that Dividends in respect of an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be permitted only to the extent that Dividends were made by such Unrestricted Subsidiary to such Group Member or any of its Subsidiaries for such purpose; provided further that (x) the amount of Dividends permitted to be made under this Section 6.06(b) for any taxable period shall not exceed the lesser of (A) the amount of such Taxes that would have been due and payable by the Borrower and/or the applicable Subsidiaries of the Borrower had the Borrower and/or such Subsidiaries of the Borrower, as

 

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applicable, been a stand-alone corporate taxpayer (or a stand-alone corporate Tax Group) and (B) the actual Tax liability of the Borrower for such taxable period, (y) to the extent that such Taxes are attributable to Subsidiaries of the Borrower that are not Credit Parties, such Taxes must be funded by such Subsidiaries and (z) if the Borrower receives a refund from a Governmental Authority in respect of any amounts paid pursuant to this Section 6.06(b), any subsequent distributions pursuant to this Section 6.06(b) shall be reduced by the amount of such refund;

(c)    repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon the exercise of stock options if the Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price thereof and satisfaction of any tax obligations related thereto;

(d)    the fees, payments and expenses made in connection with the Transactions or used to fund amounts owed to equityholders in connection therewith (including Dividends paid to holders of Equity Interests of T365 immediately prior to giving effect to the Closing Date Acquisition, or any assignee thereof, in connection with, or as a result of, their exercise of appraisal rights and the resolution or settlement of any claims or actions (whether actual, contingent or potential) with respect thereto, in each case, with respect to the Transactions), in each case to the extent permitted by Section 6.07 (other than clause (a) thereof);

(e)    the Permitted Indian Subsidiary Transaction;

(f)    Dividends made solely in Equity Interests of the Borrower (other than Disqualified Capital Stock);

(g)    so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would immediately result therefrom, Dividends to the extent that payment for such Dividends is made solely with cash contributions from the substantially concurrent issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) of the Borrower, which are Not Otherwise Applied;

(h)    following the consummation of a Qualified IPO, so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of declaration of any such Dividend or would result therefrom, the Borrower and the other Restricted Subsidiaries may (or may make Dividends to any parent company of the Borrower to enable it to) make Dividends with respect to any Equity Interest in any amount of up to 6% per annum of the net cash proceeds from such Qualified IPO;

(i)    so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would immediately result therefrom, payments to repurchase or redeem Qualified Capital Stock of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower) held by current or former officers, directors, employees or consultants (or their transferees, spouses, exspouses, estates, heirs, family members or beneficiaries under their estates) of any Group Member (including, without limitation, upon their death, disability, retirement, severance or termination of employment or service or to make payments on Indebtedness issued to buy such Qualified Capital Stock including, without limitation, upon their death, disability, retirement, severance or termination of employment or service); provided that the aggregate cash consideration (for the avoidance of doubt excluding cancellation of Indebtedness owed by such person) paid for all such redemptions and payments shall not exceed, in any fiscal year, the sum of (i) the greater of

 

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$4,000,000 and 1.0% of LQA Revenue for the most recently ended Test Period, plus (ii) the net cash proceeds of any “key-man” life insurance policies of any Group Member that have not been used to make any repurchases, redemptions or payments under this clause (b); provided, further, that any Dividends or payments permitted to be made (but not made) pursuant to subclause (i) of this clause (b) in a given fiscal year of the Borrower may be carried forward and made in the immediately succeeding fiscal year of the Borrower (and shall be utilized last after all other amounts are utilized); provided, further, that during an Event of Default any payments described in this clause may accrue and shall be permitted to be paid upon such Event of Default no longer existing so long as no other Event of Default is continuing at such time; provided, further, that, at any time after a Qualified IPO, any repurchase or redemption of Qualified Capital Stock of the officers, directors, employees or consultants (or their transferees, spouses, exspouses, estates, heirs, family members or beneficiaries under their estates) of any Group Member as the result of a tender offer made to all holders of such class or series of Qualified Capital Stock shall not be subject to the limitations contained in this clause (i); provided, however, that the foregoing cap in this clause (i) shall not apply with respect to the repurchase of unvested or restricted Qualified Capital Stock of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower) from any officers, directors, employees or consultants of any Group Member upon their death, disability, retirement, severance or termination of employment or service so long as the amount paid to repurchase such unvested or restricted Qualified Capital Stock does not exceed the amount paid to the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower) to purchase such unvested or restricted Capital Stock by such officer, director, employee or consultant.

(j)    following the occurrence of a Qualified IPO and solely to the extent such Dividends are in connection with (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the entry into, payment of any premium with respect to, and the settlement of) Post-Qualified IPO Unsecured Convertible Indebtedness (i) payments of premium in respect of, and otherwise perform its obligations under (including the unwinding of), a Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction permitted or required in accordance with its terms and (ii) the settlement of any related Permitted Warrant Transaction (x) by delivery of shares of the Borrower’s Qualified Capital Stock in the form of common stock upon settlement thereof or (y) by (A) a permitted set-off against the related Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction or (B) payment of an early termination amount thereof in Borrower’s Qualified Capital Stock in the form of common stock upon any early termination thereof; and

(k)    so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would immediately result therefrom, additional Dividends may be made to any equity holder of the Borrower in an aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of $10,000,000 and 2.4% of LQA Revenue for the most recently ended Test Period.

Section 6.07    Transactions with Affiliates. Except as otherwise permitted hereunder, enter into, directly or indirectly, any transactions, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, with any Affiliate of any Group Member (other than among the Borrower and any Guarantor or any entity that becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor or a Borrower as a result of such transactions), other than on terms and conditions at least as favorable to such Group Member (or, in the case of a transaction between a Credit Party and a Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party, such Credit Party) as would reasonably be obtained by such Group Member at that time in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a person other than an Affiliate (as reasonably determined by the Borrower), except that the following shall be permitted:

 

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(a)    transactions among the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiaries that are Guarantors (or transactions solely among Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors) which are not otherwise prohibited by this Agreement or the Loan Documents;

(b)    director, officer and employee compensation (including bonuses) and other benefits (including, without limitation, retirement, health, incentive equity and other benefit plans) and expense reimbursement and indemnification arrangements and severance agreements;

(c)    transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, joint venture partners or purchasers or sellers of goods and services, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise permitted by the Loan Documents;

(d)    transactions in furtherance of consummating any reorganization or other activity related to tax planning otherwise permitted hereunder to the extent that after giving effect thereto, in the reasonable business judgment of the Borrower (in consultation with the Administrative Agent), there is no material adverse impact on the value of the (A) Collateral (taken as a whole) granted to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Lenders or (B) Guarantees in favor of the Lenders;

(e)    any transaction with an Affiliate where the only consideration paid by any Credit Party is Qualified Capital Stock of the Borrower;

(f)    agreements relating to Intellectual Property not interfering in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of business of or the value of such Intellectual Property to the Credit Parties or materially impairing the security interest granted under the Security Agreement therein held by the Collateral Agent;

(g)    any other agreement, arrangement or transaction as in effect on the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 6.07, and any amendment or modification with respect to such agreement, arrangement or transaction, and the performance of obligations thereunder, so long as such amendment or modification is not materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders;

(h)    the Transactions as contemplated by the Transaction Documents, including the payment of any fees, costs or expenses related to such Transactions;

(i)    transactions entered into by any Unrestricted Subsidiary with an Affiliate prior to the re-designation of any such Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary”; provided that such transactions were not entered into in contemplation of such re-designation;

(j)    the existence of, or the performance by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of its obligations under the terms of, the Closing Date Acquisition Agreement and any stockholders or similar agreement (including any registration rights agreement or purchase agreement related thereto) to which it is a party as of the Closing Date and any amendment thereto or similar agreements, transactions or arrangements which it may enter into thereafter; provided, however, that the existence of, or the performance by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of obligations under any future amendment or replacement agreement to any such existing agreement or under any similar agreement, transaction or arrangement entered into after

 

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the Closing Date shall only be permitted by this clause (l) to the extent that the terms of any such amendment or new agreement, transaction or arrangement are not otherwise materially disadvantageous to the Lenders when taken as a whole as compared to the applicable agreement as in effect on the Closing Date;

(k)    any customary transactions with a Receivables Entity effected as part of a Permitted Receivables Financing; and

(l)    the Permitted Indian Subsidiary Transaction.

Section 6.08    Financial Covenant. Permit Liquidity, as of (a) the last day of each month of the Borrower, commencing with the first full month ending after the Closing Date through and including any month ending prior to the consummation of a Qualified IPO, to be less than $25,000,000 and (b) the last day of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower, commencing with the first full fiscal quarter of the Borrower ending after the consummation of a Qualified IPO, to be less than $25,000,000.

Section 6.09    Prepayments of Certain Indebtedness; Modifications of Organizational Documents and Other Documents, etc.

(a)    Directly or indirectly make any voluntary or optional payment or prepayment of, or repurchase, redemption, conversion, exchange, settlement or acquisition for value of, or any prepayment or redemption as a result of any Asset Sale, change of control or similar event of, any Indebtedness for borrowed money outstanding under documents evidencing any (x) Indebtedness that is secured on a junior lien basis to the Obligations, (y) Indebtedness that is unsecured (including, without limitation, any Convertible Indebtedness) or (z) Subordinated Indebtedness (“Restricted Debt Payment”) except (A) in the case of Permitted Convertible Indebtedness, (1) (i) any payments in connection with a Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction to the extent permitted by Section 6.06(j) and (ii) the settlement of any related Permitted Warrant Transaction to the extent permitted by Section 6.06(j) or (b) payment of an early termination amount thereof in the Borrower’s Qualified Capital Stock in the form of common stock upon any early termination thereof, (2) the issuance of Qualified Capital Stock upon the repurchase, redemption, conversion, exchange, exercise or settlement of any security (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the conversion or exchange of any Permitted Convertible Indebtedness into such Qualified Capital Stock), (3) payments of interest under any Permitted Convertible Indebtedness but only to the extent, in each case, not restricted by the Intercreditor Agreement or subordination agreement with respect thereto, and (4) any payments in connection with repurchase, exchange or inducement of the conversion of Permitted Convertible Indebtedness (a “Refinanced Series of Convertible Debt”) by delivery of shares of Borrower’s Qualified Capital Stock in the form of common stock and/or a different series of Permitted Convertible Indebtedness (which such new series of Permitted Convertible Indebtedness replacing such Refinanced Series of Convertible Debt (such new series, a “Refinancing Convertible Notes”) (x) matures after, and does not require any scheduled amortization or other scheduled payments of principal prior to, the analogous date under the indenture governing the Refinanced Series of Convertible Debt that are so repurchased, exchanged or converted, (y) has terms, conditions and covenants that are no less favorable to Borrower than the Refinanced Series of Convertible Debt that are so repurchased, exchanged or converted (as determined by the Borrower in good faith and in its reasonable

 

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discretion) and (z) would otherwise qualify as and be permitted hereunder as the same type of Permitted Convertible Indebtedness as such Refinanced Series of Convertible Debt being so repurchased, exchanged or converted as if such Refinancing Convertible Notes was being issued on such date under Section 6.01(q) or (r)) and/or by payment of cash (in an amount that does not exceed the proceeds received by the Borrower from the substantially concurrent issuance of shares of Borrower’s common stock and/or Refinancing Convertible Notes plus the net cash proceeds, if any, received by the Borrower pursuant to the related exercise or early unwind or termination of the related Permitted Bond Hedge Transactions and Permitted Warrant Transactions, if any, pursuant to the immediately following proviso), in each case, to the extent any such amounts are not otherwise applied; provided that, substantially concurrently with, or a commercially reasonable period of time before or after, the related settlement date for the Refinanced Series of Convertible Debt that are so repurchased, exchanged or converted, the Borrower shall (and, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be permitted hereunder to) exercise or unwind or terminate early (whether in cash, shares or any combination thereof) the portion of the Permitted Bond Hedge Transactions and Permitted Warrant Transactions, if any, corresponding to such Refinanced Series of Convertible Debt that are so repurchased, exchanged or converted, (B) in connection with any Permitted Refinancing thereof but only to the extent, in each case, not restricted by the Intercreditor Agreement or subordination agreement with respect thereto, (C) prepaying, redeeming, purchasing, defeasing or otherwise satisfying prior to the scheduled maturity thereof (or setting apart any property for such purpose) (1) in the case of any Group Member that is not a Credit Party, any Indebtedness owing by such Group Member to any other Group Member, (2) otherwise, any Indebtedness owing to any Credit Party and (3) so long as no Event of Default is continuing or would immediately result therefrom, any mandatory prepayments of Indebtedness incurred under clauses (b) and (e) of Section 6.01 and any Permitted Refinancing thereof, (D) making regularly scheduled payments of interest in respect of such Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness owing to any Affiliate of the Borrower other than a Credit Party or (if owed by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party) any Restricted Subsidiary) and payments of fees, expenses and indemnification obligations thereunder but only to the extent, in each case, not restricted by the Intercreditor Agreement or subordination agreement with respect thereto, (E) so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would immediately result therefrom, to the extent that such payment is made solely with cash contributions from the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) of the Borrower, which are and Not Otherwise Applied and are received substantially concurrently with such Restricted Debt Payment, (F) converting (or exchanging) any Indebtedness to (or for) Qualified Capital Stock of the Borrower, (G) any AHYDO catch-up payments with respect thereto, (H) so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is then continuing, making prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasance or other satisfaction of Indebtedness in an aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of $15,000,000 and 3.6% of LQA Revenue for the most recently ended Test Period, (I) [reserved], (J) any payments of intercompany obligations permitted under an intercompany subordination agreement or the other subordination terms approved by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.01(l) hereunder, and (K) in connection with the refinancing or exchange of any Indebtedness acquired in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or similar Investment to the extent such Indebtedness was not incurred in contemplation of such Permitted Acquisition or similar Investment to the extent such refinancing is permitted hereunder;

 

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(b)    at no time shall the direct ownership by the Credit Parties of the Equity Interests of T365 constitute less than 90.1% of the total outstanding Equity Interests thereof (on a fully diluted basis);

(c)    (i) terminate, amend, modify or change any of its Organizational Documents (including, without limitation, the Organizational Documents of T365 and the contractual agreements relating to the ownership, voting and economic rights of the Minority Holder with respect to its equity interest in T365) other than any such amendments, modifications or changes or such new agreements which are not materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders; provided that any adverse change to the rights of the Administrative Agent and/or the Lenders in the T365 Equity Interests shall be deemed material; provided, further that any customary modifications of the Organizational Documents made in connection with a Qualified IPO will be deemed neither material nor adverse to the interest of the Lenders or (ii) otherwise cause the Organizational Documents of T365 and any other contractual agreements relating to the ownership, voting and economic rights of the Minority Holder with respect to T365 to permit (and not require any consent with respect to) the unrestricted pledge of the Equity Interests in T365 held by any Credit Party (the “T365 Equity Interests”), including (x) permitting and granting all ownership and equity appurtenant thereto or required for the Collateral Agent to have a full pledge of such T365 Equity Interests and (y) not prohibiting or restricting the transfer of ownership or rights or enforcement of the pledge rights by the Collateral Agent, in each case, including by enforcement of proxy rights, sale, disposal or otherwise, of the T365 Equity Interests or otherwise prohibiting or restricting the Collateral Agent or the Lenders owning, controlling, allocating, directing or otherwise exercising rights under the T365 Equity Interests. Notwithstanding anything else contained herein to the contrary, the Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and each Lender party hereto hereby acknowledge and agree that (x) the T365 Equity Interests and (y) the Equity Interests in T365Co held by any Credit Party (the “T365Co Equity Interests”) are in each case subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Amended and Restated Bylaws of T365 or the share legend of T365Co, as applicable, and any transfer, sale or other conveyance of either the T365 Equity Interests or the T365Co Equity Interests is in each case subject in all respects to the prior written consent of the California Department of Insurance;

(d)    amend, modify or change any term or condition of documents evidencing Indebtedness that is secured on a junior lien basis to the Obligations, Indebtedness that is unsecured or Subordinated Indebtedness (including, without limitation, any Convertible Indebtedness), (i) except with respect to any Permitted Convertible Indebtedness, other than in connection with a Permitted Refinancing, if the outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness exceeds $17,500,000 in the aggregate, in any manner material and adverse to the interests of the Lenders, (ii) in the case of Permitted Convertible Indebtedness, other than (1) in connection with a permitted exchange of a Refinanced Series of Convertible Debt with Refinancing Convertible Notes to the extent permitted under Section 6.09(a)(A)(4) or (2) to the extent such Permitted Convertible Indebtedness would otherwise qualify as and be permitted hereunder as the same type of Permitted Convertible Indebtedness being so amended, modified or changed as if such Permitted Convertible Indebtedness was being issued on such date of the amendment, modification and/or change under Section 6.01(q) or (r), or (iii) in contravention of any Intercreditor Agreement or subordination provisions with respect to such Indebtedness, in each case without the consent of the Required Lenders (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); and

 

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(e)    terminate, amend, modify or change the Closing Date Acquisition Agreement (or many material documents related thereto) other than any such amendments, modifications or changes or such new agreements which are not materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders.

Section 6.10    No Further Negative Pledge; Subsidiary Distributions. Enter into any agreement, instrument, deed or lease which (a) prohibits or limits the ability of any Credit Party to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of their respective properties or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or which requires the grant of any security for an obligation if security is granted for another obligation or (b) prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party from paying dividends or other distributions with respect to any of its Equity Interests or to make or repay loans or advances to any Restricted Subsidiary or to Guarantee Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case, except the following: (i) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and any documents governing any Incremental Facility or, in each case, any Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof; (ii) covenants in documents creating Liens permitted by Section 6.02 prohibiting further Liens on the properties encumbered thereby; (iii) any other agreement that does not restrict in any manner (directly or indirectly) Liens created pursuant to the Loan Documents on any Collateral securing the Secured Obligations and does not require the direct or indirect granting of any Lien securing any Indebtedness or other obligation by virtue of the granting of Liens on or pledge of property of any Credit Party to secure the Secured Obligations; (iv) customary covenants and restrictions in any indenture, agreement, document, instrument or other arrangement relating to non-material assets or business of any Subsidiary existing prior to the consummation of a Permitted Acquisition in which such Subsidiary was acquired (and not created in contemplation of such Permitted Acquisition); (v) customary restrictions on cash or other deposits; (vi) net worth provisions in leases and other agreements entered into by a Group Member in the ordinary course of business and/or in the customary documents entered into in connection with any Permitted Receivables Facility; (vii) contractual encumbrances or restrictions existing on the Closing Date; and (viii) any prohibition or limitation that (I) exists pursuant to applicable Requirements of Law, (II) consists of customary restrictions and conditions contained in any agreement relating to the sale of any property permitted under Section 6.05, stock sale agreement, joint venture agreement, sale/leaseback agreement, purchase agreements, or acquisition agreements (including by way of merger, acquisition or consolidation) entered into by a Credit Party or any Subsidiary solely to the extent pending the consummation of such transaction, which covenant or restriction is limited to the assets that are the subject of such agreements, (III) restricts subletting or assignment of leasehold interests contained in any Lease governing a leasehold interest of a Credit Party or a Subsidiary, or (IV) is imposed by any amendments or refinancings that are otherwise permitted by the Loan Documents of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in immediately preceding clauses (i) through (viii) of this Section 6.10; provided that such amendments and refinancings are no more materially restrictive with respect to such prohibitions and limitations than those prior to such amendment or refinancing.

Section 6.11    Nature of Business. The Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries will not engage in any material line of business other than those material lines of business substantially similar to the lines of business conducted by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the Closing Date or any business reasonably related, similar, corollary, complementary, incidental or ancillary thereto.

 

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Section 6.12    Fiscal Year. Change its fiscal year end date to a date other than December 31, other than with the previous written consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

ARTICLE VII

GUARANTEE

Section 7.01    The Guarantee. Each Guarantor and the Borrower hereby jointly and severally guarantees, as a primary obligor and not as a surety, to each Secured Party and its successors and permitted assigns, the prompt payment in full when due (whether at stated maturity, by required prepayment, declaration, demand, or acceleration or otherwise) of the principal of and interest on (including any interest, fees, costs or charges that would accrue but for the provisions of Title 11 of the United States Code after any bankruptcy or insolvency petition under Title 11 of the United States Code) the Loans made by the Lenders to, and the Notes held by each Lender of, the Borrower, and all other Secured Obligations from time to time owing to the Secured Parties by any Credit Party under any Loan Document strictly in accordance with the terms thereof (such obligations being herein collectively called the “Guaranteed Obligations”). Each Guarantor and the Borrower hereby jointly and severally agree that if, in the case of such Guarantor, the Borrower or any other Guarantor, and in the case of the Borrower, any Guarantor, shall fail to pay in full when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) any of the Guaranteed Obligations, the Borrower and the Guarantors will promptly pay the same in cash, without any demand or notice whatsoever, and that in the case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due (whether at extended maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) in accordance with the terms of such extension or renewal.

Section 7.02    Obligations Unconditional. The obligations of the Guarantors and, as applicable, the Borrower under Section 7.01 shall constitute a guaranty of payment and performance (and not collection) of Guaranteed Obligations and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Requirements of Law, are absolute, irrevocable and unconditional, and joint and several, irrespective of the value, genuineness, validity, regularity or enforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations under this Agreement, the Notes, if any, or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein, or any substitution, release or exchange of any other guarantee of or security for any of the Guaranteed Obligations, and, irrespective of any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or guarantor (except for Payment in Full of the Guaranteed Obligations). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing and subject to applicable law, it is agreed that the occurrence of any one or more of the following shall not alter or impair the liability of the Credit Parties hereunder, which shall remain absolute, irrevocable and unconditional under any and all circumstances as described above:

(a)    at any time or from time to time, without notice to the Credit Parties, the time for any performance of or compliance with any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be extended, or such performance or compliance shall be waived;

 

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(b)    any of the acts mentioned in any of the provisions of this Agreement or the Notes, if any, or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein shall be done or omitted (except for Payment in Full of the Guaranteed Obligations);

(c)    the maturity of any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be accelerated, or any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be amended in any respect, or any right under the Loan Documents or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein shall be amended or waived in any respect or any other guarantee of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or any security therefor shall be released or exchanged in whole or in part or otherwise dealt with;

(d)    any Lien or security interest granted to, or in favor of, any Lender, the Issuing Bank, the Agent or other Secured Party as security for any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall fail to be valid and perfected;

(e)    any exercise of remedies with respect to any security for the Guaranteed Obligations (including, without limitation, any collateral, including the Collateral securing or purporting to secure any of the Guaranteed Obligations) at such time and in such order and in such manner as the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties may decide and whether or not every aspect thereof is commercially reasonable and whether or not such action constitutes an election of remedies and even if such action operates to impair or extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy that any Credit Party would otherwise have and without limiting the generality of the foregoing but other than with respect to any rights expressly set forth herein or in any other Loan Document, each Credit Party hereby expressly waives any and all benefits which might otherwise be available to such Credit Party in its capacity as a guarantor under applicable law; or

(f)    the release of any other Guarantor pursuant to Section 7.09 or 9.10.

The Credit Parties hereby expressly waive, to the extent permitted by law, diligence, presentment, demand of payment, protest and all notices whatsoever (other than any notices expressly required hereby or by any other Loan Document), and any requirement that any Secured Party exhaust any right, power or remedy or proceed against the Borrower or any other Credit Party under this Agreement or the Notes, if any, or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein, or against any other person under any other guarantee of, or security for, any of the Guaranteed Obligations. The Credit Parties waive, to the extent permitted by law, any and all notice of the creation, renewal, extension, waiver, termination or accrual of any of the Guaranteed Obligations and notice of or proof of reliance by any Secured Party upon this Guarantee or acceptance of this Guarantee, and the Guaranteed Obligations, and any of them, shall be deemed to have been created, contracted or incurred in reliance upon this Guarantee, and all dealings between the Borrower and/or the Guarantors on the one hand and the Secured Parties on the other hand shall likewise be presumed to have been had or consummated in reliance upon this Guarantee. This Guarantee shall be construed as a continuing, absolute, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of payment and performance of the Guaranteed Obligations without regard to any right of offset with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations at any time or from time to time held by Secured Parties, and the obligations and liabilities of the Credit Parties hereunder shall not be conditioned or contingent upon the pursuit by the Secured Parties or any other person at any time of any right or remedy against the Borrower or any other Credit Party or against any

 

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other person which may be or become liable in respect of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations or against any collateral security or guarantee therefor or right of offset with respect thereto. This Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect and be binding in accordance with and to the extent of its terms upon the Credit Parties and the successors and assigns thereof, and shall inure to the benefit of the Lenders, and their respective successors and permitted assigns, notwithstanding that from time to time during the term of this Agreement there may be no Guaranteed Obligations outstanding.

Without limitation of the foregoing, each Credit Party waives all rights and defenses arising out of any applicable Laws and applicable case law to the effect that a guarantor may be discharged if the beneficiary of the guaranty alters the original obligation of the principal, fails to inform the guarantor of material information pertinent to the principal or any collateral, elects remedies that may impair the subrogation rights of the guarantor against the principal or that may impair the value of any collateral, fails to accord the guarantor the protections afforded a debtor under Article 9 of applicable Uniform Commercial Code or otherwise takes or fails to take any action that prejudices such Credit Party. Each Credit Party waives any rights it may have to require the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party first to take any specific or particular action under the Loan Documents (or with respect to the Collateral). If the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party decides to proceed first to exercise any other remedy or right, or to proceed against another person or any collateral, the Administrative Agent or such Secured Party shall retain all of its rights under the Loan Documents. Each Credit Party that is a Guarantor waives any right it has to terminate or revoke the continuing nature of the Guaranty (and its application to any Obligations covered by such Guaranty arising after any attempt to terminate the Guaranty).

Section 7.03    Reinstatement. The obligations of the Credit Parties under this Article VII shall be automatically reinstated if and to the extent that for any reason any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower or other Credit Party in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations is rescinded, must be otherwise restored by any holder of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or is returned on the reasonable advice of counsel, in each case, as a result of any proceedings in bankruptcy or reorganization or pursuant to a Debtor Relief Law.

Section 7.04    Subrogation; Subordination. Each Credit Party hereby agrees that, until the Obligations have been Paid in Full and the Commitments have been terminated or expired, it shall subordinate and not exercise any claim and shall not exercise any right or remedy, direct or indirect, arising by reason of any performance by it of its guarantee in Section 7.01, whether by subrogation, contribution or otherwise, against the Borrower or any other Guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or any security for any of the Guaranteed Obligations (provided however, that such rights and remedies shall remain waived and released at any time that any Agent (or any of the Secured Parties (with or through their designees)) has acquired all or any portion of the Collateral by credit bid, strict foreclosure or through any other exercise of remedies available pursuant to the Loan Documents). Any Indebtedness of any Credit Party permitted pursuant to Section 6.01(l) shall be subordinated to such Credit Party’s Guaranteed Obligations pursuant to customary intercreditor arrangements satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; provided that upon the Payment in Full of the Guaranteed Obligations and the expiration or termination of the Commitments of the Lenders under this Agreement, without any further action by any person, the Guarantors shall be automatically subrogated to the rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and may exercise their rights of contribution pursuant to Section 7.10, in each case to the extent of any payment hereunder.

 

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Section 7.05    Remedies. Subject to the terms of any applicable Intercreditor Agreement, the Guarantors jointly and severally agree that, as between the Guarantors and the Lenders, the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement and the Notes, if any, may be declared to be forthwith due and payable as provided in Section 8.01 (and shall be deemed to have become automatically due and payable in the circumstances provided in Section 8.01) for purposes of Section 7.01, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such declaration (or such obligations from becoming automatically due and payable) as against the Borrower and that, in the event of such declaration (or such obligations being deemed to have become automatically due and payable), such obligations (whether or not due and payable by the Borrower) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for purposes of Section 7.01.

Section 7.06    Instrument for the Payment of Money. Each Guarantor and the Borrower hereby acknowledges that the guarantee in this Article VII constitutes an instrument for the payment of money, and consents and agrees that any Lender or Agent, at its sole option, in the event of a dispute by such Guarantor or the Borrower in the payment of any moneys due hereunder, shall have the right to bring a motion or action under New York CPLR Section 3213.

Section 7.07    Continuing Guarantee. The guarantee in this Article VII is a continuing guarantee of payment, and shall apply to all Guaranteed Obligations whenever arising.

Section 7.08    General Limitation on Guarantee Obligations. In any action or proceeding involving any state corporate, limited partnership or limited liability company law, or any applicable state, federal or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other law affecting the rights of creditors generally, if the obligations of any Guarantor or the Borrower under Section 7.01 would otherwise be held or determined to be void, voidable, invalid or unenforceable, or subordinated to the claims of any other creditors, on account of the amount of its liability under Section 7.01, then, notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, the amount of such liability shall, without any further action by such Guarantor or the Borrower, any Credit Party or any other person, be automatically limited and reduced to the highest amount (after giving effect to the right of contribution established in Section 7.10) that is valid and enforceable and not subordinated to the claims of other creditors as determined in such action or proceeding.

Section 7.09    Release of Guarantors. Subject to the proviso of Section 9.10(a), if, in compliance with the terms and provisions of the Loan Documents, all or substantially all of the Equity Interests of any Subsidiary Guarantor are sold or otherwise transferred (including without limitation by way of merger, consolidation or amalgamation) (a “Transferred Guarantor”) to a person or persons, none of which is the Borrower or a Guarantor, such Transferred Guarantor shall, effective immediately upon the consummation of such sale or transfer, be automatically released from its obligations under this Agreement (including under Section 10.03 hereof) and its obligations to pledge and grant any Collateral owned by it pursuant to any Security Document and the pledge of such Equity Interests to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Security Agreements shall be automatically released, and, the Collateral Agent shall (at the expense and request of the Borrower) take such actions as are necessary to effect each release described in this Section 7.09 in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Security Documents; provided that in each case

 

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of this Section 7.09, upon the Collateral Agent’s reasonable request, the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying that any such transaction has been consummated in compliance with the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents and that such release is permitted hereby.

Section 7.10    Right of Contribution. Each Guarantor hereby agrees that to the extent that such Guarantor shall have paid more than its proportionate share of any payment made hereunder, such Guarantor shall be entitled to seek and receive contribution from and against any other Guarantor hereunder which has not paid its proportionate share of such payment, in an amount not to exceed the highest amount that would be valid and enforceable and not subordinated to the claims of other creditors as determined in any action or proceeding involving any state corporate, limited partnership or limited liability law, or any applicable state, federal or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other law affecting the rights of creditors generally. Each such Guarantor’s right of contribution shall be subject to the terms and conditions of Section 7.04. The provisions of this Section 7.10 shall in no respect limit the obligations and liabilities of any Guarantor to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, the Swingline Lender and the Lenders, and each Guarantor shall remain liable to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, the Swingline Lender and the Lenders for the full amount guaranteed by such Guarantor hereunder.

ARTICLE VIII

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

Section 8.01    Events of Default. For so long as this Agreement remains outstanding, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of the following events (“Events of Default”):

(a)    default shall be made in the payment of any principal of any Loan or any Reimbursement Obligations when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due date thereof (including the Term Loan Maturity Date or Revolving Maturity Date) or at a date fixed for mandatory prepayment thereof or by acceleration thereof or otherwise;

(b)    default shall be made in the payment of any (x) interest on any Loan or (y) any Fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in clause (a) above) due under any Loan Document, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such default shall continue unremedied for, in the case of clause (x), a period of three (3) business days or, in the case of clause (y), a period of five (5) Business Days;

(c)    any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of any Group Member in any Loan Document, Borrowing Request, LC Request or any representation, warranty, statement or information contained in any certificate furnished by or on behalf of any Group Member pursuant to any Loan Document, shall prove to have been false or misleading in any material respect when so made or deemed made, and such false or misleading representation, warranty, statement or information, to the extent capable of being cured, shall continue to be false, misleading or otherwise unremedied, or shall not be waived, for a period of thirty (30) days (provided that such 30-day grace period shall not apply to the Specified Representations);

 

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(d)    default shall be made in the due observance or performance by any Group Member of any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 5.02(a) or Section 5.03(a) (only with respect to legal existence in the Borrower’s state of organization), Section 5.08, Section 5.10, Section 5.12, Section 5.15 or in Article VI;

(e)    default shall be made in the due observance or performance by any Group Member of any covenant, condition or agreement contained in any Loan Document other than those specified in clauses (a), (b) or (d) immediately above or those specified in clause (m) below and such default shall continue unremedied or shall not be waived for a period of thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice thereof from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower;

(f)    any Credit Party shall fail to (i) pay any principal or interest, due in respect of any other Indebtedness (other than the Obligations, any letters of credit set forth on Schedule 6.01(b) and intercompany Indebtedness), when and as the same shall become due and payable beyond any applicable grace period, or (ii) observe or perform any other term, covenant, condition or agreement contained in any agreement or instrument evidencing or governing any such Indebtedness, if the effect of any failure referred to in this clause (ii) is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or a trustee or other representative on its or their behalf to cause (with or without the giving of notice but taking into account any applicable grace periods or waivers), such Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity or become subject to a mandatory offer to purchase by the obligor; provided that this clause (ii) shall not apply to (x) secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the sale, transfer or other disposition (including as a result of a casualty or condemnation event) of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness (to the extent such sale, transfer or other disposition is permitted under this Agreement and such Indebtedness is repaid in accordance with its terms), (y) Indebtedness that is convertible into Equity Interests and converted into Equity Interests in accordance with its terms and such conversion is permitted hereunder or (z) any event which triggers any conversion rights of holders of Permitted Convertible Indebtedness that is not the result of a breach or default by a Group Member of the terms of an agreement governing such Permitted Convertible Indebtedness; provided, further, that no Event of Default shall occur pursuant to this clause (f) unless the aggregate outstanding principal amount of any such Indebtedness referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) exceeds $17,500,000 (provided that, such failure is unremedied and is not waived by the holders of such Indebtedness);

(g)    an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed in a court of competent jurisdiction seeking (i) relief in respect of any Group Member (other than any Immaterial Subsidiary), or of all or substantially all of the property of any Group Member (other than any Immaterial Subsidiary), under Title 11 of the U.S. Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or any other federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law; (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for any Group Member (other than any Immaterial Subsidiary) or for all or substantially of the property of any Group Member (other than any Immaterial Subsidiary); or (iii) the winding-up or liquidation of any Group Member (other than any Immaterial Subsidiary); and such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for sixty (60) days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;

 

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(h)    any Group Member (other than any Immaterial Subsidiary) shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding, or file any petition, seeking relief under Title 11 of the United States Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or any other federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law; (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or the filing of any petition described in clause (g) above; (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for any Group Member (other than any Immaterial Subsidiary) or for a substantial part of the property of any Group Member (other than any Immaterial Subsidiary); (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding; (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; (vi) become unable, admit in writing its inability, or fail generally to, pay its debts as they become due; or (vii) take any corporate (or equivalent) action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;

(i)    there is entered against any Credit Party or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Immaterial Subsidiary) final, non-appealable judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $17,500,000 (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance or a third-party indemnification agreement) and such judgments or orders shall not have been satisfied, vacated, discharged or stayed or bonded pending an appeal for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days or any action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to levy upon properties of any Credit Party or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Immaterial Subsidiary) to enforce any such judgment (other than the filing of a judgment Lien);

(j)    any material provision of any Loan Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder (including as a result of a transaction permitted under Section 6.04 or Section 6.05) or solely as a result of acts or omissions by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or the Payment in Full of all of the Obligations and termination of the Commitments, ceases to be in full force and effect or ceases (in the case of any Security Document) to create a valid and perfected first priority lien (subject to Permitted Liens) on the Collateral covered thereby; or any Credit Party contests in writing the validity or enforceability of any material provision of any Loan Document; or any Credit Party denies in writing that it has any or further liability or obligation under any material provision of any Loan Document (other than as a result of Payment in Full of the Obligations and termination of the Commitments), or purports in writing to revoke or rescind any material provision of any Loan Document;

(k)    there shall have occurred an ERISA Event that, when taken either alone or together with all other ERISA Events, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(l)    there shall have occurred a Change in Control; or

(m)    default shall be made in the due observance or performance by any Group Member of any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 5.01 and such default shall continue unremedied or shall not be waived for a period of ten (10) days after the applicable deadline for delivery set forth in Section 5.01.

 

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then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to a Credit Party described in clause (g) or (h) above), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, with the prior consent of the Required Lenders, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower, take either or both of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate forthwith the Commitments (if any) and (ii) declare the Loans and the Reimbursement Obligations then outstanding to be forthwith due and payable in whole or in part, whereupon the principal of the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and any unpaid accrued fees and all other Obligations accrued hereunder and under any other Loan Document, shall become forthwith due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or any other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower and the Guarantors, anything contained herein or in any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding; and in any event, with respect to the events described in clause (g) or (h) above with respect to a Credit Party, the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and any unpaid accrued fees and all other Obligations accrued hereunder and under any other Loan Document, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or any other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower and the Guarantors, anything contained herein or in any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, any Default or Event of Default under this Agreement or similarly defined term under any other Loan Document, shall be deemed not to “exist” or be “continuing” (or other similar expression with respect thereto) if the events, acts or conditions that gave rise to such Event of Default have been remedied or cured (including by payment, notice, taking of any action or omitting to take any action) or have ceased to exist or if such Event of Default has been waived.

Section 8.02    Application of Proceeds. Subject to the terms of any applicable Intercreditor Agreement, if applicable, the proceeds received by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent in respect of any sale of, collection from or other realization upon all or any part of the Collateral or the Guarantees pursuant to the exercise by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents, of its remedies shall be applied, in full or in part, together with any other sums then held by the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Agreement, promptly by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, as follows:

(a)    first, to the payment of all reasonable and documented costs and expenses, fees, commissions and taxes of such sale, collection or other realization including compensation to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and their respective agents and counsel, and all expenses, liabilities and advances made or incurred by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent in connection therewith and all amounts for which the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent is entitled to indemnification pursuant to the provisions of any Loan Document, together with interest on each such amount at the highest rate then in effect under this Agreement from and after the date such amount is due, owing and unpaid until paid in full;

 

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(b)    second, to the payment of all other reasonable and documented costs and expenses of such sale, collection or other realization (including compensation to the other Secured Parties and their agents and counsel and all costs, liabilities and advances made or incurred by the other Secured Parties in connection therewith), together with interest on each such amount at the highest rate then in effect under this Agreement from and after the date such amount is due, owing or unpaid until paid in full;

(c)        third, without duplication of amounts applied pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) above, to the payment in full in cash, pro rata, of interest and other amounts constituting Obligations (other than principal, any premium thereon, Reimbursement Obligations and obligations to cash-collateralize Letters of Credit), in each case equally and ratably in accordance with the respective amounts thereof then due and owing;

(d)        fourth, to the payment in full in cash, pro rata, of the principal amount of the Obligations and any premium thereon (including Reimbursement Obligations and obligations to cash-collateralize Letters of Credit); and

(e)        fifth, the balance, if any, to the person lawfully entitled thereto (including the applicable Credit Party or its successors or assigns) or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

In the event that any such proceeds are insufficient to pay in full the items described in the preceding sentences of this Section 8.02, the Credit Parties shall remain liable, jointly and severally, for any deficiency.

ARTICLE IX

THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND THE COLLATERAL AGENT

Section 9.01    Appointment and Authority.

(a)        Appointment of Administrative Agent. Each Lender and each Issuing Bank hereby appoints Owl Rock (together with any successor Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.09) as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to (i) execute and deliver the Loan Documents and accept delivery thereof on its behalf from any Credit Party, (ii) take such action on its behalf and to exercise all rights, powers and remedies and perform the duties as are expressly delegated to the Administrative Agent under such Loan Documents and (iii) exercise such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.

(b)        Duties as Collateral and Disbursing Agent. Without limiting the generality of clause (a) above, the Administrative Agent shall have the sole and exclusive right and authority (to the exclusion of the Lenders and Issuing Banks), and is hereby authorized, to (i) act as the disbursing and collecting agent for the Lenders and the Issuing Banks with respect to all payments and collections arising in connection with the Loan Documents (including in any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceeding), and each Person making any payment in connection with any Loan Document to any Secured Party is hereby authorized to make such payment to the Administrative Agent, (ii) file and prove claims and file other documents necessary or desirable to allow the claims of the Secured Parties with respect to any Obligation in any proceeding described in Section 8.01(g) or (h) or any other bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceeding (but not to vote, consent or otherwise act on behalf of such Secured Party), (iii) act as collateral agent for each

 

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Secured Party for purposes of the perfection of all Liens created by such agreements and all other purposes stated therein, (iv) manage, supervise and otherwise deal with the Collateral, (v) take such other action as is necessary or desirable to maintain the perfection and priority of the Liens created or purported to be created by the Loan Documents, (vi) except as may be otherwise specified in any Loan Document, exercise all remedies given to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties with respect to the Collateral, whether under the Loan Documents, applicable Requirements of Law or otherwise and (vii) execute any amendment, consent or waiver under the Loan Documents on behalf of any Lender that has consented in writing to such amendment, consent or waiver; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent hereby appoints, authorizes and directs each Lender and Issuing Bank to act as collateral sub-agent for the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks for purposes of the perfection of all Liens with respect to the Collateral, including any deposit account maintained by a Credit Party with, and cash and Cash Equivalents held by, such Lender or Issuing Bank, and may further authorize and direct the Lenders and the Issuing Banks to take further actions as collateral sub-agents for purposes of enforcing such Liens or otherwise to transfer the Collateral subject thereto to the Administrative Agent, and each Lender and Issuing Bank hereby agrees to take such further actions to the extent, and only to the extent, so authorized and directed.

(c)        Limited Duties. Under the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent (i) is acting solely on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks (except to the limited extent provided in Section 10.04(b) with respect to the Register and in Section 9.11 with respect to the other Secured Parties), with duties that are entirely administrative in nature, notwithstanding the use of the defined terms “Administrative Agent” and “Collateral Agent”, the terms “agent”, “administrative agent” and “collateral agent” and similar terms in any Loan Document to refer to the Administrative Agent, which terms are used for title purposes only, (ii) is not assuming any obligation under any Loan Document other than as expressly set forth therein or any role as agent, fiduciary or trustee of or for any Lender, Issuing Bank or any other Secured Party and (iii) shall have no implied functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or other liabilities under any Loan Document, and each Lender and Issuing Bank hereby waives and agrees not to assert any claim against the Administrative Agent based on the roles, duties and legal relationships expressly disclaimed in clauses (i) through (iii) above.

Section 9.02    Binding Effect. Each Lender and each Issuing Bank agrees that (i) any action taken by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders (or, if expressly required hereby, such greater or other proportion of the Lenders) in accordance with the provisions of the Loan Documents, (ii) any action taken by the Administrative Agent in reliance upon the instructions of Required Lenders (or, where so required, such greater proportion) and (iii) the exercise by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders (or, where so required, such greater proportion) of the powers set forth herein or therein, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto, shall be authorized and binding upon all of the Secured Parties.

Section 9.03    Use of Discretion.

(a)        No Action without Instructions. The Administrative Agent shall not be required to exercise any discretion or take, or to omit to take, any action, including with respect to enforcement or collection, except any action it is required to take or omit to take (i) under any Loan Document or (ii) pursuant to instructions from the Required Lenders (or, where expressly required by the terms of this Agreement, the Required Revolving Lenders or such greater or other proportion of the Lenders).

 

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(b)        Right Not to Follow Certain Instructions. Notwithstanding clause (a) above, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take, or to omit to take, any action (i) unless, upon demand, the Administrative Agent receives an indemnification satisfactory to it from the Lenders (or, to the extent applicable and acceptable to the Administrative Agent, any other Secured Party) against all liabilities that, by reason of such action or omission, may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent or any Related Party thereof or (ii) that is, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent or its counsel, contrary to any Loan Document or applicable Requirements of Law.

Section 9.04    Delegation of Rights and Duties. The Administrative Agent may, upon any term or condition it specifies, delegate or exercise any of its rights, powers and remedies under, and delegate or perform any of its duties or any other action with respect to, any Loan Document by or through any trustee, co-agent, employee, attorney-in-fact and any other Person (including any Secured Party). Any such Person shall benefit from this Article IX to the extent provided by the Administrative Agent.

Section 9.05    Reliance and Liability.

(a)        The Administrative Agent may, without incurring any liability hereunder, (i) treat the payee of any Note as its holder until such Note has been assigned in accordance with Section 10.04(b), (ii) rely on the Register to the extent set forth in Section 10.04(c), (iii) consult with any of its Related Parties and, whether or not selected by it, any other advisors, accountants and other experts (including advisors to, and accountants and experts engaged by, any Credit Party) and (iv) rely and act upon any document and information (including those transmitted by electronic or other information transmission systems) and any telephone message or conversation, in each case believed by it to be genuine and transmitted, signed or otherwise authenticated by the appropriate parties; and

(b)        None of the Administrative Agent and its Related Parties shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by any of them under or in connection with any Loan Document, and each Lender, each Issuing Bank and the Credit Parties hereby waive and shall not assert any right, claim or cause of action based thereon, except to the extent of liabilities resulting primarily from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Administrative Agent or, as the case may be, such Related Party (each as determined in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction) in connection with the duties expressly set forth herein. Without limiting the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:

(i)        shall not be responsible or otherwise incur liability for any action or omission taken in reliance upon the instructions of the Required Lenders or for the actions or omissions of any of its Related Parties selected with reasonable care (other than employees, officers and directors of the Administrative Agent, when acting on behalf of the Administrative Agent);

 

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(ii)        shall not be responsible to any Secured Party for the due execution, legality, validity, enforceability, effectiveness, genuineness, sufficiency or value of, or the attachment, perfection or priority of any Lien created or purported to be created under or in connection with, any Loan Document;

(iii)        makes no warranty or representation, and shall not be responsible, to any Secured Party for any statement, document, information, representation or warranty made or furnished by or on behalf of any Related Party or any Credit Party in connection with any Loan Document or any transaction contemplated therein or any other document or information with respect to any Credit Party, whether or not transmitted or (except for documents expressly required under any Loan Document to be transmitted to the Lenders) omitted to be transmitted by the Administrative Agent, including as to completeness, accuracy, scope or adequacy thereof, or for the scope, nature or results of any due diligence performed by the Administrative Agent in connection with the Loan Documents; and

(iv)        shall not have any duty to ascertain or to inquire as to the performance or observance of any provision of any Loan Document, whether any condition set forth in any Loan Document is satisfied or waived, as to the financial condition of any Credit Party or as to the existence or continuation or possible occurrence or continuation of any Default or Event of Default and shall not be deemed to have notice or knowledge of such occurrence or continuation unless it has received a notice from the Borrower, any Lender or Issuing Bank describing such Default or Event of Default clearly labeled “notice of default” (in which case the Administrative Agent shall promptly give notice of such receipt to all Lenders);

and, for each of the items set forth in clauses (i) through (iv) above, each Lender, Issuing Bank and the Borrower hereby waives and agrees not to assert (and the Borrower shall cause each other Credit Party to waive and agree not to assert) any right, claim or cause of action it might have against the Administrative Agent based thereon.

Section 9.06    Administrative Agent Individually. The Administrative Agent and its Affiliates may make loans and other extensions of credit to acquire Equity Interests in, and/or engage in any kind of business with, any Credit Party or any Affiliate thereof as though it were not acting as Administrative Agent and may receive separate fees and other payments therefor. To the extent the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates makes any Loan or otherwise becomes a Lender hereunder, it shall have and may exercise the same rights and powers hereunder and shall be subject to the same obligations and liabilities as any other Lender and the terms “Lender”, “Revolving Lender”, “Term Loan Lender”, “Required Lender” and “Required Revolving Lender” and any similar terms shall, except where otherwise expressly provided in any Loan Document, include, without limitation, the Administrative Agent or such Affiliate, as the case may be, in its individual capacity as Lender, Revolving Lender, Term Loan Lender or as one of the Required Lenders or Required Revolving Lenders respectively.

Section 9.07    Lender Credit Decision. Each Lender and each Issuing Bank acknowledges that it shall, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Lender or Issuing Bank or any of their Related Parties or upon any document (including the Information) solely or in part because such document was transmitted by the Administrative Agent

 

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or any of its Related Parties, conduct its own independent investigation of the financial condition and affairs of each Credit Party and make and continue to make its own credit decisions in connection with entering into, and taking or not taking any action under, any Loan Document or with respect to any transaction contemplated in any Loan Document, in each case based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate. Except for documents expressly required by any Loan Document to be transmitted by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders or Issuing Banks, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender or Issuing Bank with any credit or other information concerning the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of any Credit Party or any Affiliate of any Credit Party that may come in to the possession of the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties.

Section 9.08    Expenses, Indemnification.

(a)        Each Lender agrees to reimburse the Administrative Agent and each of its Related Parties (to the extent not reimbursed by any Credit Party) promptly upon demand for such Lender’s pro rata share with respect to the Commitments of any costs and expenses (including fees, charges and disbursements of financial, legal and other advisors and Other Taxes paid in the name of, or on behalf of, any Credit Party) that may be incurred by the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, consent, waiver or enforcement of, or the taking of any other action (whether through negotiations, through any work-out, bankruptcy, restructuring or other legal or other proceeding (including without limitation, preparation for and/or response to any subpoena or request for document production relating thereto) or otherwise) in respect of, or legal advice with respect to its rights or responsibilities under, any Loan Document.

(b)        Each Lender further agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent and each of its Related Parties (to the extent not reimbursed by any Credit Party), from and against such Lender’s aggregate pro rata share with respect to the liabilities (including to the extent not indemnified pursuant to Section 9.08(c), Taxes, interests and penalties imposed for not properly withholding or backup withholding on payments made to on or for the account of any Lender) that may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties in any matter relating to or arising out of, in connection with or as a result of any Loan Document, any other Transaction Document or any other act, event or transaction related, contemplated in or attendant to any such document, or, in each case, any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties under or with respect to any of the foregoing; provided, however, that no Lender shall be liable to the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties to the extent such liability has resulted primarily from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Administrative Agent or, as the case may be, such Related Party, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final non-appealable judgment or order.

(c)        To the extent required by any applicable Requirements of Law, the Administrative Agent may withhold from any payment to any Lender an amount equivalent to any applicable withholding Tax. If any payment is made to any Lender by the Administrative Agent without the applicable withholding Tax being withheld from such payment and the Administrative Agent has paid over the applicable withholding Tax to the Internal Revenue Service or any other

 

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Governmental Authority, or the Internal Revenue Service or any other Governmental Authority asserts a claim that the Administrative Agent did not properly withhold Tax from amounts paid to or for the account of any Lender because the appropriate form was not delivered or was not properly executed or because such Lender failed to notify the Administrative Agent of a change in circumstance which rendered the exemption from, or reduction of, withholding Tax ineffective or for any other reason, such Lender shall indemnify the Administrative Agent fully for all amounts paid, directly or indirectly, by the Administrative Agent as Tax or otherwise, including any penalties or interest and together with all expenses (including legal expenses, allocated internal costs and out-of-pocket expenses) incurred. The Administrative Agent may offset against any payment to any Lender under a Loan Document, any applicable withholding Tax that was required to be withheld from any prior payment to such Lender but which was not so withheld, as well as any other amounts for which the Administrative Agent is entitled to indemnification from such Lender under this Section 9.08(c).

Section 9.09    Resignation of Administrative Agent or Issuing Bank.

(a)        The Administrative Agent may resign as Administrative Agent (which resignation shall also be effective in respect of its role as Collateral Agent unless the Administrative Agent otherwise agrees in writing) at any time by delivering notice of such resignation to the Lenders and the Borrower, effective on the date set forth in such notice or, if no such date is set forth therein, upon the date such notice shall be effective in accordance with the terms of this Section 9.09; provided that any such notice provided by the Administrative Agent shall provide for at least thirty (30) days prior notice of such resignation unless the Borrower shall expressly consent in writing to a shorter notice period in its sole discretion. If the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent or a controlling Affiliate of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent is subject to an Agent-Related Distress Event, the Borrower may remove such Agent from such role upon ten (10) days’ written notice to the Lenders. If the Administrative Agent delivers any such notice, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, if applicable, which is not a Disqualified Institution, which shall be either (i) a Lender or Affiliate or Approved Fund of a Lender or (ii) a bank with an office in the United States and having capital surplus aggregating in excess of $300,000,000, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States, with any prohibited appointment to be absolutely void ab initio. If after 30 days after the date of the retiring Administrative Agent’s notice of resignation, no successor Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, if applicable, has been appointed by the Required Lenders and consented to by the Borrower that has accepted such appointment, then the retiring Administrative Agent (other than to the extent subject to an Agent-Related Distress Event) may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, if applicable. Each appointment under this clause (a) shall be subject to the prior consent of the Borrower, which may not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed but shall not be required during the continuance of a Default or Event of Default under Section 8.01(a), (b), (g), or (h).

(b)        Effective immediately upon its resignation, (i) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under the Loan Documents, (ii) the Lenders shall assume and perform all of the duties of the Administrative Agent until a successor Administrative Agent shall have accepted a valid appointment hereunder, (iii) the retiring Administrative Agent and its Related Parties shall no longer have the benefit of any provision of

 

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any Loan Document other than with respect to any actions taken or omitted to be taken while such retiring Administrative Agent was, or because such Administrative Agent had been, validly acting as Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents and (iv) subject to its rights under Section 9.03, the retiring Administrative Agent shall take such action as may be reasonably necessary to assign to the successor Administrative Agent its rights as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, if applicable, under the Loan Documents. Effective immediately upon its acceptance of a valid appointment as Administrative Agent, a successor Administrative Agent shall succeed to, and become vested with, all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents.

(c)        Any Issuing Bank may resign at any time by delivering notice of such resignation to the Administrative Agent, effective on the date set forth in such notice or, if no such date is set forth therein, on the date such notice shall be effective. Upon such resignation, the Issuing Bank shall remain an Issuing Bank and shall retain its rights and obligations in its capacity as such (other than any obligation to issue Letters of Credit but including the right to receive fees or to have Lenders participate in any Reimbursement Obligation thereof) with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank prior to the date of such resignation and shall otherwise be discharged from all other duties and obligations as an Issuing Bank (but not in any other capacity) under the Loan Documents.

Section 9.10    Release or Subordination of Collateral or Guarantors; Entry into Intercreditor Agreements. Each Lender and Issuing Bank hereby consents to the automatic release provisions contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and hereby directs the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, as applicable, to do the following:

(a)        release any Subsidiary Guarantor from its guaranty of any Obligation of any Credit Party in accordance with Section 7.09 (including, for the avoidance of doubt, if all of the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary Guarantor owned by any Credit Parties are sold in a sale permitted under the Loan Documents (including pursuant to a waiver or consent), to the extent that, after giving effect to such sale, such Subsidiary Guarantor would not be required to guaranty any Secured Obligations pursuant to Section 5.10); provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall not be authorized to release any Guaranty in the event that a Subsidiary becomes an Excluded Subsidiary by virtue of a conveyance, sale, transfer or other disposition of Equity Interests unless such disposition is a good faith conveyance, sale, transfer or other disposition to a bona-fide unaffiliated third party whose primary purpose is not the release of such Guarantee;

(b)        subject to the proviso of Section 9.10(a), release or, in the case of clause (ii), release or subordinate, any Lien held by the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties against (i) any Collateral that is sold or otherwise disposed of by a Credit Party in a sale or disposition permitted by the Loan Documents (including pursuant to a valid waiver or consent), to the extent all Liens required to be granted in such Collateral pursuant to Section 5.10 after giving effect to such sale or disposition have been granted (and the Collateral Agent may rely conclusively on a certificate to that effect provided by any Credit Party upon its reasonable request without further inquiry, any which such certificate of a Responsible Officer of a Credit Party shall be conclusive evidence that such requirements have been satisfied), (ii) any property subject to a Lien permitted hereunder in reliance upon Section 6.02(c) (to the extent applying to Liens on Permitted

 

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Refinancings described therein), (k), (m), (v), or (aa) (as it pertains to Section 6.01(o)(i)) to the extent required by the documents evidencing such Lien, (iii) all of the Collateral and all Credit Parties, in the case of this clause (iii) upon the Payment in Full of the Obligations, (iv) in connection with the designation of any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary as permitted hereunder (including, in connection with the property of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or the Equity Interests thereof), (v) any Collateral to the extent such Collateral is comprised of property leased to a Credit Party, upon termination or expiration of such lease, (vi) any Collateral if the release of such Lien is approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other percentage of the Lenders whose consent may be required in accordance with Section 10.02), (vii) any Collateral as required to effect any sale or other disposition of Collateral in connection with any exercise of remedies of the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Loan Documents, or (viii) any Property if such Property constitutes Excluded Property;

(c)        subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is expressly permitted to be senior to the Liens securing the Secured Obligations pursuant to Section 6.02;

(d)        release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guarantee if such Person ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted under the Loan Documents; and

(e)        enter into any Intercreditor Agreement or other subordination agreement it deems reasonable in connection with any refinancing Indebtedness (including, without limitation, Permitted Pari Passu Refinancing Debt and Permitted Unsecured Refinancing Debt), or other obligations permitted hereunder, and that if such Intercreditor Agreement or other subordination agreement is posted to the Lenders three (3) Business Days before being executed and the Required Lenders shall not have objected to such Intercreditor Agreement or other subordination agreement, the Required Lenders shall be deemed to have agreed that the Administrative Agent’s or the Collateral Agent’s entry into such Intercreditor Agreement or other subordination agreement is reasonable and to have consented to such Intercreditor Agreement or other subordination agreement and such Agent’s execution thereof.

Each Lender and Issuing Bank hereby directs the Administrative Agent, and the Administrative Agent hereby agrees, upon receipt of reasonable advance notice from the Borrower, to execute and deliver or file such documents and to perform other actions reasonably necessary to release and/or evidence the release of the guaranties, Liens or Guarantors, as applicable, when and as directed in this Section 9.10. Any such release shall not in any manner discharge, affect or impair the Obligations or any Liens (other than those being released) upon (or obligations (other than those being released) of the Credit Parties in respect of) all interests retained by the Credit Parties, including the proceeds of any sale, all of which shall continue to constitute part of the Collateral (to the extent otherwise applicable pursuant to the terms of the Loan Documents, and for the avoidance of doubt other than in the case of any Excluded Property) except to the extent otherwise released in accordance with the provisions of the Loan Documents. Additionally, the Lenders hereby irrevocably agree that any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor shall be automatically released from the Guarantees upon consummation of any transaction permitted by this Agreement resulting in such Subsidiary ceasing to constitute a

 

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Restricted Subsidiary or upon becoming an Excluded Subsidiary. The Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, as applicable, to, and the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent agree to, execute and deliver any instruments, documents and agreements necessary or desirable or reasonably requested by the Borrower to evidence and confirm the release of any Guarantor or Collateral pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 9.10, all without the further consent or joinder of any Lender and without any representation or warranty of any such Agent or Lender.

Section 9.11    Additional Secured Parties. The benefit of the provisions of the Loan Documents directly relating to the Collateral or any Lien granted thereunder shall extend to and be available to any Secured Party that is not a Lender or Issuing Bank as long as, by accepting such benefits, such Secured Party agrees, as among the Administrative Agent and all other Secured Parties, that such Secured Party is bound by (and, if requested by the Administrative Agent, shall confirm such agreement in a writing in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent) this Article IX, Section 2.14(d) and Sections 10.03(c), 10.09, 10.10 and 10.12 and the decisions and actions of the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders (or, where expressly required by the terms of this Agreement, a greater proportion of the Lenders) to the same extent a Lender is bound; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) such Secured Party shall be bound by Section 9.08 only to the extent of liabilities, costs and expenses with respect to or otherwise relating to the Collateral held for the benefit of such Secured Party, in which case the obligations of such Secured Party thereunder shall not be limited by any concept of pro rata share or similar concept, (b) except as set forth specifically herein, each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Bank shall be entitled to act at its sole discretion, without regard to the interest of such Secured Party, regardless of whether any Obligation to such Secured Party thereafter remains outstanding, is deprived of the benefit of the Collateral, becomes unsecured or is otherwise affected or put in jeopardy thereby, and without any duty or liability to such Secured Party or any such Obligation and (c) except as set forth specifically herein, such Secured Party shall not have any right to be notified of, consent to, direct, require or be heard with respect to, any action taken or omitted in respect of the Collateral or under any Loan Document.

Section 9.12    Certain ERISA Matters.

(a)        Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Credit Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true:

(i)        such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of Section 3(42) of ERISA or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments,

 

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(ii)        the prohibited transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable so as to exempt from the prohibitions of Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement,

(iii)        (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, or

(iv)        such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.

Section 9.13    Erroneous Payments.

(a)        If the Administrative Agent notifies a Lender or Secured Party, or any Person who has received funds on behalf of a Lender or Secured Party (any such Lender, Secured Party or other recipient, a “Payment Recipient”) that the Administrative Agent has determined in its sole discretion (whether or not after receipt of any notice under immediately succeeding clause (b)) that any funds received by such Payment Recipient from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates were erroneously transmitted to, or otherwise erroneously or mistakenly received by, such Payment Recipient (whether or not known to such Lender, Secured Party or other Payment Recipient on its behalf) (any such funds, whether received as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees, distribution or otherwise, individually and collectively, an “Erroneous Payment”) and demands the return of such Erroneous Payment (or a portion thereof), such Erroneous Payment shall at all times remain the property of the Administrative Agent, and such Lender or Secured Party shall (or, with respect to any Payment Recipient who received such funds on its behalf, shall cause such Payment Recipient to) promptly, but in no event later than one Business Day thereafter, return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made, in same day funds (in the currency so received), together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Payment Recipient to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent in same day funds at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect. A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Payment Recipient under this clause (a) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error;

 

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(b)        Without limiting immediately preceding clause (a), each Payment Recipient hereby further agrees that if it receives a payment, prepayment or repayment (whether received as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees, distribution or otherwise) from the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) (x) that is in a different amount than, or on a different date from, that specified in a notice of payment, prepayment or repayment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) with respect to such payment, prepayment or repayment (a “Payment Notice”), (y) that was not preceded or accompanied by a Payment Notice, or (z) that such Payment Recipient otherwise becomes aware was transmitted, or received, in error or by mistake (in whole or in part) in each case:

(i)        an error may have been made (in the case of immediately preceding clauses (x) or (y)) or an error has been made (in the case of immediately preceding clause (z)) with respect to such payment, prepayment or repayment; and

(ii)        such Payment Recipient shall promptly (and, in all events, within one Business Day of its knowledge of such error) notify the Administrative Agent of its receipt of such payment, prepayment or repayment, the details thereof and that it is so notifying the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 9.13(b).

(c)        Each Lender or Secured Party hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off, net and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender or Secured Party under any Loan Document, or otherwise payable or distributable by the Administrative Agent to such Lender or Secured Party from any source, against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under immediately preceding clause (a) or under the indemnification provisions of this Agreement.

(d)        In the event an Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) is not recovered by the Administrative Agent for any reason, after demand therefor by the Administrative Agent in accordance with immediately preceding clause (a), from any Lender that has received such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) (or from any Payment Recipient who received such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) on its respective behalf) (such unrecovered amount, an “Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency”), upon the Administrative Agent’s request to such Lender at any time, (i) such Lender shall be deemed to have assigned its Loans (but not its Commitments) of the relevant Class with respect to which such Erroneous Payment was made (the “Erroneous Payment Impacted Class”) in an amount equal to the Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency (such assignment of the Loans (but not Commitments) of the Erroneous Payment Impacted Class, the “Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment”) at par plus any accrued and unpaid interest (with the assignment fee to be waived by the Administrative Agent in such instance), and is hereby (together with the Borrower) deemed to execute and deliver an Assignment and Assumption (or, to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an electronic settlement system as to which the Administrative Agent and such parties are participants) with respect to such Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment, and such Lender shall deliver any Notes evidencing such Loans to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, (ii) the Administrative Agent as the assignee Lender shall

 

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be deemed to acquire the Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment and (iii) upon such deemed acquisition, the Administrative Agent as the assignee Lender shall become a Lender, as applicable, hereunder with respect to such Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment and the assigning Lender shall cease to be a Lender, hereunder with respect to such Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment, excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, its obligations under the indemnification provisions of this Agreement and its applicable Commitments which shall survive as to such assigning Lender. For the avoidance of doubt, no Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment will reduce the Commitments of any Lender and such Commitments shall remain available in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

(e)        To the extent permitted by applicable law, no Payment Recipient shall assert any right or claim to an Erroneous Payment, and hereby waives, and is deemed to waive, any claim, counterclaim, defense or right of set-off or recoupment with respect to any demand, claim or counterclaim by the Administrative Agent for the return of any Erroneous Payment received, including without limitation waiver of any defense based on “discharge for value” or any similar doctrine.

(f)        Each party’s obligations, agreements and waivers under this Section 9.13 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent, the termination of the Commitments and/or the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Obligations (or any portion thereof) under any Loan Document.

(g)        This Section 9.13 shall not apply to the disbursement of any proceeds of a Loan to or at the express direction of the Borrower, unless otherwise expressly agreed in writing by the Borrower.

(h)        Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, the Borrower and the Credit Parties shall have no obligations, liabilities or responsibilities for any actions, consequences or remediation (including the repayment or recovery of any amounts) contemplated by this Section 9.13.

ARTICLE X

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 10.01    Notices.

(a)        Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in clause (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopier or electronic mail as follows:

if to any Credit Party, to the Borrower at:

Blend Labs, Inc.

415 Kearny St.

San Francisco, CA 94108

Attention: Legal

Tel: (650) 550-4810

Email: legal@blend.com; crystal@blend.com; marc@blend.com

 

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and (which shall not constitute notice):

Latham & Watkins LLP

140 Scott Drive

Menlo Park, CA 94025

Attention: Tad Freese

Tel: (650) 463-3060

Email: tad.freese@lw.com

if to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent at:

Owl Rock Technology Finance Corp.

399 Park Avenue, 38th Floor

New York, NY 10022

Attention: Bryan Cole

Phone: (212) 419-3035

E-mail: bryan@owlrock.com; finance@owlrock.com;

SLS_OwlRockTechFinCorp_OREC@StateStreet.com

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

Proskauer Rose LLP

One International Place

Boston, MA 02110-2600

Attention: Gary J. Creem

Phone: (617) 526-9637

Email: gcreem@proskauer.com

if to a Lender, Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender, to it at its address (or telecopier number) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.

Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, they shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient); notices sent by electronic mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement); provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent by 6:00 p.m. New York City time on a Business Day for the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient. Notices delivered through electronic communications (other than electronic mail) to the extent provided in clause (b) below, shall be effective as provided in said clause (b). Any party hereto may change its address or telecopier number or electronic mail address for notices and other communications hereunder by written notice to the Borrower, the Agents, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders.

 

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(b)        Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the Issuing Bank hereunder may (subject to Section 10.01(d)) be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (excluding electronic mail (which is covered above in clause (a)) but including Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or the Issuing Bank pursuant to Article II if such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Borrower may agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it (including as set forth in Section 10.01(d)); provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its electronic mail address as described in the foregoing clause (a) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.

(c)        Change of Address, etc. Any party hereto may change its address or telecopier number or electronic mail address for notices and other communications hereunder by written notice to the other parties hereto.

(d)        Posting. Each Credit Party hereby agrees that it will provide to the Administrative Agent all information, documents and other materials that it is obligated to furnish to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Agreement and any other Loan Document, including all notices, requests, financial statements, financial and other reports, certificates and other information materials, but excluding any such communication (unless otherwise approved in writing by the Administrative Agent) that (i) relates to a request for a new, or a conversion of an existing, Borrowing or other extension of credit (including any election of an interest rate or interest period relating thereto), (ii) relates to the payment of any principal or other amount due under this Agreement prior to the scheduled date therefor, (iii) [reserved], (iv) provides notice of any Default under this Agreement or (v) is required to be delivered to satisfy any condition precedent to the effectiveness of this Agreement and/or any borrowing or other extension of credit hereunder (all such non-excluded communications, collectively, the “Communications”), by transmitting the Communications in an electronic/soft medium in a format reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent at such e-mail address(es) provided to the Borrower from time to time or in such other form, including hard copy delivery thereof, as the Administrative Agent shall require. In addition, each Credit Party agrees to continue to provide the Communications to the Administrative Agent in the manner specified in this Agreement or any other Loan Document or in such other form, including hard copy delivery thereof, as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request. Nothing in this Section 10.01 shall prejudice the right of the Agents, any Lender or any Credit Party to give any notice or other communication pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any other manner specified in this Agreement or any other Loan Document or as any such Agent shall require.

 

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(e)        Platform. Each Credit Party further agrees that any Agent may make the Communications available to the Lenders by posting the Communications on IntraLinks or SyndTrak or a substantially similar secure electronic transmission system (the “Platform”). The Platform is provided “as is” and “as available.” The Agents do not warrant the accuracy or completeness of the Communications, or the adequacy of the Platform and expressly disclaim liability for errors or omissions in the communications. No warranty of any kind, express, implied or statutory, including, without limitation, any warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement of third party rights or freedom from viruses or other code defects, is made by any Agent in connection with the Communications or the Platform. In no event shall any Agent or any of its Related Parties have any liability to the Credit Parties, any Lender or any other person for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of any Credit Party’s or such Agent’s transmission of communications through the Internet, except to the extent the liability of such person is found in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such person’s bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct.

(f)        Public/Private. (i) Each Credit Party hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to distribute (A) to Public Siders all Communications that the Borrower identifies in writing as containing no MNPI (“Public Side Communications”), and the Borrower represents and warrants that no such Public Side Communications contain any MNPI, and, at the reasonable written request of the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall use commercially reasonable efforts to identify Public Side Communications by clearly and conspicuously marking the same as “PUBLIC”; and (B) to Private Siders all Communications other than Public Side Communications (such Communications, “Private Side Communications”). The Borrower agrees to designate as Private Side Communications only those Communications or portions thereof that it reasonably believes in good faith constitute MNPI, and agrees to use all commercially reasonable efforts not to designate any Communications provided under Section 5.01(a), (b) and (c) as Private Side Communications. “Private Siders” shall mean Lenders’ employees and representatives who have declared that they are authorized to receive MNPI. “Public Siders” shall mean Lenders’ employees and representatives who have not declared that they are authorized to receive MNPI; it being understood that Public Siders may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to the Borrower’s or its Affiliates’ securities or loans. “MNPI” shall mean material non-public information (within the meaning of United States federal securities laws assuming that the Borrower is a public reporting company under federal securities laws (regardless of whether the Borrower is actually a public reporting company under federal securities laws)) with respect to the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and any of their respective securities.

(ii)        Each Lender acknowledges that United States federal and state securities laws prohibit any person from purchasing or selling securities on the basis of material, non-public information concerning the issuer of such securities or, subject to certain limited exceptions, from communicating such information to any other person. Each Lender confirms that it has developed procedures designed to ensure compliance with these securities laws.

(iii)        Each Lender acknowledges that circumstances may arise that require it to refer to Communications that may contain MNPI. Accordingly, each Lender agrees that it will use commercially reasonable efforts to designate at least one individual

 

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to receive Private Side Communications on its behalf in compliance with its procedures and applicable Requirements of Law and identify such designee (including such designee’s contact information) on such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire. Each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent in writing from time to time of such Lender’s designee’s e-mail address to which notice of the availability of Private Side Communications may be sent by electronic transmission.

Section 10.02    Waivers; Amendment.

(a)        Generally. No failure or delay by any Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of each Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of any Loan Document or consent to any departure by any Credit Party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by this Section 10.02, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan or issuance of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default or Event of Default, regardless of whether any Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Bank may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time. No notice or demand on the Borrower in any case shall entitle the Borrower to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

(b)        Required Consents. Subject to Section 10.02(c), (d) and (e), neither this Agreement nor any other Loan Document nor any provision hereof or thereof may be waived, amended, supplemented or modified except, in the case of this Agreement, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent or, in the case of any other Loan Document (other than the Fee Letters, which may be amended in accordance with their terms), pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent (in the case of any Security Document) and the Credit Party or Credit Parties that are party thereto, in each case with the written consent of the Required Lenders; provided that no such agreement shall be effective if the effect thereof would be to:

(i)        increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender (other than with respect to any Incremental Facilities to which such Lender has agreed) (it being understood that no amendment, modification, termination, waiver or consent with respect to any condition precedent, covenant, mandatory prepayment or Default or Event of Default shall constitute an increase in the Commitment of any Lender);

(ii)        reduce the principal amount of or premium, if any, on any Loan or LC Disbursement or reduce the rate of interest thereon or fees thereon (but excluding any waiver of the imposition of the Default Rate or amendment of the definition of “Default Rate”), including any provision establishing a minimum rate (other than any waiver, extension or reduction of interest pursuant to Section 2.06(c) or any waivers of conditions

 

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precedent, waivers or extensions of mandatory prepayments or commitment reduction or, for the avoidance of doubt, waivers of the provisions of Section 2.20(f) (provided that any change in the definition of any ratios used in calculating any interest rate or fee (or any component definition thereof) shall not constitute a reduction in any rate of interest) for purposes of this clause (ii)), or reduce or waive any fees (including any fees or any prepayment fee or premium) payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby (it being understood that any amendment or modification to the financial definitions in this Agreement shall not constitute a reduction in any fee for purposes of this clause (ii));

(iii)        (A) extend the scheduled final maturity of any Term Loan or extend any scheduled date of payment of principal amount of any Term Loan under Section 2.09 (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, any mandatory prepayment) except in accordance with Section 2.20, Section 2.21 and Section 2.22, (B) postpone the date for payment of any Reimbursement Obligation or any interest, premium or fees payable hereunder (other than waivers of default interest, Defaults or Events of Default, waivers or extension of any mandatory prepayments or default interest or, for the avoidance of doubt, waivers of the provisions of Section 2.20(f)), or (C) postpone the scheduled date of expiration of any Revolving Commitment or any Letter of Credit or date of repayment of any Revolving Loans or Letter of Credit, in each case, beyond the Revolving Maturity Date except in accordance with Section 2.18(c), Section 2.20, Section 2.21, and Section 2.22, as applicable, in any case, without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby; provided, that waivers of any condition precedent shall not constitute an extension of maturity date;

(iv)        release the Borrower or release all or substantially all of the value of the Subsidiary Guarantors from their Guarantee (except as expressly provided in Article IX), without the written consent of each Lender;

(v)        release all or substantially all of the Collateral from the Liens created by the Security Documents without the written consent of each Lender (except as otherwise expressly permitted hereby or by the Security Documents); provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, any transaction permitted under Section 6.04 or Section 6.05 shall not be subject to this clause (iii) to the extent such transaction does not result in the release of all or substantially all of the Collateral;

(vi)        change any provision of this Section 10.02(b) that has the effect of decreasing the number of Lenders that must approve any amendment, modification or waiver, without the written consent of each Lender (other than modifications in connection with repurchases of Loans, amendments with respect to any Incremental Facilities and amendments with respect to extensions of maturity, which shall only require the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby);

(vii)        change the percentage set forth in the definition of “Required Lenders,” “Required Revolving Lenders” or any other provision of any Loan Document (including this Section) specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights thereunder or make any determination or grant any consent

 

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thereunder without the written consent of each Lender, other than (i) to increase such percentage or number or to give any Additional Lender or group of Lenders such right to waive, amend or modify or make any such determination or grant any such consent or (ii) modifications in connection with repurchases of Loans, amendments with respect to any Incremental Facilities and amendments with respect to extensions of maturity, which shall only require the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby;

(viii)        change or waive any provision of Article IX as the same applies to any Agent, or any other provision hereof as the same applies to the rights or obligations of any Agent, in each case without the written consent of such Agent;

(ix)        change or waive any obligation of the Lenders relating to the issuance of or purchase of participations in Letters of Credit, without the written consent of the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank;

(x)        change or waive any obligation of the Swingline Lender relating to any Swingline Loan, without the written consent of the Administrative Agent and the Swingline Lender; or

(xi)        make any change or amendment including without limitation, any amendment of this Section 10.02(b)(xi) which shall unless in writing and signed by the Issuing Bank in addition to the Lenders required above, adversely affect the rights or duties of the Issuing Bank under this Agreement or any document relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (I) no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder, except to the extent the consent of such Lender would be required under clause (i), (ii) or (iii) in the first proviso to the first sentence of this Section 10.02(b) and, but only to the extent that any such matter disproportionately affects such Defaulting Lender, clauses (iv) or (v) of such proviso (and any such Defaulting Lender shall be excluded from the calculation of any requisite voting percentage by excluding the Defaulting Lender (and all Loans or Commitments held thereby) from both the numerator and the denominator of the applicable calculation), (II)this Agreement and any other Loan Document may be amended, modified or supplemented solely with the consent of the Administrative Agent (or the Collateral Agent, as applicable) and the Borrower, each in their sole discretion, without the need to obtain the consent of any other Lender if such amendment, modification or supplement is delivered in order to (v) amend any provision of any Security Document, the Guarantee, or enter into any new agreement or instrument, to be consistent with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or as required by local law to give effect to any guaranty, or to give effect to or to protect any security interest for the benefit of the Secured Parties, in any property so that the security interests comply with applicable law, (w) unless the same is objected to in writing by the Required Lenders within five (5) Business Days following receipt of notice thereof by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, cure ambiguities, defects, errors, inconsistencies, mistakes, or omissions of a technical nature in this Agreement or the applicable Loan Document, (x) add terms that are favorable to the Lenders (as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent) in connection with an Incremental Facility or Credit Agreement

 

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Refinancing Indebtedness, (y) create a fungible Class of Term Loans (including by increasing (but, for the avoidance of doubt, not by decreasing) the amount of amortization due and payable with respect to any Class of Term Loan) or (z) in the case of any applicable Intercreditor Agreement (or any other intercreditor agreement and/or subordination agreement pursuant to, or contemplated by, the terms of this Agreement (including with respect to Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.01 and defined terms referenced therein)), if such amendment relates to Obligations other than the Obligations hereunder, or to grant a new Lien for the benefit of the Secured Parties or extend an Existing Lien over additional property.

Any waiver, amendment, supplement or modification in accordance with this Section 10.02 shall apply equally to each of the affected Lenders and shall be binding upon the Borrower, the Subsidiary Guarantors, all Lenders, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and all future holders of the affected Loans. In the case of any waiver in accordance with this Section 10.02, the Borrower, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, and any Default or Event of Default so waived shall be deemed to be cured and not continuing, it being understood that no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. In connection with the foregoing provisions, the Administrative Agent may, but shall have no obligation to, with the concurrence of any Lender, execute amendments, modifications, waivers or consents on behalf of such Lender.

(c)        Collateral.

(i)        Without the consent of any other person, but subject to the terms of any applicable Intercreditor Agreement, the applicable Credit Party or Credit Parties and the Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Agent may (in its or their respective sole discretion, or shall, to the extent required by any Loan Document enter into any amendment or waiver of any Loan Document, or enter into any new agreement or instrument), to effect the granting, perfection, protection, expansion (including to cover additional amounts as secured obligations thereunder) or enhancement of any security interest in any Collateral or additional property to become Collateral for the benefit of the Secured Parties, or as required by local law to give effect to, or protect any security interest for the benefit of the Secured Parties, in any property or so that the security interests therein comply with applicable Requirements of Law (including local law).

(ii)        Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any Security Document to the contrary, the Administrative Agent and/or, as applicable, the Collateral Agent may, in its sole discretion, grant extensions of time for the satisfaction of any of the requirements under Sections 5.10 and 5.11 or of any Security Document in respect of any particular Collateral or any particular Subsidiary if it determines that the satisfaction thereof with respect to such Collateral or such Subsidiary cannot be accomplished without undue expense or unreasonable effort or due to factors beyond the control of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries by the time or times at which any such requirement would otherwise be required to be satisfied under this Agreement or any Security Document.

 

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(iii)    Subject to the proviso of Section 9.10(a), the Lenders hereby irrevocably agree that the Liens granted to the Collateral Agent by the Credit Parties on any Collateral shall be automatically released (i) in full, upon the Payment in Full of the Obligations, (ii) upon the sale or other disposition of such Collateral to any Person other than another Credit Party, to the extent such sale or other disposition is made in compliance with the terms of this Agreement (and the Collateral Agent may rely conclusively on a certificate to that effect provided by any Credit Party upon its reasonable request without further inquiry), (iii) if the release of such Lien is approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other percentage of the Lenders whose consent may be required in accordance with this Section 10.02), (iv) to the extent the property constituting such Collateral is owned by any Guarantor, upon the release of such Guarantor from its obligations under the applicable Guarantee (in accordance with the final paragraph of Section 9.10), (v) as required to effect any sale or other disposition of Collateral in connection with any exercise of remedies of the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Security Documents, or (vi) if such assets constitute Excluded Property.

(d)        Certain Other Amendments. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement (including, without limitation, this Section 10.02) or any other Loan Document to the contrary, (i) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents may be amended to effect an Incremental Amendment, Refinancing Amendment or Extension Amendment pursuant to Sections 2.20, 2.21 or 2.22 (and the Administrative Agent and the Borrower may effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents without the consent of any other party as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to effect the terms of any such Incremental Amendment, Refinancing Amendment or Extension Amendment), (ii) the Loan Documents may be amended to add documentation agents and make customary changes and references related thereto with the consent of only the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and (iii) any condition precedent to any Borrowing of Revolving Loans may be waived by the Required Revolving Lenders and, in the case of the issuance of a Letter of Credit, the Issuing Bank,, and, for the avoidance of doubt, waivers by no other Lender (or the Required Lenders) shall be required.

(e)        Non-Consenting Lenders. The Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to a Non-Consenting Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to (i) be paid off in full for all of its Loans, premiums, fees, interest due and all other amounts payable to it (or to become payable to it upon such payoff in full) related thereto and relinquish all rights it has under the Loan Documents, or (ii) assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 10.04), all of its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Sections 2.15 and 2.16) and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment or the Borrower (in which case such Term Loans shall, after such assignment, be immediately deemed cancelled for all purposes and no longer outstanding (and may not be resold) for all purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents)); provided that, in the case of this clause (ii), (1) the Borrower or other assignee shall have paid to the Administrative Agent (unless waived by the Administrative Agent) the assignment fee (if any) specified in Section 10.04(b); (2) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements, accrued interest

 

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thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable (including any amount pursuant to Section 2.10(k)) to it hereunder in connection with any prepayment of its Loans and under the other Loan Documents from the assignee or the Borrower; (3) such assignment does not conflict with applicable Law; and (4) the applicable assignee shall have consented to the applicable amendment, waiver or consent. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, other than as a result of a waiver by such Lender, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

(f)        Additional Credit Facilities. Subject to Sections 2.21 and 2.22 hereof, this Agreement may be amended (or amended and restated) (i) to add one or more additional credit facilities to this Agreement and to permit the extensions of credit from time to time outstanding thereunder and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof to share ratably in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and (ii) to include appropriately the Lenders holding such credit facilities in any determination of the Required Lenders on substantially the same basis as the Lenders prior to such inclusion.

Section 10.03    Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

(a)        Costs and Expenses. The Borrower shall pay, promptly following written demand therefor (including documentation to reasonably support such request): (i) all reasonable, documented and invoiced out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and their respective Affiliates (including the reasonable, documented and invoiced out-of-pocket fees, charges and disbursements of one primary counsel to the Agents and their respective Affiliates, taken as a whole, selected by the Administrative Agent (plus one additional primary counsel reasonably necessary due to actual or reasonably perceived potential conflicts of interest among such parties, where the parties affected by such conflict informs the Borrower of such conflict) plus, if reasonably necessary, the reasonable, documented and invoiced out-of-pocket fees and expenses of one local counsel per relevant jurisdiction that is material to the interests of the Lender (plus one additional local counsel in each such relevant jurisdiction reasonably necessary due to actual or reasonably perceived potential conflicts of interest among such parties in each relevant jurisdiction to each group of similarly affected Persons, in each case, with the consent of the Borrower, not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) (which may include a single special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions, in each case, in jurisdictions material to the interests of the Lenders) and consultants for the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders, in connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery, filing and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any amendment, amendment and restatement, modification or waiver of the provisions hereof or thereof, including in connection with post-closing searches to confirm that security filings and recordations have been properly made, (ii) all reasonable, documented and invoiced out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any Issuing Bank in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder, (iii) all reasonable, documented and invoiced out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, any Lender, the Swingline Lender or any Issuing Bank (including the reasonable, documented and invoiced out-of-pocket fees, charges and disbursements of one primary counsel to the Agents and their respective Affiliates, taken as a whole, selected by the Administrative Agent (plus one additional counsel reasonably necessary due to actual or reasonably perceived potential conflicts of interest among such parties, where the parties affected by such conflict

 

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informs the Borrower of such conflict) plus, if reasonably necessary, the reasonable, documented and invoiced out-of-pocket fees and expenses of one local counsel per relevant jurisdiction that is material to the interests of the Lender (plus one additional local counsel reasonably necessary due to actual or reasonably perceived potential conflicts of interest among such parties in each relevant jurisdiction to each group of similarly affected Persons, in each case, with the consent of the Borrower, not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) (which may include a single special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions, in each case, in jurisdictions material to the interests of the Lenders), in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section 10.03, or (B) in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit and (iii) all Other Taxes, as provided in Section 2.15.

(b)        Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, each Lender, each Commitment Party, the Lead Arranger and Bookrunner, each Issuing Bank, the Swingline Lender and each Related Party of any of the foregoing persons (but excluding in any case any Excluded Affiliate) (each such person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all actual and direct losses (other than lost profits), claims, damages, liabilities and related reasonable, documented and invoiced out-of-pocket expenses (including the reasonable, documented and invoiced out-of-pocket fees, expenses, charges and disbursements of one counsel for all Indemnitees, taken as a whole, selected by the Administrative Agent (plus one additional counsel reasonably necessary due to actual or reasonably perceived potential conflicts of interest among the Indemnitees, where the Indemnitee affected by such conflict informs the Borrower of such conflict) plus, if reasonably necessary, the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses of one local counsel per relevant jurisdiction that is material to the interests of the Lender (plus one additional local counsel reasonably necessary due to actual or reasonably perceived potential conflicts of interest among such parties in each relevant jurisdiction to each group of similarly affected indemnified persons, in each case, with the consent of the Borrower, not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) (which may include a single special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions, in each case, in jurisdictions material to the interests of the Lenders) and consultants or third party advisors (but excluding allocated costs of in-house counsel) incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any party hereto or any third party arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the Transactions (or any of them), the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any amendment, amendment and restatement, modification or waiver of the provisions hereof or thereof, or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including, without limitation, any refusal by the Issuing Bank to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or Release or threatened Release of Hazardous Materials on, at, under or from any Real Property or facility now or hereafter owned, leased or operated by any Group Member at any time, or any Environmental Claim related in any way to any Group Member, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether

 

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based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower or any other Credit Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses are determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from (w) the fraud, bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of any Indemnitee or any of its Related Parties, (x) result from a claim brought by the Borrower or any other Credit Party against an Indemnitee for material breach of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if the Borrower or such other Credit Party has obtained a final non-appealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, (y) arises from disputes arising solely among indemnified persons that do not involve any act or omission by any Group Member or its Affiliates (other than disputes involving claims against the Agents or any other agent or arranger in their respective capacities as such), or (z) are payable as a result of a settlement agreement related to the foregoing effected without the written consent of the Borrower (which consent shall not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) (in the case of this clause (z)) (for the avoidance of doubt, if settled with the Borrower’s written consent, or if there is a final judgment for the plaintiff against an Indemnitee in any proceeding, the Borrower shall indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee to the extent and in the manner set forth above); provided, however, that such Indemnitee shall promptly refund any amount paid to such Indemnitee for fees, expenses, damages, indemnification or contribution, in each case, pursuant to this Section 10.03(b) to the extent that there is a final, non-appealable judicial determination that such Indemnitee was not entitled to indemnification pursuant to the express terms of this Section 10.03. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 10.03(b) shall not apply to Taxes other than Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, liabilities, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim.

(c)        Reimbursement by Lenders. To the extent that the Borrower for any reason fails to pay any amount required under clause (a) or (b) of this Section 10.03 to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), the Collateral Agent, the Issuing Bank, the Swingline Lender or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), the Collateral Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), the Issuing Bank, or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s pro rata share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount (such indemnity shall be effective whether or not the related losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses are incurred or asserted by any party hereto or any third party); provided that (i) the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), the Collateral Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), the Issuing Bank in its capacity as such, the Swingline Lender in its capacity as such or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), the Collateral Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), the Issuing Bank in connection with such capacity or the Swingline Lender in such capacity, (ii) such indemnity for the Issuing Bank shall not include losses incurred by the Issuing Bank due to one or more Lenders defaulting in their obligations to purchase participations of LC Exposure under Section 2.18(d) or to make Revolving Loans under Section 2.18(e) and (iii) such indemnity for the Swingline Lender shall not include losses incurred by the Swingline Lender due to one or more Lenders defaulting in their obligations to purchase participations of Swingline Loans under Section 2.17 (it being understood that this proviso shall not affect the Issuing Bank’s or Swingline Lender’s rights against any Defaulting Lender). The

 

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obligations of the Lenders under this clause (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.14. For purposes hereof, a Lender’s “pro rata share” shall be determined based upon its share of the sum of the total Revolving Exposure, outstanding Term Loans and unused Commitments at the time.

(d)        Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Requirements of Law, no party hereto shall assert, and each party hereby waives, any claim against any other party hereto on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof. No party hereto shall be liable for any damages (other than those damages resulting from bad faith, fraud, gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and non-appealable judgment) arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed by it through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

(e)        Payments. All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than thirty (30) Business Days after written demand (including detailed invoices) therefor.

Section 10.04    Successors and Assigns.

(a)        Successors and Assigns Generally. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that no Credit Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder (other than in connection with a transaction permitted by Section 6.04) without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Issuing Bank, the Swingline Lender and each Lender (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by a Credit Party shall be null and void), and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an Eligible Assignee in accordance with the provisions of clause (b) of this Section 10.04, Section 2.16(b) or Section 10.02(e), (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of clause (d) of this Section 10.04 or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest in accordance with clause (f) of this Section 10.04. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in clause (d) of this Section 10.04 and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the other Indemnitees) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

(b)        Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more Eligible Assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it) subject to, except in the case of an assignment to (x) in the case of Term Loan Commitments or Term Loans, a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to a Lender (in each case other than a Disqualified Institution), and (y) in the case of Revolving Commitments or Revolving Loans, a Revolving Lender, an Affiliate of a Revolving Lender (in each case, other than a

 

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Disqualified Institution), the prior written consent of (A) the Administrative Agent, (B) so long as (1) no Event of Default under Section 8.01(a), (b), (d) (solely as a result of a breach of Section 6.08), (g), (h) or (m) (solely with respect to the failure to comply with the financial reporting requirements set forth in Section 5.01(a), (b), (c) or (d)) shall have occurred and be continuing or (2) with respect to the elevation of any participation to an assignment, if Owl Rock, in its sole discretion, determines the assignment is necessary to comply with or avoid the consequences of a determination by any regulatory authority, including the Securities and Exchange Commission or court of law, in each case, the Borrower (the Borrower’s consent to be deemed to have been given if (except in the case of a proposed assignment to a Disqualified Institution) the Borrower shall not have responded within ten (10) Business Days of a written request for such consent), and (C) in the case of Revolving Commitments or Revolving Loans, the Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender (in the case of clauses (A), (B) and (C), such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed); provided that:

(i)        except in the case of any assignment (a) of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it, (b) to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to a Lender or (c) as agreed by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the applicable Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than $1,000,000, and $1,000,000 increments, or if less, all of such Lender’s remaining Loans and commitments of the applicable Class (provided, that contemporaneous assignments to or by two or more affiliated Approved Funds shall be aggregated for purposes of meeting such minimum transfer amount), unless each of the Administrative Agent, and so long as no Event of Default under Section 8.01(a), (b), (d) (solely as a result of a breach of Section 6.08), (g), (h) or (m) (solely with respect to the failure to comply with the financial reporting requirements set forth in Section 5.01(a), (b), (c) or (d)) has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, and which consent shall be deemed to have been given by the Borrower if the Borrower has not responded within ten (10) Business Days of a written request for such consent);

(ii)        each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loan or the Commitment assigned, except that this clause (ii) shall not prohibit any Lender from assigning all or a portion of its rights and obligations among separate tranches on a non-pro rata basis;

(iii)        the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with (other than in the case of an assignment to an Affiliate of the assigning Lender) a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 (which fee may be waived or reduced by the Administrative Agent in its discretion), and the Eligible Assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire and all requested know-your-customer documentation;

 

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(iv)        no assignment shall be made to a Disqualified Institution without the Borrower’s prior consent in writing (which consent may be withheld in its absolute discretion) unless an Event of Default under Section 8.01(a), (b), (d) (solely as a result of a breach of Section 6.08), (g), (h) or (m) (solely with respect to the failure to comply with the financial reporting requirements set forth in Section 5.01(a), (b), (c) or (d) is at such time continuing; provided that the Administrative Agent shall have no responsibility (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) for monitoring, ascertaining, inquiring into or enforcing any Lender’s compliance with the provisions related to Disqualified Institutions, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall not (x) be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any Lender or participant or prospective Lender or participant is a Disqualified Institution or (y) have any liability with respect to or arising out of any assignment or participation of Loans, or disclosure of confidential information, to, or the restrictions on any exercise of rights or remedies of, any Disqualified Institution; and

(v)        notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 10.04(b) or any other provision of this Agreement, the Lenders shall have no right at any time to sell, assign or transfer any Loans owing to it to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;

Subject to the recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to clause (c) of this Section 10.04, from and after the date such recordation in the Register is made, the Eligible Assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any rights and obligations pursuant to Section 2.15), and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.12, 2.13, 2.15, and 10.03 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this paragraph shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with clause (d) of this Section 10.04.

(c)        Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower (and such agency being solely for Tax purposes), shall maintain at one of its U.S. offices a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it (or equivalent thereof in electronic form) and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal and stated interest amounts of the Loans and LC Disbursements owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, the Swingline Lender and the Lenders shall treat each person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. No assignment shall be effective unless recorded in the Register. The Register is intended to cause each Loan and other obligation hereunder to be in registered form within the meaning of

 

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Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations and Proposed Treasury Regulations Section 1.163-5(b) (or any amended or successor version) and within the meaning of Sections 163(f), 871(h)(2) and 881(c)(2) of the Code. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower, the Issuing Bank (with respect to its own interest), the Swingline Lender (with respect to its own interest), the Collateral Agent and any Lender (with respect to its own interests), at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior written notice.

(d)        Participations.

(i)        Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, sell participations to any person (other than a natural person or the Borrower or any of its Affiliates or, unless Event of Default under Section 8.01(a), (b), (d) (solely as a result of a breach of Section 6.08), (g), (h) or (m) (solely with respect to the failure to comply with the financial reporting requirements set forth in Section 5.01(a), (b), (c) or (d) is at such time continuing, any Disqualified Institutions) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans owing to it); provided that (A) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations, and (C) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.

(ii)        Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce the Loan Documents and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of the Loan Documents; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver with regard to (a) reductions of principal, interest or fees owing to such Participant to the extent that Lenders have a consent right with respect thereto pursuant to clause (ii) of the first proviso in Section 10.02(b), (b) extensions of final scheduled maturity or times for payment of interest or fees owing to such participant to the extent that Lenders have a consent right with respect thereto pursuant to clauses (iii)(A), (B) and (C) of Section 10.02(b) and (c) releases of Collateral or guarantees requiring the approval of all Lenders with respect to clauses (iv) and (v) of Section 10.02(b), in each case, that directly affects such Participant. Subject to clause (e) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.12, 2.13 and 2.15 (provided that each Participant shall be subject to the requirements of those Sections and the definition of Excluded Taxes as if it were a Lender) (provided that any documentation required to be provided by a Participant pursuant to Section 2.15(e) shall be provided to the participating Lender and, if Additional Amounts are required to be paid pursuant to Section 2.15, to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and the definition of Excluded Taxes shall apply) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to clause (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.08 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant shall be subject to Section 2.14 as though it were

 

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a Lender. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, no Lender shall enter into any agreement with any Participant that will permit such Participant to influence or control the voting rights of such Lender except with regard to (a) reductions of principal, interest or fees owing to such Participant to the extent that such Participant has a consent right with respect thereto pursuant to this Section 10.02(d)(ii) in clause (ii) of the first proviso in Section 10.02(b), (b) extensions of final scheduled maturity or times for payment of interest or fees owing to such participant to the extent that such Participant has a consent right with respect thereto pursuant to this Section 10.02(d)(ii) with respect to clauses (iii)(A), (B) and (C) of Section 10.02(b) and (c) releases of Collateral or guarantees requiring the approval of all Lenders with respect to clauses (iv) and (v) of Section 10.02(b), in each case, that directly affects such Participant.

(iii)        Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal and stated interest amounts of each participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under this Agreement (a “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of a Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations and Proposed Treasury Regulations Section 1.163-5(b) (or any amended or successor version) and within the meaning of Sections 163(f), 871(h)(2) and 881(c)(2) of the Code. Upon request by the Borrower, any Lender that sells a participation shall confirm that any such Participant is not a Disqualified Institution. The entries in a Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each person whose name is recorded in a Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary.

(iv)        Any such participation that does not comply with this Section shall be void ab initio and, promptly following such Lender becoming aware that any such participation has been made in breach of this Section, the Participant Register shall be modified by it to reverse such participation and shall be disclosed to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

(v)        The Administrative Agent shall have no responsibility (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) for (i) maintaining a Participant Register and (ii) any Lender’s compliance with this Section, including any sale of participations to a Disqualified Institution in violation hereof by any Lender.

(e)        Limitations on Participant Rights. A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 2.12, 2.13 or 2.15 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent or except to the extent the right to greater payment results from a Change in Law after the Participant becomes a Participant.

 

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(f)        Certain Pledges. Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender without restriction, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or any central bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto. In the case of any Lender that is a fund that invests in bank loans or similar extensions of credit, such Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent or any other Person, collaterally assign or pledge all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement, including the Loans and Notes or any other instrument evidencing its rights as a Lender under this Agreement, to any holder of, trustee for, or any other representative of holders of, obligations owed or securities issued, by such fund, as security for such obligations or securities.

(g)         Disqualified Institutions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if any Loans are assigned to or any participations are purchased or otherwise acquired, without the Borrower’s consent (in violation of Section 10.04(b) or (d)), by a Disqualified Institution, in each case, then: (i) the Borrower may (x) terminate any commitment of such Disqualified Institution and repay any applicable outstanding Loans (in the case of Loans, at a price equal to the lesser of par and the amount the applicable Disqualified Institution paid to acquire such Loans) without premium, penalty, prepayment fee or breakage, and/or (y) require such Disqualified Institution to assign its rights and obligations to one or more Eligible Assignees at the price indicated in the immediately preceding clause (x) (which assignment shall not be subject to the processing and recordation fee described in Section 10.04(b)(iii)), (ii) no such Disqualified Institution shall receive any information or reporting provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, (iii) for purposes of voting, any Loans, Commitments or participations held by such Disqualified Institution shall be deemed not to be outstanding and such Disqualified Institution shall have no voting or consent rights with respect to “required Lender” or Class votes or consents, in each case notwithstanding Section 10.02(b), (iv) for purposes of any matter requiring the vote or consent of each Lender affected by any amendment or waiver, such Disqualified Institution shall be deemed to have voted or consented to approve such amendment or waiver if a majority of the affected Lenders or Class so approve, and (v) such Disqualified Institution shall not be entitled to any expense reimbursement or indemnification rights ordinarily afforded to Lenders or Participants hereunder or in any Loan Document. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, (a) the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible or have any liability for, or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, monitor or enforce, compliance with the provisions hereof relating to Disqualified Institutions and (b) the Borrowers (on behalf of themselves and the other Credit Parties) and the Lenders acknowledge and agree that the Administrative Agent shall have no responsibility or obligation to determine whether any Lender or potential Lender is a Disqualified Institution and that the Administrative Agent shall have no liability with respect to any assignment or participation made to a Disqualified Institution.

Section 10.05    Survival of Agreement. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Credit Parties in the Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the making of any Loans and issuance of any Letters of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf

 

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and notwithstanding that the Agents, the Issuing Bank or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect until the Payment in Full of the Obligations and the termination or expiration of the Commitments. The provisions of Sections 2.12, 2.14, 2.15 and Article X shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the Payment in Full of the Obligations or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

Section 10.06    Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent, constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopier or other electronic transmission (PDF or TIFF format) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

Section 10.07    Severability. Any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.

Section 10.08    Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, the Issuing Bank, and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Requirements of Law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time due and owing by such Lender, the Issuing Bank or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or any other Credit Party (but excluding amounts held in payroll, employee benefits, tax and other fiduciary or trust accounts) against any and all of the obligations of such Borrower or such Credit Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or the Issuing Bank, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or the Issuing Bank shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of such Borrower or such Credit Party may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender or the Issuing Bank different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness. The rights of each Lender, the Issuing Bank and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, the Issuing Bank or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender and the Issuing Bank agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

 

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Section 10.09    Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process.

(a)        Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York, without regard to conflicts of law principles that would require the application of the laws of another jurisdiction; provided, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the interpretation of the definition of Company Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Closing Date Acquisition Agreement) and whether or not a Company Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Closing Date Acquisition Agreement) has occurred, (ii) the determination of the accuracy of any Specified Acquisition Agreement Representation and whether as a result of any inaccuracy thereof the Borrower or its Affiliates party to the Closing Date Acquisition Agreement has the right to terminate their obligations under the Closing Date Acquisition Agreement or decline to consummate the Closing Date Acquisition pursuant to the terms thereof, and (c) the determination of whether the Closing Date Acquisition has been consummated in accordance with the terms of the Closing Date Acquisition Agreement and, in any case, claims or disputes arising out of any such interpretation or determination of any aspect thereof shall, in each case, be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts law thereof.

(b)        Submission to Jurisdiction. Except as provided in the last sentence of this Section 10.09(b), each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York sitting in New York County, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to any Loan Document, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State court or, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Requirements of Law, in such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any Credit Party or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

(c)        Waiver of Venue. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Requirements of Law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any court referred to in Section 10.09(b). Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Requirements of Law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

 

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(d)        Service of Process. Each party hereto irrevocably consents to service of process in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to any Loan Document, in the manner provided for notices (other than telecopier) in Section 10.01. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document will affect the right of any party hereto to serve process in any other manner permitted by applicable Requirements of Law.

Section 10.10    Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE REQUIREMENTS OF LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

Section 10.11    Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

Section 10.12    Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Bank agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (in each case, other than to a Disqualified Institution) (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective partners, directors, investors, lenders, officers, employees, agents, advisors, attorneys, numbering, administration and settlement services provider and other representatives (it being understood that the persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential or, with respect to disclosure to investors or prospective investors, such disclosure is in connection with customary portfolio reviews), (b) to the extent requested by any Governmental Authority or regulatory authority (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable Requirements of Law or by any subpoena or similar legal process (including, without limitation, in connection with filings, submissions and any other similar documentation required or customary to comply with Securities and Exchange Commission filing requirements), (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of, or preparing to enforce, rights hereunder or thereunder, but only to the extent required in connection with such exercise or enforcement, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same (or at least as restrictive) as those of this Section 10.12, to (i) any financing sources and Eligible Assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective Eligible Assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement and in connection with any pledge or assignment made pursuant to Section 10.04(f); provided that no such disclosure shall be made by such Lender or such Agent

 

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or any of their respective Affiliates to any such Person that is a Disqualified Institution unless an Event of Default under Section 8.01(a), (b), (d) (solely as a result of a breach of Section 6.08), (g), (h) or (m) (solely with respect to the failure to comply with the financial reporting requirements set forth in Section 5.01(a), (b), (c) or (d) is at such time continuing, (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower and its obligations or (iii) any rating agency for the purpose of obtaining a credit rating applicable to any Credit Party or to the credit facilities hereunder, (g) with the prior consent of the Borrower, (h) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the Issuing Bank or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower, (i) to the extent necessary or customary for inclusion in league table measurements, (j) to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any similar organization or any examiner or (k) to a Person that is an investor or prospective investor in a Securitization or other financing, separate account or commingled fund so long as such investor or prospective investor is informed that its access to information regarding the Credit Parties and the Loans and Commitments is solely for purposes of evaluating an investment in such Securitization or other financing, separate account or commingled fund and who agrees to treat such information as confidential, (l) to a Person that is a trustee, collateral agent, collateral manager, servicer, investor or secured party in a Securitization in connection with the administration, servicing and evaluation of, and reporting on, the assets serving as collateral for such Securitization, or (l) otherwise to the extent consisting of general portfolio information that does not identify the Borrower; provided, that with respect to clauses (b) and (c) above, if the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Bank receives a subpoena, interrogatory or other request (verbal or otherwise) for any Information, or believes that it is legally required to disclose any of the Information to a third party, it shall, in advance of such disclosure, to the extent practicable and legally permissible and unless such disclosure is made to regulatory or self-regulatory authorities in the course of routine audits and reviews, promptly provide to the Borrower written notice of any such request or requirement so that the Borrower or the applicable Credit Party (or Subsidiary thereof) may seek a protective order or other remedy; provided, further, that it shall (1) exercise reasonable efforts to preserve the confidentiality of such Information, (2) to the extent legally permissible, use commercially reasonable efforts to provide the Borrower, in advance of such disclosure, with copies of any Information it intends to disclose (and, if applicable, the text of the disclosure language itself), and (3) to the extent legally permissible, reasonably cooperate with the Borrower or applicable Credit Party (or Subsidiary thereof) to the extent the Borrower or such Credit Party (or Subsidiary thereof) seeks to limit such disclosures; provided further that no such disclosure shall be made to any members of any deal team of any Agent, any Lender or any Affiliate of any Agent or any Lender that are engaged (x) primarily as principals in private equity or venture capital or (y) in the sale of the Borrower or its Affiliates, including through the provision of advisory services (in each case, other than any “above the wall” individuals) (as described in the immediately preceding clauses (x) and (y), “Excluded Affiliates”). For purposes of this Section, “Information” shall mean all information received from or on behalf of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries relating to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Bank on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries. For purposes of this Section, “Securitization” means a public or private offering by a Lender or any of its Affiliates or their respective successors and permitted assigns, of securities which represent an interest in, or which

 

195


are collateralized, in whole or in part, by the Loans or the Commitments. Except with respect to disclosing any Information to any Disqualified Institution, any person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such person would accord to its own confidential information. The Administrative Agent or any Lender may, with the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), publish press releases, tombstones, advertising or other promotional materials (whether by means of electronic transmission, posting to a website or other internet application, print media or otherwise) relating to the financing transactions contemplated by this Agreement, which may include a Credit Party’s or its Subsidiary’s name, product photographs, logo, trademark or related information.

Section 10.13    USA PATRIOT Act Notice. Each Lender that is subject to the Patriot Act and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the Patriot Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Credit Parties, which information includes the name and address of the Credit Parties and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Credit Parties in accordance with the Patriot Act. The Borrower shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent or such Lender requests that is required in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act.

Section 10.14    Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which are treated as interest on such Loan under applicable Requirements of Law (collectively, the “Rate Charges”), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “Maximum Rate”) which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender holding such Loan in accordance with applicable Requirements of Law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all Rate Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Rate Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section shall be cumulated and the interest and Rate Charges payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.

Section 10.15    Obligations Absolute. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Requirements of Law, all obligations of the Credit Parties hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of:

(a)        any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, readjustment, composition, liquidation or the like of any Credit Party;

(b)        any lack of validity or enforceability of any Loan Document or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto against any Credit Party;

 

196


(c)        any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to any departure from any Loan Document or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto;

(d)        any exchange, release or non-perfection of any other Collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent to any departure from any guarantee, for all or any of the Obligations;

(e)        any exercise or non-exercise, or any waiver, of any right, remedy, power or privilege under or in respect hereof or any Loan Document; or

(f)        any other circumstances which might otherwise constitute a defense (other than the Payment in Full of the Obligations) available to, or a discharge of, the Credit Parties.

Section 10.16    No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), the Borrower and each other Credit Party acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (i)(A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Borrower, each other Credit Party and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, and the Lenders, on the other hand, (B) each of the Borrower and the other Credit Parties has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the Borrower and each other Credit Party is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii)(A) the Administrative Agent and each Lender is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Borrower, any other Credit Party or any of their respective Affiliates, or any other Person, and (B) neither the Administrative Agent, nor any Lender has any obligation to the Borrower, any other Credit Party or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower, the other Credit Parties and their respective Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent, nor any Lender has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower, any other Credit Party or any of their respective Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Borrower and each other Credit Party hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent or any Lender with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

Section 10.17    Intercreditor Agreement.

(a)        Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document: (a) the Liens granted to the Collateral Agent in favor of the Secured Parties pursuant to the Loan Documents and the exercise of any right related to any Collateral shall be subject, in each case, to the terms of any applicable Intercreditor Agreement, (b) in the event of

 

197


any conflict between the express terms and provisions of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, on the one hand, and of any applicable Intercreditor Agreement, on the other hand, the terms and provisions of such Intercreditor Agreement shall control, and (c) each Lender and, by its acceptance of the benefit of the Security Documents, each other Secured Party, authorizes the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent to execute any such Intercreditor Agreement on behalf of such Lender, and such Lender agrees to be bound by the terms thereof.

(b)        Each Lender and, by its acceptance of the benefit of the Security Documents, each other Secured Party, hereby agrees that the Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Agent may enter into any intercreditor agreement and/or subordination agreement pursuant to, or contemplated by, the terms of this Agreement (including with respect to Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.01 and defined terms referenced therein) on its behalf and agrees to be bound by the terms thereof and, in each case, consents and agrees to the appointment of Owl Rock (or its affiliated designee, representative or agent) on its behalf as collateral agent, respectively, thereunder.

Section 10.18    Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any party to any other party arising under any Loan Document may be subject to Bail-In Action by the relevant Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by the effect of:

(a)        any Bail-In Action in relation to any such liability, including (without limitation):

(i)        a reduction, in full or in part, in the principal amount, or outstanding amount due (including any accrued but unpaid interest) in respect of any such liability;

(ii)        a conversion of all, or part of, any such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership that may be issued to, or conferred on, it; and

(iii)        a cancellation of any such liability; and

(b)        a variation of any term of any Finance Document to the extent necessary to give effect to any Bail-In Action in relation to any such liability.

Section 10.19    Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents. The words “execute,” “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in or related to any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (including, without limitation, Assignment and Assumptions, Borrowing Requests, Interest Election Requests, Compliance Certificates, Joinder Agreements, amendments or other modifications, waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, the electronic matching of assignment terms and contract formations on electronic platforms approved by the Administrative Agent, or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable Requirements of Law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

 

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Section 10.20    No Other Duties. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Lead Arranger, Bookrunner and the Co-Syndication Agents listed on the cover page hereof and introductory paragraph hereto shall not have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in their respective capacities, as applicable, as the Lead Arranger, Bookrunner and Co-Syndication Agents, as applicable, hereunder.

ARTICLE XI

ACQUISITION MATTERS

Section 11.01    Consent to the Closing Date Acquisition. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Loan Documents, the Secured Parties and all other parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally consent to the consummation of the Closing Date Acquisition.

Section 11.02    Reference to Closing Date. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Loan Documents, for purposes of the representations and warranties and the other provisions set forth in Article III of this Agreement, the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.01 and any reference to “Closing Date” in Article V and Article VI, the making of the Loans and the issuance of Letters of Credit (if any) on the Closing Date shall be assumed to occur concurrently with the consummation of the Closing Date Acquisition.

[THIS SPACE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

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

 

BORROWER:   BLEND LABS, INC.
  By:   /s/ Marc Greenberg
  Name:   Marc Greenberg
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer

[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]


GUARANTORS:   BLEND BROKERAGE, INC.
  By:   /s/ Marc Greenberg
  Name:   Marc Greenberg
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer
  BLEND TITLE INSURANCE AGENCY, INC.
  By:   /s/ Marc Greenberg
  Name:   Marc Greenberg
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer
  BLEND INSURANCE AGENCY, INC.
  By:   /s/ Marc Greenberg
  Name:   Marc Greenberg
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer
  BLEND OPERATIONS, INC.
  By:   /s/ Marc Greenberg
  Name:   Marc Greenberg
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer
  BLEND INSIGHTS, INC.
  By:   /s/ Marc Greenberg
  Name:   Marc Greenberg
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer

[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]


BLEND TITLE COMPANY INC.
By:   /s/ Marc Greenberg
Name:   Marc Greenberg
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]


ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT,
COLLATERAL AGENT, LC ISSUER,
SWINGLINE LENDER AND LENDER:
    OWL ROCK TECHNOLOGY FINANCE CORP.
    By:   /s/ Jon ten Oever
    Name:   Jon ten Oever
    Title:   Authorized Signatory
LENDERS:     OR TECH LENDING LLC
    By:   /s/ Jon ten Oever
    Name:   Jon ten Oever
    Title:   Authorized Signatory
    OR LENDING LLC
    By:   /s/ Jon ten Oever
    Name:   Jon ten Oever
    Title:   Authorized Signatory
    ORO BL LLC
   

By: Owl Rock Opportunistic Master Fund I, L.P.

Its Sole Member

   

By: Owl Rock Opportunistic GP, LLC

its General Partner

   

By:

 

/s/ Jon ten Oever

   

Name:

 

Jon ten Oever

   

Title:

 

Authorized Signatory

[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]


ANNEX A

Commitments

 

Lender

   Term Loan Commitment      Revolving Loan Commitment      Total Commitment  

OR Lending LLC

   $   67,500,000.00      $   7,500,000.00      $   75,000,000.00  

OR Tech Lending LLC

   $ 112,500,000.00      $ 12,500,000.00      $ 125,000,000.00  

OR BL LLC

   $   45,000,000.00      $   5,000,000.00      $   50,000,000.00  

Total

   $ 225,000,000.00      $ 25,000,000.00      $ 250,000,000.00  


SCHEDULE 5.15

POST-CLOSING DELIVERIES

 

1.

Certificate of Incorporation of the Borrower. Within two (2) Business Days after the Closing Date (or such longer period of time as may be agreed to in writing, including by way of email, by Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), the Borrower shall deliver to Administrative Agent a copy of an amendment to, or amendment and restatement of, its certificate of incorporation, as filed with and acknowledged by, the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, reflecting an increase to the authorized number of Series G Preferred Stock (as defined therein) sufficient to accommodate the shares of such stock that could be issued upon exercise of the Warrant.

 

2.

Warrant. Within two (2) Business Days after the Closing Date (or such longer period of time as may be agreed to in writing, including by way of email, by Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), the Borrower shall deliver to Administrative Agent a signed copy of the Warrant Agreement.

In the event the requirements under this Schedule 5.15 are not satisfied, Borrower acknowledges and agrees that OR Lending LLC, OR Tech Lending LLC and OR BL LLC or their designees (the “Owl Rock Entities”) may demand specific performance of the execution of the warrant agreement in the form attached to Exhibit K of the Credit Agreement (and any of the related actions, filings or other requirements in connection therewith or required with respect thereto), and, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, the Borrower hereby irrevocably waives any defense based on the adequacy of a remedy at law and any other defense that might be asserted to bar the remedy of specific performance in any action which may be brought by the respective Owl Rock Entities. Borrower acknowledges and agrees that the rights and remedies provided herein will be cumulative and not exclusive of other rights or remedies provided by law or under the Credit Agreement or the other Loan Documents.

Exhibit 21.1

SUBSIDIARIES OF BLEND LABS, INC.

 

Subsidiary

  

Jurisdiction

Blend Brokerage, Inc. dba Blend Realty    Delaware
Blend Title Insurance Agency, Inc.    Delaware
Blend Insurance Agency, Inc.    Delaware
Blend Operations, Inc.    Delaware
Blend Insights, Inc.    Delaware
Blend Title of Utah, LLC    Utah
Blend Title Company, Inc.    California

Title365 Holding Co.

 

T365 Company LLC

 

T365 Company

 

Title365 Signings Inc

 

Xome Labs Inc

 

Title365 Company of Alabama LLC

  

California

 

Pennsylvania

 

California

 

Wyoming

 

Texas

 

Alabama

Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” and to the use of our report dated April 15, 2021, except as to the ninth paragraph of Note 16, as to which the date is July 2, 2021, in Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement (Form S-1 No. 333-257223) and related Prospectus of Blend Labs, Inc. for the registration of shares of its Class A common stock.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

San Francisco, California

July 6, 2021

Exhibit 23.2

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the use in this Registration Statement on Form S-1 and related Prospectus of Blend Labs, Inc. of our report dated March 22, 2021, relating to the carve out financial statements of Title Carve Out (a carve-out of certain operations of Mr. Cooper Group, Inc.) as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and for the years then ended, and to the reference to our Firm under the caption “Experts” in the Registration Statement.

 

/s/ WithumSmith+Brown, PC

Irvine, California

July 6, 2021